SB209: Bill Text

LRB-2202/1

ARG:cjs:pg

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Senate BILL 209

May 19, 2005 - Introduced by Senators Leibham and Zien, cosponsored by Representatives LeMahieu, Vos, Davis, Pridemore, Krawczyk, Albers and M. Williams. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Transportation.

SB209,1,5 An Act to amend 341.14 (6r) (c), 341.14 (6r) (e) and 341.14 (6r) (fm) 7.; and to create 25.29 (1) (f), 25.40 (1) (a) 22., 341.135 (2m), 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. and 341.14 (6r) (f) 56. of the statutes; relating to: special distinguishing registration plates expressing enthusiasm for hunting and fishing for sport and recreation and making an appropriation.

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 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.

This bill establishes an authorized special group specifically enumerated in state law for persons interested in obtaining special distinguishing registration plates expressing their enthusiasm for hunting and fishing for sport and recreation in this state. 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 $15 annual fee that is deposited in the conservation fund to be used by the Department of Natural Resources for the management of the fish and wildlife resources of this state. The coloring of the special group plates must include a bright orange background and black identifying numbers or letters.

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:

SB209, s. 1 Section 1. 25.29 (1) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

SB209,2,2 25.29 (1) (f) Moneys received under s. 341.14 (6r) (b) 5., 7., and 9.

SB209, s. 2 Section 2. 25.40 (1) (a) 22. of the statutes is created to read:

SB209,2,5 25.40 (1) (a) 22. Moneys received under s. 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. that are deposited in the conservation fund.

SB209, s. 3 Section 3. 341.135 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB209,2,8 341.135 (2m) Applicability. This section does not apply to special group plates under s. 341.14 (6r) (f) 56.

SB209, s. 4 Section 4. 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. of the statutes is created to read:

SB209,3,8 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. An additional fee of $15 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 $30 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 $15 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 $27,600 for the initial costs of production of the special group plate under par. (f) 56., shall be deposited in the conservation fund to be used by the department of natural resources for the management of the fish and wildlife resources of this state. 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.

SB209, s. 5 Section 5. 341.14 (6r) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB209,3,24 341.14 (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 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. Special group plates under par. (f) 56. shall have a bright orange background and the identifying letters or numbers shown on the plates shall be colored black.

SB209, s. 6 Section 6. 341.14 (6r) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB209,4,13 341.14 (6r) (e) The Subject to the color requirements under par. (c) for special group plates under par. (f) 56., 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. and for each professional football team under par. (f) 55. The department 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. 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.

SB209, s. 7 Section 7. 341.14 (6r) (f) 56. of the statutes is created to read:

SB209,4,16 341.14 (6r) (f) 56. Persons interested in obtaining a plate expressing their enthusiasm for hunting and fishing for sport and recreation in this state.

SB209, s. 8 Section 8. 341.14 (6r) (fm) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB209,4,24 341.14 (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.

SB209, s. 9 Section 9. Nonstatutory provisions.

SB209,5,8 (1) Notwithstanding section 16.42 (1) (e) of the statutes, if this subsection takes effect in fiscal year 2006-07, in submitting information under section 16.42 of the statutes for purposes of the 2007-09 biennial budget bill, the department of transportation shall submit information concerning the appropriation under section 20.395 (5) (cq) of the statutes as though the total amount appropriated under section 20.395 (5) (cq) of the statutes for the 2006-07 fiscal year was $27,600 less than the total amount that was actually appropriated under section 20.395 (5) (cq) for the 2006-07 fiscal year.

SB209, s. 10 Section 10. Appropriation changes.

SB209,5,15 (1) In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of transportation under section 20.395 (5) (cq) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2005, the dollar amount is increased by $27,600 for the fiscal year in which this subsection takes effect to increase funding for special registration plates for persons interested in expressing their enthusiasm for hunting and fishing for sport and recreation in this state.

SB209, s. 11 Section 11. Effective date.

SB209,5,18 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 4th month beginning after publication.

SB209,5,19 (End)