(a) On and after January 1, 2004, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall issue wildlife conservation commemorative number plates of a design to enhance public awareness of state efforts to conserve wildlife species and their habitats in Connecticut. The design shall be determined by agreement between the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. No use shall be made of such plates except as official registration marker plates.

      (b) A fee of fifty dollars shall be charged for wildlife conservation commemorative number plates, in addition to the regular fee or fees prescribed for the registration of a motor vehicle. Fifteen dollars of such fee shall be deposited in an account controlled by the Department of Motor Vehicles to be used for the cost of producing, issuing, renewing and replacing such number plates and thirty-five dollars of such fee shall be deposited in an account controlled by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management for purposes of section 14-21t. Such number plates shall have letters and numbers selected by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The commissioner may establish a higher fee for: (1) Number plates that contain the numbers and letters from a previously issued number plate; (2) number plates that contain letters in place of numbers as authorized by section 14-49, in addition to the fee or fees prescribed for registration under said section; and (3) number plates that are low number plates issued in accordance with section 14-160, in addition to the fee or fees prescribed for registration under said section.

      (c) A renewal fee of fifteen dollars shall be charged for renewal of registration of a motor vehicle bearing a wildlife conservation commemorative number plate, in addition to the regular fee or fees prescribed for renewal of registration of a motor vehicle. Five dollars of the renewal fee shall be designated for administrative costs of the Department of Motor Vehicles. No additional renewal fee shall be charged for renewal of registration for any motor vehicle bearing a wildlife conservation commemorative number plate which contain letters in place of numbers, or low number plates, in excess of the renewal fee for wildlife conservation commemorative number plates with letters and numbers selected by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. No transfer fee shall be charged for transfer of an existing registration to or from a registration with wildlife conservation commemorative number plates.

      (d) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish standards and procedures for the issuance, renewal and replacement of wildlife conservation commemorative number plates.

      (e) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may notify eligible motorists of the opportunity to obtain wildlife conservation program commemorative number plates by including a notice with motor vehicle registration renewals and by posting appropriate posters or signs in all division facilities and offices. The notices, posters and signs shall be designed by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection in consultation with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.