As Introduced

130th General Assembly
Regular Session
2013-2014
H. B. No. 45


Representative Johnson 

Cosponsors: Representatives Terhar, Retherford, Dovilla, Maag, Grossman, Ruhl, Rosenberger, Gonzales, Scherer, Landis, Derickson, Cera, Mallory, Buchy, Brenner, Pillich, Hackett, Strahorn 



A BILL
To enact section 4503.549 of the Revised Code to 1
create "Military Sacrifice" license plates.2


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

       Section 1. That section 4503.549 of the Revised Code be 3
enacted to read as follows:4

       Sec. 4503.549. (A) Any member of the immediate family of a 5
person who died outside a combat zone while serving honorably as a 6
member of any branch of the armed forces of the United States, 7
either active or reserve, the national guard under federal or 8
state control, or the United States coast guard may apply to the 9
registrar of motor vehicles for the registration of any passenger 10
car, noncommercial motor vehicle, motor home, or other vehicle of 11
a class approved by the registrar that the family member owns or 12
leases and for issuance of "military sacrifice" license plates for 13
that motor vehicle. The application for "military sacrifice" 14
license plates may be combined with a request for a special 15
reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the 16
Revised Code. Upon receipt of the completed application and 17
compliance with division (B) of this section, the registrar shall 18
issue to the applicant the appropriate vehicle registration, a set 19
of "military sacrifice" license plates with a validation sticker, 20
or a validation sticker alone when required by section 4503.191 of 21
the Revised Code.22

       In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed 23
on the license plates, "military sacrifice" license plates shall 24
be inscribed with a distinctive emblem and the words "military 25
sacrifice." "Military sacrifice" license plates shall bear county 26
identification stickers that identify the county of registration 27
by name or number.28

       (B) "Military sacrifice" license plates and a validation 29
sticker or, when applicable, a validation sticker alone shall be 30
issued upon submission by the applicant of an application for 31
registration of a motor vehicle under this section, payment of the 32
regular license tax as prescribed under section 4503.04 of the 33
Revised Code, any applicable motor vehicle tax levied under 34
Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, any applicable additional fee 35
prescribed by section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code, and 36
compliance with all other applicable laws relating to the 37
registration of motor vehicles.38

       (C) No person who is not a member of the immediate family of 39
a person who died outside a combat zone while serving honorably as 40
a member of any branch of the armed forces of the United States, 41
either active or reserve, the national guard under federal or 42
state control, or the United States coast guard shall willfully 43
and falsely represent that the person is such a family member for 44
the purpose of obtaining license plates under this section.45

       (D) As used in this section, "member of the immediate family" 46
of a person who died outside a combat zone while serving honorably 47
as a member of any branch of the armed forces of the United 48
States, either active or reserve, the national guard under federal 49
or state control, or the United States coast guard means all of 50
the following:51

       (1) A spouse;52

       (2) A parent, stepparent, or other person who acted in loco 53
parentis;54

       (3) A sibling, whether of the whole or half-blood, or by 55
adoption;56

       (4) A child, including those by adoption, or a stepchild;57

       (5) A grandparent.58