AB433: Bill Text

LRB-2722/2

ARG:kjf:pg

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 433

May 19, 2005 - Introduced by Representatives Gard, Meyer, Friske, Kaufert, Huebsch, Montgomery, Hahn, Bies, Hundertmark, Petrowski, M. Williams, Townsend, Vrakas, Gottlieb, Nass, Loeffelholz, Davis, Lamb, Suder, Freese, Pettis, Rhoades, Underheim, Ott, Wieckert, Toles, Turner, Lothian, Owens, Nerison, Kestell, Albers, Nischke, Kreibich, Honadel, Musser, Ziegelbauer, LeMahieu, Pridemore, Vos, Gundrum, Van Roy, Krawczyk, Gronemus, Zepnick, McCormick, Sheridan and Berceau, cosponsored by Senators S. Fitzgerald, Cowles, A. Lasee, Darling, Roessler, Brown, Decker, Erpenbach and Lassa. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB433,1,5 An Act to renumber and amend 341.14 (6r) (a) and 341.14 (6r) (d); to amend 341.14 (6r) (b) 2. and 341.14 (6r) (fm) 7.; and to create 341.135 (2m), 341.14 (6r) (a) 2., 341.14 (6r) (d) 2. and 341.14 (6r) (f) 19m. of the statutes; relating to: special distinguishing registration plates for persons who have had an immediate family member die in combat while serving in the armed forces.

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, 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 registration 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.

This bill creates an exception to the general prohibition against specifically enumerating in state law special groups whose members may apply for special group who have had an registration plates. The bill establishes an authorized special group for persons who have had an immediate family member (including a spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, stepparent or stepchild) die in combat while serving in the armed forces. The design of the special plates, which are colored red, white, and blue, must include a gold star flag. DOT must consult the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation, Inc. (Foundation), in designing the special plates and DOT may not specify a design for the special plates unless the design is approved in writing by the Department of Veterans Affairs and by the Foundation.

Current law requires DOT to establish new designs for most vehicle registration plates, including most special plates, every seven years and to issue the new plates on a rolling basis as vehicle registrations are renewed by the vehicle owners. This bill exempts the special plates established under the bill from the seven-year redesign cycle.

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:

AB433, s. 1 Section 1. 341.135 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB433,2,3 341.135 (2m) Applicability. This section does not apply to special group plates under s. 341.14 (6r) (f) 19m.

AB433, s. 2 Section 2. 341.14 (6r) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 341.14 (6r) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB433,2,6 341.14 (6r) (a) (intro.) In this subsection and s. 341.145 (1) (c), "authorized:

AB433,2,8 1. "Authorized special group" means a special group enumerated in par. (f) or designated by the department under par. (fm).

AB433, s. 3 Section 3. 341.14 (6r) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB433,2,12 341.14 (6r) (a) 2. "Immediate family member" means a spouse, grandparent, parent, sibling, child, stepchild, stepparent, or grandchild, or the spouse of a grandparent, parent, sibling, child, stepchild, stepparent, or grandchild.

AB433, s. 4 Section 4. 341.14 (6r) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB433,3,3 341.14 (6r) (b) 2. An additional fee of $15 shall be charged for the issuance or reissuance of the plates for special groups specified under par. (f) except those under par. (f) 19m.

AB433, s. 5 Section 5. 341.14 (6r) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 341.14 (6r) (d) 1. and amended to read:

AB433,3,12 341.14 (6r) (d) 1. The Subject to subd. 2., 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 associated with a branch of the armed services or a related organization after consultation with the appropriate state or federal representative of that service or organization. Special group plates for a group associated with a branch of the armed services or a related organization shall be colored red, white and blue.

AB433, s. 6 Section 6. 341.14 (6r) (d) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB433,3,19 341.14 (6r) (d) 2. Special group plates under par. (f) 19m. shall display a gold star flag. The department shall consult the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation, Inc., in designing the special group plates under par. (f) 19m., and the department may not specify a design for the special group plates under par. (f) 19m. unless the design is approved in writing by the department of veterans affairs and by the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation, Inc.

AB433, s. 7 Section 7. 341.14 (6r) (f) 19m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB433,3,22 341.14 (6r) (f) 19m. Persons who have had an immediate family member die in combat while serving in the U.S. armed forces.

AB433, s. 8 Section 8. 341.14 (6r) (fm) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB433,4,5 341.14 (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. 19m., 54., and 55.

AB433, s. 9 Section 9. Effective date.

AB433,4,8 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 4th month beginning after publication.

AB433,4,9 (End)