This bill amends Chapter 31-3 of the General Laws regarding the registration of vehicles by introducing a new section, 31-3-132, that empowers the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue special motor vehicle registration plates for the not-for-profit entity, the Dominican Independence and Heritage Award Committee of Rhode Island. The special plates will be designed to reference the committee and will replace the standard registration plates for the vehicles they are issued for.

The bill outlines the procedures for the design, issuance, and renewal of these plates, including compliance with existing regulations and the requirement for a minimum number of prepaid orders before production. The special plates shall be the same size as regular motor vehicle plates and will be designed by the committee in conjunction with the Division of Motor Vehicles, with the design approved by the Rhode Island State Police.

An issuance surcharge of $40 will be applied for the special plates, with $20 allocated to the general fund and the remaining $20 distributed annually to the Dominican Independence and Heritage Award Committee to support its activities. Additionally, a $10 surcharge will be applied for subsequent registration renewals, which will also benefit the committee.

The bill mandates that the Dominican Independence and Heritage Award Committee of Rhode Island must use any Rhode Island-sourced funds for the benefit of Rhode Island-based charitable organizations. Furthermore, the committee is required to submit an annual accounting report before such funds are distributed. There will be no refunds for early cancellation of the special plates. The act is set to take effect six months after its passage.