AB558: Bill Text

LRB-3331/1

TNF:jlg:km

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Assembly BILL 558

October 17, 1997 - Introduced by Representatives Plouff, Powers, Huber, Bock and Huebsch, cosponsored by Senators Moen, Clausing and George. Referred to Committee on Highways and Transportation.

AB558,1,4 An Act to amend 341.14 (6r) (b) 2., 341.14 (6r) (c) and 341.14 (6r) (e); to repeal and recreate 341.14 (6r) (c) and 341.14 (6r) (e); and to create 341.14 (6r) (f) 53. of the statutes; relating to: special distinguishing registration plates for veterans of the Laos War.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, members of authorized special groups may obtain special distinguishing registration plates for certain vehicles registered with the department of transportation (DOT). Special plates may be obtained for automobiles, station wagons, motor homes and certain dual purpose motor homes, farm trucks and dual purpose farm trucks owned or leased by special group members. A fee, in addition to the annual registration fee for the particular kind of vehicle, is assessed for the special plates. Currently, there are authorized special groups associated with veterans of the following wars: World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

This bill provides for the issuance of special distinguishing registration plates to veterans of the Laos War in Southeast Asia. A fee of $10, in addition to the annual vehicle registration fee, is assessed by DOT for issuance or reissuance of the special plates.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

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

AB558, s. 1 Section 1. 341.14 (6r) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB558,2,4 341.14 (6r) (b) 2. An additional fee of $10 shall be charged for the issuance or reissuance of the plates for special groups specified under par. (f) 1. to 34., 48., 49. and, 51. and 53.

AB558, s. 2 Section 2. 341.14 (6r) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB558,2,18 341.14 (6r) (c) Special group plates shall display the word "Wisconsin", the name of the applicable authorized special group, a symbol representing the special group, not exceeding one position, and identifying letters or numbers or both, not exceeding 6 positions and not less than one position. The department shall specify the design for special group plates, but the department shall consult the president of the university of Wisconsin system before specifying the design for the special group plates under par. (f) 35. to 47., the Wisconsin sesquicentennial commission before specifying the design for the special group plate under par. (f) 52. and, the secretary of natural resources before specifying the design for the special group plate under par. (f) 50. and the president of the office in this state of Lao Veterans of America, Inc., before specifying the design for the special group plates under par. (f) 53. Special group plates under par. (f) 50 shall be as similar as possible to regular registration plates in color and design.

AB558, s. 3 Section 3. 341.14 (6r) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 445, section 16, and 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

AB558,3,11 341.14 (6r) (c) Special group plates shall display the word "Wisconsin", the name of the applicable authorized special group, a symbol representing the special group, not exceeding one position, and identifying letters or numbers or both, not exceeding 6 positions and not less than one position. The department shall specify the design for special group plates, but the department shall consult the president of the university of Wisconsin system before specifying the design for the special group plates under par. (f) 35. to 47., the secretary of natural resources before specifying the design for the special group plate under par. (f) 50. and the president of the office in this state of Lao Veterans of America, Inc., before specifying the design for the special group plates under par. (f) 53. Special group plates under par. (f) 50. shall be as similar as possible to regular registration plates in color and design.

AB558, s. 4 Section 4. 341.14 (6r) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB558,4,14 341.14 (6r) (e) The department shall specify one combination of colors for special group plates for groups or organizations which are not military in nature and not special group plates under par. (f) 35. to 47., 50. and , 52. and 53. The department, after consulting the president of the university of Wisconsin system, shall specify one combination of colors for special group plates under par. (f) 35. to 47. The department shall specify the word or words comprising the special group name and the symbol to be displayed upon special group plates for a group or organization which is not military in nature after consultation with the chief executive officer in this state of the group or organization, except that the department may not specify the word or words or the symbol for special group plates under par. (f) 35. to 47. unless the word or words or symbol is approved in writing by the president of the university of Wisconsin system or, with respect to endangered resources, specify the word or words or the symbol for special group plates under par. (f) 50. unless the word or words or symbol is approved in writing by the secretary of natural resources or, with respect to commemorating the 150th anniversary of Wisconsin statehood, specify the word or words or the symbol for special group plate under par. (f) 52. unless the word or words or symbol is approved in writing by the Wisconsin sesquicentennial commission or, with respect to Laos War veterans, specify the word or words or the symbol for special group plates under par. (f) 53. unless the word or words or symbol is approved in writing by the president of the office in this state of Lao Veterans of America, Inc. The president may not approve the word or words or symbol for a university specified under par. (f) 35. to 47. unless the chancellor of the university approves in writing the word or words or symbol. The department shall require that the word or words and symbol for a university specified under par. (f) 35. to 47. be a registration decal or tag and affixed to the special group plate and be of the colors for a university specified under par. (f) 35. to 47. that the president of the university of Wisconsin system specifies.

AB558, s. 5 Section 5. 341.14 (6r) (e) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 445, section 18, and 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

AB558,5,14 341.14 (6r) (e) The department shall specify one combination of colors for special group plates for groups or organizations which are not military in nature and not special group plates under par. (f) 35. to 47., 50. and 53. The department, after consulting the president of the university of Wisconsin system, shall specify one combination of colors for special group plates under par. (f) 35. to 47. The department shall specify the word or words comprising the special group name and the symbol to be displayed upon special group plates for a group or organization which is not military in nature after consultation with the chief executive officer in this state of the group or organization, except that the department may not specify the word or words or the symbol for special group plates under par. (f) 35. to 47. unless the word or words or symbol is approved in writing by the president of the university of Wisconsin system or, with respect to endangered resources, specify the word or words or the symbol for special group plates under par. (f) 50. unless the word or words or symbol is approved in writing by the secretary of natural resources or, with respect to Laos War veterans, specify the word or words or the symbol for special group plates under par. (f) 53. unless the word or words or symbol is approved in writing by the president of the office in this state of Lao Veterans of America, Inc. The president may not approve the word or words or symbol for a university specified under par. (f) 35. to 47. unless the chancellor of the university approves in writing the word or words or symbol. The department shall require that the word or words and symbol for a university specified under par. (f) 35. to 47. be a registration decal or tag and affixed to the special group plate and be of the colors for a university specified under par. (f) 35. to 47. that the president of the university of Wisconsin system specifies.

AB558, s. 6 Section 6. 341.14 (6r) (f) 53. of the statutes is created to read:

AB558,5,17 341.14 (6r) (f) 53. Veterans of the Laos War who served after July 1, 1961, and before July 1, 1978.

AB558, s. 7 Section 7. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

AB558,5,21 (1) The repeal and recreation of section 341.14 (6r) (c) and (e) of the statutes takes effect on January 1, 1999.

AB558,5,22 (End)