1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; creating special veterans' license plates for each branch 
1.3 	of the armed forces;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 
1.4 	168.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [168.1257] ARMED FORCES VETERAN SPECIAL PLATES.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.General requirements and procedures. (a) Notwithstanding section 
1.8 	168.1293, the commissioner shall issue a set of special veterans' plates or a single motorcycle 
1.9 	plate to an applicant who:
1.10 	(1) is a veteran, as defined in section 197.447;
1.11 	(2) does not meet the criteria for veterans' special plates under section 168.123, 
1.12 	subdivision 2;
1.13 	(3) is a registered owner of a passenger automobile as defined in section 168.002, 
1.14 	subdivision 24; recreational vehicle as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 27; one-ton 
1.15 	pickup truck as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 21b; or motorcycle as defined in 
1.16 	section 168.002, subdivision 19;
1.17 	(4) pays a fee in the amount specified for special plates under section 168.12, subdivision 
1.18 	5, for each set of plates and any other fees required by this chapter;
1.19 	(5) pays the registration tax required under section 168.013; and
1.20 	(6) complies with this chapter and rules governing the registration of motor vehicles and 
1.21 	licensing of drivers.
2.1 	(b) The applicant must have a certified copy of the applicant's discharge papers, indicating 
2.2 	character of discharge, at the time of application. If an applicant served in active military 
2.3 	service in a branch of the armed forces of a nation or society allied with the United States 
2.4 	in conducting a foreign war and is unable to obtain a record of that service and discharge 
2.5 	status, the commissioner of veterans affairs may certify the applicant as qualified for the 
2.6 	veterans' plates provided under this section.
2.7 		Subd. 2.Motorcycle plate. A motorcycle plate issued under this section must be the 
2.8 	same size as a regular motorcycle plate. The commissioner shall only issue one motorcycle 
2.9 	plate for a motorcycle registered under subdivision 1.
2.10 		Subd. 3.Design. (a) For purposes of this subdivision, "branch of the armed forces" 
2.11 	means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine of the 
2.12 	United States, and all other uniformed services as defined in United States Code, title 52, 
2.13 	section 20310.
2.14 	(b) The commissioner of public safety, in consultation with the commissioner of veterans 
2.15 	affairs, must issue a special veterans' plate for each branch of the armed forces. The special 
2.16 	plate must bear an inscription "VETERAN" at the bottom of the plate and include a special 
2.17 	emblem of the branch of the armed forces. The commissioner of veterans affairs shall design, 
2.18 	subject to the approval of the commissioner of public safety, the special emblem for each 
2.19 	branch of the armed forces used for the veterans' special plates. The commissioner of public 
2.20 	safety shall consult with veterans organizations from each branch of the armed forces on 
2.21 	the design of the branch's special veterans' plate.
2.22 		Subd. 4.Plate transfers. On application to the commissioner and payment of a transfer 
2.23 	fee of $5, special plates issued under this section may be transferred to another motor vehicle 
2.24 	if the subsequent vehicle is:
2.25 	(1) qualified under subdivision 1, clause (3); and
2.26 	(2) registered to the same individual to whom the special plates were originally issued.
2.27 		Subd. 5.Fees. The fees collected under this section must be deposited in the vehicle 
2.28 	services operating account under section 299A.705. Except for the fees paid under subdivision 
2.29 	1, the commissioner must issue a set of special veterans' plates, or a single plate for a 
2.30 	motorcycle, to an eligible person free of charge and shall replace the plate or plates without 
2.31 	charge if they become damaged.
2.32 		Subd. 6.Costs of production. The commissioner of management and budget may 
2.33 	transfer money in the "Support Our Troops" account under section 190.19, subdivision 2a, 
3.1 	to the vehicle services account under section 299A.705, subdivision 1, to pay for the cost 
3.2 	of production of the license plates authorized under this section. The commissioner of 
3.3 	veterans affairs and the commissioner of public safety must agree on a payment schedule 
3.4 	before any money may be transferred under this subdivision.

3.5 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2024, for armed forces special 
3.6 	veteran plates issued on or after that date.