March 20, 2019 - Introduced by Senators Jacque, Olsen and L. Taylor,
cosponsored by Representatives Skowronski, Brostoff, Horlacher,
Kuglitsch, Kulp, Magnafici, Plumer, Rohrkaste, Sinicki, Thiesfeldt,
Tranel, Tusler and Wichgers. Referred to Committee on Transportation,
Veterans and Military Affairs.

SB115,1,5 1An Act to renumber and amend 341.14 (8) (a); to amend 341.14 (5), 341.14
2(6r) (b) 9., 341.14 (6r) (f) 20., 341.14 (6r) (f) 21., 341.14 (6r) (f) 22., 341.14 (6r)
3(f) 23., 341.14 (6r) (f) 32., 341.14 (6r) (f) 51., 341.14 (6w) and 341.25 (1) (intro.);
4and to create 341.14 (8) (a) 1. and 2., 341.14 (17) and 341.25 (5) of the statutes;
5relating to: special registration plates that are military in nature.

This bill creates exemptions from vehicle registration fees for certain vehicles
issued special plates associated with military service and expands the group of
persons authorized to obtain certain types of military special plates.

Current law enumerates various authorized special groups whose members
may obtain from the Department of Transportation special registration plates for
certain vehicles, including automobiles and light motor trucks, that are owned or
leased by special group members. There are approximately 57 authorized special
groups that are military in nature, including groups for persons awarded the
Congressional Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart Medal, the Distinguished Service
Cross Medal, the Air Force Cross Medal, the Navy Cross Medal, and the
Distinguished Service Medal, as well as a group for veterans of the attack on Pearl
Harbor.

This bill expands these listed authorized groups to include a surviving spouse
of the medal recipient or Pearl Harbor veteran.

Under current law, DOT collects a registration fee for the initial registration or
registration renewal of most motor vehicles operated on the highway. The amount

of the registration fee varies by type of vehicle, with automobiles subject to a $75
annual registration fee and motor trucks subject to a fee based on weight. In addition
to the regular registration fee, DOT charges a fee of $15 for the issuance or reissuance
of most special plates. For special plates that are military in nature, this $15
additional fee is deposited into the veterans trust fund. However, for a person
awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, there is no registration fee and no
additional fee for issuance of these special plates.

Under this bill, there is no initial or renewal registration fee and no $15
additional fee for a vehicle registered by a special group member who was awarded,
or who is the surviving spouse of a person awarded, the Purple Heart Medal, the
Distinguished Service Cross Medal, the Air Force Cross Medal, the Navy Cross
Medal, or the Distinguished Service Medal, or who is or is the surviving spouse of a
Pearl Harbor veteran, if the vehicle owner has no other registered vehicles with
military special plates for which there is such a fee exemption. There is also no
registration fee or additional fee for the surviving spouse of a person awarded the
Congressional Medal of Honor. The bill also exempts an honorably discharged
veteran from the $15 additional fee for issuance or reissuance of special plates that
are military in nature, including a veteran's motorcycle plate, if the vehicle owner
has no other registered vehicles with military special plates for which there is such
a fee exemption. DOT must annually report to the Department of Administration
the number of vehicles issued or reissued special plates that are military in nature
for which no $15 additional fee was collected as provided above. DOA must annually
transfer from the general fund to the veterans trust fund an amount equal to the
number of vehicles reported by DOT multiplied by $15.

SB115,2,52 341.14 (5) Upon application by any person awarded the congressional medal
3of honor or the person's surviving spouse, and upon submission of proper proof
4thereof, the department shall issue special plates so designed as to indicate such
5award. No charge whatever shall be made for the issuance of such plates.

SB115,3,47 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. a. A Except as provided in sub. (17) (a), a fee of $15 shall be
8charged for the issuance or reissuance of a plate for a special group specified under

1par. (f) 1. to 15., 16. to 19., 20. to 32., 49. to 49s., 51., or 56. All moneys received under
2this subd. 9. a. in excess of the initial costs of production of the special group plates
3under par. (f) 3m., 6m., 9g., 9m., 12g., 12m., 49d., 49h., 49s., and 56. or $37,800,
4whichever is less, shall be deposited in the veterans trust fund.

SB115,3,95 b. A Except as provided in sub. (17) (a), a fee of $15 shall be charged for the
6issuance or reissuance of a plate for a special group specified under par. (f) 15m. to
715q. or 62. All moneys received under this subd. 9. b. in excess of the initial costs of
8production of the special group plate under par. (f) 15m., 2011 stats., or $23,700,
9whichever is less, shall be deposited in the veterans trust fund.