2023 -- H 5954
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LC002237
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES - REGISTRATION FEES
Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Morales, Noret, Casimiro, Finkelman,
and Solomon
Date Introduced: March 01, 2023
Referred To: House Special Legislation
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 31-6-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-6 entitled "Registration 1
Fees" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
31-6-8. Disabled veterans. 3
(a) Any veteran who has been honorably discharged from the service of the armed forces 4
or the merchant marine of the United States in any of the wars or campaigns in which the United 5
States has been engaged and who, while engaged in these wars or campaigns or as a result of 6
engagement in these wars or campaigns, by reason of amputation, has lost one or both of his or her 7
arms, hands, feet, or legs, or who, by reason of other permanent injury, has lost the use of one or 8
both of his or her arms, hands, feet, or legs, or to whom has been granted a motor vehicle under 9
chapter 870-2D, United States Public Laws 663, enacted 1946, 79th Congress, or has suitable 10
documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to establish that the veteran: 11
(1) Has a combined service connected disability rating of one hundred percent (100%); or 12
(2) Is considered “individually unemployable” due to his or her service-connected 13
disability, shall be exempt from the payment of any fee for the annual registration of and a license 14
to operate that motor vehicle. 15
(b) The administrator for the division of motor vehicles shall issue to an eligible veteran 16
for use on an automobile any personal, or on a commercial vehicle having a gross weight of six 17
thousand three hundred pounds (6,300 lbs.) or less, vehicle they own or which are registered to any 18
business of which they wholly or in part own, registration plates designated “Disabled Veteran.” 19
LC002237 - Page 2 of 3
The "Disabled Veteran" plates may be transferred to the veteran's spouse or caretaker during the 1
veteran's lifetime upon certification that the veteran is no longer able to operate their vehicle. Upon 2
the death of the holder of “Disabled Veteran” plates, the plates may be transferred to his or her 3
surviving spouse for his or her lifetime or until he or she remarries. Only one set of “Disabled 4
Veteran” plates shall be issued to an eligible veteran and only after certification of eligibility from 5
the Veterans’ Administration or other satisfactory documentation of eligibility is presented. 6
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 7
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LC002237
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LC002237 - Page 3 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES - REGISTRATION FEES
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This act would permit disabled veterans to be issued more than one set of disabled veteran 1
license plates, and would permit the plates to be transferred to their spouse or caretaker during the 2
veteran's life if they can no longer drive and would allow disabled veteran plates to be issued for a 3
commercial vehicle of any size. 4
This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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LC002237
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