AFLP Home Page
AFLP History
States with Legislation
AFLP Status Nationwide
I want AFLP in my state
AFLP Best Practices
AFLP NEWSLETTER & DISCUSSION FORUM
"I'll tell you how the sun rose - one ribbon at a time."
-- Emily Dickinson
Program Details | Bill Text | Legislative History
Sales Data | Comments
STATUS: AVAILABLE
Please send us up-to-date information if you are working on, or have additional information about this program.
GET THE PLATES
Massachussets Registry of Motor Vehicles
Collaborate and communicate with others working on AFLP around the nation and in Massachusetts.
For further information, contact:
Massachussets Animal Coalition (MAC)
Phone: 617-541-5101
Email: licenseplates@massanimalcoalition.org
PROGRAM DETAILS
Slogan: Friends For Life (to be confirmed)
Artist:
Fee: $40 over and above regular registration. There is a $20 plate swap fee plus any applicable registrations fees due at the time of plate pick-up. These fees will depend on your current plate number and expiration year. For instance, your current plate may expire in March of 2004. If your new plate expires in January of 2005, the registration system will charge you an additional amount for the extra time you receive on your registration.
Amount to Spay-Neuter: Initial order $28. Upon renewal, the entire $40 will go to the fund.
Balance: $12 manufacturing fee (Initial order only)
Fund: Proceeds from the sale of the plates go into a restricted, non-reverting fund known as the Dog and Cat Sterilization Fund.
Fund Administrator: The funds are dispersed by a Board made up of representatives appointed by the Governor from the following agencies: The Humane Coalition of Massachusetts, the New England Federation of Humane Societies, the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Veterinary Association and the State Bureau of Animal Health
Fund Disbursement: Funds will be dispersed annually by the Massachusetts Animal Coalition through a grant process. These funds will be awarded to non-profit humane organizations and municipal animal control agencies in the Commonwealth, to be used to prevent pet overpopulation by funding programs that provide services such as spaying and neutering to cats and dogs for free or at minimal cost. The proceeds will benefit both community non-profits and town animal control budgets. Strict accountability and an administrative cap of 15% assure efficient use of fund.
MAC, Inc is a statewide, non-profit organization of animal professionals. It was formed in February of 2000 to help promote collaboration among animal care professionals. By joining together, MAC members have created strong alliances and developed new programs and initiatives. Ever increasing numbers of Massachusetts animals have benefited from this cooperation. MAC members include:
- Animal control officers
- Canine breed rescue representatives
- Veterinarians
- Feline rescue representatives
- Representatives from shelters
- Pet supply retailers
- Cruelty investigators
Chapter 334 of the Acts of 2002
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A DISTINCTIVE REGISTRATION PLATE PROCESS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 10 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 67. (a) There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Commonwealth Security Trust Fund. There shall be credited to said fund revenues received from the sale of United We Stand distinctive registration plates and interest earnings thereon issued pursuant to section 2E of chapter 90.
(b) There shall be a board of trustees of the Fund which shall consist of the secretary of public safety; the secretary of health and human services; the registrar of motor vehicles; and the following individuals to be appointed by the governor: 2 representatives from the law enforcement community; 2 representatives from the firefighting community and 2 relatives of Massachusetts victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on America. The secretary of public safety shall serve as chair of the board of trustees. The board of trustees shall adopt operating rules and procedures for its organization and activities and shall submit such rules and procedures in writing to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance. The board shall serve without compensation.
(c) Amounts credited to the Commonwealth Security Trust Fund and interest earnings thereon shall be available for expenditure and not subject to appropriation at the direction of the chair of the board of trustees upon the approval of the board for the following purposes: (i) for providing grants to local police and fire departments for the purpose of enhancing emergency response, including responses to acts of terrorism; (ii) toward the design, construction and maintenance of a law enforcement memorial dedicated to Massachusetts law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty; and (iii) toward the design, construction and maintenance of a firefighters memorial dedicated to Massachusetts firefighters killed in the line of duty.
SECTION 2. Section 2E of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2000 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
(c) The registrar shall furnish, upon application, to the owners of private passenger motor vehicles distinctive registration plates which shall display on their face a design commemorating the victims and heroes of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack with the image of the American flag and the words "United We Stand". There shall be a fee of not less than $40 for such plates in addition to the established registration fee for private passenger motor vehicles, such fee being payable at the time of registration of such vehicle and at each renewal thereof. The portion of the total fee remaining after the deduction of the costs directly attributable to the issuance of such plates shall be deposited in a registry retained revenue account and of the remaining portion of such fee, 50 per cent shall be directed to the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund, Inc. and distributed by such fund at its discretion for the benefit of the relatives of the Massachusetts victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on America or toward the design, construction and maintenance of a permanent memorial to such Massachusetts victims, or both; 25 per cent shall be deposited within 90 days of receipt thereof to the Rewards for Justice Fund, to be contributed to the United States State Department's Rewards for Justice program and used solely to apprehend terrorists and bring them to justice; and 25 per cent shall be deposited in the Commonwealth Security Trust Fund established in section 67 of chapter 10.
SECTION 3. Said chapter 90 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 2E the following section:-
Section 2F. (a) The registrar shall design, issue and regulate the use of distinctive registration plates, subject to the following conditions: an organization sponsoring or requesting a distinctive registration plate shall post a bond in the amount of $100,000 to secure the issuance of the distinctive plate. The organization or group shall also submit 1,500 individual applications requesting the distinctive registration plate on an application form determined by the registrar, and the application form shall include the name, address and signature of each individual requesting the distinctive registration plate. Each of the 1,500 applications shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable check in the amount of $40. Upon the completion of the submission of the bond and the 1,500 individual applications, the organization or group requesting the distinctive registration plate shall submit a proposed design for the plate. The registrar shall approve the design within 90 days of its submission. After the registrar grants approval of the design, the registrar shall send the distinctive registration plate into production.
(b) A minimum of 3,000 distinctive registration plates shall be issued within 2 years of the issuance of the first distinctive registration plate in the series. Failure to reach the minimum by the end of the 2 year period shall result in the total or partial forfeiture of the bond. If total revenue generated by the distinctive registration plate is less than the established total cost to the commonwealth for issuing distinctive registration plates, an amount equivalent to the difference in revenues and costs shall be deposited from the bond into the General Fund. The remainder of the bond shall be returned to the organization or group that posted the bond.
(c) Distinctive registration plates to be considered by the registrar pursuant to this section shall include only plates that will benefit the following agencies, charities, causes or nonprofit organizations: The Jimmy Fund for the purpose of assisting their efforts in cancer treatment, research and prevention; The American Cancer Society for the purpose of assisting their efforts in cancer treatment, research and prevention; the establishment of a children's education fund to assist local cities and towns in purchasing textbooks for their school systems; the establishment of a library preservation trust fund to assist the commonwealth's public libraries in purchasing books, periodicals and other literature and equipment; the Black United Fund of Massachusetts; the establishment of a Diane Zaniboni breast cancer research fund to be coordinated by the department of public health; the pharmacy assistance program; The Humane Coalition for the purposes of instituting animal control programs; The Rotary Foundation; The Springfield Library and Museum Association for the purposes of creating and supporting a Dr. Seuss Museum in the city of Springfield; The New England Chapter of Transplant Recipients International Organization, Inc. for supporting organ and tissue donation and outreach efforts; the department of environmental management for the maintenance of historical vessels; the University of Massachusetts scholars fund and alumni fund; the establishment of an agricultural trust fund to promote and enhance the viability of agriculture; the establishment of a violence prevention education program to be coordinated by the department of education; an open space acquisition program to be coordinated by the executive office of environmental affairs; the Second Century Fund coordinated by the department of environmental management for the maintenance, preservation and operation of the state park system; the establishment of a fund to assist in the maintenance and preservation of historical monuments; the establishment of a youth hockey promotion fund to offset the costs of participating in youth hockey and promote improvement of parent and player behavior; the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Program and the Lazarus Program; the establishment of a Massachusetts AFL-CIO scholarship trust fund to promote the study of labor history and to provide scholarship assistance to Harvard University's trade union program; the establishment of a future of nursing fund to assist in efforts to address the shortage of nurses; and the rider education program to promote driver and motorcycle safety.
SECTION 4. The board established by section 67 of chapter 10 of the General Laws shall be appointed within 30 days after the effective date of this act, and the board shall adopt its initial rules and regulations within 90 days after the effective date of this act.
Approved September 26, 2002.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Bill Sponsor(s): Anthony Verga
Supporting Organization(s):
The bill was written and endorsed by a broad range of animal and veterinary organizations, including the Humane Coalition of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association, the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Animal Coalition.
Over 10,000 Massachusetts citizens have signed petitions pledging support for the legislation and expressing their intent to purchase the animal-friendly plates as soon as they become available. This would make the animal-friendly plate one of the most popular in Massachusetts� history.
Background:
MSPCA needed help to post the required bond and commit to selling plates. They received commitments from PETCO, the Alliance for Animals and many individuals.
MSPCA's Pledge Support Form
Bill HB 5028 establishes a procedure by which certain specified "agencies, charities, causes or nonprofit organizations" can work with the Registrar to create and produce a distinctive registration plate. The bill was on the Governor's desk to be signed on September 19, 2002. The Governor sent the bill back to the House to review a few amendments regarding the September 11 Remembrance Plate. On September 26, it was once again presented to the Governor.
Bill 5028 includes the following steps:
- Post a $100,000 bond "to secure the issuance of the distinctive plate."
- Submit 1,500 individual applications for the plate on an applicaiton form "determined by the registrar" (the form must include the applicant's name, address and signature.)
- Each application must be accompanied by a "nonrefundable check in the amount of $40"
- Once 3,000 plates are sold, the bond will be returned.
BILL WATCH:
(Note: we are aware that the below links have been changed, and the correct links will be updated on this website as soon as the MA 2002 bill history links become available on their site.)
Status of H508, 4582, 5028
Bill 5028
Bill 4582
Bill H508
Petition of Anthony J. Verga (D-Gloucester) and other members of the General Court (Co-sponsors include Senators Bruce Tarr and Stephen Brewer and Representatives Patricia Jehlen, Eugene O�Flaherty, Douglas Petersen, Susan Pope, George Rogers and Timothy Toomey Jr.) for legislation to create a pet overpopulation fund license plate program.
The Massachusetts Legislative Process
Massachusetts Legislature
State House, Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-1455 (Senate) / (617) 722-2000 (House)
Find your legislators by city and town
The Massachusetts State Legislature consists of 200 members (40 senators and 160 representatives). You are represented by one representative and one senator.
SALES DATA
Annual Report 2007 (pdf document)
COMMENTS
There was a special fundraising auction of low numbered plates in the Fall (October).
1,500 pre-orders were needed before the plates could be manufactured. Once the pre-orders were obtained, it took approximately 6 months to manufacture and distribute the plates. You will be notified by mail that your plates have been shipped to your requested Registry of Motor Vehicles branch.
Update 8/13/04: Notification letters have now been received. If you pre-ordered the plate, you should receive your letter any day now.