SB148 - Provides for the issuance of special license plates indicating service on a military unit that was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. (BDR 43-545)

REQUIRES TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE (§ 1) S.B. 148 - *SB148* SENATE BILL NO. 148–SENATOR STONE PREFILED JANUARY 30, 2025 ____________ Referred to Committee on Growth and Infrastructure SUMMARY—Provides for the issuance of special license plates indicating service on a military unit that was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. (BDR 43-545) FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No. Effect on the State: Yes. ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; requiring the Department of Motor Vehicles to design, prepare and issue special license plates honoring veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States who have served on a unit that was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation; exempting the special license plates from certain provisions otherwise applicable to special license plates; establishing the applicability of certain parking privileges for a vehicle displaying the special license plates that bear the international symbol of access; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing law entitles veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States who 1 have received certain awards, honors or designations to be issued license plates 2 specially designed by the Department of Motor Vehicles. (NRS 482.3765, 482.377, 3 482.3775, 482.3783) Section 1 of this bill entitles a veteran of the Armed Forces 4 who has served on a unit that was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation to apply 5 for and receive special license plates indicating that the veteran served on such a 6 unit. Section 1 requires the Department, with certain exceptions, to create, for each 7 branch of the Armed Forces, a unique license plate design for the special license 8 plates based on the design of the service ribbon representing the Presidential Unit 9 Citation within each branch. Section 1 provides that a qualified veteran may: (1) 10 apply for not more than two sets of special license plates; (2) use such license plates 11 only on private passenger vehicles, noncommercial trucks or motor homes; and (3) 12 combine the special license plates with personalized prestige license plates upon the 13 payment of the applicable fees. Section 1 provides that, unless the special license 14 – 2 – - *SB148* plates are lost, stolen or mutilated, in which case a fee to defray the cost of 15 producing the license plate applies, no fee in addition to the ordinarily applicable 16 registration and license fees and governmental services taxes may be charged for 17 the issuance or renewal of a set of the special license plates. Section 1 further 18 provides that: (1) a veteran who is eligible for such special license plates and who, 19 as a result of his or her service, has suffered a qualifying service-connected 20 disability and receives compensation from the United States for the disability, may 21 have the international symbol of access inscribed on his or her special license plate; 22 and (2) a vehicle on which such special license plates bearing the international 23 symbol of access are displayed is exempt from the payment of parking fees, 24 including, without limitation, those collected through parking meters, charged by 25 the State or any political subdivision or other public body within the State, except 26 those parking fees charged by the Federal Government. Sections 11 and 12 of this 27 bill make conforming changes to authorize a vehicle displaying the special license 28 plates that bear the international symbol of access to park in certain designated 29 parking spots for persons who are handicapped and to remain parked for up to 4 30 hours in certain other, time-limited, public parking spots in the same manner as 31 vehicles displaying other license plates that bear the international symbol of access. 32 (NRS 484B.463, 484B.467) 33 Section 2 of this bill prohibits a new vehicle dealer who is authorized to issue 34 certificates of registration for any new motor vehicle he or she sells from accepting 35 an application for the registration of a motor vehicle if the applicant wishes to 36 obtain the special plates indicating service on a unit which received the Presidential 37 Unit Citation. Section 3 of this bill prohibits the Department from issuing 38 redesigned license plates to the holder of a set of special license plates indicating 39 service on a unit which received the Presidential Unit Citation without the approval 40 of the holder. Section 4 of this bill authorizes the Director of the Department to 41 order the preparation of sample license plates bearing the same design as the special 42 license plates indicating service on a unit which received the Presidential Unit 43 Citation. Section 5 of this bill prohibits the Department from issuing special plates 44 indicating service on a unit which received the Presidential Unit Citation for a full 45 trailer or semitrailer, other than a recreational vehicle and travel trailer. 46 Under existing law, certain special license plates: (1) must be approved by the 47 Department; (2) are subject to a limitation on the number of separate designs of 48 special license plates which the Department may issue at any one time; and (3) may 49 not be designed, prepared or issued by the Department unless a certain minimum 50 number of applications for the plates are received. (NRS 482.367002, 482.367008, 51 482.36705) Sections 6-8 of this bill exempt the special plates indicating service on 52 a unit which received the Presidential Unit Citation from these provisions. 53 Section 9 of this bill exempts the special license plates indicating service on a 54 unit which received the Presidential Unit Citation from the definition of “special 55 license plate” applicable to provisions governing investigations relating to the 56 finances of charitable organizations that receive additional fees from special license 57 plates. (NRS 482.38272-482.38279) Section 10 of this bill makes a conforming 58 change to authorize the holder of the original registration of any vehicle to transfer 59 the registration and use of the special license plates indicating service on a unit 60 which received the Presidential Unit Citation to another vehicle under certain 61 circumstances. 62 – 3 – - *SB148* THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Chapter 482 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 1 thereto a new section to read as follows: 2 1. A veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who 3 was assigned to a unit that was awarded the Presidential Unit 4 Citation at the time of the action for which the Presidential Unit 5 Citation was awarded is entitled to specially designed license 6 plates which indicate that the veteran has served on a unit that 7 was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. 8 2. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the 9 Department shall design, prepare and issue such license plates 10 using any colors and designs which the Department deems 11 appropriate. The Department shall create a unique license plate 12 design for each branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, 13 which must be based on the design of the service ribbon 14 representing the Presidential Unit Citation within that branch, 15 except that the Department may utilize the same design for 16 branches of the Armed Forces of the United States which award 17 service ribbons of the same design. 18 3. A person who qualifies for special license plates pursuant 19 to this section, has suffered a qualifying service-connected 20 disability as a result of his or her service in the Armed Forces of 21 the United States and receives compensation from the United 22 States for the disability is entitled to have his or her special license 23 plates issued pursuant to this section inscribed with the 24 international symbol of access, which must comply with the 25 applicable federal standards and must be white on a blue 26 background. 27 4. Each person who qualifies for special license plates 28 pursuant to this section may apply for not more than two sets of 29 plates. If the person applies for a second set of plates for an 30 additional vehicle, the second set of plates must have a different 31 number than the first set of plates issued to the same applicant. 32 Special license plates issued pursuant to this section may only be 33 used on a private passenger vehicle, a noncommercial truck or a 34 motor home. 35 5. The Department shall issue specially designed license 36 plates for any person qualified pursuant to this section who 37 submits: 38 (a) An application on a form prescribed by the Department; 39 (b) Documentation which, in the determination of the 40 Department, demonstrates that the applicant: 41 – 4 – - *SB148* (1) Served on a military unit that was awarded the 1 Presidential Unit Citation; and 2 (2) Was assigned to the unit at the time of the action for 3 which the Presidential Unit Citation was awarded; and 4 (c) If applicable, and subject to the provisions of NRS 5 417.0187, evidence of his or her disability as required by the 6 Department. 7 6. A vehicle on which special license plates issued by the 8 Department pursuant to subsection 3 are displayed is exempt from 9 the payment of any parking fees, including, without limitation, 10 those collected through parking meters, charged by the State or 11 any political subdivision or other public body within this State, 12 other than the United States. 13 7. If, during a registration year, the holder of a set of special 14 license plates issued pursuant to the provisions of this section 15 disposes of the vehicle to which the plates are affixed, the holder 16 shall: 17 (a) Retain the plates and affix them to another vehicle which 18 meets the requirements of this section and report the change to the 19 Department in accordance with the procedure set forth for other 20 transfers; or 21 (b) Within 30 days after removing the plates from the vehicle, 22 return them to the Department. 23 8. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no fee in 24 addition to the applicable registration and license fees and 25 governmental services taxes may be charged for the issuance or 26 renewal of a set of special license plates pursuant to this section. If 27 the special license plates issued pursuant to this section are lost, 28 stolen or mutilated, the owner of the vehicle may secure a set of 29 duplicate number of plates from the Department for the fees 30 required pursuant to NRS 482.268. 31 9. A person who qualifies for special license plates pursuant 32 to this section may request that the personalized prestige license 33 plates issued pursuant to NRS 482.3667 be combined with license 34 plates that indicate that the person has served on a unit of the 35 Armed Forces of the United States which has been awarded the 36 Presidential Unit Citation if the person pays the fees prescribed by 37 NRS 482.367 for the personalized prestige license plates. 38 10. The provisions of NRS 482.36705 do not apply to license 39 plates described in this section. 40 Sec. 2. NRS 482.216 is hereby amended to read as follows: 41 482.216 1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 482.2155, 42 upon the request of a new vehicle dealer, the Department may 43 authorize the new vehicle dealer to: 44 – 5 – - *SB148* (a) Accept applications for the registration of the new motor 1 vehicles he or she sells and the related fees and taxes; 2 (b) Issue certificates of registration to applicants who satisfy the 3 requirements of this chapter; and 4 (c) Accept applications for the transfer of registration pursuant 5 to NRS 482.399 if the applicant purchased from the new vehicle 6 dealer a new vehicle to which the registration is to be transferred. 7 2. A new vehicle dealer who is authorized to issue certificates 8 of registration pursuant to subsection 1 shall: 9 (a) Transmit the applications received to the Department within 10 the period prescribed by the Department; 11 (b) Transmit the fees collected from the applicants and properly 12 account for them within the period prescribed by the Department; 13 (c) Comply with the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection 14 5; and 15 (d) Bear any cost of equipment which is necessary to issue 16 certificates of registration, including any computer hardware or 17 software. 18 3. A new vehicle dealer who is authorized to issue certificates 19 of registration pursuant to subsection 1 shall not: 20 (a) Charge any additional fee for the performance of those 21 services; 22 (b) Receive compensation from the Department for the 23 performance of those services; 24 (c) Accept applications for the renewal of registration of a motor 25 vehicle; or 26 (d) Accept an application for the registration of a motor vehicle 27 if the applicant wishes to: 28 (1) Obtain special license plates pursuant to NRS 482.3667 29 to 482.3823, inclusive [;] , and section 1 of this act; or 30 (2) Claim the exemption from the governmental services tax 31 provided pursuant to NRS 361.1565 to veterans and their relations. 32 4. The provisions of this section do not apply to the registration 33 of a moped pursuant to NRS 482.2155. 34 5. The Director shall adopt such regulations as are necessary to 35 carry out the provisions of this section. The regulations adopted 36 pursuant to this subsection must provide for: 37 (a) The expedient and secure issuance of license plates and 38 decals by the Department; and 39 (b) The withdrawal of the authority granted to a new vehicle 40 dealer pursuant to subsection 1 if that dealer fails to comply with the 41 regulations adopted by the Department. 42 – 6 – - *SB148* Sec. 3. NRS 482.270 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1 482.270 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section or by 2 specific statute, the Director shall order the redesign and preparation 3 of motor vehicle license plates. 4 2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, the 5 Department may, upon the payment of all applicable fees, issue 6 redesigned motor vehicle license plates. 7 3. The Department shall not issue redesigned motor vehicle 8 license plates pursuant to this section to a person who was issued 9 motor vehicle license plates before January 1, 1982, or pursuant to 10 [Text truncated for display. 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