SENATE BILL NO. 640
November 02, 2023, Introduced by Senator HUIZENGA and referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure.
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled
"Michigan vehicle code,"
by amending section 803e (MCL 257.803e), as amended by 2022 PA 143.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
1 Sec. 803e. (1) A person who was a prisoner of war or a person
2 whose spouse was a prisoner of war may apply to the secretary of
3 state for a special registration plate inscribed with special
4 identification numbers preceded by the letters "EX-POW" and the
5 words "ex-prisoner of war" beneath the registration number.
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1 (2) A person who was a member of the United States Armed
2 Forces during World War I may apply to the secretary of state for a
3 special registration plate inscribed with special identification
4 numbers preceded by the letters "WWI" and the words "World War I
5 veteran" beneath the registration number.
6 (2) (3) A person who was or a person whose spouse was a member
7 of the United States Armed Forces during 1941, was stationed at a
8 United States military or naval establishment at Pearl Harbor in
9 the Hawaiian Islands, and survived the attack by Japan on Pearl
10 Harbor on December 7, 1941 may apply to the secretary of state for
11 a special registration plate inscribed with special identification
12 numbers and the words "Pearl Harbor survivor" beneath the
13 registration number.
14 (3) (4) A recipient of the Purple Heart Medal or a person
15 whose spouse was a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal may apply to
16 the secretary of state for a special registration plate inscribed
17 with special identification numbers and the words "combat wounded
18 veteran" beneath the registration number. In addition, the special
19 registration plate described in this subsection must be inscribed
20 with a vignette of the official Purple Heart Medal.
21 (4) (5) Application for a special registration plate under
22 subsection (1), (2), or (3) must be on a form prescribed by the
23 secretary of state and must be accompanied by any proof of the
24 applicant having been or the spouse of the applicant having been a
25 prisoner of war, World War I veteran, Pearl Harbor survivor, or
26 recipient of the Purple Heart Medal that the secretary of state may
27 require. Application for a "Gold Star Family" special registration
28 plate described in subsection (9) or a "Blue Star Family" special
29 registration plate described in subsection (10) must be on a form
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1 prescribed by the secretary of state and must be accompanied by any
2 proof of the applicant having been a gold star or blue star family
3 member that the secretary of state may require. The application for
4 the special registration plate must not require a service fee under
5 section 804.
6 (5) The surviving spouse of a person who was a member of the
7 United States Armed Forces as described in subsection (2), or the
8 surviving spouse of a person who was a recipient of the Purple
9 Heart Medal, may use a special registration plate issued under this
10 section after the death of the veteran and may renew a special
11 registration plate issued under this section after the death of the
12 veteran in the same manner as provided in this section for the
13 veteran. If applicable, before renewing the special registration
14 plate as described in this section, a surviving spouse shall apply
15 for registration of the vehicle on which the surviving spouse
16 wishes to place the special registration plate.
17 (6) Upon proper application, the secretary of state shall
18 issue 1 or more special registration plates under this section for
19 each applicant for use on a passenger vehicle. A person who is
20 disabled who applies for a special registration plate under this
21 section must be issued a tab for persons with disabilities as
22 provided in section 803f for his or her that special registration
23 plate. The secretary of state shall require the same proof that the
24 applicant is a disabled person as is required for issuance of a
25 permanent windshield placard under section 675. One person in any
26 household is entitled to 1 special registration plate issued under
27 subsection (1) that is exempt from payment of the tax provided in
28 section 801. The person who is issued an additional special
29 registration plate under subsection (1) must be assessed the
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1 applicable tax provided for in section 801. A person issued 1 or
2 more special registration plates under subsection (2), (3), (4),
3 (9), or (10) must be assessed the applicable tax provided in
4 section 801.
5 (7) The use of a special registration plate issued under this
6 section on a vehicle other than the vehicle for which the plate is
7 issued, or by a person who does not qualify under this section, is
8 a misdemeanor.
9 (8) The special registration plate issued under this section
10 expires on the birthday of the vehicle owner in a year in which new
11 plates are issued by the secretary of state. Application for
12 renewal of the special registration plate must not require a
13 service fee under section 804. The applicant for renewal of the
14 special registration plate is not required to furnish the proof
15 provided in subsection (5).(4).
16 (9) A gold star family member may apply to the secretary of
17 state for a special registration plate inscribed with special
18 identification numbers preceded by a gold star and the words "Gold
19 Star Family" beneath the registration number.
20 (10) A blue star family member may apply to the secretary of
21 state for a special registration plate inscribed with special
22 identification numbers preceded by a Blue Star Families insignia
23 and the words "Blue Star Family" beneath the registration number.
24 (11) As used in this section:
25 (a) "Blue star family member" means a person who is currently
26 serving in the United States Armed Forces or in forces incorporated
27 as part of the United States Armed Forces or a person who has an
28 immediate family member serving in the United States Armed Forces
29 or in forces incorporated as part of the United States Armed
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1 Forces. As used in this subdivision, "immediate family member"
2 means a parent, stepparent, adoptive parent, foster parent standing
3 in loco parentis, child, stepchild, adopted child, sibling, half-
4 sibling, spouse, or grandparent.
5 (b) "Gold star family member" means a person who has had an
6 immediate family member die while serving in the United States
7 Armed Forces or in forces incorporated as part of the United States
8 Armed Forces if the immediate family member meets any of the
9 eligibility criteria specified in 10 USC 1126(a)(1) to (3) for a
10 gold star lapel button.
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Statutes affected: Senate Introduced Bill: 257.803