Legislature will see more specialty plate proposals

The Legislature will see yet another specialty license plate proposal.

Backed by Maine Teen Talk, the Family First plate "celebrates families and those we are most personally connected to," program manager Leslie Hyde said.

Maine Teen Talk is a nonprofit funded by a federal grant. The organization presents programs in high schools on healthy relationships for teenagers to have, including boundaries, how to set a budget, and how to effectively communicate. Their programs are found in 13 of Maine's 16 counties.

"This plate is beautiful, it is bold, and celebrates family," Hyde said. "Maine deserves to have a license plate like this."

The fee for plates while in the petitioning period is typically $25, but the Family First plate will be $36.

“Part of this is a fundraiser and sustainability project for our organization,” Hyde said. $25 of the fee will go toward the state; $10 to Maine Teen Talk and $1 goes toward payment processing for the plate.

Maine Teen Talk officials formally proposed the plate, which was approved by the Legislature. Before it is signed into law as being a specialty plate and can be issued, 2,000 residents must send in their $36 payment as a pledge to purchasing the plate. The Secretary of State's Office must be given $50,000 from those pledges to issue the plate.

"I don't want this plate to make any other statement then being proud that Maine is a place that my family can be celebrated,'" Hyde said.