AB518: Bill Text

LRB-3104/1

ARG:jld:rs

2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE

2007 Assembly BILL 518

October 2, 2007 - Introduced by Representatives Musser, Turner, Bies, M. Williams, Ziegelbauer, Tauchen, Boyle, Gronemus, Nass, A. Ott, Townsend and Ballweg, cosponsored by Senators Sullivan, Leibham, Cowles, Roessler and Schultz. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB518,1,3 An Act to amend 341.135 (2m) and 341.14 (6r) (d) 1. of the statutes; relating to: the design of special distinguishing registration plates for groups that are military in nature.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, members of authorized special groups may obtain special distinguishing registration plates for automobiles and certain other vehicles that are owned or leased by members of these groups. Subject to certain limitations, the Department of Transportation (DOT) specifies the design for special plates. Special plates for groups associated with a branch of the armed services or a related organization must be colored red, white, and blue.

Current law also requires DOT to establish new designs for most vehicle registration plates, including most special plates, every ten years and to issue the new plates on a rolling basis as vehicle registrations are renewed by the vehicle owners.

This bill requires special plates for groups associated with a branch of the armed services or a related organization to be of the design that was specified by DOT immediately prior to December 4, 2006. The bill also exempts these special plates from the ten-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:

AB518, s. 1 Section 1. 341.135 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB518,2,4 341.135 (2m) Applicability. This section does not apply to special group plates under s. 341.14 (6r) (f) 19m. or other special group plates under s. 341.14 (6r) (f) for groups associated with a branch of the armed services or a related organization.

AB518, s. 2 Section 2. 341.14 (6r) (d) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB518,2,15 341.14 (6r) (d) 1. Subject to subd. 2. and par. (c), 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. Notwithstanding par. (c), special group plates for a group associated with a branch of the armed services or a related organization shall be of the design that was specified by the department immediately prior to December 4, 2006.

AB518, s. 3 Section 3. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB518,3,3 (1) Notwithstanding section 341.16 (1) and (2) of the statutes, a person issued, after December 3, 2006 but prior to the effective date of this subsection, special plates under section 341.14 (6r) (f) of the statutes for a group associated with a branch of the armed services or a related organization may obtain replacement plates under section 341.16 of the statutes, regardless of whether the person's current registration plates have been lost or stolen or have become illegible. A person who obtains replacement plates under this subsection is otherwise subject to all provisions of section 341.16 of the statutes, including any applicable fee.

AB518, s. 4 Section 4. Initial applicability.

AB518,3,6 (1) This act first applies to registration plates issued by the department of transportation on the effective date of this subsection.

AB518, s. 5 Section 5. Effective date.

AB518,3,9 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 3rd month beginning after publication.

AB518,3,10 (End)