(1) On or after January 1, 2011, the department shall issue Colorado state parks special license plates to qualified applicants in accordance with this section for motorcycles, passenger cars, trucks, or noncommercial or recreational motor vehicles that do not exceed sixteen thousand pounds empty weight.

(2) The foundation for Colorado state parks may design the special license plates. The design for the special license plates shall conform with standards established by the department and shall be subject to the department's approval.

(3) A person may apply for Colorado state parks special license plates if the person pays the taxes and fees required under this section and provides to the department or an authorized agent a certificate, issued by the foundation for Colorado state parks or a successor organization, confirming that the person has donated forty-four dollars to the foundation for Colorado state parks or a successor organization. All moneys collected pursuant to this subsection (3) and all interest and income earned on the investment of such moneys shall be expended on Colorado state parks projects and shall not be used for the administration of the foundation for Colorado state parks or a successor organization. The foundation for Colorado state parks or a successor organization shall hold the moneys collected pursuant to this subsection (3) in a separate account from all other moneys and retain the records of the expenditures of moneys collected pursuant to this subsection (3) for at least three years after the expenditure is made.

(4) The amount of the taxes and fees for special license plates under this section is the same as the amount of the taxes and fees specified for regular motor vehicle license plates; except that the department shall collect a one-time fee of twenty-five dollars for issuance or replacement of each such license plate. The department shall transmit the one-time fee to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the highway users tax fund created in section 43-4-201, C.R.S.

(5) An applicant may apply for personalized Colorado state parks special license plates. Upon payment of the additional fee required by section 42-3-211 (6)(a) for personalized license plates, the department may issue such license plates if the applicant complies with section 42-3-211. If an applicant has existing personalized license plates for a motor vehicle, the applicant may transfer the combination of letters or numbers to a new set of Colorado state parks special license plates for the vehicle upon payment of the fee imposed by section 42-3-211 (6) and upon turning in such existing plates to the department. A person who has obtained personalized Colorado state parks special license plates under this subsection (5) shall pay the annual fee imposed by section 42-3-211 (6)(b) for renewal of the personalized license plates. The fees imposed under this subsection (5) are in addition to all other taxes and fees imposed for personalized Colorado state parks special license plates.

(6) The department may stop issuing the Colorado state parks special license plate if three thousand license plates are not issued by July 1, 2016. A person who was issued a Colorado state parks special license plate on or before July 1, 2016, may continue to use the plate after July 1, 2016.