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Bill

A 9669

Authorizes a distinctive "Honor Flight" license plate; establishes the Honor Flight fund

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Harry Bronson and 3 co-sponsors

Creates a distinct NY license plate whose $25 annual charge funds the North Country Honor Flight program through a dedicated state fund.

PRINT NUMBER 9669A
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 9669

Summary of Bill A. 9669 (2025-2026) – New York

Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes a distinctive license plate to honor veterans participating in or associated with the “North Country Honor Flight.”
  • Creates a dedicated fund (North Country Honor Flight fund) to support the program.
  • Revenue from the distinctive plate is allocated to the program and related plate development efforts, with a mechanism for potential bond-backed security and oversight.

Key Provisions

1) Distinctive "North Country Honor Flight" license plate

  • Any New York resident may apply to obtain a distinctive license plate featuring the North Country Honor Flight design.
  • Application process is determined by the DMV commissioner.
  • Plate issuance follows standard registration procedures, with an added annual service charge.
  • Annual charges:
    • Basic registration fee (as with standard plates) plus an additional annual service charge of $25 for the distinctive plate.
  • Revenue allocation:
    • The $25 annual service charge, after covering general plate development costs, is used as follows:
    • Up to $6,000 of the annual charges are deposited into the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Distinctive Plate Development Fund (established under state law) for design, production, advertising, and marketing of distinctive plates.
    • Any excess beyond $6,000 in annual charges is deposited into the North Country Honor Flight Fund (a new fund) to support the North Country Honor Flight program.

2) North Country Honor Flight Fund (State Finance Law, new §97-ss)

  • A new special fund established in the joint custody of the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance and the State Comptroller.
  • Source of funds:
    • Revenues from the DMV distinctive plate charges (as described above).
    • Other monies appropriated or transferred from other funds, as permitted by law.
    • Grants, gifts, or bequests received for the fund’s purposes.
  • Use of funds:
    • Monies are designated to support the North Country Honor Flight program.
  • Payment and audit:
    • Funds are payable on the Comptroller’s audit and warrant, with vouchers approved by the State Director of Veterans’ Services.

3) Plate design and bond requirement (DMV process)

  • Distinctive plates must be designed, produced, and issued only after the DMV receives a $6,000 surety bond from a qualified surety company.
  • An alternative to the bond:
    • If the DMV has received at least 200 plate orders (valid orders) and collected the associated annual service charges, the bond requirement can be waived.
  • Use of service charges:
    • All service charges collected, under this section, go to the DMV Distinctive Plate Development Fund (state law §95-g) to support design, production, advertising, and distribution of distinctive plates.
  • Bond duration/termination:
    • If 200 or more sets of plates are sold within two years of first availability, the bond may be discontinued.
    • If fewer than 200 plates are sold within that period, the department may recover against the bond proportionally to the shortfall.

Affected Parties

  • New York residents who apply for the distinctive North Country Honor Flight license plate.
  • The Department of Motor Vehicles (design, production, issuance, and administration of the plate and related fees).
  • The Department of Taxation and Finance and the State Comptroller (management and audit of the new fund).
  • The State Director of Veterans’ Services (vouchers and oversight of fund expenditures).
  • North Country Honor Flight program beneficiaries and organizers (direct beneficiaries of fund disbursements).

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective date:
    • Immediate enactment for general provisions.
    • Sections 1 and 2 (creating the plate and fund) take effect 180 days after becoming law.
  • Administrative steps:
    • DMV must implement the new plate design, bond requirements, and allocation of service charges.
    • The North Country Honor Flight Fund administers grants and expenditures subject to standard state-wide financial controls.
  • Potential timelines:
    • If at least 200 plate orders are received before production proceeds, bond may be waived; otherwise, bond needed to proceed.
    • Two-year sales trigger determines whether the bond is discontinued or recoverable.

Potential Impacts

  • Increased funding for the North Country Honor Flight program through dedicated plate revenues.
  • Additional annual cost for plate holders ($25) beyond standard registration fees.
  • Administrative processes for plate development and fund management align with existing distinctive-plate mechanisms in New York.
  • Clear governance and oversight for the new fund, including required audits and approvals.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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