(a) Distinctive license plates are authorized for active, retired, and honorably discharged members of 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in good standing. The plates are approved for display on motor vehicles that are authorized by § 55-4-210(c) and that are owned and operated, or leased by, a member or a member's spouse or child.

(b) The license plates shall bear an emblem distinctive of 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the legend “5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)”. The plates shall be designed in consultation with an authorized representative of 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

(c) The license plate authorized pursuant to this section shall be issued upon:

(1) Payment of the regular registration fee pursuant to this chapter;

(2) Payment of the fee prescribed by § 55-4-204(c); and

(3) Submission of documentation required by subsection (d) or (e).

(d)

(1) All applications pursuant to this section must be accompanied by military orders or other official documentation detailing an assignment to 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) as proof of eligibility for issuance of a license plate pursuant to this section.

(2) In addition to providing the documentation required under subdivision (d)(1):

(A) An active duty member of 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) must present a valid military identification card or such other document as the commissioner designates as sufficient proof that the applicant is an active duty member of the military; or

(B) A retired or honorably discharged member of 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) must present:

(i) A certified copy of the member's certificate of release or discharge from active duty, department of defense form 214 (DD 214);

(ii) A valid DD form 2 (Retired) military identification card; or

(iii) A Tennessee driver license that indicates military service in accordance with § 55-50-354.

(3) An application pursuant to this section by a spouse or child of a member must be accompanied by documentation that:

(A) Is required from a member under subdivisions (d)(1) and (2); and

(B) Provides sufficient proof that the applicant is the spouse or child of a member, including:

(i) A valid DD form 1173 military dependent identification card;

(ii) A marriage certificate;

(iii) A birth certificate or certificate of adoption; or

(iv) Other documentation designated by the commissioner.

(e) A surviving spouse of a deceased retired or honorably discharged member or of a member who died while on active duty shall be issued a license plate pursuant to this section, until the surviving spouse remarries, upon:

(1) Complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles;

(2) Paying the regular registration fee pursuant to this chapter and the fee prescribed by § 55-4-204(c);

(3) Providing documentation required under subdivision (d)(3); and

(4) Providing a copy of the death certificate of the deceased.

(f) An applicant shall be required to submit the documentation required by subsection (d) or (e) only when initially applying for license plates under this section. Subsequent license plates under this section shall be issued to that person without the repeated presentation of documentation.