AB83: Bill Text

LRB-0867/3

MGG:kjf:rs

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Assembly BILL 83

February 24, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Townsend, Berceau, Bernard Schaber, Bies, Brooks, Gunderson, Hraychuck, Hubler, Kaufert, Kestell, Lothian, Meyer, Mursau, Nerison, A. Ott, Petrowski, Pope-Roberts, Roth, Spanbauer, Suder and Vos, cosponsored by Senators Darling, Erpenbach, Hansen, Kedzie, Lazich, Lehman, Olsen, Schultz, Taylor and Vinehout. Referred to Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs.

AB83,1,2 An Act to amend 29.193 (3) (c) of the statutes; relating to: issuing annual fishing licenses to certain resident disabled veterans.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current state law, a disabled veteran who is a resident of this state may be issued an annual fishing license at a lower fee than the regular fee for the license if he or she has a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or greater, as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This percentage disability rating is based on medical records and doctors' reports. For example, a disability rating of 80 percent entitles a veteran to an 80 percent disability compensation payment. However, in each case, the VA also determines whether the veteran's disability, based on his or her education, skills, and medical condition, is so severe as to render the veteran "individually unemployable." If the VA makes this determination, the veteran is not compensated based on the percentage disability rating. Instead, he or she is compensated at the 100 percent rating level. This bill expands the eligibility for an annual fishing license at the lower fee to a veteran who is determined to be "individually unemployable."

For further information see the state and local 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:

AB83, s. 1 Section 1. 29.193 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB83,2,6 29.193 (3) (c) Produces evidence that shows that he or she is a veteran, as defined in 38 USC 101, and is receiving disability compensation benefits under 38 USC 1101 to 1163 as individually unemployable under 38 USC 1502 or for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 70% 70 percent or greater under 38 USC 1114.

AB83,2,7 (End)