(a) Subject to subsection (d) of this Code section, motor vehicle owners who are residents of the State of Georgia, upon application therefor and upon full compliance with the state motor vehicle laws in relation to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and upon payment of the regular motor vehicle registration fee and an additional initial fee of $25.00, shall be issued a license plate for a private passenger vehicle which shall bear the words "Supporting Public Schools." It shall be a requirement that a county name decal shall be affixed and displayed on license plates issued under this Code section.

(b) The commissioner shall retain all applications thereby received for such special license plates until a minimum of 1,000 applications has been received. After the receipt of 1,000 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 1,000 applications for special license plates under this Code section no later than July 31 of the year preceding the year of issuance of such plates, no such special plates shall be issued and all fees shall be refunded no later than 30 days thereafter to applicants. All license plates issued pursuant to this Code section shall be issued in compliance with the state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles as prescribed in this article.

(c) The license plate issued pursuant to this Code section shall be transferred between vehicles as provided in Code Section 40-2-80.

(d) 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 remitted to the state as provided in Code Section 40-2-34.