(A) As used in this section, “cardinal” means the cardinalis cardinalis, the official bird of the state pursuant to section 5.03 of the Revised Code.

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(B) The owner or lessee of any passenger car, noncommercial motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, or other vehicle of a class approved by the registrar of motor vehicles may apply to the registrar for the registration of the vehicle and issuance of wildlife conservation license plates. The application for wildlife conservation license plates may be combined with a request for a special reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of the completed application and compliance with division (C) of this section, the registrar shall issue to the applicant the appropriate vehicle registration and a set of wildlife conservation license plates with a validation sticker or a validation sticker alone when required by section 4503.191 of the Revised Code.

In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed thereon, wildlife conservation license plates shall be inscribed with identifying words and the figure of a cardinal and shall be designed by the division of wildlife and approved by the registrar. Wildlife conservation license plates shall bear county identification stickers that identify the county of registration as required under section 4503.19 of the Revised Code.

(C) The wildlife conservation license plates and validation sticker shall be issued upon the receipt of a contribution as provided in division (D) of this section and upon payment of the regular license fees as prescribed under section 4503.04 of the Revised Code, a fee not to exceed ten dollars for the purpose of compensating the bureau of motor vehicles for additional services required in the issuing of the wildlife conservation license plates, any applicable motor vehicle tax levied under Chapter 4504 of the Revised Code, and compliance with all other applicable laws relating to the registration of motor vehicles. If the application for wildlife conservation license plates is combined with a request for a reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code, the license plate and validation sticker shall be issued upon payment of the contribution, fees, and taxes contained in this division and the additional fee prescribed under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code.

(D) For each application for registration and registration renewal the registrar receives under this section, the registrar shall collect a contribution in an amount not to exceed forty dollars as determined by the division of wildlife. The registrar shall transmit this contribution to the treasurer of state for deposit in the nongame and endangered wildlife fund created in section 1531.26 of the Revised Code.