History of Legislation
2008 (updated 4.12.2008)
AB 2896 & SB 1455 were introduced into the CA Assembly & CA Senate in February,
2008.
AB 2968 was introduced by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber and is nearly identical to AB
1552, which was introduced in 2007. Gold Star Families will testify before the
Assembly Transportation Committee on April 14, 2008 to urge the legislators to pass
the bill.
SB 1455 was introduced by Senator Dave Cogdill. Supporters of the bill including
Tom Johnson, Secretary CA Department of Veterans Affairs, Dale Bonner, Business,
Transportation and Housing Agency, and Major General William H. Wade II, The
Adjutant General, California National Guard and California Gold Star Families will hold
a news conference on April 14 at 12:30 in Room 1190 in the State Capitol building
calling on the Senate Transportation Committee to hold a hearing on SB 1455
(Cogdill) which will allow the Department of Motor Vehicles to produce Gold Star
Family license plates.
2007
AB 1552 & SB 287 were introduced into the CA Assembly & CA Senate in February,
2007
The text of the bills were nearly identical. Listed below is the text of SB 287:
SB 287, as introduced, Denham. Vehicles: special license plates.
Under existing law, the Department of Motor Vehicles issues
environmental and other special license plates. The issuance of some of those
license plates is subject to additional fees.
This bill would authorize a person who is a family member, as the bill would define
that term, of a member of the Armed Forces who was killed while serving on active
duty in the military to apply for special license plates, subject to certain conditions.
The bill would exempt the person from the additional fees. The special license plates
would contain a gold star and the words "Gold Star Family."
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local
program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 5101.1 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
5101.1. (a) A person otherwise eligible under this article who is
a family member of a member of the Armed Forces who was killed while
serving on active duty in the military may apply for special license
plates issued for a vehicle under this article.
(b) The applicant shall by proof satisfactory to the department
show that he or she is a family member of a member of the Armed
Forces who was killed while serving on active duty in the military.
(c) Special license plates issued pursuant to this section shall
contain a gold star and the words "Gold Star Family."
(d) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
(e) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates
pursuant to this section, the special license plates shall be
transferred to the surviving spouse, if he or she requests, or shall
be returned to the department within 60 days after the death of the
plateholder or upon the expiration of the vehicle registration,
whichever occurs first.
(f) For the purposes of this section, "family member" means all of
the following:
(1) Widow.
(2) Widower.
(3) Biological parent.
(4) Adoptive parent.
(5) Stepparent.
(6) Foster parent in loco parentis.
(7) Biological child.
(8) Adoptive child.
(9) Stepchild.
(10) Sibling.
(11) Half-sibling.
(12) Grandparent.
(13) Grandchild.
2008 (updated 4.12.2008)
AB 2896 & SB 1455 were introduced into the CA Assembly & CA Senate in February,
2008.
AB 2968 was introduced by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber and is nearly identical to AB
1552, which was introduced in 2007. Gold Star Families will testify before the
Assembly Transportation Committee on April 14, 2008 to urge the legislators to pass
the bill.
SB 1455 was introduced by Senator Dave Cogdill. Supporters of the bill including
Tom Johnson, Secretary CA Department of Veterans Affairs, Dale Bonner, Business,
Transportation and Housing Agency, and Major General William H. Wade II, The
Adjutant General, California National Guard and California Gold Star Families will hold
a news conference on April 14 at 12:30 in Room 1190 in the State Capitol building
calling on the Senate Transportation Committee to hold a hearing on SB 1455
(Cogdill) which will allow the Department of Motor Vehicles to produce Gold Star
Family license plates.
2007
AB 1552 & SB 287 were introduced into the CA Assembly & CA Senate in February,
2007
The text of the bills were nearly identical. Listed below is the text of SB 287:
SB 287, as introduced, Denham. Vehicles: special license plates.
Under existing law, the Department of Motor Vehicles issues
environmental and other special license plates. The issuance of some of those
license plates is subject to additional fees.
This bill would authorize a person who is a family member, as the bill would define
that term, of a member of the Armed Forces who was killed while serving on active
duty in the military to apply for special license plates, subject to certain conditions.
The bill would exempt the person from the additional fees. The special license plates
would contain a gold star and the words "Gold Star Family."
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local
program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 5101.1 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
5101.1. (a) A person otherwise eligible under this article who is
a family member of a member of the Armed Forces who was killed while
serving on active duty in the military may apply for special license
plates issued for a vehicle under this article.
(b) The applicant shall by proof satisfactory to the department
show that he or she is a family member of a member of the Armed
Forces who was killed while serving on active duty in the military.
(c) Special license plates issued pursuant to this section shall
contain a gold star and the words "Gold Star Family."
(d) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
(e) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates
pursuant to this section, the special license plates shall be
transferred to the surviving spouse, if he or she requests, or shall
be returned to the department within 60 days after the death of the
plateholder or upon the expiration of the vehicle registration,
whichever occurs first.
(f) For the purposes of this section, "family member" means all of
the following:
(1) Widow.
(2) Widower.
(3) Biological parent.
(4) Adoptive parent.
(5) Stepparent.
(6) Foster parent in loco parentis.
(7) Biological child.
(8) Adoptive child.
(9) Stepchild.
(10) Sibling.
(11) Half-sibling.
(12) Grandparent.
(13) Grandchild.
- On January 18, 2007, the CA Senate Transportation Committee refused to
hear SB 287 sponsored by Senator Jeff Denham (R- Merced)
Legislation
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| Formed in January 2008, California Gold Star Families are organizing to work together to get the state of California to authorize a Gold Star Family License plate for California Gold Star Family members. Contact us at cagoldstarfamilies@cagoldstarfamilies.org |
| CALIFORNIA GOLD STAR FAMILIES |