Relates to establishing distinctive "Women Veterans" plates and the women veterans support fund; establishes that moneys of the fund will be used for women veteran homelessness, counseling and other programs that support women veterans.
Summary
S04213 would create a new distinctive New York license plate for “Women Veterans” and authorize any state resident to request one. The plate would be issued through the Department of Motor Vehicles, with the normal registration fee plus a $25 annual service charge. The bill also sets up a mechanism for the plate program to support a new women veterans fund, with revenue beyond the first $6,000 in annual service charges directed to that fund.
The bill establishes the “women veterans support fund” in the state finance law and places it under the joint custody of the commissioner of taxation and finance and the comptroller. Money in the fund would be used by the New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs’ women veterans services for women veterans homelessness, counseling, and other supportive programs. The bill also includes the standard DMV specialty-plate startup requirements, including a surety bond unless at least 200 orders are received before production begins, and a threshold for discontinuing the bond if the plate reaches sufficient sales.
Impact
This bill would amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law to add a new specialty plate category and amend the State Finance Law to create a dedicated special fund for women veterans services. It would affect DMV plate administration, specialty plate revenue allocation, and the funding stream for veterans’ programs, particularly those serving women veterans experiencing homelessness or needing counseling and related support services.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong support for the bill, with the Senate Transportation Committee approving it 13-0. The bill’s purpose is framed positively as a recognition and support measure for women veterans, and there is no recorded committee transcript indicating opposition or debate in the materials provided.
Contention
No major contention is evident in the provided record. The main policy details are administrative and fiscal: the $25 annual surcharge, the $6,000 threshold before excess revenue goes to the support fund, and the requirement for 200 preorders or a surety bond to launch the plate. Any disagreement would likely center on whether specialty plate revenue is an effective funding mechanism and whether the program’s benefits justify the administrative requirements, but no specific objections are documented here.
Relates to establishing distinctive "Women Veterans" plates and the women veterans support fund; establishes that moneys of the fund will be used for women veteran homelessness, counseling and other programs that support women veterans.
Authorizes distinctive license plates for women veterans; directs that excess service charges collected be used to support programs that support women veterans at the direction of the commissioner of veterans' services.
This resolution supports the naming of new or undedicated Department of Veterans Affairs facilities after women veterans and minority veterans to reflect the diversity of all who have served in the Armed Forces.