AB673: Bill Text

LRB-4924/1

ZDW:ahe

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly BILL 673

December 13, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Thiesfeldt, Spiros, Anderson, Ramthun, Sinicki and Tusler, cosponsored by Senators Jacque, Schachtner and L. Taylor. Referred to Committee on Sporting Heritage.

AB673,1,4 An Act to amend 27.01 (7) (c) 11., 27.01 (8) (bn) 1., 29.164 (3m) (am), 29.193 (3) (c) and 29.236 (1) of the statutes; relating to: the disability rating at which veterans qualify for certain hunting and fishing authorizations and exemptions from state park and trail admission fees.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill modifies the disability rating required for a disabled veteran to qualify for certain authorizations issued by the Department of Natural Resources and for exemptions from certain admission fees. Under current law, the qualifying disability rating is either 50 or 70 percent depending on the authorization or exemption. The bill provides for a qualifying disability rating of 30 percent for these authorizations and exemptions.

Under current law generally, a person may not operate a vehicle in a state forest, state park, or state natural area unless the vehicle has a valid vehicle admission receipt properly displayed. Current law also authorizes DNR to charge a fee to enter a state trail. Current law provides that vehicle admission receipts and state trail passes are not required for a state resident who is a veteran and is receiving compensation benefits for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 70 percent or greater.

Under current law, if the number of applicants for wild turkey hunting tags for a given wild turkey hunting zone or season time period exceeds the number of available wild turkey hunting tags allocated by DNR for that zone or time period, DNR must issue wild turkey hunting licenses and tags for that zone or time period according to a cumulative preference system. However, DNR must issue wild turkey hunting licenses and tags to a state resident who is a veteran and is receiving compensation benefits for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 50 percent or greater without requiring the licenses and tags to be issued according to the cumulative preference system.

Under current law, upon application from a state resident who is a veteran and is receiving compensation benefits for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 70 percent or greater, DNR must issue the veteran an annual disabled person fishing license.

Under current law, upon application from a state resident who is a veteran and is receiving compensation benefits for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 50 percent or greater, DNR must issue the veteran a disabled veteran recreation card. The card entitles the holder to exercise all of the combined rights and privileges of a resident small game hunting license and a resident fishing license. The card also serves as a vehicle admission receipt and a state trail pass.

The bill reduces the qualifying disability rating for each of these authorizations and exemptions to 30 percent.

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:

AB673,1 Section 1. 27.01 (7) (c) 11. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB673,2,6 27.01 (7) (c) 11. Any vehicle, except a motor bus, occupied by a state resident who 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 30 percent or greater under 38 USC 1114.

AB673,2 Section 2. 27.01 (8) (bn) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB673,2,12 27.01 (8) (bn) 1. Any state resident who 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 30 percent or greater under 38 USC 1114.

AB673,3 Section 3. 29.164 (3m) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB673,3,14 29.164 (3m) (am) Notwithstanding sub. (3), the department shall issue to disabled veterans and to qualified recipients of the purple heart medal wild turkey hunting licenses and tags without requiring that the licenses and tags be issued pursuant to the cumulative preference system under sub. (3). A disabled veteran is a resident who 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 for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 50 30 percent or greater under 38 USC 1114 or 1134, or is receiving disability compensation benefits due to being individually unemployable under 38 CFR 4.16 as authorized under 38 USC 501. The department shall recognize an annual disabled veteran recreation card issued under s. 29.236 as sufficient evidence that a person is a disabled veteran. A qualified recipient of the purple heart medal is a person who exhibits proof that he or she has received the medal.

AB673,4 Section 4. 29.193 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB673,3,21 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 for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 70 30 percent or greater under 38 USC 1114 or 1134, or is receiving disability compensation benefits due to being individually unemployable under 38 CFR 4.16 as authorized under 38 USC 501.

AB673,5 Section 5. 29.236 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB673,4,4 29.236 (1) The department, subject to ss. 29.024 and 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d., shall issue an annual disabled veteran recreation card to any resident who 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 for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 50 30 percent or greater under 38 USC 1114 or 1134, or is receiving disability compensation benefits due to being individually unemployable under 38 CFR 4.16 as authorized under 38 USC 501.

AB673,4,5 (End)