AB564: Bill Text

LRB-2734/4

PG&ARG:kmg:pg

2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Assembly BILL 564

October 6, 2003 - Introduced by Representatives Zepnick, J. Lehman, Coggs, Turner, Taylor, Pocan, Black and Berceau, cosponsored by Senators Lassa, Hansen, Carpenter, Wirch and Chvala. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB564,1,6 An Act to amend 118.01 (2) (c) 6., 341.14 (6r) (c) and 341.14 (6r) (fm) 7.; and to create 20.255 (2) (kc), 25.40 (1) (a) 22., 115.28 (16), 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. and 341.14 (6r) (f) 56. of the statutes; relating to: instruction in public schools on the history of organized labor in America and the collective bargaining process, special distinguishing registration plates associated with organized labor, and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires that every school board's instructional program in state, national, and world history include information on the history of organized labor in America and the collective bargaining process. The bill directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to develop a curriculum on this topic and provide it to school districts upon request.

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 license plates for certain vehicles, including automobiles and motor homes 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 license plates were specifically enumerated in state law. Current law provides that specific enumeration in state law of authorized special groups is limited to those special groups enumerated before October 2, 1998. Members of six special groups enumerated in state law pay an additional annual fee as a tax deductible contribution.

This bill establishes an authorized special group specifically enumerated in state law for persons interested in obtaining special distinguishing registration plates supporting the efforts of organized labor and the development of an educational curriculum related to the history of organized labor in America. The bill creates a design selection committee (committee) to select the design of the special plate. The committee will accept applications for the design of the special plate for 30 days. The committee is required to make its selection within 14 days of the deadline for submission of applications and to notify DOT of the committee's selection. DOT must accept applications from special group members for the plates beginning on the day after publication of this act, even though the plates will not be issued until selection of the design and purchase of the plates.

In addition to the regular vehicle registration fee, special group members are required to pay a $15 fee for issuance or reissuance of the special plates and an additional $25 annual fee that provides funds to DPI for the development of a curriculum on the history of organized labor in America.

For further information see the state and local 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:

AB564, s. 1 Section 1. 20.255 (2) (kc) of the statutes is created to read:

AB564,2,4 20.255 (2) (kc) Payments for curriculum from license plate fees. All moneys received under s. 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. for the purpose of curriculum development under s. 115.28 (16).

AB564, s. 2 Section 2. 25.40 (1) (a) 22. of the statutes is created to read:

AB564,2,7 25.40 (1) (a) 22. Moneys received under s. 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. that are deposited in the general fund and credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.255 (2) (kc).

AB564, s. 3 Section 3. 115.28 (16) of the statutes is created to read:

AB564,2,10 115.28 (16) History of organized labor. Develop a curriculum on the history of organized labor in America and provide it to school districts upon request.

AB564, s. 4 Section 4. 118.01 (2) (c) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB564,3,3 118.01 (2) (c) 6. Knowledge of state, national , and world history, including knowledge of the history of organized labor in America and the collective bargaining process.

AB564, s. 5 Section 5. 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. of the statutes is created to read:

AB564,3,17 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. 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 special group specified under par. (f) 56. 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 special group specified under par. (f) 56. 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) 56. or $27,600, whichever is less, shall be deposited in the general fund and credited to the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (kc). 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.

AB564, s. 6 Section 6. 341.14 (6r) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB564,4,7 341.14 (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 Except as provided in 2003 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 9 (1) (c ), 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 word or symbol used to identify the special groups under par. (f) 35. to 47., the secretary of natural resources before specifying the word or symbol used to identify for the special group under par. (f) 50., and the chief executive officer of the professional football team and an authorized representative of the league of professional football teams described in s. 229.823 to which that team belongs before specifying the design for the applicable special group plate under par. (f) 55. Special group plates under par. (f) 50. shall be as similar as possible to regular registration plates in color and design.

AB564, s. 7 Section 7. 341.14 (6r) (f) 56. of the statutes is created to read:

AB564,4,10 341.14 (6r) (f) 56. Persons interested in obtaining a plate supporting the efforts of, and educational curriculum related to, organized labor in this country.

AB564, s. 8 Section 8. 341.14 (6r) (fm) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB564,4,18 341.14 (6r) (fm) 7. Except for the authorized special group enumerated under par. (f) 55., after 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 group enumerated under par. (f) 55. This subdivision does not apply to the special group groups specified under par. (f) 54., 55., and 56.

AB564, s. 9 Section 9 . Nonstatutory provisions.

AB564,4,20 (1) Design of special group plate; applications.

AB564,4,21 (a) In this subsection:

AB564,4,22 1. "Committee" means the design selection committee.

AB564,4,23 2. "Department" means the department of transportation.

AB564,4,25 (b) There is created a design selection committee consisting of the following members:

AB564,5,2 1. The assistant majority and minority leaders of the 2 houses of the legislature, or their designees.

AB564,5,4 2. Two members who are representatives of organized labor, appointed by the governor to serve at the pleasure of the governor.

AB564,5,14 (c) The committee shall accept applications for the design for the special group plate under section 341.14 (6r) (f) 56. of the statutes, as created by this act, that are submitted to the committee within 30 days of the effective date of this paragraph. The committee shall specify the design for the special group plate specified in this paragraph for the purposes of section 341.14 (6r) (c) of the statutes, as affected by this act, within 14 days of the deadline for submitting an application under this paragraph. The committee shall promptly notify the department and the state superintendent of public instruction of the committee's selection under this paragraph. Upon notifying the department of the committee's selection, the committee shall cease to exist.

AB564,5,20 (d) Notwithstanding the requirement under section 341.14 (6r) (b) 1. of the statutes that the department issue special plates to a member of an authorized special group upon application, the department shall accept applications under section 341.14 (6r) (b) 1. of the statutes for special group plates under section 341.14 (6r) (f) 56. of the statutes, as created by this act, after the effective date of this paragraph in preparation for the issuance of such plates.

AB564,6,4 (2) Once the design of the special group plate is chosen under subsection (1 ), the state superintendent of public instruction shall notify the secretary of administration of the amount necessary to begin developing a curriculum on the history of organized labor. Notwithstanding section 115.28 (16) of the statutes, as created by this act, the department of public instruction's duty under that section does not apply until the secretary of administration determines that sufficient funds to begin developing a curriculum on the history of organized labor have been credited to the appropriation account under section 20.255 (2) (kc) of the statutes, as created by this act.

AB564,6,5 (End)