AB244: Bill Text

LRB-2175/1

ARG:jld:rs

2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

2013 Assembly BILL 244

June 13, 2013 - Introduced by Representatives Kaufert, Thiesfeldt, Czaja, Barnes, Murphy, Schraa, A. Ott, Murtha, Spiros, Tittl, Bies, T. Larson, Pridemore, Krug, Steineke and Endsley, cosponsored by Senators Grothman, Ellis and Farrow. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB244,1,5 An Act to amend 341.14 (6r) (b) 2., 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. b., 341.14 (6r) (c) and 341.14 (6r) (fm) 7.; and to create 20.485 (1) (gf), 25.40 (1) (a) 30., 341.14 (6r) (b) 15. and 341.14 (6r) (f) 62. of the statutes; relating to: special distinguishing registration plates displaying the words In God We Trust and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, any group or organization may apply to the Department of Transportation 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 charged for the issuance or reissuance of most special plates.

Before October 2, 1998, authorized special groups whose members may obtain special plates were specifically enumerated in state law. With certain exceptions, 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 plates displaying the words "In God We Trust." In addition to the regular vehicle registration fee, special group members must pay a $15 fee for issuance or reissuance of these special plates, which fee is deposited into the veterans trust fund. Special group members must also annually include payment of $25 that provides funds to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the care of residents of the Wisconsin veterans homes.

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:

AB244,1 Section 1. 20.485 (1) (gf) of the statutes is created to read:

AB244,2,4 20.485 (1) (gf) Veterans home member care. All moneys received under s. 341.14 (6r) (b) 15. for the care of the members of the Wisconsin veterans homes under s. 45.50.

AB244,2 Section 2. 25.40 (1) (a) 30. of the statutes is created to read:

AB244,2,8 25.40 (1) (a) 30. Moneys received under s. 341.14 (6r) (b) 15. that are deposited into the general fund and credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.485 (1) (gf).

AB244,3 Section 3. 341.14 (6r) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,2,14 341.14 (6r) (b) 2. An additional fee of $15 shall be charged for the issuance or reissuance of the plates for special groups specified under par. (f), except that no additional fee may be charged under this subdivision for the issuance or reissuance of the plates for special groups specified under par. (f) 1. to 32., 49. to 49s., 51., or 56., or 62.

AB244,4 Section 4. 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,3,2 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. b. A fee of $15 shall be charged for the issuance or reissuance of a plate for the special group specified under par. (f) 15m. or 62. All moneys received under this subd. 9. b. in excess of the initial costs of production of the special group plate under par. (f) 15m. or $23,700, whichever is less, shall be deposited in the veterans trust fund.

AB244,5 Section 5. 341.14 (6r) (b) 15. of the statutes is created to read:

AB244,3,18 341.14 (6r) (b) 15. A voluntary payment of $25 that is in addition to the fee under subd. 9. b. shall be collected in connection with the issuance or renewal of a plate issued on an annual basis for the special group specified under par. (f) 62. A voluntary payment of $50 that is in addition to the fee under subd. 9. b. shall be collected in connection with the issuance or renewal of a plate issued on the biennial basis for the special group specified under par. (f) 62. if the plate is issued or renewed during the first year of the biennial registration period or $25 for the issuance or renewal if the plate is issued or renewed during the 2nd year of the biennial registration period. No plate may be issued for the special group specified under par. (f) 62. unless the voluntary payment under this subdivision is collected. All moneys received under this subdivision in excess of $23,700 or of the initial cost of production of the special group plate under par. (f) 62., whichever is less, shall be deposited into the general fund and credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.485 (1) (gf). To the extent permitted under ch. 71, the voluntary payment under this subdivision is deductible as a charitable contribution for purposes of the taxes under ch. 71.

AB244,6 Section 6. 341.14 (6r) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,5,5 341.14 (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. Except as 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 chief trademark officer of Harley-Davidson Michigan, LLC before specifying the design for the applicable special group plate under par. (f) 61r., 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. Special group plates issued under par. (f) 62. shall display the words "In God We Trust". 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. The word or symbol used to identify the special group under par. (f) 59. shall be different from the word or symbol used to identify the special group under par. (f) 50. and the design shall cover the entire plate. Special group plates under par. (f) 61m. shall display a logo or image of the lion associated with the Lions Clubs International. Special group plates under par. (f) 61r. shall display a bar and shield logo associated with Harley-Davidson, Inc., on the left portion of the plates and the words "share the road" on the bottom portion of the plates. Notwithstanding par. (e), special group plates under par. (f) 33m. and 48m. shall be the same color and design that was specified by the department for special group plates under par. (f) 33. and 48., respectively, immediately prior to January 1, 2007. The design for special group plates under par. (f) 33. and 48. shall be different from the design of special group plates under par. (f) 33m. and 48m., respectively.

AB244,7 Section 7. 341.14 (6r) (f) 62. of the statutes is created to read:

AB244,5,8 341.14 (6r) (f) 62. Persons interested in obtaining registration plates with the words "In God We Trust" on them.

AB244,8 Section 8. 341.14 (6r) (fm) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB244,5,16 341.14 (6r) (fm) 7. 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. This subdivision does not apply to the special groups specified under par. (f) 3m., 6m., 9g., 9m., 12g., 12m., 15m., 19m., 33m., 48m., 49d., 49h., 49s., 54., 55., 55m., 56., 57., 58., 59., 60., 61., 61m., and 61r., and 62.

AB244,9 Section 9. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB244,5,25 (1) Notwithstanding section 16.42 (1) (e) of the statutes, if this subsection takes effect in fiscal year 2014-15, in submitting information under section 16.42 of the statutes for purposes of the 2015-17 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 2014-15 fiscal year was $23,700 less than the total amount that was actually appropriated under section 20.395 (5) (cq) of the statutes for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

AB244,10 Section 10. Fiscal changes.

AB244,6,6 (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 2013, the dollar amount is increased by $23,700 for the fiscal year in which this subsection takes effect to increase funding for special registration plates displaying the words "In God We Trust."

AB244,11 Section 11. Effective date.

AB244,6,9 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 5th month beginning after publication.

AB244,6,10 (End)