Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

Wisconsin Senate Bill SB44 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
4	4	2023 SENATE BILL 44
5	5	February 14, 2023 - Introduced by Senators JACQUE, CARPENTER and SPREITZER,
6	6	cosponsored by Representatives KURTZ, NOVAK, OHNSTAD, C. ANDERSON,
7	7	BEHNKE, BODDEN, BRANDTJEN, CABRERA, DONOVAN, EDMING, GREEN, GUSTAFSON,
8	8	KITCHENS, KNODL, MURSAU, ORTIZ-VELEZ, WICHGERS and SHANKLAND. Referred
9	9	to Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage.
10	10	AN ACT to amend 27.01 (7) (c) 11., 27.01 (8) (bn) 1., 29.193 (3) (c) and 29.563 (13)
11	11	(b); and to create 29.235 (3r) and 29.563 (4) (a) 2w. of the statutes; relating to:
12	12	the disability rating at which veterans qualify for certain hunting and fishing
13	13	authorizations and exemptions from state park and trail admission fees.
14	14	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
15	15	This bill establishes a 50 percent disability rating for disabled veterans to
16	16	qualify for certain hunting, fishing, and trapping approvals issued by the
17	17	Department of Natural Resources and for exemptions from certain admission fees.
18	18	Under current law, the qualifying disability rating is either 50 or 70 percent
19	19	depending on the approval or exemption.
20	20	Under current law generally, a person may not operate a vehicle in a state
21	21	forest, state park, or state natural area unless the vehicle has a valid vehicle
22	22	admission receipt properly displayed. Current law also authorizes DNR to charge
23	23	a fee to enter a state trail. Current law provides that vehicle admission receipts and
24	24	state trail passes are not required for a state resident who is a veteran receiving
25	25	benefits for disabilities resulting in a 70 percent disability rating. The bill reduces
26	26	the qualifying disability rating to 50 percent.
27	27	Under current law, DNR issues various hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses,
28	28	permits, and tags, referred to collectively as approvals. DNR also issues certain
29	29	combination licenses, including conservation patron licenses. A conservation patron
30	30	license confers upon the licensee the combined privileges of certain hunting, fishing,
31	31	and trapping approvals and the authority to take a motor vehicle into state parks and
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38	38	certain other areas without a vehicle admission receipt. The bill requires DNR to
39	39	issue a conservation patron license at a reduced fee to a state resident who is a
40	40	veteran receiving benefits for disabilities resulting in a 50 percent disability rating.
41	41	Under current law, no person may fish in the waters of the state without a valid
42	42	fishing license or approval authorizing fishing. Current law provides that, upon
43	43	application from a state resident who is a veteran receiving benefits for disabilities
44	44	resulting in a 70 percent disability rating, DNR must issue the veteran an annual
45	45	fishing license for disabled persons at a reduced fee. The bill reduces the qualifying
46	46	disability rating to 50 percent.
47	47	For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
48	48	an appendix to this bill.
49	49	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
50	50	enact as follows:
51	51	SECTION 1. 27.01 (7) (c) 11. of the statutes is amended to read:
52	52	27.01 (7) (c) 11. Any vehicle, except a motor bus, occupied by a state resident
53	53	who produces evidence that shows that he or she is a veteran, as defined in 38 USC
54	54	101, and is receiving disability compensation benefits under 38 USC 1101 to 1163 as
55	55	individually unemployable under 38 USC 1502 or for disabilities that result in a
56	56	disability rating that is 70 50 percent or greater under 38 USC 1114.
57	57	SECTION 2. 27.01 (8) (bn) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
58	58	27.01 (8) (bn) 1. Any state resident who produces evidence that shows that he
59	59	or she is a veteran, as defined in 38 USC 101, and is receiving disability compensation
60	60	benefits under 38 USC 1101 to 1163 as individually unemployable under 38 USC
61	61	1502 or for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 70 50 percent or
62	62	greater under 38 USC 1114.
63	63	SECTION 3. 29.193 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
64	64	29.193 (3) (c) Produces evidence that shows that he or she is a veteran, as
65	65	defined in 38 USC 101, and is receiving disability compensation benefits under 38
66	66	USC 1101 to 1163 for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 70 50 percent
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85	85	SECTION 3
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87	87	or greater under 38 USC 1114 or 1134, or is receiving disability compensation
88	88	benefits due to being individually unemployable under 38 CFR 4.16 as authorized
89	89	under 38 USC 501.
90	90	SECTION 4. 29.235 (3r) of the statutes is created to read:
91	91	29.235 (3r) VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES. The department shall issue a
92	92	conservation patron license at the reduced fee under s. 29.563 (4) (a) 2w. to any
93	93	resident if the resident produces evidence that shows that he or she is a veteran, as
94	94	defined in 38 USC 101, and is receiving disability compensation benefits under 38
95	95	USC 1101 to 1163 for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 50 percent
96	96	or greater under 38 USC 1114 or 1134, or is receiving disability compensation
97	97	benefits due to being individually unemployable under 38 CFR 4.16 as authorized
98	98	under 38 USC 501.
99	99	SECTION 5. 29.563 (4) (a) 2w. of the statutes is created to read:
100	100	29.563 (4) (a) 2w. Conservation patron issued to a veteran with a disability
101	101	under s. 29.235 (3r): $60.25.
102	102	SECTION 6. 29.563 (13) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
103	103	29.563 (13) (b) Surcharge for conservation patron license. The surcharge for
104	104	licenses listed under sub. (4) (a) 2. and, 2m., and 2w. and (b) 2. and 2m. is $4 and shall
105	105	be added to the fee specified for these approvals under sub. (4).
106	106	SECTION 7.0Effective date.
107	107	(1) This act takes effect on March 1, 2024.
108	108	(END)
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