Sec. 14-19a. Regulations re issuance of special number plates to members of qualifying organizations. Issuance and renewal of collegiate special number plates. Discontinuance of special number plates.

      Sec. 14-19a. Regulations re issuance of special number plates to members of qualifying organizations. Issuance and renewal of collegiate special number plates. Discontinuance of special number plates. (a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to establish (1) standards for the issuance of a special certificate of registration and special number plates to a member of an organization which qualifies for issuance, (2) qualifications of organizations whose members wish to apply for such special registrations, (3) procedures for application for such special registration, and (4) a fee for such special number plates which shall cover at least the entire cost of making the plates and which shall be in addition to the fee for registration of the motor vehicle. The regulations shall provide that a labor union shall be a qualifying organization.

      (b) The Department of Motor Vehicles, in consultation with the Board of Governors of the Department of Higher Education, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish standards for the issuance and renewal of collegiate special number plates with the logos or emblems of Connecticut public and independent institutions of higher education to individuals who meet the requirements established by the regulations adopted pursuant to this subsection. The regulations shall: (1) Establish the criteria necessary for a Connecticut institution of higher education to be eligible to have a special number plate issued with the logo or emblem of the institution; (2) provide for the issuance or renewal of such a plate upon the receipt of a form certified by the institution that a contribution of at least fifty dollars was made to a scholarship fund or scholarship account at such an institution prior to each such issuance and renewal. Each such renewal shall occur at the time of each renewal of the motor vehicle's registration; (3) the fee established in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section; (4) any registration fee required by the commissioner pursuant to section 14-12; and (5) any additional information or fees required by the commissioner. All contributions to the scholarship fund or scholarship account of a participating institution of higher education shall be distributed on the basis of financial need.

      (c) On or after July 1, 2004, the commissioner may issue special certificates of registration and special number plates in accordance with the regulations adopted under subsection (a) of this section provided he may not issue a set of special number plates bearing the same numerals as any other plate issued by the department. The commissioner may discontinue the issuance of any such special number plates issued for a qualified organization, or special plates issued in accordance with the provisions of sections 14-21f to 14-21p, inclusive, at any time, upon written notice to the organization if, in the opinion of the commissioner, the demand for such plates is insufficient to support the costs of production.

      (P.A. 90-236, S. 1, 2; P.A. 91-275; P.A. 93-341, S. 3; P.A. 97-236, S. 4, 27; P.A. 04-199, S. 5.)

      History: P.A. 91-275 inserted new Subdiv. (b) requiring the department to adopt regulations for the issuance of special number plates with the logos or emblems or Connecticut public and independent institutions of higher education, relettered former Subsec. (b) as (c) and restated its provisions; P.A. 93-341 amended Subsec. (b) by providing for the renewal of collegiate special number plates and by providing that the plates may be obtained by any "individuals who meet the requirements established by the regulations adopted pursuant to this subsection", amended Subdiv. (2) by requiring $50 donation to a scholarship fund or scholarship account at the institution of higher education prior to each issuance and renewal of plates and specifying that renewal would occur when motor vehicle's registration was renewed; P.A. 97-236 amended Subsec. (a) to require that regulations provide that a labor union be a qualifying organization, effective June 24, 1997; P.A. 04-199 amended Subsec. (c) to change from mandatory to permissive issuance of special certificates of registration and special number plates and to permit commissioner to discontinue issuance of special number plates if demand insufficient to support costs to produce, effective July 1, 2004.