AB394: Bill Text

LRB-2318/1

ARG:bjk:rs

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Assembly BILL 394

August 26, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Lothian, Barca, Suder, Kerkman, Townsend, Gunderson, Murtha, Brooks, Nerison, Kestell, Hixson, Strachota, Davis, Ripp, Hintz, Kaufert, Zigmunt, Meyer, M. Williams and Pope-Roberts, cosponsored by Senators Kedzie, Wirch, Grothman, Darling, Schultz, Cowles, Taylor, Carpenter, Lehman and Kapanke. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB394,1,3 An Act to amend 341.135 and 341.14 (6r) (c) of the statutes; relating to: the color and design of special distinguishing registration plates for fire fighters and emergency medical technicians.

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, which include fire fighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Subject to certain limitations, the Department of Transportation (DOT) specifies the color and design for special plates.

Current law also requires DOT to establish new designs for most vehicle registration plates, including most special plates, at intervals determined by DOT 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 fire fighters and EMTs to be the same color and design that was specified by DOT for these plates immediately prior to January 1, 2007. The bill also exempts these special plates from the 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:

AB394, s. 1 Section 1. 341.135 of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act 28, is amended to read:

AB394,2,20 341.135 Rebasing registration plates. At intervals determined by the department, the department shall establish new designs of registration plates to be issued under ss. 341.14 (1), (1a), (1m), (1q), (2), (2m), (6m), and (6r), 341.25 (1) (a), (c), (h), and (j) and (2) (a), (b), and (c), and 341.26 (2) and (3) (a) 1. and (am). Any design for registration plates issued for automobiles and for vehicles registered on the basis of gross weight shall comply with the applicable design requirements of ss. 341.12 (3), 341.13, and 341.14 (6r) (c). The designs for registration plates specified in this section shall be as similar in appearance as practicable during each design interval. Except as provided in ss. 341.13 (2r) and 341.14 (1), each registration plate issued under s. 341.14 (1), (1a), (1m), (1q), (2), (2m), (6m), or (6r), 341.25 (1) (a), (c), (h), or (j) or (2) (a), (b), or (c), or 341.26 (2) or (3) (a) 1. or (am) during each design interval shall be of the design established under this section. The department may not redesign registration plates for the special groups under s. 341.14 (6r) (f) 53., 54., or 55. until July 1, 2010. Notwithstanding s. 341.13 (3), as the department establishes new designs for registration plates under this section, the department shall, at the time determined appropriate by the department, issue registration plates of the new design to replace registration plates previously issued. This section does not apply to special group plates under s. 341.14 (6r) (f) 19m. , 33., and 48.

AB394, s. 2 Section 2. 341.14 (6r) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act 28, section 2817, is amended to read:

AB394,3,21 341.14 (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 Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, 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 the special groups under par. (f) 50. and 59., 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., the department of veterans affairs before specifying the design for the special group plates under par. (f) 49d., 49h., and 49s., and the department of tourism and chief executive officer of the organization specified in par. (f) 55m. before specifying the design and word or symbol used to identify the special group name for special group plates under par. (f) 55m. Special group plates under par. (f) 50. shall be as similar as possible to regular registration plates in color and design. The department shall make available 2 designs for the special group plates under par. (f) 60. The department may not specify any design for the special group plates under par. (f) 60. unless the design is approved by the executive vice president of the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club LP. Notwithstanding par. (e), special group plates under par. (f) 33. and 48. shall be the same color and design that was specified by the department for such plates immediately prior to January 1, 2007.

AB394, s. 3 Section 3. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB394,4,4 (1) Notwithstanding section 341.16 (1) and (2) of the statutes, a person issued, after December 31, 2006, but prior to the effective date of this subsection, special plates under section 341.14 (6r) (f) 33. or 48. of the statutes 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.

AB394, s. 4 Section 4. Initial applicability.

AB394,4,7 (1) This act first applies to registration plates issued by the department of transportation on the effective date of this subsection.

AB394, s. 5 Section 5. Effective date.

AB394,4,10 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 3rd month beginning after publication.

AB394,4,11 (End)