(a) The Office of Motor Vehicle shall redesign and simplify all military service and veterans special license plates issued under this subchapter that are in existence on September 1, 2009.
(b)
(1) In place of the legend “The Natural State” at the bottom of the special license plate, a decal for a veteran of each conflict authorized under this subchapter shall be created.
(2) The design of the special license plate shall include a blank space that is sufficient for the branch decal under subsection (c) of this section or the medal decal under subsection (d) of this section.
(c)
(1) The office shall design a branch decal based on the official emblem for each of the following:
(A) The United States Army;
(B) The United States Army Reserve;
(C) The United States Navy;
(D) The United States Navy Reserve;
(E) The United States Marine Corps;
(F) The United States Marine Corps Reserve;
(G) The United States Air Force;
(H) The United States Air Force Reserve;
(I) The United States Coast Guard;
(J) The United States Coast Guard Reserve;
(K) The Army National Guard; and
(L) The Air National Guard.
(2)
(A) The office is to seek the advice and input of the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Adjutant General of the State of Arkansas on the design of the branch decal.
(B) The office shall comply with the provisions of 10 U.S.C. § 1057 and 10 U.S.C. § 7881.
(3) The branch decal shall be of a size to fit on the license plate next to the officially designated license plate number.
(4) The applicant shall establish that he or she served in the branch before the office issues the branch decal.
(5) If the applicant does not purchase a medal decal under subsection (d) of this section, an employee of the office shall affix the branch decal to the special license plate at the time of issuance to the applicant.
(6) There is no additional charge for a branch decal under this subsection.
(d)
(1)
(A) The office shall design and make available for issuance medal decals for no more than five (5) medals awarded by a branch of the United States Armed Forces by January 1, 2010.
(B) Every two (2) years following July 31, 2009, the office shall design and make available for issuance no more than five (5) additional medal decals awarded by a branch of the United States Armed Forces.
(2) The medal decal is to be designed based on the official medal that it represents.
(3) The office is to seek the advice and input of the secretary and the Adjutant General of the State of Arkansas on the design of the medal decal, which medal decals should be issued, and the timing of the issuance of the medal decals.
(4) The medal decal shall be of a size to fit on the license plate next to the officially designated license plate number.
(5) The applicant shall establish that he or she was awarded the medal before the office issues the medal decal.
(6) If an applicant purchases a medal decal under this subsection, an employee of the office shall affix the medal decal to the special license plate at the time of issuance to the applicant.
(7)
(A) A fee of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be charged for the medal decal under this subsection to be deposited to the credit of the Military Funeral Honors Fund.
(B) An additional handling and administrative fee of one dollar ($1.00) shall be added to the cost of the medal decal under this subsection for administrative costs.
(8) The medal decal under this subsection is optional, and if it is not purchased, the applicant will receive a branch decal as provided under subsection (c) of this section.
(e) An applicant for a redesigned special license plate under this section shall meet the requirements of this subchapter.
(f) Except as provided under subdivision (d)(7)(A) of this section, the fee for issuance and renewal of a redesigned special license plate under this section shall be as provided in § 27-24-206.
(g) Military service special license plates issued under this subchapter before July 31, 2009, shall be valid and are not required to be exchanged until requested by the office.
(h) The office may use special license plates that were created and purchased under this subchapter before July 31, 2009.