Arkansas Choose Life License Plate Funds Delayed to Pregnancy Groups
by Maria Gallagher
LifeNews.com Staff Writer
April 7, 2004
Little Rock, AR (LifeNews.com) — Adoption agencies and maternity homes in Arkansas will have to wait a little while before they receive money from the sale of the new "Choose Life" license plates there. But a prominent pro-life leader expects the problem to be fixed quickly.
Because of an unexpected legislative problem, the distribution of funds is being held up until an appropriation bill is introduced and passed by the Arkansas General Assembly.
The non-profit agencies that were supposed to receive money from the license plate fund will not be getting those dollars this year.
"This was an oversight that will be corrected as soon as possible," Rose Mimms, Executive Director of Arkansas Right to Life, told LifeNews.com.
Mimms notes that both the Governor’s staff and the lead sponsor of the license plate bill, Rep. Marvin Parks, are aware of the legislative glitch.
"I do not anticipate any problem, since the ‘Choose Life’ specialty plate legislation is already law," Mimms said.
The plate has proven quite popular in Arkansas, following a trend seen around the country. More than a thousand plates have been sold so far, generating $25,000 for the Choose Life Adoption Assistance Program Fund. The fund is run by the state health department.
"The fund being generated by the sale of the ‘Choose Life’ plates is growing and will remain untouched until appropriation measures are in place to distribute the proceeds among qualified organizations who may apply for the funds," Mimms said.
The concept of "Choose Life" license plates has been around for years. Advocates say the movement continues to grow, despite continuous legal challenges launched by pro-abortion groups. The license tags have been approved by state legislatures in a number of states, from Florida to Hawaii, and from Connecticut to Montana.
Proceeds from the sale of such plates are generally used to promote adoption and other life-affirming assistance for pregnant women.
Related web sites:
Arkansas Choose Life plate – https://www.archoose-life.org
National Choose Life plates – https://www.choose-life.org
Arkansas Right to Life – https://www.artl.org
