AB557: Bill Text Engrossed

This bill authorizes DOT to take and use a digitized image of an applicant in addition to, or in place of, a photograph for use on a driver's license or ID card issued to that applicant. The bill also requires that any photograph, including a digitized image, be kept confidential by DOT and be used only by DOT, by authorized law enforcement authorities, by state agencies, by federal agencies or as the applicant may direct. The bill also authorizes DOT to keep and maintain signatures of driver's license applicants, but allows DOT to release a signature or signature facsimile only to the signatory.

Transportation aids

Under current law, DOT administers a local transportation aids program. Under the program, DOT makes aid payments to a county based on a share of costs formula for counties, and to a municipality (city, village or town) based on the greater of a share of costs formula for municipalities or an aid rate per mile ($1,350 for 1995). This bill increases the aid rate per mile to $1,390 in 1996 and to $1,432 for 1997 and thereafter.

Under current law, DOT pays 42% of the operating expenses of an urban mass transit system if the local public body that provides the mass transit system is eligible for aid under the urban mass transit operating assistance program. DOT also makes supplemental operating assistance payments to eligible systems with annual operating expenses greater than $20,000,000 and an annual ridership of more than 7,000,000 one-way trips.

This bill revises the funding formula for the program and eliminates supplemental operating assistance payments. Under the bill, DOT makes state aid payments sufficient to ensure that the combination of state and federal aids contributed toward the operating expenses of an urban mass transit system equals a uniform percentage established by DOT. The bill requires DOT to establish uniform percentages for each of the following: 1) urban mass transit systems with annual operating expenses in excess of $80,000,000; 2) urban mass transit systems with annual operating expenses in excess of $20,000,000 but less than $80,000,000; 3) mass transit systems with annual operating expenses of $20,000,000 or less but serving an urban area having a population of at least 50,000; and 4) mass transit systems in an urban area having a population of less than 50,000.

This bill requires DOT to establish, by rule, cost-efficiency standards for urban mass transit systems and, if a mass transit system incurs costs inconsistent with those standards, to exclude those costs from operating expenses for purposes of mass transit aid or to reduce the amount of aid for the mass transit system under the program. The bill requires DOT to establish a transit committee to assist in developing the cost-efficiency standards and to advise DOT on implementing the standards.

Under current law, DOT administers a transportation facilities economic assistance and development (TEA) program. The TEA program provides grants to private businesses or local governing bodies for up to 50% of the cost of developing or improving transportation facilities, including highways and certain railway, harbor and airport facilities, that are essential to a business development project that will directly and significantly increase the number of jobs in this state. DOT may require the local governing body of the area in which the project is located to guarantee the number of jobs that will be directly created by the business development project within 3 years and maintained after 7 years. If the jobs guarantee is not met, DOT may require the local governing body to repay up to the full amount of the grant.

Under this bill, a local governing body is not required to repay a grant for failing to meet the jobs guarantee if, before accepting the grant, the elctors of the locality petition the local governing body for a referendum on whether the proposed business development project should be undertaken or whether the political subdivision should guarantee a number of jobs that will be created by the project. This exemption does not apply if a referendum is held on the jobs guarantee requirement and the question is approved by a majority of ballots cast.

This bill increases the level of revenue bonding for major highway projects and transportation administrative facilities from $950,834,000 to $1,083,638,100, of which not more than $1,041,341,000 may be used to fund such projects and facilities.

Rail and air transportation

Under current law, DOT is authorized to contract up to $10,000,000 in public debt for the acquisition of rail property and for grants and loans awarded by DOT for certain rail property acquisitions and improvements. This bill increases this authorized general obligation bonding limit from $10,000,000 to $14,500,000.

Under current law, with specified exceptions, any aircraft based in this state is required to be registered annually by its owner with DOT. An annual registration fee is collected by DOT on the basis of the maximum gross weight of the aircraft, up to a maximum of $3,125 for aircraft with a maximum gross weight of more than 100,000 pounds. DOT collects a charge for late payment of the annual registration fee of up to 20% of the applicable fee.

This bill makes a number of changes in aircraft registration. The bill:

1. Establishes biennial registration for aircraft with a maximum gross weight of not more than 3,000 pounds, with the current annual registration fee for the aircraft doubled.

2. Requires a minimum late payment charge of $50.

3. Eliminates an aircraft dealer exemption from aircraft registration.

4. Changes the definition of "antique aircraft" to apply to any aircraft manufactured in 1944 or earlier instead of aircraft more than 35 years old. Current law permits antique aircraft to be registered with DOT for a one-time registration fee of $50 that remains valid while the aircraft is owned by the registrant.

This bill allows the use of state funds for freight rail infrastructure improvement loans to also be used for the loan component of the local share of rehabilitation projects on publicly owned railroad lines.

Current law requires DOT to fund the rebuilding of any private road that crosses the railroad tracks of a rail transit commission if, among other eligibility requirements, the railroad tracks were rehabilitated during fiscal year 1992-93 or thereafter. This bill specifies that "rehabilitated" means a significant rebuilding of track that increases the service standard of the track.

Other transportation

Under current law, the state is authorized to issue general obligation bonds to finance grants awarded by DOT for harbor improvements, with the principal repayment and interest payments to be made from transportation fund revenue.

This bill increases the authorized general obligation bonding limit for grants awarded by DOT for harbor improvements from $9,000,000 to $12,000,000.

Under current law, DOT administers a demonstration and training program for the purpose of developing the capability of disadvantaged businesses to participate in DOT construction projects. Under the program, disadvantaged businesses include those businesses that are at least 51% owned by minority group members, women or other individuals found by DOT to be socially and economically disadvantaged according to certain federal criteria. The program is scheduled to expire on June 30, 1995.

This bill extends the expiration date for the disadvantaged business demonstration and training program until September 30, 1997.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB557-engrossed, s. 1 Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes, as it affects 20.395 of the statutes, is repealed and recreated to read:

AB557-engrossed,10,3 - See PDF for table

AB557-engrossed, s. 2m Section 2m. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

AB557-engrossed, s. 2p Section 2p. 20.395 (1) (bq) of the statutes is repealed.

AB557-engrossed, s. 2pm Section 2pm. 20.395 (1) (bu) of the statutes is repealed.

AB557-engrossed, s. 2r Section 2r. 20.395 (1) (bw) of the statutes is created to read:

AB557-engrossed,20,8 20.395 (1) (bw) Employment transit aids, state funds. The amounts in the schedule for the employment transit assistance program under s. 85.26.

AB557-engrossed, s. 2t Section 2t. 20.395 (1) (bw) of the statutes, as created by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is renumbered 20.445 (1) (uy) and amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,21,3 20.445 (1) (uy) Employment transit aids, state funds. The From the transportation fund, the amounts in the schedule for the employment transit assistance program under s. 85.26 106.26.

AB557-engrossed, s. 8d Section 8d. 20.395 (1) (dq) of the statutes is created to read:

AB557-engrossed,21,7 20.395 (1) (dq) Larger communities transit operating aids, state funds. The amounts in the schedule for mass transit aids to larger communities under s. 85.20 (4m) (a) 1.

AB557-engrossed, s. 8g Section 8g. 20.395 (1) (dr) of the statutes is created to read:

AB557-engrossed,21,11 20.395 (1) (dr) Large communities transit operating aids, state funds. The amounts in the schedule for mass transit aids to large communities under s. 85.20 (4m) (a) 2.

AB557-engrossed, s. 8j Section 8j. 20.395 (1) (ds) of the statutes is created to read:

AB557-engrossed,21,15 20.395 (1) (ds) Medium-sized communities transit operating aids, state funds. The amounts in the schedule for mass transit aids to medium-sized communities under s. 85.20 (4m) (a) 3.

AB557-engrossed, s. 8m Section 8m. 20.395 (1) (dt) of the statutes is created to read:

AB557-engrossed,21,19 20.395 (1) (dt) Small communities transit operating aids, state funds. The amounts in the schedule for mass transit aids to small communities under s. 85.20 (4m) (a) 4.

AB557-engrossed, s. 9 Section 9. 20.395 (2) (bq) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB557-engrossed,21,22 20.395 (2) (bq) (title) Rail service assistance, state funds.

AB557-engrossed, s. 10 Section 10. 20.395 (2) (bt) of the statutes is repealed.

AB557-engrossed, s. 11 Section 11. 20.395 (2) (bu) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,22,3 20.395 (2) (bu) Freight rail infrastructure improvements, state funds. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for loans under s. 85.08 (4m) (d) and (e) and to make payments under s. 85.085.

AB557-engrossed, s. 13 Section 13. 20.395 (3) (bq) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,22,8 20.395 (3) (bq) Major highway development, state funds. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for major development of state trunk and connecting highways and, before July 1, 1995 October 1, 1997, for the disadvantaged business demonstration and training program under s. 84.076.

AB557-engrossed, s. 14 Section 14. 20.395 (3) (bv) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,22,15 20.395 (3) (bv) Major highway development, local funds. All moneys received from any local unit of government or other source for major development of state trunk and connecting highways, including the railroad and utility alteration and relocation loan program under s. 84.065, and, before July 1, 1995 October 1, 1997, the disadvantaged business demonstration and training program under s. 84.076, for such purposes.

AB557-engrossed, s. 15 Section 15. 20.395 (3) (bx) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,22,20 20.395 (3) (bx) Major highway development, federal funds. All moneys received from the federal government for major development of state trunk and connecting highways and, before July 1, 1995 October 1, 1997, the disadvantaged business demonstration and training program under s. 84.076, for such purposes.

AB557-engrossed, s. 16 Section 16. 20.395 (3) (cq) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,23,8 20.395 (3) (cq) State highway rehabilitation, state funds. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for improvement of existing state trunk and connecting highways; for improvement of bridges on state trunk or connecting highways and other bridges for which improvement is a state responsibility, for necessary approach work for such bridges and for replacement of such bridges with at-grade crossing improvements; for the construction and rehabilitation of the national system of interstate and defense highways and bridges and related appurtenances; for special maintenance activities under s. 84.04 on roadside improvements; for bridges under s. 84.10; for payment to a local unit of government for a jurisdictional transfer under s. 84.02 (8); and, before July 1, 1995 October 1, 1997, for the disadvantaged business demonstration and training program under s. 84.076.

AB557-engrossed, s. 17 Section 17. 20.395 (3) (cv) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,23,21 20.395 (3) (cv) State highway rehabilitation, local funds. All moneys received from any local unit of government or other source for the specific information sign program under s. 86.195; for improvement of existing state trunk and connecting highways; for improvement of bridges on state trunk or connecting highways and other bridges for which improvement is a state responsibility, for necessary approach work for such bridges and for replacement of such bridges with at-grade crossing improvements; for the construction and rehabilitation of the national system of interstate and defense highways and bridges and related appurtenances; for special maintenance activities under s. 84.04 on roadside improvements; for the railroad and utility alteration and relocation loan program under s. 84.065 and, before July 1, 1995 October 1, 1997, for the disadvantaged business demonstration and training program under s. 84.076, for such purposes.

AB557-engrossed, s. 18 Section 18. 20.395 (3) (cx) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,24,7 20.395 (3) (cx) State highway rehabilitation, federal funds. All moneys received from the federal government for improvement of existing state trunk and connecting highways; for improvement of bridges on state trunk or connecting highways and other bridges for which improvement is a state responsibility, for necessary approach work for such bridges and for replacement of such bridges with at-grade crossing improvements; for the construction and rehabilitation of the national system of interstate and defense highways and bridges and related appurtenances; for special maintenance activities under s. 84.04 on roadside improvements and, before July 1, 1995 October 1, 1997, for the disadvantaged business demonstration and training program under s. 84.076, for such purposes.

AB557-engrossed, s. 19 Section 19. 20.395 (3) (eq) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,24,17 20.395 (3) (eq) Highway maintenance, repair and traffic operations, state funds. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for the maintenance and repair of roadside improvements under s. 84.04, state trunk highways under s. 84.07 and bridges that are not on the state trunk highway system under s. 84.10; for highway operations such as permit issuance, pavement marking, highway signing, traffic signalization and highway lighting under ss. 84.04, 84.07, 84.10 and 348.25 to 348.27 and ch. 349; and, before July 1, 1995 October 1, 1997, for the disadvantaged business demonstration and training program under s. 84.076. This paragraph does not apply to special maintenance activities under s. 84.04 on roadside improvements.

AB557-engrossed, s. 20 Section 20. 20.395 (3) (ev) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,25,3 20.395 (3) (ev) Highway maintenance, repair and traffic operations, local funds. All moneys received from any local unit of government or other sources for the maintenance and repair of roadside improvements under s. 84.04, state trunk highways under s. 84.07 and bridges that are not on the state trunk highway system under s. 84.10; for signing under s. 86.195; for highway operations such as permit issuance, pavement marking, highway signing, traffic signalization and highway lighting under ss. 84.04, 84.07, 84.10 and 348.25 to 348.27 and ch. 349; and, before July 1, 1995 October 1, 1997, for the disadvantaged business demonstration and training program under s. 84.076; for such purposes. This paragraph does not apply to special maintenance activities under s. 84.04 on roadside improvements.

AB557-engrossed, s. 21 Section 21. 20.395 (3) (ex) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,25,14 20.395 (3) (ex) Highway maintenance, repair and traffic operations, federal funds. All moneys received from the federal government for the maintenance and repair of roadside improvements under s. 84.04, state trunk highways under s. 84.07 and bridges that are not on the state trunk highway system under s. 84.10; for highway operations such as permit issuance, pavement marking, highway signing, traffic signalization and highway lighting under ss. 84.04, 84.07, 84.10 and 348.25 to 348.27 and ch. 349; and, before July 1, 1995 October 1, 1997, for the disadvantaged business demonstration and training program under s. 84.076; for such purposes. This paragraph does not apply to special maintenance activities under s. 84.04 on roadside improvements.

AB557-engrossed, s. 23 Section 23. 20.395 (5) (cq) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,25,24 20.395 (5) (cq) Vehicle registration, inspection and maintenance and driver licensing, state funds. The amounts in the schedule for administering the vehicle registration and driver licensing program, including the traffic violation and registration program and the driver license reinstatement training program under s. 85.28, for administering the motor vehicle emission inspection and maintenance program under s. 110.20, for the training of inspectors under s. 110.22, for administering the fuel tax and fee reporting program under s. 341.45 and to compensate for services performed, as determined by the secretary of transportation, by any county providing registration services.

AB557-engrossed, s. 24 Section 24. 20.395 (5) (dk) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,26,4 20.395 (5) (dk) Public safety radio management, service funds. From the general fund, all moneys received by the department from the department and from other state agencies for purposes related to the statewide public safety radio management program under s. 85.12, for that purpose.

AB557-engrossed, s. 29 Section 29. 20.866 (2) (uv) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,26,9 20.866 (2) (uv) Transportation, harbor improvements. From the capital improvement fund, a sum sufficient for the department of transportation to provide grants for harbor improvements. The state may contract public debt in an amount not to exceed $9,000,000 $12,000,000 for this purpose.

AB557-engrossed, s. 30 Section 30. 20.866 (2) (uw) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,26,18 20.866 (2) (uw) Transportation; rail acquisitions and improvements. From the capital improvement fund, a sum sufficient for the department of transportation to acquire railroad property under ss. 85.08 (2) (L) and 85.09; and to provide grants and loans for rail property acquisitions and improvements under s. 85.08 (4m) (c) and (d); and to credit the appropriation account under s. 20.395 (2) (bt) as reimbursement for initial temporary funding of acquisitions, grants or loans authorized under 1993 Wisconsin Act 16, section 9154 (4n). The state may contract public debt in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000 $14,500,000 for these purposes.

AB557-engrossed, s. 35 Section 35. 25.40 (1) (a) 12. of the statutes is created to read:

AB557-engrossed,26,21 25.40 (1) (a) 12. Fees collected under s. 341.45 (1g) (a) that are required under s. 341.45 (4m) to be deposited in the petroleum inspection fund.

AB557-engrossed, s. 36m Section 36m. 25.40 (2) (b) 15g. of the statutes is created to read:

AB557-engrossed,26,23 25.40 (2) (b) 15g. Section 20.445 (1) (uy).

AB557-engrossed, s. 37b Section 37b. 70.337 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,27,6 70.337 (7) This section does not apply to property that is exempt under s. 70.11 (13), (13m), (15), (15m), (21) or (30), property that is exempt under s. 70.11 (18) if a payment in lieu of taxes is made for that property, lake beds owned by the state, state forests under s. 28.03 or 28.035, county forests under s. 28.10, property acquired by the department of transportation under s. 85.08 (2) (L) or 85.09 or highways, as defined in s. 340.01 (22).

AB557-engrossed, s. 41 Section 41. 78.005 (13g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB557-engrossed,27,10 78.005 (13g) "Recreational motorboat" means a motorboat used predominantly for the entertainment, amusement or recreation of the owner of the motorboat, whether or not it is used in a trade or business.

AB557-engrossed, s. 42 Section 42. 78.01 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,27,16 78.01 (2) (e) Gasoline sold for nonhighway use in mobile machinery and equipment; other than use in a snowmobile, an all-terrain vehicle that is not registered for private use under s. 23.33 (2) (d) or a recreational motorboat; and delivered directly into the consumer's storage tank in an amount of not less than 100 gallons.

AB557-engrossed, s. 43 Section 43. 78.01 (2m) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,27,21 78.01 (2m) (f) It is sold for off-highway use other than use in a snowmobile, an all-terrain vehicle that is not registered for private use under s. 23.33 (2) (d) or a recreational motorboat or if no claim for a refund for the tax on the diesel fuel may be made under s. 78.75 (1m) (a) 3.

AB557-engrossed, s. 47 Section 47. 78.40 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557-engrossed,28,10 78.40 (1) Imposition of tax and by whom paid. An excise tax at the rate determined under s. 78.405 is imposed on the use of alternate fuels. The tax, with respect to all alternate fuel delivered by an alternate fuel dealer into supply tanks of motor vehicles in this state, attaches at the time of delivery and shall be collected by the dealer from the alternate fuels user and shall be paid to the department. The tax, with respect to alternate fuels acquired by any alternate fuels user other than by delivery by an alternate fuel dealer into a fuel supply tank of a motor vehicle, or of a snowmobile, an all-terrain vehicle that is not registered for private use under s. 23.33 (2) (d) or a recreational motorboat, attaches at the time of the use of the fuel and shall be paid to the department by the user. The department may permit any supplier of alternate fuels to report and pay to the department the tax on alternate fuels delivered into the storage facility of an alternate fuels user or retailer which will be consumed for alternate fuels tax purposes or sold at retail.