AB11: Bill Text

LRB-0293/2

ZDW:skw

2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE

2023 Assembly BILL 11

February 7, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives Kitchens, Bodden, Tusler, Rozar, Mursau, Vining, Joers, Conley, Considine, Cabrera, Subeck, Stubbs, J. Anderson, Ratcliff, Sinicki, Snodgrass, Shankland and Jacobson, cosponsored by Senators Cowles, Agard, Cabral-Guevara, Spreitzer, Taylor, Hesselbein and Smith. Referred to Committee on Forestry, Parks and Outdoor Recreation.

AB11,1,4 An Act to amend 27.01 (9) (bn) (title); and to create 20.370 (1) (ed), 27.01 (6m) and 27.01 (9) (bg) of the statutes; relating to: fee waivers for state park vehicle admission receipts to parents or guardians of 4th grade pupils and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, no person may operate a vehicle in any state park or in certain other recreational areas on state land unless the vehicle displays a vehicle admission receipt. Current law requires the Department of Natural Resources to issue an annual vehicle admission receipt that is valid for the calendar year for which it is issued. This bill requires DNR to waive the fee for an annual vehicle admission receipt issued to the parent or guardian of a 4th grade pupil. The bill provides that a parent or guardian of a qualifying pupil may receive the waiver only once in his or her lifetime and DNR may issue a waiver only once for a household.

The bill also requires DNR to provide on its website an activity guide for state parks, forests, recreation areas, and trails.

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:

AB11,1 Section 1. 20.370 (1) (ed) of the statutes is created to read:

AB11,2,4 20.370 (1) (ed) Parks - admission receipt waivers. From the general fund, a sum sufficient equal to the amount of the annual vehicle admission receipt fees waived under s. 27.01 (9) (bg), for the operation of state parks.

AB11,2 Section 2. 27.01 (6m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB11,2,8 27.01 (6m) Visitor activity guides for schools. The department shall provide on the department's website a visitor activity guide for state parks, forests, recreation areas, and trails.

AB11,3 Section 3. 27.01 (9) (bg) of the statutes is created to read:

AB11,2,10 27.01 (9) (bg) Annual 4th grade pass. 1. In this paragraph:

AB11,2,12 a. “4th grade pupil” means a child receiving a 4th grade level of instruction in a school or a home-based private educational program, as defined in s. 115.001 (3g).

AB11,2,13 b. “Guardian” has the meaning given in 48.02 (8).

AB11,2,14 c. “Parent” has the meaning given in s. 48.02 (13).

AB11,2,21 2. A parent or guardian may apply for an annual vehicle admission receipt fee waiver under this paragraph by submitting an application to the department. An application may not be submitted to a regional office of the department or to a person who is subject to an appointment or a contract as authorized under s. 29.024 (6) (a) 2. to 4. but must be submitted directly to the main office of the department. An application shall be submitted on a form provided by the department and shall include all of the following information:

AB11,2,22 a. The child's name.

AB11,2,23 b. The child's date of birth.

AB11,3,3 c. The name of the school the child is or will be attending or a certification that the child is in a home-based private educational program, as defined in s. 115.001 (3g).

AB11,3,8 d. A certification that the child is, was, or will be a 4th grade pupil on the first day of January of the calendar year for which the waiver is issued. This certification may be satisfied with dated report cards, dated and signed enrollment forms, a dated letter from the child's school on official letterhead, or any other proof deemed acceptable by the department.

AB11,3,12 3. Subject to subd. 4., the department shall provide to an individual whose application submitted under subd. 2. is approved an annual vehicle admission receipt fee waiver under this paragraph that is valid for the calendar year in which the waiver is issued.

AB11,3,16 4. A parent or guardian may receive only one fee waiver under this paragraph in his or her lifetime. If a parent or guardian receives a fee waiver under this paragraph, the department may not issue a fee waiver under this paragraph for any other member of the parent's or guardian's household.

AB11,3,20 5. The department shall waive the fee, including the issuing fee, imposed under sub. (7) for an annual vehicle admission receipt for a single vehicle, except a motor bus, that has Wisconsin registration plates and that is operated by a person who holds a valid fee waiver issued under this paragraph.

AB11,3 Section 3. 27.01 (9) (bn) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB11,3,23 27.01 (9) (bn) (title) Annual vehicle admission receipt fee waiver; service members.

AB11,4 Section 4. Effective date.

AB11,4,1 (1) This act takes effect on January 1, 2023.

AB11,4,2 (End)