(a) An organization may apply to the department for participation in a special interest license plate program and the department shall issue special license plates for that program if the issuance of those plates is required by this article, the sponsoring organization complies with the requirements of this section, and the organization meets all of the following criteria: (1) Qualifies for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and Section 23701d of the Revenue and Taxation Code. (2) Submits a financial plan describing the purposes for which the revenues described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) will be used. (3) Submits a design of the organizationâs proposed special interest license plate that, among other things, provides for the placement of the number and letter characters in a manner that allows for law enforcement to readily identify those characters. (b) Any person described in Section 5101 may apply for special interest license plates, in lieu of the regular license plates. (c) The design criteria for a special interest license plate are as follows: (1) The license plate for a passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle, or trailer shall provide a space not larger than 2 inches by 3 inches to the left of the numerical series and a space not larger than five-eighths of an inch in height below the numerical series for a distinctive design, decal, or descriptive message as authorized by this article. The plates shall be issued in sequential numerical order or, pursuant to Section 5103, in a combination of numbers or letters. (2) Special interest license plates authorized under this article may be issued for use on a motorcycle. That license plate shall contain a five digit configuration issued in sequential numerical order or, pursuant to Section 5103, in a combination of numbers or letters. There shall be a space to the left of the numerical series for a distinctive design or decal and the characters shall contrast sharply with the uniform background color. No motorcycle plate containing a full plate graphic design is authorized. Those particular special interest license plates that were issued prior to the discontinuation provided by this paragraph may continue to be used and attached to the vehicle for which they were issued and may be renewed, retained, or transferred pursuant to this code. (d) (1) No organization may be included in the program until not less than 7,500 applications for the particular special interest license plates are received. Each organization shall collect and hold applications for the plates. Once the organization has received at least 7,500 applications, it shall submit the applications, along with the necessary fees, to the department. The department shall not issue any special interest license plate until an organization has received and submitted to the department not less than 7,500 applications for that particular special interest license plate within the time period prescribed in this section. Advanced payment to the department by an organization representing the departmentâs estimated or actual administrative costs associated with the issuance of a particular special interest license plate shall not constitute compliance with this requirement. The organization shall have 12 months, following the effective date of the enactment of the specific legislation enabling the organization to participate in this program, to receive the required number of applications. If, after that 12 months, 7,500 applications have not been received, the organization shall immediately do either of the following: (A) Refund to all applicants any fees or deposits that have been collected. (B) Contact the department to indicate the organizationâs intent to undertake collection of additional applications and fees or deposits for an additional period, not to exceed 12 months, in order to obtain the minimum 7,500 applications. If an organization elects to exercise the option under
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