AB79: Bill Text

LRB-2045/1

EHS:amn

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly BILL 79

March 15, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Horlacher, Brooks, Crowley, Edming, Kuglitsch, Milroy, Mursau, Pronschinske, Ramthun, Skowronski, Tittl, Tusler and Wichgers, cosponsored by Senators Cowles, Olsen and L. Taylor. Referred to Committee on Sporting Heritage.

AB79,1,3 An Act to amend 29.563 (13) (b); and to create 29.235 (3r) and 29.563 (4) (a) 2w. of the statutes; relating to: issuance of conservation patron licenses to certain veterans with disabilities.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources issues various hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, permits, and tags (approvals). DNR also issues certain combination licenses, including resident and nonresident conservation patron licenses. A conservation patron license confers upon the licensee the combined privileges of certain approvals, including a small game hunting license, a deer hunting license, an archer hunting license, and an annual fishing license. A conservation patron license also confers certain other privileges, including the authority to take a motor vehicle into state parks and certain other areas without a vehicle admission receipt.

This bill requires that a veteran who is a state resident be issued a conservation patron license at a lower fee than the regular license fee if he or she produces evidence showing that he or she has a service-connected disability rating of 50 percent or greater, as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or is receiving disability benefits from the VA due to being unemployable based on his or her education and skills as well as his or her medical condition.

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:

AB79,1 Section 1. 29.235 (3r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB79,2,9 29.235 (3r) Veterans with disabilities. The department shall issue a conservation patron license at the reduced fee under s. 29.563 (4) (a) 2w. to any resident if the resident 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 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.

AB79,2 Section 2. 29.563 (4) (a) 2w. of the statutes is created to read:

AB79,2,12 29.563 (4) (a) 2w. Conservation patron issued to a veteran with a disability under s. 29.235 (3r): $60.25.

AB79,3 Section 3. 29.563 (13) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB79,2,16 29.563 (13) (b) Surcharge for conservation patron license. The surcharge for licenses listed under sub. (4) (a) 2. and, 2m., and 2w. and (b) 2. and 2m. is $4 and shall be added to the fee specified for these approvals under sub. (4).

AB79,2,17 (End)