Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §523, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

3. Special veterans registration plates. The Secretary of State, on application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, the registration fee required by section 501 and a one-time additional fee of $5 and a reduced registration fee of $5 annually, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of special veterans registration plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates to any person who has served in the United States Armed Forces and who has been honorably discharged. If a veteran is the primary driver of 2 vehicles, the Secretary of State may issue in accordance with this section a set of special veterans registration plates for each vehicle.

Each application must be accompanied by the applicant's Armed Forces Report of Transfer or Discharge, DD Form 214, or certification from the United States Veterans Administration or the appropriate branch of the United States Armed Forces verifying the applicant's military service and honorable discharge.

All surplus revenue collected for issuance of the special registration plates is retained by the Secretary of State to maintain and support this program.

Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §524, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 31, §1, is further amended to read:

2. Former prisoners of war; special license plates. The Secretary of State, on application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, and in accordance with the provisions of section 603, subsection 5, shall issue a registration certificate and set of special designating plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates to any civilian citizen of the United States who was interned as a prisoner of war and to any person who served in the United States Armed Forces and who was a prisoner of war at any time during tenure of service, or the surviving spouse of a former prisoner of war who is deceased, when that application is accompanied by a copy of the appropriate military form or other official form issued by the Federal Government certifying that the person is a former prisoner of war. This special license plate is issued specifically to former prisoners of war and their spouses and the privilege of using the special plate is transferable only on the death of the former prisoner of war to the former prisoner's spouse. Upon the death of the former