SB226: Bill Text

LRB-0784/1

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2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Senate BILL 226

March 24, 2021 - Introduced by Senators Jacque, Darling, Carpenter, Felzkowski, Feyen and L. Taylor, cosponsored by Representatives Sortwell, Cabral-Guevara, Brandtjen, Brooks, Callahan, Gundrum, Horlacher, Knodl, Magnafici, Mursau, Ortiz-Velez, Sinicki and Tittl. Referred to Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs and Constitution and Federalism.

SB226,1,3 An Act to amend 343.14 (2) (j); and to create 343.01 (2) (j) of the statutes; relating to: indication of veteran status on an operator's license or identification card.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a veteran of the U.S. armed forces may elect to indicate his or her veteran status on his or her Wisconsin operator's license or identification card. “Veteran" is a defined term that includes individuals who have served a specified period of active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces. With limited exceptions, neither national guard duty nor service in a reserve unit qualifies as active duty.

This bill creates a definition of “veteran" that includes any current or former member of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces, or the national guard for the purpose of enabling such a person to indicate on his or her operator's license or identification card that he or she is a veteran. This definition applies only for this purpose and not to any other veteran benefit.

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:

SB226,1 Section 1. 343.01 (2) (j) of the statutes is created to read:

SB226,2,3 343.01 (2) (j) “Veteran," for purposes of ss. 343.14 and 343.17 only, means all of the following:

SB226,2,5 1. A current member of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces, or the national guard.

SB226,2,7 2. A former member of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces, or the national guard who received a discharge under honorable conditions.

SB226,2 Section 2 . 343.14 (2) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB226,2,16 343.14 (2) (j) A statement as to whether the applicant is a veteran, as defined in s. 45.01 (12), and, if so, whether the applicant wishes to have his or her veteran status indicated on the license or identification card. If the applicant has indicated that he or she is a veteran and wishes to have his or her veteran status indicated on the license or identification card, the applicant shall provide verification from the department of veterans affairs or a county veterans service officer that the applicant is a veteran or verification of service in the national guard or a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces.

SB226,3 Section 3 . Initial applicability.

SB226,2,19 (1) This act first applies to applications that are received by the department of transportation on the effective date of this subsection.

SB226,2,20 (End)