The Department of Motor Vehicles shall issue a special commemorative motor vehicle license plate for use by the owner on his private passenger motor vehicle for the purposes of the "Nongame Wildlife and Natural Areas Fund" provided in Section 12-7-2415. The annual fee for the commemorative license plate is twelve dollars for the first two years and five dollars for each year after that time, and these amounts must be placed in the fund. This annual fee is in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee set forth in Article 5, Chapter 7 of this title. The commemorative plate must be of the same size and general design of regular motor vehicle license plates and must be imprinted with the words "South Carolina Protects Endangered Species". The plates must be issued or revalidated for an annual period which expires twelve months from the month they are issued.