The bill amends Chapter 31-3 of the General Laws regarding the registration of vehicles by introducing a new section, 31-3-130, that allows the division of motor vehicles to issue special motor vehicle registration plates for the not-for-profit entity Cranston Cares. The special plates will be designed to reference Cranston Cares and will replace the standard registration plates for the vehicles they are issued for. The bill outlines the procedures for the issuance of these plates, including the requirement for a minimum number of prepaid orders before production can begin, and mandates that the original registration plates be removed from the vehicle and returned to the division of motor vehicles.

Additionally, the bill establishes a $40 issuance surcharge for the Cranston Cares plates, with $20 allocated to the general fund and the remaining $20 directed to Cranston Cares for community initiatives. A $10 surcharge will also be applied for subsequent registration renewals, which will be allocated to Cranston Cares. The bill requires Cranston Cares to use any Rhode Island-sourced funds received from the registration of these plates for the benefit of Rhode Island-based charitable organizations and mandates that Cranston Cares submit an annual accounting report before such funds are distributed. There will be no refunds for early cancellation of the Cranston Cares plates. The act will take effect upon passage.