As Introduced

129th General Assembly Regular Session 2011-2012

H. B. No. 354

Representative Uecker 

Cosponsors: Representatives O'Brien, Lundy, Letson, Grossman, Gonzales, Brenner, Derickson, Reece, Blair, Combs 

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A BILL

To amend section 4503.546 of the Revised Code to

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redefine eligibility for issuance of a "Gold Star

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Family" license plate.

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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That section 4503.546 of the Revised Code be	4
amended to read as follows:	5

Sec. 4503.546. (A) Any member of the immediate family of a	6
person who died in a combat zone while serving as a member of any	7
branch of the armed forces of the United States or a reserve	8
component of the armed forces of the United States or the Ohio	9
national guard, or who died as a direct result of such service	10
after an honorable discharge, may apply to the registrar of motor	11
vehicles for the registration of any passenger car, noncommercial	12
motor vehicle, motor home, or other vehicle of a class approved by	13
the registrar that the family member owns or leases and for	14
issuance of "gold star family" license plates for that motor	15
vehicle. The application for "gold star family" license plates may	16
be combined with a request for a special reserved license plate	17
under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt	18
of the completed application and compliance with division (B) of	19
this section, the registrar shall issue to the applicant the	20
appropriate vehicle registration, a set of "gold star family"	21
license plates with a validation sticker, or a validation sticker	22
alone when required by section 4503.191 of the Revised Code.	23

In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed	24
on the license plates, "gold star family" license plates shall be	25
inscribed with a gold star and the words "gold star family." "Gold	26
star family" license plates shall bear county identification	27
stickers that identify the county of registration by name or	28
number.	29

(B) "Gold star family" license plates and a validation	30
sticker or, when applicable, a validation sticker alone shall be	31
issued upon submission by the applicant of an application for	32
registration of a motor vehicle under this section, payment of the	33
regular license tax as prescribed under section 4503.04 of the	34
Revised Code, any applicable motor vehicle tax levied under	35
Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, and any applicable additional	36
fee prescribed by section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code,	37
and compliance with all other applicable laws relating to the	38
registration of motor vehicles.	39

(C) No person who is not a member of the immediate family of	40
a person who died in a combat zone while serving as a member of	41
any branch of the armed forces of the United States or a reserve	42
component of the armed forces of the United States or the Ohio	43
national guard, or who died as a direct result of such service	44
after an honorable discharge, shall willfully and falsely	45
represent that the person is such a family member for the purpose	46
of obtaining license plates under this section.	47

(D) As used in this section, "member of the immediate family"	48
of a person who died in a combat zone while serving as a member of	49
any branch of the armed forces of the United States or a reserve	50
component of the armed forces of the United States or the Ohio	51
national guard, or who died as a direct result of such service	52
after an honorable discharge, means all of the following:	53

(1) A spouse;

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(2) A parent, stepparent, or other person who acted in loco	55
parentis;	56

(3) A sibling, whether of the whole or half-blood, or by	57
adoption;	58

(4) A child, including those by adoption, or a stepchild;

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(5) A grandparent.

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Section 2. That existing section 4503.546 of the Revised Code	61
is hereby repealed.	62