SPONSOR:	Rep. Ewing & Sen. Vaughn;
	Reps. Buckworth, B. Ennis, Schwartzkopf, Williams

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

143rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 16

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES FOR GRADUATES OF THE FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Subchapter II, Chapter 21, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by adding thereto a new section to read:

"§2139J. Special license plates for graduates of the FBI National Academy.

(a) The owner of a private passenger vehicle or a truck with a three-fourth ton or less manufacturer's rated capacity may apply to the Department for assignment to that vehicle of a special FBI National Academy graduate registration number.

(b) A special FBI National Academy graduate registration number may be issued by the Department under this section if the applicant presents to the Department an official document which proves to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the applicant is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

(c) No fee in addition to the annual registration fee required by this title may be assessed for registration under this section. However, an original application under this section is subject to a one-time administrative fee of $10, which must be deposited into a special fund and used by the Division of Motor Vehicles to administer this section or to fund Department projects, notwithstanding the provisions of Chapters 13 and 14 of Title 2 to the contrary.

(d) The Department shall reserve sufficient special license plates including the letters NA and numbered consecutively beginning with the numeral 1 as are necessary to implement this section. The Department may reproduce the National Academy seal on the license plate if such reproduction is permissible and economically reasonable.

(e) The Department shall, in its regulations, provide for the return of a license plate issued under this section upon the death of the applicant.

(f) At least 25 graduates of the FBI National Academy must apply for the special license plate authorized by this section before the Division of Motor Vehicles is required to issue special plates under this section.".

SYNOPSIS

The FBI National Academy, established in 1935, has long been a vital element in continuing improvement of law enforcement standards, knowledge, and cooperation throughout the world. Admission to the Academy is very limited: only ½ of 1 percent of all law enforcement officers in the free world are invited by the Director of the FBI to attend. Most graduates join the FBI National Academy Associates, Inc., located in their state or region. This bill allows an Academy graduate to have a special license plate on his or her motor vehicle.