2023 -- S 0946 SUBSTITUTE A
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LC002891/SUB A
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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: Senator Walter S. Felag
Date Introduced: April 27, 2023
Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
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, or on a commercial vehicle having a gross weight of six thousand three 17
hundred pounds (6,300 lbs.) twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less, registration plates 18
designated “Disabled Veteran.” Provided that: 19
LC002891/SUB A - Page 2 of 3
(1) Upon certification that the veteran is no longer able to operate a vehicle, the "Disabled 1
Veteran" plates may be transferred, during their lifetime, to the veteran's spouse; and 2
(2) Upon the death of the holder initial registrant of the “Disabled Veteran” plates, the 3
plates may be transferred to his or her surviving spouse for his or her lifetime or until he or she 4
remarries. Only one set of 5
(c) “Disabled Veteran” plates shall be issued to an eligible veteran and or their spouse as 6
provided for in subsection (b)(1) of this section only after certification of eligibility from the 7
Veterans’ Administration or other satisfactory documentation of eligibility is presented. 8
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 9
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LC002891/SUB A - 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 the veteran's spouse under certain 2
conditions. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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