(a) An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state and who is a current member of the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles, and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in § 55-4-204, shall be issued a Tennessee Sheriffs' Association new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by § 55-4-210(c).

(b)

(1) The application for these license plates shall be accompanied by the current year's membership card from the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association, certifying the applicant to be a member of the organization. If renewed by mail, the renewal shall be accompanied by a copy of the member's current year Tennessee Sheriffs' Association membership card.

(2) Only paid sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, sheriff's office employees and their spouses; retired sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, sheriff's office employees in good standing and their spouses; and Tennessee Sheriffs' Association employees and their spouses who are members of the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association shall be permitted to receive the license plates.

(c) The new, specialty earmarked license plates provided for in this section shall bear the inscription “TENNESSEE SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION” or “TSA” and an appropriate standardized insignia of the organization.

(d)

(1) If any individual does not comply with subdivision (b)(2), the applicant to whom a registration plate has been issued pursuant to this section shall surrender the plate to the county clerk of the county of the applicant's residence within thirty (30) days of noncompliance.

(2) The Tennessee Sheriffs' Association shall provide biannually to the department the names and addresses of any persons who have terminated their membership in the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association, together with any other identifying information as the commissioner may require.

(3) The Tennessee Sheriffs' Association shall provide quarterly to each sheriff's office a list of current plate holders for verification of employment, retiree in good standing, and spouses.

(e) Subject to the requirements of § 55-4-202, the commissioner is authorized and shall issue a license plate to an owner or lessee of a motorcycle who is otherwise eligible for a Tennessee Sheriffs' Association plate; provided, however, that the owner or lessee shall comply with the state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motorcycles and shall pay the regular fee applicable to motorcycles and the applicable fee specified in § 55-4-204 prior to the issuance of the plate.

(f) Funds produced from the sale of Tennessee Sheriffs' Association new specialty earmarked license plates shall be allocated to the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association Charitable Foundations in accordance with § 55-4-301.

(g) For the purposes of § 55-4-202(h)(1), all license plates authorized or issued pursuant to subsections (a) and (e) shall be jointly included in any determinations for initial issuance and continuation of issuance.