2006 Alabama Code - Section 32-6-302 — Commemorative motor vehicle tags for certain educators.

(a) Owners of motor vehicles or their spouses who are residents of Alabama and who are receiving monthly retirement checks from the Teachers' Retirement System of Alabama, or who are receiving monthly retirement checks from an education retirement pension program from any other state, shall be eligible to apply for and receive "Retired Educator" commemorative or personalized license tags or plates as provided in this division. Owners of motor vehicles or their spouses who are residents of Alabama and who are currently employed by a public education school system, college, university, institution, or who are active and contributing members of the Teachers' Retirement System, or who are employed by the State Department of Education, shall be eligible to apply for and receive "Educator" commemorative or personalized license tags or plates as provided in this division.

An applicant to receive a "Retired Educator" or "Educator" commemorative or personalized license tag or plate for private passenger or motor vehicles shall meet the following criteria:

(1) Apply to the appropriate judge of probate or commissioner of licenses as the case may be.

(2) Comply with the state motor vehicle laws, relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles.

(3) Pay the regular license fee for license tags or plates as provided by law for private passenger or pleasure motor vehicles.

(4) Pay an additional annual fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) for the "Retired Educator" tag or license plate and fifty dollars ($50) for the "Educator" tag or license plate.

(5) Present documentation or certification to the appropriate judge of probate or commissioner of licenses, as the case may be, that the applicant is either receiving a monthly allotment as a retired education employee; or, in the case of "Educator" tags or license plates, is currently employed in public education as provided in this section.

(b) Upon meeting all of the criteria, the applicant shall be issued a personalized motor vehicle license tag or plate upon which, in lieu of the numbers prescribed by law, shall be inscribed special letters, figures, numbers, or other marks, emblems, symbols, or badges of distinction or personal prestige, or combination thereof, as are approved for and assigned to the application by the State Department of Revenue.

(c) The distinctive commemorative tags provided for in this division shall be issued, printed and processed in the same manner as other personalized tags in Section 32-6-150. The distinctive commemorative tags shall be valid for five years and may be replaced at the end of the period with conventional tags, other personalized tags, or "Educator" or "Retired Educator" tags. Payment of the required motor vehicle license fees and taxes for the years during which a new vehicle license plate is not issued shall be evidenced as provided for in Section 32-6-63.

(d) The Commissioner of Revenue shall approve the distinctive design of the tags or plates provided in this division, and the approval shall be subject to submission of the design by the Education Tag Advisory Committee, which committee shall be strictly voluntary and the members shall serve without pay or remuneration. The Education Tag Advisory Committee shall consist of three members who shall be appointed by the Alabama Education Association. The design of the distinctive tag shall be subject to approval of the Revenue Commissioner and shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations pertaining to car tags and licenses, except that Section 32-6-54 shall not apply to this division.

(e) Fees collected pursuant to this division shall be transmitted timely to the State Treasurer. After payment to the Department of Corrections for its costs of manufacture and administration of the commemorative tags, the balance shall be transferred by the state Comptroller into the Penny Trust Fund established by Amendment 512 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, and as provided in Chapter 15A of Title 41.

(f) Fees paid pursuant to this division represent a charitable contribution from the purchaser to the Penny Trust Fund.

(Acts 1994, No. 94-708, p. 1374, §1; Act 99-697, 2nd Sp. Sess., p. 205, §1.)