ARG&RNK:eev:rs
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
February 28, 2014 - Introduced by Senator Petrowski, cosponsored by
Representative Ripp. Referred to Committee on Transportation, Public Safety,
and Veterans and Military Affairs.
SB645,1,4 1An Act to repeal 346.503 (1m) (a) 1. to 3.; to renumber and amend 346.503
2(1m) (a) (intro.); and to amend 101.13 (2) (d), 101.13 (2) (f) and 346.503 (2m)
3of the statutes; relating to: the requirement to reserve parking spaces for
4persons with physical disabilities.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability
to walk may apply for and obtain from the Department of Transportation (DOT)
special motor vehicle registration plates (disabled plates) or a special identification
card (disabled parking card) that affords certain parking privileges, including
parking in spaces reserved for use by persons with physical disabilities (disabled
parking spaces). Current law, as set forth in the traffic statutes, also requires the
owner or lessee of a public building or place of employment, and the owner or lessee
of a parking facility that offers parking to the public, to reserve a minimum number
of disabled parking spaces if the parking area has at least 26 spaces. If the parking
area is not open to the public or has fewer than 26 spaces, the owner or lessee may
voluntarily reserve disabled parking spaces. Various requirements apply to reserved
disabled parking spaces, including that they must be at least 12 feet wide, marked
with a disabled parking sign, and maintained in inclement weather. These
provisions in the traffic statutes do not affect the authority of the Department of
Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) to require by rule that disabled parking
spaces be reserved. Currently DSPS has adopted by rule provisions of the

International Building Code (IBC), 2009 edition, that include specification of the
minimum number of disabled parking spaces that must be reserved.
Also under current law, with limited exceptions, any place of employment or
public building, the initial construction of which was commenced after July 1, 1970,
but prior to May 27, 1976, must be so designed and constructed as to provide
reasonable means of ingress and egress by the physically disabled. In addition, any
place of employment or public building, the initial construction of which is
commenced on or after May 27, 1976, must be designed and constructed so as to
provide reasonable means of access, except: 1) when exempted by DSPS rule; or 2)
with respect to parking spaces, ramps, and grade-level entrances of a building that
is not more than two stories in height and is either a structure containing two or more
units or two or more structures each containing one or more units on the same
property (multi-unit building). DSPS must by rule provide minimum regulations
to ensure access to and use of public buildings.
Under this bill, the owner or lessee of a public building or place of employment,
and the owner or lessee of a parking facility that offers parking to the public, must
reserve at least the minimum number of disabled parking spaces specified in the
IBC, as adopted by rule by DSPS. This requirement applies with respect to any
parking area initially constructed, or resurfaced or to which a seal coat is applied,
on or after May 27, 1976. Regarding the requirement that any place of employment
or public building, the initial construction of which is commenced on or after May 27,
1976, be designed and constructed so as to provide reasonable means of access, the
bill eliminates the exemption for parking spaces for multi-unit buildings.
Under current law, a governmental unit may not issue an authorization to
occupy a place of employment or public building unless the owner files with the
governmental unit a certification of compliance with DSPS rules relating to reserved
disabled parking spaces. This bill specifies that the certification must also be in
compliance with certain statutory requirements relating to reserved disabled
parking spaces.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB645,1 1Section 1. 101.13 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB645,3,22 101.13 (2) (d) Any place of employment or public building, unless exempted by
3rule of the department, the initial construction of which is commenced on or after
4May 27, 1976, shall be designed and constructed so as to provide reasonable means
5of access. Buildings, as defined in s. 703.02 (5), 1975 stats., of 2 stories or less in

1height shall be exempt from requirements relating to parking space, ramps and
2grade-level entrances.
SB645,2 3Section 2. 101.13 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB645,3,104 101.13 (2) (f) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., no governmental unit may issue
5any authorization to occupy any place of employment or public building prescribed
6in pars. (a) to (d) unless the owner thereof files with that governmental unit a true
7certification of compliance with s. 346.503 (1m) and the rules under par. (e)
8applicable to that place of employment or public building relating to the reservation
9and marking of parking spaces for use by a motor vehicle used by a physically
10disabled person.
SB645,3,1711 2. An authorization to occupy a place of employment or public building
12prescribed in pars. (a) to (d) may be issued prior to the completion of parking facilities
13for that place of employment or public building if the owner files a true certification
14that upon completion of any parking facility for that place of employment or public
15building that parking facility shall comply with s. 346.503 (1m) and the rules under
16par. (e) applicable to that place of employment or public building as specified in subd.
171.
SB645,3 18Section 3. 346.503 (1m) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 346.503 (1m)
19(a) and amended to read:
SB645,4,520 346.503 (1m) (a) The owner or lessee of any public building or place of
21employment and the owner or lessee of any parking facility which offers parking to
22the public shall reserve, for use by a motor vehicle used by a physically disabled
23person,
at least the following minimum number of spaces for use by a motor vehicle
24used by a physically disabled person:
specified in section 1106 of the International
25Building Code, as adopted by rule of the department of safety and professional

1services or, if not so adopted, the most recent edition. Notwithstanding s. 101.13 (2)
2(a) and (d), the requirement under this paragraph applies to any owner or lessee of
3any public building or place of employment, and to any owner or lessee of any parking
4facility that offers parking to the public, with respect to any parking area initially
5constructed, or resurfaced or to which a seal coat is applied, on or after May 27, 1976.
SB645,4 6Section 4. 346.503 (1m) (a) 1. to 3. of the statutes are repealed.
SB645,5 7Section 5. 346.503 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB645,4,138 346.503 (2m) In addition to the requirements of sub. (1m), the owner or lessee
9of a parking facility not open to the public and the owner or lessee of a parking facility
10which offers parking for 25 or fewer motor vehicles to the public
may reserve one or
11more spaces as provided under sub. (1m) (b) and (c) for use by a motor vehicle used
12by a physically disabled person. An owner or lessee reserving spaces under this
13subsection shall post official traffic signs indicating that the spaces are reserved.
SB645,6 14Section 6. Initial applicability.
SB645,4,1715 (1) The treatment of sections 101.13 (2) (d) and 346.503 (1m) (a) and (2m) of the
16statutes first applies with respect to parking areas initially constructed, or
17resurfaced or to which a seal coat is applied, on the effective date of this subsection.
SB645,4,2018 (2) The treatment of section 101.13 (2) (f) of the statutes first applies to
19certifications of compliance filed with a governmental unit on the effective date of
20this subsection.
SB645,7 21Section 7. Effective date.
SB645,4,2322 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 7th month beginning after
23publication.
SB645,4,2424 (End)
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