North Carolina Family Policy Council
The North Carolina House Transportation Committee approved a bill Wednesday that would authorize the state to issue a special license tag bearing the pro-life message, “Choose Life.” The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mitch Gillespie (R-McDowell), directs a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the plates to the “Crisis Pregnancy Fund,” which would be created if HB 932—Choose Life Special Registration Plate becomes law. The monies in this fund would be distributed by the N.C. Division of Social Services to “nongovernmental, not-for-profit agencies that provide pregnancy crisis services that are limited to counseling and meeting the physical needs of pregnant women who are committed to either raising their own children or placing their children for adoption.”
The bill also specifies that Division of Social Services may not distribute these funds, “to any agency that is involved or associated with abortion activities, including counseling for or referrals to abortion clinics, providing medical abortion related procedures, or pro-abortion advertising, and these funds may not be distributed to any agency that charges women for services received.”
As has become common practice with specialty plates, once the legislation is approved at least 300 applications for “Choose Life” plates must be received by the Division of Motor Vehicles before they can begin production of the license tag. HB 932 now proceeds to the House Finance Committee where it must pass in order to be considered by the entire House.
“Considering the plethora of special license plates already approved by the General Assembly, including those for ‘Animal Lovers,’ ‘Harley Owners,’ ‘Save the Sea Turtles,’ ‘National Wild Turkey Federation,’ ‘Shag Dancing,’ and dozens of other interests, it is high time state lawmakers acted upon this legislation,” said John Rustin vice president and director or government relations for the North Carolina Family Policy Council. “We encourage the General Assembly to follow through on this action by the House Transportation Committee and pass this bill, so citizens across the state will have the opportunity not only to promote a pro-life message on their license tag but at that same time to help fund our state’s hard working crisis pregnancy centers.”
This story was used by permission of the North Carolina Family Policy Council.