(a) A holder of the Purple Heart shall be issued a special memorial registration plate upon request, upon complying with the title and registration law.

(b) The special plates provided for in this section shall be issued in conformity with § 55-4-203, shall include an identification legend distinctive to the holders of the Purple Heart, and be designed by the commissioner in consultation with the department's taxpayer and vehicle services director. The legend shall read “Purple Heart Veteran, Combat Wounded.” The registration number of the special plate shall include the letters “PH” and a unique identifying number, whereby the total characters do not exceed the sum of seven (7).

(c) Eligibility for the special memorial registration plate shall be determined by the department in consultation with the appropriate information on the DD214 form, or in a case of military service predating 1950, in consultation with appropriate information on the equivalent form or on other official documentation, citing that the request is submitted by a holder of the Purple Heart.

(d) Persons eligible for such special memorial registration plates shall be eligible to apply for plates on a vehicle owned or leased by the person or owned or leased by a company and furnished to the person; provided, that all appropriate fees, including the supplemental twenty-five-dollar special fee, if still applicable to this category of plates, shall be paid. Special memorial registration plates for holders of the Purple Heart that are issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2007, shall not be subject to the twenty-five-dollar special fee, but shall be free of charge pursuant to § 55-4-204(b), except as provided in subdivision (e)(2).

(e)

(1) A disabled veteran who is entitled to be issued a special memorial registration plate, free of charge, pursuant to § 55-4-256, may elect in the alternative for the issuance of one (1) special memorial registration plate for holders of the Purple Heart, free of charge, for one (1) motor vehicle or one (1) recreational vehicle owned or leased by that disabled veteran; provided, that a disabled veteran shall meet the requirements of subsection (c) in order to be eligible for the issuance of a special memorial registration plate for holders of the Purple Heart.

(2) One (1) additional plate may be obtained by any eligible disabled veteran upon payment of the regular registration fee for plates, as prescribed under § 55-4-111, and payment of one-half (½) of the fee provided for in § 55-4-204(c)(1). Additional plates may be obtained by any person entitled to receive the holders of the Purple Heart registration plate upon payment of the regular registration fee for plates, as prescribed under § 55-4-111, and the fee provided for in § 55-4-204(c)(1).

(f)

(1) Upon the death of the spouse who was entitled to receive a holder of the Purple Heart registration plate, the surviving spouse shall be entitled to receive a Purple Heart registration plate for any motor vehicle or recreational vehicle owned or leased by the surviving spouse. The application shall be accompanied by a copy of the death certificate. To be entitled to the plate, the surviving spouse shall pay the regular registration fee for plates, as prescribed under § 55-4-111, and the fee provided for in § 55-4-204(c)(1).

(2) Plates issued to, or renewed by, surviving spouses under this section as it existed prior to May 19, 2014, shall not be subject to the regular registration fee or the cost of producing the plate, and shall be free of charge.