Bill Text: CA SB1295 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: License plates.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 5-3)
Status: (Passed) 2010-08-23 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 181, Statutes of 2010. [SB1295 Detail]
Download: California-2009-SB1295-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 1295 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 181
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE AUGUST 23, 2010
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR AUGUST 23, 2010
PASSED THE SENATE MAY 10, 2010
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 5, 2010
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 19, 2010
AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 23, 2010
INTRODUCED BY Senator Dutton
(Coauthors: Senators Ashburn, Cogdill, Denham, DeSaulnier, Huff,
Kehoe, and Lowenthal)
FEBRUARY 19, 2010
An act to amend Sections 5101.4 and 5101.8 of the Vehicle Code,
relating to vehicles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1295, Dutton. License plates.
Existing law authorizes a person who is a recipient of the Army
Medal of Honor, Navy Medal of Honor, Air Force Medal of Honor, Army
Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, or Purple
Heart to apply for special license plates for his or her vehicle. The
person's surviving spouse may retain the special license plates,
subject to certain conditions. Existing law exempts these recipients
from payment of vehicle registration fees and payment of charges
under the Vehicle License Fee Law.
This bill would authorize another surviving member of the deceased
medal recipient's family, as defined, to retain one of the special
license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the condition that
the special license plates are not valid for use for vehicle
registration purposes or for the specified exemption from fees and
charges by a person other than the person issued the special license
plates and the surviving spouse of that person.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 5101.4 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
5101.4. (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who
is a recipient of the Army Medal of Honor, Navy Medal of Honor, Air
Force Medal of Honor, Army Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross,
or Air Force Cross may apply for special license plates for the
vehicle under this article.
(b) The applicant, by conclusive evidence, shall show that the
applicant is a recipient of one of the nation's highest decorations
for valor, as specified in subdivision (a).
(c) The special license plates issued under this section shall
contain the words "Legion of Valor" and shall run in a regular
numerical series. An adhesive sticker denoting which of the nation's
highest decorations for valor, as specified in subdivision (a), is
held by the applicant shall be affixed in a recess provided for it on
the license plates.
(d) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates
pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the
special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this
section. If there is no surviving spouse, the special license plates
shall be returned to the department either (1) within 60 days
following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle
registration, whichever occurs first. However, in the absence of a
surviving spouse, another surviving member of the deceased medal
recipient's family may retain one of the special license plates as a
family heirloom, subject to the conditions set forth in subdivision
(g).
(e) If a surviving spouse who has elected to retain the special
license plates as authorized under subdivision (d) dies while in
possession of the special license plates, the special license plates
shall be returned to the department either within 60 days following
that death, or upon the expiration date of the vehicle registration,
whichever date occurs first. However, another surviving member of the
deceased medal recipient's family may retain one of the special
license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the conditions set
forth in subdivision (g).
(f) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
(g) The special license plates issued under this section are not
valid for use for vehicle registration purposes or for the purposes
of Section 9105, or Section 10783 or 10783.2 of the Revenue and
Taxation Code, by a person other than the person issued the special
license plates under subdivision (a) and the surviving spouse of that
person.
(h) For purposes of this section, "family" means grandparents,
stepgrandparents, parents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings,
children, and stepchildren of the person issued the special license
plates under subdivision (a).
SEC. 2. Section 5101.8 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
5101.8. (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this article who
is a Purple Heart recipient may apply for special license plates for
vehicles that are not used for transportation for hire, compensation,
or profit, under this article. The special plates assigned to the
vehicle shall run in a separate numerical series, shall have
inscribed on the plate the Purple Heart insignia, and shall contain
the words "Combat Wounded" and "Purple Heart" or at least the letters
"PH" as part of the numerical series. The department shall reserve
and issue the special plates to all applicants providing the proof
required by subdivision (b).
(b) The applicant, by satisfactory proof, shall show that the
applicant is a Purple Heart recipient.
(c) Special plates may be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) only
for a vehicle owned or coowned by a Purple Heart recipient.
(d) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates
pursuant to this section, his or her surviving spouse may retain the
special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this
section. If there is no surviving spouse, the special license plates
shall be returned to the department either (1) within 60 days
following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle
registration, whichever occurs first. However, in the absence of a
surviving spouse, another surviving member of the deceased Purple
Heart recipient's family may retain one of the special license plates
as a family heirloom, subject to the conditions set forth in
subdivision (h).
(e) If a surviving spouse who has elected to retain the special
license plates as authorized under subdivision (d) dies while in
possession of the special license plates, the special license plates
shall be returned to the department either within 60 days following
that death, or upon the expiration date of the vehicle registration,
whichever date occurs first. However, another surviving member of the
deceased Purple Heart recipient's family may retain one of the
special license plates as a family heirloom, subject to the
conditions set forth in subdivision (h).
(f) When an applicant for the Purple Heart license plate qualifies
as a disabled veteran, as specified in subdivision (b) of Section
22511.55, the applicant may also apply for a distinguishing placard
described in subdivision (a) of Section 22511.55 to be used in
conjunction with the Purple Heart license plate for the purpose of
allowing special parking privileges pursuant to subdivision (a) of
Section 22511.5.
(g) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
(h) The special license plates issued under this section are not
valid for use for vehicle registration purposes or for the purposes
of Section 9105, or Section 10783 or 10783.2 of the Revenue and
Taxation Code, by a person other than the person issued the special
license plates under subdivision (a) and the surviving spouse of that
person.
(i) For purposes of this section, "family" means grandparents,
stepgrandparents, parents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings,
children, and stepchildren of the person issued the special license
plates under subdivision (a).
