BILL NUMBER: S5521A
SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to distinctive
license plates issued to congressional medal of honor recipients
 
PURPOSE::
This bill would align the eligibility requirements for the issuance of
Congressional Medal of Honor license plates, with existing military
honors such as the Purple Heart. Presently, the spouses of Congressional
Medal of Honor recipients are ineligible to apply for this distinctive
license plate.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill establishes the name of this legislation, and may
be known and cited as the "Sergeant Gary Beikirch Memorial Act"
Section 2 of the bill would amend the vehicle and traffic law, section
404-p 1) and (2)
* Subdivision 1 would be amended to allow spouses of Congressional Medal
of Honor recipients to be eligible to request this type of license
plate, upon application with appropriate documentation * Subdivision 2
would be amended to authorize the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to
issue such distinctive plates, conditional upon appropriate proof
Section 3 of the bill establishes. the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In New York State, the spouse of a Purple Heart recipient is eligible to
request the issuance of a distinctive license plate, but the spouses of
CongreSsional Medal of Honor recipients are ineligible. This bill would
ensure that the standards are aligned for the issuance of distinctive
license plates for recipients of these important military honors. Allow-
ing this process is useful in the instance where a veteran in a house-
hold lacks the ability to drive or is not the individual a car is regis-
tered under, while still allowing that household to proudly display and
commemorate a veteran's service and military honors.
Within New York's veterans community there is recognition that for many,
there is an immense personal and sentimental value to the plates that
commemorate the service of Medal of Honor recipients. This legislation
is a step towards This legislation is named in honor of Sergeant Gary
Beikirch, an Army veteran who received the Congressional Medal of Honor
for his exemplary service during the Vietnam War in 1970. On April 1,
1970 North Vietnamese forces attacked Camp Dak Seang where Sergeant
Beikirch was stationed; there, he sprung to action and rendered aid to
wounded American service members and local Vietnamese allies, while
seriously wounded from rocket shrapnel. He was later awarded the honor
in 1973 by President Nixon, for his heroic service and dedication.
Sergeant Beikirch was born and raised in Rochester, NY, and called the
region his home postwar from 1979 until his passing on December 26, 2021
at the age of 74.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
2021-22: S.9015-A (Cooney) - Referred to Transportation
 
FISCAL IMP CATIONS :
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect thirty days after becoming law.