2025 -- H 6124
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LC002473
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES
Introduced By: Representatives Paplauskas, Potter, Baginski, Handy, Fascia,
Quattrocchi, Bennett, McNamara, and Lima
Date Introduced: March 21, 2025
Referred To: House Special Legislation
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 31-3 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is 1
hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 2
31-3-130. Special plate for Cranston Cares. 3
(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available 4
special motor vehicle registration plates for the not-for-profit entity Cranston Cares. The plates 5
shall be designed to reference the not-for-profit entity Cranston Cares. 6
(b) The special plate shall be displayed upon the same registration number assigned to the 7
vehicle for which it was issued and shall be used in place of and in the same manner as the 8
registration plates issued to the vehicle. The original registration plates for the vehicle shall be 9
removed from the vehicle and returned to the division of motor vehicles. The registration certificate 10
for the plates shall be carried in the vehicle in accordance with § 31-3-9. The registration certificate 11
shall be in effect for the special plate. 12
(c) The Cranston Cares motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as regular motor vehicle 13
plates and shall be designed by Cranston Cares in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, 14
with the design approved by the Rhode Island state police. 15
(d) The Cranston Cares plates shall be subject to compliance with § 31-3-117 relating to 16
the number of minimum prepaid orders of plates per plate type (i.e., passenger, commercial, etc.) 17
and any required payment. The Cranston Cares plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order 18
requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by Cranston Cares and shall not be submitted 19
LC002473 - Page 2 of 3
to the division of motor vehicles for production until the minimum order(s) have been met and the 1
proper paper work submitted to the division. 2
(e) The administrator of motor vehicles shall develop prepayment procedures and any other 3
procedures deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. 4
(f) In addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, Cranston Cares 5
plates shall be subject to a forty dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge. 6
(g) The forty dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge shall be allocated as follows: twenty 7
dollars ($20.00) shall be allocated to the general fund and the remaining twenty dollars ($20.00) 8
shall be distributed annually to Cranston Cares for community initiatives. 9
(h) A ten dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated 10
to Cranston Cares. 11
(i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of Cranston Cares plates, 12
Cranston Cares must use any Rhode Island-sourced funds in and for the benefit of Rhode Island-13
based charitable organizations. 14
(j) Cranston Cares will be required to submit an annual accounting report before such 15
monies are distributed. 16
(k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Cranston Cares plates. 17
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 18
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LC002473 - Page 3 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER V EHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES
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This act would allow the division of motor vehicles to make special motor vehicle 1
registration plates for the not-for-profit entity Cranston Cares provided they meet the minimum 2
order requirements. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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LC002473
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