§463.227. Special prestige license plate; "Utility Line Worker"

            A. The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall establish a special prestige motor vehicle license plate to be known as the "Utility Line Worker" plate, provided there is a minimum of one thousand applicants for the plate. The plate shall be restricted to use on passenger cars, pickup trucks, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and vans.

            B. The secretary shall work in conjunction with a designee from Entergy, Cleco, Southwestern Electric Power Company, the Association of Electric Cooperatives, the Louisiana Electric Power Authority, AT&T, and the Louisiana Internet Association to select the color and design of the plate, provided it is in compliance with R.S. 47:463(A)(3). The design shall include the words "Utility Line Worker".

            C. The special prestige license plate shall be issued, upon application, to any citizen of Louisiana in the same manner as any other motor vehicle license plate.

            D. The department shall collect an annual royalty fee of twenty-five dollars that shall be disbursed in accordance with Subsection E of this Section. The royalty fee shall be in addition to the standard motor vehicle license tax imposed by Article VII, Section 5 of the Constitution of Louisiana and a handling fee of three dollars and fifty cents for each plate to be retained by the department to offset a portion of administrative costs.

            E. The annual royalty fee shall be collected by the department and forwarded to the Louisiana Community and Technical College System Certified Line Worker programs to assist students in purchasing required climbing tools.

            F. The secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.

            Acts 2023, No. 173, §1.