LRB-1492/1
ZDW:ahe
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
November 27, 2019 - Introduced by Senators Jacque, Schachtner and L. Taylor,
cosponsored by Representatives Thiesfeldt, Spiros, Anderson, Sinicki,
Tusler and Ramthun. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and
Energy.
SB587,1,4 1An Act to amend 27.01 (7) (c) 11., 27.01 (8) (bn) 1., 29.164 (3m) (am), 29.193 (3)
2(c) and 29.236 (1) of the statutes; relating to: the disability rating at which
3veterans qualify for certain hunting and fishing authorizations and exemptions
4from 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:
SB587,1 1Section 1. 27.01 (7) (c) 11. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB587,2,62 27.01 (7) (c) 11. Any vehicle, except a motor bus, occupied by a state resident
3who produces evidence that shows that he or she is a veteran, as defined in 38 USC
4101
, and is receiving disability compensation benefits under 38 USC 1101 to 1163 as
5individually unemployable under 38 USC 1502 or for disabilities that result in a
6disability rating that is 70 30 percent or greater under 38 USC 1114.
SB587,2 7Section 2. 27.01 (8) (bn) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB587,2,128 27.01 (8) (bn) 1. Any state resident who produces evidence that shows that he
9or she is a veteran, as defined in 38 USC 101, and is receiving disability compensation
10benefits under 38 USC 1101 to 1163 as individually unemployable under 38 USC
111502
or for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 70 30 percent or
12greater under 38 USC 1114.
SB587,3
1Section 3. 29.164 (3m) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB587,3,142 29.164 (3m) (am) Notwithstanding sub. (3), the department shall issue to
3disabled veterans and to qualified recipients of the purple heart medal wild turkey
4hunting licenses and tags without requiring that the licenses and tags be issued
5pursuant to the cumulative preference system under sub. (3). A disabled veteran is
6a resident who produces evidence that shows that he or she is a veteran, as defined
7in 38 USC 101, and is receiving disability compensation benefits under 38 USC 1101
8to 1163 for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 50 30 percent or greater
9under 38 USC 1114 or 1134, or is receiving disability compensation benefits due to
10being individually unemployable under 38 CFR 4.16 as authorized under 38 USC
11501
. The department shall recognize an annual disabled veteran recreation card
12issued under s. 29.236 as sufficient evidence that a person is a disabled veteran. A
13qualified recipient of the purple heart medal is a person who exhibits proof that he
14or she has received the medal.
SB587,4 15Section 4. 29.193 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB587,3,2116 29.193 (3) (c) Produces evidence that shows that he or she is a veteran, as
17defined in 38 USC 101, and is receiving disability compensation benefits under 38
18USC 1101
to 1163 for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 70 30 percent
19or greater under 38 USC 1114 or 1134, or is receiving disability compensation
20benefits due to being individually unemployable under 38 CFR 4.16 as authorized
21under 38 USC 501.
SB587,5 22Section 5. 29.236 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB587,4,423 29.236 (1) The department, subject to ss. 29.024 and 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d., shall
24issue an annual disabled veteran recreation card to any resident who produces
25evidence that shows that he or she is a veteran, as defined in 38 USC 101, and is

1receiving disability compensation benefits under 38 USC 1101 to 1163 for disabilities
2that result in a disability rating that is 50 30 percent or greater under 38 USC 1114
3or 1134, or is receiving disability compensation benefits due to being individually
4unemployable under 38 CFR 4.16 as authorized under 38 USC 501.
SB587,4,55 (End)
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