LRB-0442/3
ARG:jld:pg
2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE
February 1, 2007 - Introduced by Senators Hansen, Sullivan, Coggs, Cowles,
Wirch, Plale, Schultz, Leibham and Grothman, cosponsored by
Representatives Musser, Soletski, Nelson, Berceau, Turner, Black, Bies,
Mursau, Van Roy, Smith and Sheridan. Referred to Committee on
Transportation, Tourism and Insurance.
SB20,1,3
1An Act to amend 341.14 (6r) (g) and 341.14 (8) (a) and (b) of the statutes;
2relating to: special distinguishing registration plates for fire fighters and
3groups that are military in nature.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law allows the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue special
distinguishing registration plates for certain vehicles to members of certain
authorized special groups enumerated by statute, including fire fighters. If a person
issued special fire fighters' plates is no longer a fire fighter, the person must dispose
of the special fire fighters' plates in a manner prescribed by DOT.
Also under current law, if special plates for a group that is military in nature
have been issued to a person, upon application by the surviving spouse of that person,
DOT may permit the surviving spouse to retain these special plates.
Under this bill, if a fire fighter has been issued special fire fighters' plates and
the fire fighter dies in the line of duty, DOT must allow the surviving spouse of the
fire fighter, upon application to DOT, to retain the special fire fighters' plates. DOT
must also allow the surviving spouse, upon request, to change the plate from a
personalized plate to a standard plate or from a standard plate to a personalized
plate. The bill also makes these same special plate retention and modification
provisions applicable under current law to special plates for groups that are military
in nature mandatory upon DOT, rather than permissive.
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:
SB20, s. 1
1Section
1. 341.14 (6r) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB20,2,72
341.14
(6r) (g)
If Except as provided in sub. (8) (a), if an individual in possession
3of special plates under par. (f) 33., 34. or 48. or of personalized plates under s. 341.145
4(1) (c) of the same color and design as special plates under par. (f) 33., 34. or 48. does
5not maintain membership in the applicable authorized special group during a year
6that is not a plate issuance year, the individual shall dispose of the special plates in
7a manner prescribed by the department.
SB20, s. 2
8Section
2. 341.14 (8) (a) and (b) of the statutes are amended to read:
SB20,2,169
341.14
(8) (a) If a special plate for a group associated with a branch of the armed
10services or otherwise military in nature has been issued to a person under this
11section,
or if a special plate under par. (f) 33. has been issued to a person who dies
12in the line of duty, upon application by the surviving spouse of the person, the
13department
may shall permit the surviving spouse to retain the plate. If the plate
14has been returned to the department or surrendered to another state, the
15department
may shall reissue the plate to the surviving spouse. The department
16shall charge an additional fee of $15 to reissue the plate.
SB20,2,2117
(b) For a plate retained under this subsection, upon request of the surviving
18spouse, the department
may shall change the plate from a personalized plate to a
19standard plate. Upon request of a surviving spouse and upon payment of the
20additional fee under s. 341.145 (3), the department
may shall personalize the plate
21or modify any existing personalization to the plate.
SB20,3,32
(1) This act first applies to applications to retain special plates received by the
3department of transportation on the effective date of this subsection.
