SB301: Bill Text

August 16, 1995 - Introduced by Senators Huelsman, Breske, Fitzgerald, Clausing, Darling, Burke and Rosenzweig, cosponsored by Representatives Goetsch, Krusick, Kelso, Bell, Olsen, Hanson, Lazich, Riley, Handrick, Wirch, Ward, Robson, Huebsch and Foti. Referred to Committee on Transportation, Agriculture and Local Affairs.

SB301,1,6 An Act to amend 341.14 (6r) (b) 1., 341.14 (6r) (bm) 1., 341.14 (6r) (c), 341.14 (6r) (e) and 341.16 (1) (b); and to create 16.40 (15m), 20.505 (4) (jm), 25.40 (1) (a) 12., 341.14 (6r) (b) 6. and 341.14 (6r) (f) 52. of the statutes; relating to: special distinguishing license plates associated with the Olympic Games, payments to the United States Olympic Committee and the Wisconsin Special Olympics, Inc., and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, members of authorized special groups may obtain special distinguishing license 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 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 most special plates.

Currently, there are authorized special groups related to certain campuses of the University of Wisconsin System. These special group members pay a $15 fee for issuance or reissuance of the special plates and an additional $20 annual fee as a tax- deductible contribution to a scholarship program administered by the designated campus. There is also an authorized special group for persons interested in obtaining special distinguishing license plates bearing the depiction of an endangered or threatened species. In addition to the regular registration fee, these special group members pay an additional $25 annual fee as a tax-deductible contribution to the endangered species management and habitat program administered by the department of natural resources.

This bill establishes an authorized special group for persons interested in obtaining special distinguishing license plates that express their support for the U. S. Olympic team. These special group members are not required to pay the $15 fee for issuance or reissuance of the special group plates that members of other special groups are required to pay, but are required to pay an additional $20 annual fee as a tax-deductible contribution that, after payment of certain costs related to producing the special group plates, provides funds in equal amounts to the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Wisconsin Special Olympics, Inc. Special group plates related to the Olympic Games may not be issued by DOT unless any approvals that are required for use of an applicable logo, trademark, trade name or commercial symbol have been obtained.

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:

SB301, s. 1 Section 1. 16.40 (15m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB301,2,4 16.40 (15m) Amateur athletics assistance. Provide, by payments in equal amounts from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (4) (jm), financial assistance to the United States Olympic Committee and the Wisconsin Special Olympics, Inc.

SB301, s. 2 Section 2. 20.505 (4) (jm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB301,2,8 20.505 (4) (jm) Amateur athletics assistance. All moneys received from fees collected under s. 341.14 (6r) (b) 6., for the purposes of amateur athletics assistance under s. 16.40 (15m).

SB301, s. 3 Section 3. 25.40 (1) (a) 12. of the statutes is created to read:

SB301,2,11 25.40 (1) (a) 12. Moneys received under s. 341.14 (6r) (b) 6. that are deposited in the general fund and credited to the appropriation under s. 20.505 (4) (jm).

SB301, s. 4 Section 4. 341.14 (6r) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB301,3,7 341.14 (6r) (b) 1. Upon application to register an automobile, station wagon or motor home, or a motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds, or a farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds, by any person who is a resident of this state and a member of an authorized special group, the department shall issue to the person special plates whose colors and design shall indicate that the vehicle is owned by a person who is a member of the applicable special group. The department may not accept an application for a special group plate under par. (f) 52. unless the department has received information sufficient for the department to determine that any approvals required for the use of any logo, trademark, trade name or other commercial symbol related to the Olympic Games have been obtained.

SB301, s. 5 Section 5. 341.14 (6r) (b) 6. of the statutes is created to read:

SB301,3,20 341.14 (6r) (b) 6. An additional fee of $20 shall be charged for the issuance or renewal of a plate issued on an annual basis for a special group specified under par. (f) 52. An additional fee of $40 shall be charged for the issuance or renewal of a plate issued on a biennial basis for a special group specified under par. (f) 52. if the plate is issued or renewed during the first year of the biennial registration period or $20 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) 52. or $15,000, whichever is less, shall be deposited in the general fund and credited to the appropriation under s. 20.505 (4) (jm). 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.

SB301, s. 6 Section 6. 341.14 (6r) (bm) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB301,4,8 341.14 (6r) (bm) 1. Upon application to register a vehicle specified in par. (b) by a resident of this state who is the owner of the vehicle, upon payment of the additional fees under par. (b) and submission of a statement by the applicant certifying to the department that the vehicle is leased to a person who qualifies for special plates under par. (b) together with information required of an applicant under par. (b), the department shall issue to the owner special plates of the appropriate colors and design under par. (d) or (e) in lieu of the plates which ordinarily would be issued for the vehicle. The department may not accept an application for a special group plate under par. (f) 50. before January 1, 1995 52. unless the department has received information sufficient for the department to determine that any approvals required for the use of any logo, trademark, trade name or other commercial symbol related to the Olympic Games have been obtained.

SB301, s. 7 Section 7. 341.14 (6r) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 1993 Wisconsin Act 415, is amended to read:

SB301,4,22 341.14 (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 University of Wisconsin system System before specifying the design for the special group plates under par. (f) 35. to 47. and the secretary of natural resources before specifying the design for the special group plate under par. (f) 50. and the chief executive officer of the United States Olympic Committee before specifying the design for the special group plate under par. (f) 52. Special group plates under par. (f) 50. shall be as similar as possible to regular registration plates in color and design.

SB301, s. 8 Section 8. 341.14 (6r) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB301,5,22 341.14 (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. The department, after consulting the president of the university University of Wisconsin system 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 University of Wisconsin system 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 a special group plate under par. (f) 52., specify the word or words or the symbol unless the word or words or symbol is approved in writing by the chief executive officer of the United States Olympic Committee. 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 University of Wisconsin system System specifies.

SB301, s. 9 Section 9. 341.14 (6r) (f) 52. of the statutes is created to read:

SB301,5,25 341.14 (6r) (f) 52. Persons interested in supporting the United States Olympic team.

SB301, s. 10 Section 10. 341.16 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB301,6,6 341.16 (1) (b) Upon satisfactory proof of the loss or destruction of a special plate issued under s. 341.14 (6m) (a) or (6r) (b) or a special personalized plate issued under s. 341.145 (1) (b) or (c) and upon payment of a fee of $5 for each plate or, if the plate is for a special group specified under s. 341.14 (6r) (f) 35. to 47. or 52., $6 for each plate, the department shall issue a replacement.

SB301,6,7 (End)