AB557: Bill Text

LRB-3656/1

PEN:jlg:mrc

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Assembly BILL 557

October 25, 1999 - Introduced by Representatives Plale, Waukau, Ryba, Sykora, Plouff and Seratti. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB557,1,5 An Act to amend 25.40 (1) (a) 10., 341.14 (6r) (b) 2., 341.14 (6r) (b) 3., 341.14 (6r) (b) 5., 341.14 (6r) (e) and 341.14 (6r) (fm) 7.; and to create 25.29 (1) (f), 341.135 (2m) and 341.14 (6r) (f) 54. and 55. of the statutes; relating to: special distinguishing registration plates expressing enthusiasm for hunting or fishing for sport.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, any group or organization may apply to the department of transportation (DOT) for designation as an authorized special group. If the application is approved, members of the authorized special group may obtain special distinguishing registration plates for certain vehicles they register with 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 that are owned or leased by special group members. A fee, in addition to the regular registration fee for the particular kind of vehicle, is assessed for the issuance or reissuance of most special plates.

Before October 2, 1998, authorized special groups whose members may obtain special distinguishing registration plates were specifically enumerated in state law. Current law provides specific enumeration in state law of authorized special groups is limited to those special groups enumerated before October 2, 1998.

Members of authorized special groups related to certain campuses of the University of Wisconsin (UW) System or to the support of endangered or threatened species pay an additional annual fee as a tax deductible contribution to the UW System or to the endangered resources program administered by the department of natural resources.

This bill establishes two authorized special groups specifically enumerated in state law for persons interested in obtaining special distinguishing registration plates expressing their enthusiasm for hunting for sport or for fishing for sport. In addition to the regular vehicle registration fee, special group members are required to pay a $10 fee for issuance or reissuance of the special plates and an additional $25 annual fee as a tax deductible contribution to this state's conservation fund.

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:

AB557, s. 1 Section 1. 25.29 (1) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

AB557,2,2 25.29 (1) (f) Moneys received under s. 341.14 (6r) (b) 5.

AB557, s. 2 Section 2. 25.40 (1) (a) 10. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,2,5 25.40 (1) (a) 10. Moneys received under s. 341.14 (6r) (b) 5. that are deposited in the conservation fund and credited to the appropriation under s. 20.370 (1) (fs).

AB557, s. 3 Section 3. 341.135 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB557,2,8 341.135 (2m) Applicability. This section does not apply to special group plates under s. 341.14 (6r) (f) 54. and 55.

AB557, s. 4 Section 4. 341.14 (6r) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,2,12 341.14 (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., 54. and 55.

AB557, s. 5 Section 5. 341.14 (6r) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,3,9 341.14 (6r) (b) 3. An additional fee of $15 shall be charged for the issuance or reissuance of a plate issued on an annual basis for a special group specified under par. (f) 35. to 47. or, 53. or 54. or designated by the department under par. (fm). An additional fee of $15 shall be charged for the issuance or reissuance of a plate issued on a biennial basis for a special group specified under par. (f) 35. to 47. or, 53 or 54. or designated by the department under par. (fm) if the plate is issued during the first year of the biennial registration period or $15 for the issuance or reissuance if the plate is issued during the 2nd year of the biennial registration period. The department shall deposit in the general fund and credit to the appropriation account under s. 20.395 (5) (cj) all fees collected under this subdivision for the issuance or reissuance of a plate for a special group designated by the department under par. (fm).

AB557, s. 6 Section 6. 341.14 (6r) (b) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,4,3 341.14 (6r) (b) 5. An additional fee of $25 that is in addition to the fee under subd. 2. shall be charged for the issuance or renewal of a plate issued on an annual basis for the a special group specified under par. (f) 50., 54. or 55. An additional fee of $50 that is in addition to the fee under subd. 2. shall be charged for the issuance or renewal of a plate issued on the biennial basis for the a special group specified under par. (f) 50., 54. or 55. if the plate is issued or renewed during the first year of the biennial registration period or $25 for the issuance or renewal if the plate is issued or renewed during the 2nd year of the biennial registration period. All moneys received under this subdivision in excess of the initial costs of production of the special group plate under par. (f) 50. or $15,000, whichever is less, shall be deposited in the conservation fund and credited to the appropriation under s. 20.370 (1) (fs). All moneys received under this subdivision in excess of the initial costs of production of the special group plate under par. (f) 54. or $15,000, whichever is less, whichever is less, shall be deposited in the conservation fund. All moneys received under this subdivision in excess of the initial costs of production of the special group plate under par. (f) 55. or $15,000, whichever is less, shall be deposited in the conservation fund. To the extent permitted under ch. 71, the fee under this subdivision is deductible as a charitable contribution for purposes of the taxes under ch. 71.

AB557, s. 7 Section 7. 341.14 (6r) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,5,3 341.14 (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. and , 50., 54. and 55. 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 child abuse and neglect prevention, specify any word or words other than "Children First" or the symbol for special group plates under par. (f) 53. unless the word or words or symbol is approved in writing by the child abuse and neglect prevention board. 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.

AB557, s. 8 Section 8. 341.14 (6r) (f) 54. and 55. of the statutes are created to read:

AB557,5,6 341.14 (6r) (f) 54. Persons interested in obtaining a plate expressing their enthusiasm for hunting for sport.

AB557,5,8 55. Persons interested in obtaining a plate expressing their enthusiasm for fishing for sport.

AB557, s. 9 Section 9. 341.14 (6r) (fm) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB557,5,15 341.14 (6r) (fm) 7. After Except for the authorized special groups enumerated under par. (f) 54. and 55., after October 1, 1998, additional authorized special groups may only be special groups designated by the department under this paragraph. The authorized special groups enumerated in par. (f) shall be limited solely to those special groups specified under par. (f) on October 1, 1998, except for the authorized special groups enumerated under par. (f) 54. and 55.

AB557, s. 10 Section 10. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB557,6,2 (1) The department of transportation may not specify a design under section 341.14 (6r) (c) of the statutes for the special group plate under section 341.14 (6r) (f) 54. or 55. of the statutes, as created by this act, unless the department proposes at least 2 distinct designs for each special group plate and allows residents of this state at least 2 months to vote for their favorite design. The department of transportation may not specify a design for the special group plates under section 341.14 (6r) (f) 54. or 55.of the statutes, as created by this act, unless the design receives the greatest number of favorable votes cast for the proposed designs. Section 341.14 (6r) (e) of the statutes does not apply to special group plates under section 341.14 (6r) (f) 54. and 55. of the statutes, as created by this act. This subsection does not apply after June 30, 2001.

AB557,6,3 (End)