SB823: Bill Text

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2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Senate BILL 823

January 6, 2022 - Introduced by Senators Kooyenga, Ballweg, Marklein, L. Taylor and Wanggaard, cosponsored by Representatives Petersen, Skowronski, Armstrong, Brandtjen, Dittrich, Kerkman, Knodl, Kuglitsch, Murphy, Mursau, Novak, Ohnstad, Penterman, Sortwell, Subeck, Tauchen, Wichgers, Zimmerman and Sinicki. Referred to Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs and Constitution and Federalism.

SB823,1,3 An Act to amend 343.14 (2) (j); and to create 45.01 (12) (k) 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 applies only for the purpose of indicating veteran status on an operator's license or identification card and includes all of the following:

1. A former member of the U.S. armed forces who received a discharge under honorable conditions, or a former member of a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces or the national guard who met the requirements for satisfactory completion of his or her initial term of obligated service and received a discharge of either honorable or under honorable conditions.

2. A person who is entitled or, but for age, would be entitled to retired pay for nonregular service.

3. A person who was admitted into the United States as a refugee from Laos and served with a special guerilla unit, or irregular forces, operating from a base in Laos in support of the U.S. military during the period beginning February 28, 1961, and ending September 18, 1978.

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:

SB823,1 Section 1. 45.01 (12) (k) of the statutes is created to read:

SB823,2,2 45.01 (12) (k) For purposes of ss. 343.14 and 343.17 only, any of the following:

SB823,2,7 1. A former member of the U.S. armed forces who received a discharge under honorable conditions, or a former member of a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces or the national guard who met the requirements for satisfactory completion of his or her initial term of obligated service and received a discharge of either honorable or under honorable conditions.

SB823,2,9 2. A person who is entitled or, but for age, would be entitled to retired pay for nonregular service under 10 USC 1223.

SB823,2,16 3. A person who was admitted into the United States as a refugee from Laos under 8 USC 1157 and served with a special guerilla unit, or irregular forces, operating from a base in Laos in support of the U.S. military during the period beginning February 28, 1961, and ending September 18, 1978. The person shall provide documentation of the person's service with a special guerilla unit or irregular forces as provided under section 4 of the federal Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000, P.L. 106-207.

SB823,2 Section 2. 343.14 (2) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB823,3,4 343.14 (2) (j) A statement as to whether the applicant is a veteran, as defined in s. 45.01 (12) (k), 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.

SB823,3 Section 3. Initial applicability.

SB823,3,7 (1) This act first applies to applications that are received by the department of transportation on the effective date of this subsection.

SB823,3,8 (End)