License plates promoting or supporting certain agencies, funds, or nonprofit corporations or issued to qualified motor vehicles or owners with proceeds deposited in the general fund

(a) The General Assembly has determined that the issuance of special license plates to support an agency or fund or a program beneficial to the people of this state that is administered by a nonprofit corporation organized under Section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the Internal Revenue Code and, subject to the appropriation process of the General Assembly, appropriating a portion of the funds raised from the sale of these special license plates is in the best interests of the people of this state. Therefore, the license plates listed in subsection (l) of this Code section shall be issued by the department if all of the requirements of subsections (b) through (k) of this Code section have been satisfied. (b) The commissioner, in cooperation with the agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation sponsoring the special license plate, shall design special distinctive license plates intended to promote the program benefited by the sale of the special license plate. The special license plates shall include a design to be of the same size as general issue motor vehicle license plates and a design to be of the same size as motorcycle license plates. Such special license plates shall also include a unique design and identifying number, whereby the total number of characters does not exceed an amount to be determined by the commissioner. If so specified in the design description contained in this Code section for any special license plate, such license plate need not contain a place for the county name decal as required by Code Section 40-2-9. No two recipients shall receive identically numbered plates. The agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation sponsoring the license plate may request the assignment of the first of 100 in a series of license plates upon payment of an additional initial registration fee of $25.00 for each license plate requested. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this Code section, no special license plate shall be produced until such time as the State of Georgia has, through a licensing agreement or otherwise, received such licenses or other permissions as may be required to produce the special license plate. The design of the initial edition of any special license plate, as well as the design of subsequent editions and excepting only any part or parts of the designs owned by others and licensed to the state, shall be owned solely by the State of Georgia for its exclusive use and control, except as authorized by the commissioner. The commissioner may take such steps as may be necessary to give notice of and protect such right, including the copyright or copyrights. However, such steps shall be cumulative of the ownership and exclusive use and control established by this subsection as a matter of law, and no person shall reproduce or otherwise use such design or designs, except as authorized by the commissioner. (d) Any Georgia resident who is the owner of a motor vehicle, except a vehicle registered under the International Registration Plan, upon complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and upon the payment of a manufacturing fee of $25.00 and a special license plate fee of $35.00, in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee, shall be able to apply for a special license plate listed in subsection (l) of this Code section. Revalidation decals shall be issued for special license plates in the same manner as provided for general issue license plates, with the addition of a $35.00 special license plate renewal fee, provided that special license plates issued pursuant to paragraph (9) of subsection (l) of this Code section shall be exempt from such special license plate renewal fee. (e) The manufacturing fee, special license plate fee, and special license plate renewal fee derived from the sale of special license plates contained in subsection (l) of this Code section shall be deposited into the general fund. The sponsoring agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation, subject to the appropriation process of the General Assembly, may request that the funds derived from the sale of special license plates be appropriated to the department for disbursement to such agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation. (f) Before the department disburses to the agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation funds from the sale of special license plates, the agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation must provide a written statement stating the manner in which such funds shall be utilized. In addition, a nonprofit corporation must provide the department with documentation of its nonprofit status under Section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the Internal Revenue Code. The purposes for which the funds shall be utilized must be the same as those specified in subsection (l) of this Code section authorizing the potential appropriation to the agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation of revenue from the sale of special license plates. The agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation shall periodically provide to the commissioner an audit of the use of the funds or other evidence of use of the funds satisfactory to the commissioner. If it is determined that the funds are not being used for the purposes set forth in the statement provided by the agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation, the department shall withhold payment of such funds until such noncompliance issues are resolved. (g) An applicant may request a special license plate any time during the applicant’s registration period. If such a license plate is to replace a current valid license plate, the special license plate shall be issued with appropriate decals attached, upon the payment of any applicable registration fees, the manufacturing fee, and the special license plate fee. (h) No special license plate authorized pursuant to subsection (l) of this Code section shall be issued except upon the receipt by the department of at least 1,000 prepaid applications along with the manufacturing fee. The special license plate shall have an application period of two years from the date of authorization for payment of the manufacturing fee. After such time if the minimum number of applications is not met, the department shall not continue to accept the manufacturing fee, and all fees shall be refunded to applicants; provided, however, that, once the department has received 1,000 prepaid applications along with the manufacturing fee, the sponsor shall not be entitled to a refund. (i) The department shall not be required to continue to manufacture the special license plate if the number of active registrations falls below 500 registrations at any time during the period provided for in subsection (b) of Code Section 40-2-31. A current registrant may continue to renew such special license plate during his or her annual registration period upon payment of an additional $35.00 special license plate renewal fee, which fee shall be collected by the county tag agent at the time of collection of other registration fees and shall be remitted to the state as provided in Code Section 40-2-34. The department may continue to issue such special license plates that it has in its inventory to assist in achieving the minimum number of registrations. If the special license plate falls below 500 active registrations at any time during the period provided for in subsection (b) of Code Section 40-2-31, the sponsoring agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation shall be required again to obtain 1,000 prepaid applications accompanied by the manufacturing fee to continue to manufacture the special license plate. (j) Special license plates shall be transferred from one vehicle to another vehicle in accordance with the provisions of Code Section 40-2-80. (k) Special license plates shall be issued within 30 days of application once the requirements of this Code section have been met. (l)(1) The General Assembly has determined that license plates promoting the agencies, funds, or nonprofit corporations listed in this subsection shall be issued for the purposes indicated and the revenue shall be deposited in the general fund, subject to the appropriation process of the General Assembly. (2) A special license plate identifying persons with diabetes. The main purpose of the special license plate is that law enforcement officers and emergency personnel will be alerted to the potential for special needs before they approach the driver of a vehicle, especially if the vehicle has been involved in an accident. The funds raised by the sale of this special license plate shall be deposited in the general fund. (3) A special license plate honoring all veterans who have served in the armed services of the United States. All of these men and women have sacrificed a portion of their lives in order to serve their country and protect our freedom. The funds raised by the sale of this special license plate shall be deposited in the general fund. (4) A special license plate honoring the Georgia Association of Realtors. The Association is being honored for its long-standing support of housing opportunities for all citizens of this state, private property rights, and all organizations that assist people in achieving the American dream of home ownership. The funds raised by the sale of this special license plate shall be deposited in the general fund. (5) A special license plate honoring Georgia municipal clerks. The municipal clerk’s office provides the professional link connecting citizens with their local governing bodies and agencies of government at other levels. The funds raised by the sale of this license plate shall be deposited in the general fund. (6) A special license plate identifying residents of the State of Georgia who hold an unrevoked and unexpired official amateur radio station license issued by the Federal Communications Commission. The special license plate shall be inscribed with the official amateur radio call letters of such applicant as assigned by the Federal Communications Commission. The funds raised by the sale of this license plate shall be deposited in the general fund. (7)(A) A special license plate to be issued for alternative fueled vehicles, which license plate shall be similar in design to the license plate issued to all other residents of this state except that the commissioner shall place a distinctive logo or emblem on the license plate which shall distinguish the vehicle as an alternative fueled vehicle eligible to travel in travel lanes designated for such vehicles under paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of Code Section