The Florida Senate

320.089  Members of National Guard and active United States Armed Forces reservists; former prisoners of war; survivors of Pearl Harbor; Purple Heart medal recipients; special license plates; fee.--

(1)(a)  Each owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use or recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d), which is not used for hire or commercial use, who is a resident of the state and an active or retired member of the Florida National Guard, a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, a recipient of the Purple Heart medal, or an active member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces Reserve shall, upon application to the department, accompanied by proof of active membership or retired status in the Florida National Guard, proof of membership in the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association or proof of active military duty in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, proof of being a Purple Heart medal recipient, or proof of active membership in any branch of the Armed Forces Reserve, and upon payment of the license tax for the vehicle as provided in s. 320.08, be issued a license plate as provided by s. 320.06, upon which, in lieu of the serial numbers prescribed by s. 320.06, shall be stamped the words "National Guard," "Pearl Harbor Survivor," "Combat-wounded veteran," or "U.S. Reserve," as appropriate, followed by the serial number of the license plate. Additionally, the Purple Heart plate may have the words "Purple Heart" stamped on the plate and the likeness of the Purple Heart medal appearing on the plate.

(b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary beginning with fiscal year 2000-2001 and annually thereafter, the first $50,000 in general revenue generated from the sale of license plates issued under this section which are stamped with the words "National Guard," "Pearl Harbor Survivor," "Combat-wounded veteran," or "U.S. Reserve" shall be deposited into the Grants and Donations Trust Fund, as described in s. 296.38(2), to be used for the purposes established by law for that trust fund.

(2)  Each owner or lessee of an automobile for private use, truck weighing not more than 5,000 pounds, or recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d), which is not used for hire or commercial use, who is a resident of the state and who is a former prisoner of war, or their unremarried surviving spouse, shall, upon application therefor to the department, be issued a license plate as provided in s. 320.06, on which license plate are stamped the words "Ex-POW" followed by the serial number. Each application shall be accompanied by proof that the applicant meets the qualifications specified in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).

(a)  A citizen of the United States who served as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the armed forces of a nation allied with the United States who was held as a prisoner of war at such time as the Armed Forces of the United States were engaged in combat, or their unremarried surviving spouse, may be issued the special license plate provided for in this subsection without payment of the license tax imposed by s. 320.08.

(b)  A person who was serving as a civilian with the consent of the United States Government, or a person who was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who was not a United States citizen and was held as a prisoner of war when the Armed Forces of the United States were engaged in combat, or their unremarried surviving spouse, may be issued the special license plate provided for in this subsection upon payment of the license tax imposed by s. 320.08.

(3)  Each owner or lessee of an automobile for private use, truck weighing not more than 5,000 pounds, or recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d), which is not used for hire or commercial use, who is a resident of this state and who is the unremarried surviving spouse of a recipient of the Purple Heart medal shall, upon application therefor to the department, with the payment of the required fees, be issued a license plate as provided in s. 320.06, on which license plate are stamped the words "Purple Heart" and the likeness of the Purple Heart medal followed by the serial number. Each application shall be accompanied by proof that the applicant is the unremarried surviving spouse of a recipient of the Purple Heart medal.

History.--ss. 1-3, ch. 65-132; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 74-52; s. 5, ch. 77-68; s. 18, ch. 77-357; s. 5, ch. 82-97; s. 13, ch. 83-218; s. 35, ch. 83-318; s. 3, ch. 84-108; s. 1, ch. 85-66; s. 1, ch. 92-189; s. 67, ch. 93-120; s. 59, ch. 94-306; s. 8, ch. 95-282; s. 23, ch. 96-413; s. 1, ch. 99-296; s. 1, ch. 2000-358.