(1) Beginning the earlier of January 1, 2014, or when the department is able to issue the plates, the department shall issue special license plates to qualified applicants under this section for motorcycles, passenger cars, trucks, or noncommercial or recreational motor vehicles that do not exceed sixteen thousand pounds empty weight.

(2)

(a) There is hereby established the "Protect Our Rivers" license plate. The department may stop issuing the "Protect Our Rivers" license plate if three thousand license plates are not issued by July 1, 2017. A person may continue to use the "Protect Our Rivers" license plate after July 1, 2017.

(b) Colorado trout unlimited may design the special license plates, but the design must conform with standards established by the department.

(3)

(a) A person may apply for a "Protect Our Rivers" license plate 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 Colorado trout unlimited or its successor organization, confirming that the applicant has donated twenty-five dollars to Colorado trout unlimited.

(b) Colorado trout unlimited shall file with the department an annual statement verifying that it is a nonprofit organization unless the department stops issuing the license plate pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of this section.

(c) Colorado trout unlimited shall not use any moneys from a donation made under paragraph (a) of this subsection (3) for litigation or lobbying.

(4) The amount of the taxes and fees for special license plates under this section are the same as the amount of the taxes and fees 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 license plate. The department shall transmit the additional one-time fee to the state treasurer, who shall credit the fee to the highway users tax fund created in section 43-4-201, C.R.S.

(5) An applicant may apply for personalized "Protect Our Rivers" license plates. Upon payment of the additional fee required by section 42-3-211 (6)(a) for personalized license plates, the department may issue the 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 "Protect Our Rivers" license plates for the vehicle upon paying the fee required by section 42-3-211 (6)(a) and upon turning in the existing plates to the department. A person who has obtained personalized "Protect Our Rivers" license plates under this subsection (5) shall pay the annual fee imposed by section 42-3-211 (6)(b) for renewal of the personalized plates. The fees under this subsection (5) are in addition to all other applicable taxes and fees.