(a) Because the Shrine hospitals for children have done immeasurable good for the children of this state, it is appropriate and proper that, subject to the provisions of this Code section, there shall be issued beginning in 1998 special license plates to honor and support the Shrine hospitals for children.

(b) The commissioner in cooperation with a representative of the Shrine hospitals shall prepare special distinctive license plates of a design appropriate to honor and support the Shrine hospitals for children, subject to subsection (d) of this Code section. Such Shrine hospital plate must be of the same size and general design of general issue motor vehicle license plates. Such plates shall include a unique identifying number whose total characters do not exceed the sum of seven, provided that no two recipients receive identical plates. It shall not be a requirement that a county name decal be affixed and displayed on license plates issued under this Code section.

(c) Subject to subsection (d) of this Code section, any motor vehicle owner who is a resident of Georgia, upon complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and upon the payment of a fee of $25.00 in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee, shall be issued such a special license plate.

(d) The commissioner shall retain all applications received for such special license plates until a minimum of 500 applications has been received. After receipt of 500 applications for such special license plates, the commissioner will then design the special license plate. If the commissioner does not receive the required minimum of 500 applications no later than July 31 of the year preceding the year of issuance of such plates, the commissioner shall not accept any applications for such special license plates and all fees shall be refunded to applicants.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Code section, this Code section shall not be implemented until such time as the State of Georgia has, through a licensing agreement or otherwise, received such licenses or other permissions, at no cost to the State of Georgia, as may be required for the use of the Shrine logo or other acceptable design or as may otherwise be necessary or appropriate to implement this Code section. No royalty, license fee, or other moneys shall be paid to the Shrine organization or its licensor for the use by the state on such license tags of such logo or design. The commissioner is authorized, on behalf of the state, to accept and execute the licensing agreements with the Shrine organization or its licensor. The commissioner may charge fees, take other actions, and agree to or impose terms and conditions which might normally be envisioned in licensing and cross-licensing agreements for the use of designs and similar intellectual property. Without limitation, the commissioner may agree to allow to others the exclusive or nonexclusive use of the design of the special license plate. The design of the special license plate, excepting only the Shrine logo and any other part of the design owned by others and licensed to the state, shall be owned solely by the State of Georgia for its exclusive use and control, except as authorized by the commissioner. The commissioner may take steps necessary to give notice of and protect such right, including the copyright. However, such steps shall be cumulative of the ownership and exclusive use and control established by this subsection as a matter of law, and no person shall reproduce or otherwise use such design, except as authorized by the commissioner.

(f) Special license plates issued under this Code section shall be renewed annually with a revalidation decal, as provided in Code Section 40-2-31, upon payment of an additional $25.00 annual registration fee which fee shall be collected by the county tag agent at the time of collection of other registration fees and shall be remitted to the state as provided in Code Section 40-2-34. Special license plates issued under this Code section shall be transferred between vehicles as provided in Code Section 40-2-80.