(a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to establish (1) standards for the issuance of a special certificate of registration and special number plates to a member of an organization which qualifies for issuance, (2) qualifications of organizations whose members wish to apply for such special registrations, (3) procedures for application for such special registration, and (4) a fee for such special number plates which shall cover at least the entire cost of making the plates and which shall be in addition to the fee for registration of the motor vehicle. The regulations shall provide that a labor union shall be a qualifying organization.

(b) The Department of Motor Vehicles, in consultation with the Board of Regents for Higher Education, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish standards for the issuance and renewal of collegiate special number plates with the logos or emblems of Connecticut public and independent institutions of higher education.

(c) On or after July 1, 2004, the commissioner may issue special certificates of registration and special number plates in accordance with the regulations adopted under subsection (a) of this section provided the commissioner may not issue a set of special number plates bearing the same numerals as any other plate issued by the department. The commissioner may discontinue the issuance of any such special number plates issued for a qualified organization, or special plates issued in accordance with the provisions of sections 14-19b and 14-21f to 14-21p, inclusive, at any time, upon written notice to the organization if, in the opinion of the commissioner, the demand for such plates is insufficient to support the costs of production.