Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §456-A is enacted to read:

§456-A.__Native Mainer registration plates

Subject to the requirements of section 468, the Secretary of State shall issue native Mainer registration plates beginning November 1, 2001 in accordance with this section.__Native Mainer plates are not required for registration of motor vehicles but are to allow citizens to participate voluntarily to fund programs to enhance fisheries and wildlife programs within the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

1.__Native Mainer registration plates.__The Secretary of State, upon receiving an application and a certified copy of the applicant's birth certificate indicating the applicant's birth within the State, and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, the registration fee required by section 501 and the administrative fee and contribution provided for in subsection 2, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of native Mainer registration plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates.__These plates must bear identification numbers and letters.

2.__Administrative fee and contribution to special programs.__ A person may contribute to the Native Mainer Special Programs Fund established in subsection 4 by applying for the special registration plates under subsection 1 and submitting, in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee, a sum of $20, which must be credited as follows:

A.__Fourteen dollars to the Native Mainer Special Programs Fund established in subsection 4; and

B.__Six dollars to the Specialty License Plate Fund as established in section 469 for administrative and production costs.

3.__Renewal fee.__In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed by law, the annual renewal contribution for native Mainer registration plates is $15, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows:

A.__Fourteen dollars to the Native Mainer Special Programs Fund established in subsection 4; and