AN ACT to remove the 300 plate requirement from special license plates for world war II and Korean conflict veterans' plates, to modify the logo on the rocky MOUNTAIN elk foundation special license plate, and to authorize THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO ISSUE a special license plate FOR AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS, NORTH CAROLINA AGRIBUSINESS, AND THE STATE'S OFFICIAL VEGETABLE, THE SWEET POTATO.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑79.4(b)(27b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	Types. – The Division shall issue the following types of special registration plates:
…
(27b)	Military Wartime Veteran. – Issuable to either a member or veteran of the armed services of the United States who served during a period of war. If the person is a veteran of the armed services, then the veteran must be separated from the armed services under honorable conditions. The plate shall bear a word or phrase identifying the period of war and a replica of the campaign badge or medal awarded for that war. Except for World War II and Korean Conflict plates, the Division may not issue a plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for that plate. A "period of war" is any of the following:
a.	World War I, meaning the period beginning April 16, 1917, and ending November 11, 1918.
b.	World War II, meaning the period beginning December 7, 1941, and ending December 31, 1946.
c.	The Korean Conflict, meaning the period beginning June 27, 1950, and ending January 31, 1955.
d.	The Vietnam Era, meaning the period beginning August 5, 1964, and ending May 7, 1975.
e.	Desert Storm, meaning the period beginning August 2, 1990, and ending April 11, 1991.
f.	Any other campaign, expedition, or engagement for which the United States Department of Defense authorizes a campaign badge or medal.
…"
SECTION 2.  G.S. 20‑79.4(b)(36b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	Types. – The Division shall issue the following types of special registration plates:
…
(36b)	Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20‑81.12. The plate shall bear the phrase "Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation" and a logo approved by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Inc. 
…."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 20‑79.4(b)(3c) is recodified as G.S. 20‑79.4(b)(3d) and G.S. 20‑79.4(b)(45b) is recodified as G.S. 20‑79.4(b)(45c).
SECTION 4.  G.S. 20‑79.4(b) is amended by adding two new subdivisions to read:
"(b)	Types. – The Division shall issue the following types of special registration plates:
	…
(3c)	Aviation Maintenance Technician. – Issuable to a person who is a Federal Aviation Authority certified Aviation Maintenance Technician. The plate shall bear the logo of the F.A.A. Airworthiness Program and the initials "A.M.T."  The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate.
…
(28b)	NC Agribusiness. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12.  The plate shall bear the logo of the North Carolina Agribusiness Council, Inc., and the phrase 'NC's #1 Industry'.
…
(45b)	Sweet Potato. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle. The plate may bear a phrase and picture representing the State's official vegetable, the sweet potato. The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate.
…"
SECTION 5.  G.S. 20-79.7(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Fees. – Upon request, the Division shall provide and issue free of charge one registration plate to a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, a 100% disabled veteran, and an ex‑prisoner of war. All other special registration plates, including additional Congressional Medal of Honor, 100% Disabled Veteran, and Ex‑Prisoner of War plates, are subject to the regular motor vehicle registration fee in G.S. 20‑87 or G.S. 20‑88 plus an additional fee in the following amount:
Special Plate	Additional Fee Amount
Historical Attraction	$30.00
State Attraction	$30.00
Collegiate Insignia	$25.00
Goodness Grows	$25.00
Kids First	$25.00
Olympic Games	$25.00
NC Agribusiness	$25.00
Special Olympics	$25.00
The V Foundation for Cancer Research Division	$25.00
University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina	$25.00
Animal Lovers	$20.00
Audubon North Carolina	$20.00
Ducks Unlimited	$20.00
(Effective until June 30, 2006) Harley Owners' Group	$20.00
First in Forestry	$20.00
Litter Prevention	$20.00
March of Dimes	$20.00
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity	$20.00
(Effective until June 30, 2006) Rocky Mountain Elk 	$25.00
Foundation	
Save the Sea Turtles	$20.00
Scenic Rivers	$20.00
School Technology	$20.00
Soil and Water Conservation	$20.00
Special Forces Association	$20.00
Support Public Schools	$20.00
Wildlife Resources	$20.00
Personalized	$20.00
Active Member of the National Guard	None
100% Disabled Veteran	None
Ex‑Prisoner of War	None 
Legion of Valor	None
Purple Heart Recipient	None
Silver Star Recipient	None
All Other Special Plates	$10.00."
SECTION 6.  G.S. 20-79.7(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	Distribution of Fees. – The Special Registration Plate Account and the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account are established within the Highway Fund. The Division must credit the additional fee imposed for the special registration plates listed in subsection (a) among the Special Registration Plate Account (SRPA), the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account (CCAPA), and the Natural Heritage Trust Fund (NHTF), which is established under G.S. 113‑77.7, as follows:
Special Plate	SRPA	CCAPA	NHTF
Animal Lovers	$10	$10	0
Audubon North Carolina	$10	$10	0
Ducks Unlimited	$10	$10	0
First in Forestry	$10	0	$10
Goodness Grows	$10	$15	0
(Effective until June 30, 2006) Harley	$10	$10	0
	Owners' Group
Historical Attraction	$10	$20	0
In‑State Collegiate Insignia	$10	$15	0
Kids First	$10	$15	0
Litter Prevention	$10	$10	0
March of Dimes	$10	$10	0
NC Agribusiness	$10	$15	0
Olympic Games	$10	$15	0
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity	$10	$10	0
Out‑of‑state Collegiate Insignia	$10	0	$15
Personalized	$10	0	$10
(Effective until June 30, 2006) Rocky	$10	$15	0
	Mountain Elk Foundation
Save the Sea Turtles	$10	$10	0 
Scenic Rivers	$10	$10	0
School Technology	$10	$10	0
Soil and Water Conservation	$10	$10	0
Special Forces Association	$10	$10	0
Special Olympics	$10	$10	0
State Attraction	$10	$20	0
Support Public Schools	$10	$10	0
The V Foundation for Cancer Research	$10	$15	0
University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina	$10	$15	0
Wildlife Resources	$10	$10	0
All other Special Plates	$10	0	0."
SECTION 7.  G.S. 20-81.12 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(b23)	NC Agribusiness. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a NC Agribusiness plate before the plate may be developed.  The Division must transfer quarterly the money in the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account derived from the sale of NC Agribusiness plates to the North Carolina Agribusiness Council, Inc., to be used to promote awareness of the importance of agribusiness in North Carolina."
SECTION 8.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 20th day of September, 2002.

	_____________________________________
		 Marc Basnight
	 President Pro Tempore of the Senate

	_____________________________________
		 James B. Black
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	_____________________________________
		 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2002