Provides for distinctive license plates for gold star family members; eliminates the registration fee for gold star parent and gold star family member distinctive license plates.
Summary
This bill amends New York’s Vehicle and Traffic Law to expand the state’s distinctive license plate program for Gold Star families. Current law authorizes plates for a “Gold Star mother”; the bill replaces that terminology with “Gold Star parent” and adds broader family eligibility, including the spouse, widow or widower, children, stepchildren, siblings, stepsiblings, and grandparents of a fallen service member. Eligible applicants would be able to request plates bearing either “Gold Star parent” or “Gold Star family,” depending on their relationship to the deceased service member.
The bill also removes the registration fee and any service charge for these distinctive plates. Applicants would still need to provide proof satisfactory to the commissioner of their eligibility, and the plates would otherwise be issued in the same manner as other number plates. The act would take effect 90 days after becoming law, with immediate authorization for any needed implementing rules or regulations.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would amend section 404-i of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to broaden eligibility for Gold Star distinctive plates and eliminate associated fees. It would affect the Department of Motor Vehicles’ plate issuance process and expand access to the program for a wider set of surviving family members of fallen service members. The measure would also replace gender-specific language in the statute with more inclusive terminology.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or vote history, so there is no documented debate or recorded opposition in the materials provided. Based on the bill’s purpose, it appears to be a commemorative and supportive measure intended to honor military families and reduce costs for eligible applicants.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential issues, if raised in future debate, could include the scope of family eligibility, the administrative burden of verifying relationships to a fallen service member, and the loss of registration and service fee revenue. However, the record here does not show any formal opposition or disagreement.
Provides for distinctive license plates for gold star family members; eliminates the registration fee for gold star mother and gold star family member distinctive license plates.
Provides for distinctive license plates for gold star family members; eliminates the registration fee for gold star mother and gold star family member distinctive license plates.
Provides for distinctive license plates for gold star family members; eliminates the registration fee for gold star mother and gold star family member distinctive license plates.
Authorizes the issuance of "Blue Star Mother" and "Blue Star Family" distinctive license plates for parents and family members of active duty service members; establishes the "blue star mothers and families support fund".
Provides distinctive license plates for the parents, spouses, children, step-children, siblings, step-siblings, and grandparents of police officers killed in the line of duty; eliminates the registration fee for family member distinctive license plates.
Provides for distinctive plates for gold star families, including gold star parents, as defined in 10 USC 1126, or children of a gold star parent, and their spouses.