To enact section 4503.549 of the Revised Code to create the "Combat Action Ribbon" and "Combat Action Badge" license plates.

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

Sec. 4503.549. (A) Any person who has been awarded the combat action ribbon or badge may apply to the registrar of motor vehicles for the registration of any passenger car, noncommercial motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, or other vehicle of a class approved by the registrar that the person owns or leases. The application shall be accompanied by such documentary evidence in support of the award as the registrar may require. The application may be combined with a request for a special reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code.

Upon receipt of an application for registration of a motor vehicle under this section and the required taxes and fees, and upon presentation of the required supporting evidence of the award of the combat action ribbon or badge, the registrar shall issue to the applicant the appropriate motor vehicle registration and a set of license plates and a validation sticker, or a validation sticker alone when required by section 4503.191 of the Revised Code.

In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed on license plates, the license plates shall be inscribed with the words "combat action ribbon" or "combat action badge" and bear a reproduction of the combat action ribbon or badge. The license plates shall bear county identification stickers that identify the county of registration by name or number.

The license plates and a validation sticker or, when applicable, a validation sticker alone shall be issued upon payment of the regular license tax required by section 4503.04 of the Revised Code, payment of any local motor vehicle license tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, payment of any applicable additional fee prescribed by section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code, and compliance with all other applicable laws relating to the registration of motor vehicles.

(B)(1) No person who is not a recipient of the combat action ribbon or badge shall knowingly and falsely represent that the person is a recipient of the combat action ribbon or badge for the purpose of obtaining license plates under this section. A person who violates division (B)(1) of this section is guilty of falsification under division (A)(3) of section 2921.13 of the Revised Code.

(2) No person shall own a motor vehicle bearing license plates issued under this section unless the person is eligible to be issued those license plates.

(C) Sections 4503.77 and 4503.78 of the Revised Code do not apply to license plates issued under this section.