(A) As used in this section, "bald eagle" means the haliaeetus leucocephalus, the bird that appears on the great seal of the United States.

(B) The owner or lessee of any passenger car, noncommercial motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, or other vehicle of a class approved by the registrar of motor vehicles may apply to the registrar for the registration of the vehicle and issuance of bald eagle license plates. The application for bald eagle license plates may be combined with a request for a special reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of the completed application and compliance with division (C) of this section, the registrar shall issue to the applicant the appropriate vehicle registration and a set of bald eagle license plates with a validation sticker or a validation sticker alone when required by section 4503.191 of the Revised Code.

In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed thereon, bald eagle license plates shall be inscribed with identifying words and the figure of a bald eagle, and shall be designed by the division of wildlife and approved by the registrar. Bald eagle license plates shall bear county identification stickers that identify the county of registration as required under section 4503.19 of the Revised Code.

(C) The bald eagle license plates and validation sticker shall be issued upon the receipt of a contribution as provided in division (D) of this section and upon payment of the regular license fees as prescribed under section 4503.04 of the Revised Code, a fee not to exceed ten dollars for the purpose of compensating the bureau of motor vehicles for additional services required in the issuing of the bald eagle license plates, any applicable motor vehicle tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, and compliance with all other applicable laws relating to the registration of motor vehicles. If the application for bald eagle license plates is combined with a request for a reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code, the license plate and validation sticker shall be issued upon payment of the contribution, fees, and taxes contained in this division and the additional fee prescribed under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code.

(D) For each application for registration and registration renewal the registrar receives under this section, the registrar shall collect a contribution in an amount not to exceed forty dollars as determined by the division of wildlife. The registrar shall transmit this contribution to the treasurer of state for deposit into the nongame and endangered wildlife fund created in section 1531.26 of the Revised Code. Such contributions shall be expended by the division only to pay the costs of acquiring, developing, and restoring habitat for bald eagles within this state.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 159, §1, eff. 9/14/2016.

Effective Date: 03-18-1999 .