§463.85. Special prestige license plates; Esther Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star-Prince Hall Affiliation

A. The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall establish a special prestige license plate to be known as the Esther Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star-Prince Hall Affiliation, hereafter referred to as the "organization", plate, subject to the provisions of this Section. The license plate shall be restricted to passenger cars, pickup trucks, vans, and recreational vehicles. The color and design of the license plate shall be selected by the Grand Worthy Matron of the organization or her designee, shall contain the organization's logo, and shall otherwise be in compliance with the provisions of R.S. 47:463(A)(3). The organization shall be prohibited from requesting any change to the design and color of the license plates within a five-year period after the date of acceptance of a specific color and design.

B. The license plate shall be issued upon application to any member in good standing of the organization.

C. An annual royalty fee of twelve dollars and fifty cents for use of the organization's logo shall be collected from the applicant and forwarded to the organization for each license plate issued as provided in this Section. The department shall also collect the standard motor vehicle registration license fee provided for in R.S. 47:463 and a handling fee of three dollars and fifty cents. The handling fee shall be retained by the department to offset a portion of the administrative costs.

D. The monies received from the royalty fees by the organization shall be used solely for academic or financial need-based scholarships for students attending any public or private college or university in the state of Louisiana. Additionally, the monies may be used for the purchase of equipment and supplies for and the operation expenses of the youth camp known as Chicota Youth Camp. The organization shall be responsible for establishing and disbursing the funds for the scholarship program and for the disbursement of funds for Chicota Youth Camp.

E. The secretary shall establish a prestige license plate for the organization in accordance with the provisions of this Section when both of the following conditions are met:

(1) All necessary contracts regarding use of the organization's logo have been executed.

(2) The secretary has received a minimum of one thousand applications for the license plate.

F. The secretary shall establish rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Section, including but not limited to rules and regulations governing the collection and disbursement of royalty fees, verification that an applicant is a member of the organization, the transfer and disposition of such license plates, the colors available, and the design criteria.

Acts 2001, No. 662, §1.