AN ACT permitting Surviving military spouseS to renew Special Registration plates.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑79.4 reads as rewritten:

§ 20‑79.4.  Special registration plates.

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(a2)      Special Plates Based Upon Military Service. – The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs shall be responsible for verifying and maintaining all verification documentation for all special plates that are based upon military service. The Department shall not issue a special plate that is based on military service unless the application is accompanied by a motor vehicle registration (MVR) verification form signed by the Secretary of Military and Veterans Affairs, or the Secretary's designee, showing that the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs has verified the applicant's credentials and qualifications to hold the special plate applied for. The following shall apply to special plates issued under this subsection:

(1)        Unless a qualifying condition exists requiring annual verification, no additional verification shall be required to renew a special registration plate either in person or through an online service.

(2)        If the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs determines a special registration plate has been issued due to an error on the part of the Division of Motor Vehicles, the plate shall be recalled and canceled.

(3)        If the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs determines a special registration plate has been issued to an applicant who falsified documents or has fraudulently applied for the special registration plate, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall revoke the special plate and take appropriate enforcement action.

(4)        The surviving spouse of a person who had a special plate issued under the terms of this subsection may continue to renew the plate so long as the surviving spouse does not remarry. This is a qualifying condition requiring verification under subdivision (1) of this subsection.

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(b)        Types. – The Division shall issue the following types of special registration plates:

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(195)    Prisoner of War. – Issuable to the following:

a.         A a member or veteran member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has been captured and held prisoner by forces hostile to the United States while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States.

b.         The surviving spouse of a person who had a prisoner of war plate at the time of death so long as the surviving spouse continues to renew the plate and does not remarry.

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SECTION 2.  G.S. 20‑79.7 reads as rewritten:

§ 20‑79.7.  Fees for special registration plates and distribution of the fees.

(a)        Free of Charge. – Upon request, and except for the special registration plate listed in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the Division shall annually provide and issue free of charge a single special registration plate listed in this subsection to a person qualified to receive the plate in accordance with G.S. 20‑79.4(a2). For the special registration plate listed in subdivision (2) of this subsection, and upon request, the Division shall annually provide and issue free of charge a single registration plate for both a motor vehicle and a motorcycle to a person qualified to receive each plate in accordance with G.S. 20‑79.4(a2). This subsection does not apply to a special registration plate issued for a vehicle that has a registered weight greater than 6,000 pounds. The regular motor vehicle registration fees in G.S. 20‑88 apply if the registered weight of the vehicle is greater than 6,000 pounds:

(1)        A Legion of Valor registration plate to a recipient of the Legion of Valor award.award or to a qualifying surviving spouse under G.S. 20‑79.4(a2)(4).

(2)        A 100% Disabled Veteran registration plate to a 100% disabled veteran.veteran or to a qualifying surviving spouse under G.S. 20‑79.4(a2)(4).

(3)        An Ex‑Prisoner of War registration plate to an ex‑prisoner of war.war or to a qualifying surviving spouse under G.S. 20‑79.4(a2)(4).

(4)        A Bronze Star Valor registration plate to a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal for valor in combat award.award or to a qualifying surviving spouse under G.S. 20‑79.4(a2)(4).

(5)        A Silver Star registration plate to a recipient of the Silver Star award.award or to a qualifying surviving spouse under G.S. 20‑79.4(a2)(4).

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SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2021.