ARG:wlj:ph
2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE
November 14, 2011 - Introduced by Representatives Kaufert, Nygren, Litjens,
Bies, A. Ott, Thiesfeldt, Turner, Ziegelbauer, Endsley
and Steineke,
cosponsored by Senators Grothman, Galloway, Ellis and Lasee. Referred to
Committee on Transportation.
AB372,1,5 1An Act to amend 341.14 (6r) (b) 2., 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. b., 341.14 (6r) (c) and 341.14
2(6r) (fm) 7.; and to create 20.485 (1) (gf), 25.40 (1) (a) 30., 341.14 (6r) (b) 15. and
3341.14 (6r) (f) 62. of the statutes; relating to: special distinguishing
4registration plates displaying the words In God We Trust and making an
5appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, any group or organization may apply to the Department of
Transportation for designation as an authorized special group. If the application is
approved, members of the authorized special group may obtain special
distinguishing license plates for certain vehicles, including automobiles and motor
homes, that are owned or leased by special group members. A fee, in addition to the
regular registration fee for the particular kind of vehicle, is charged for the issuance
or reissuance of most special plates.
Before October 2, 1998, authorized special groups whose members may obtain
special plates were specifically enumerated in state law. With certain exceptions,
current law provides that specific enumeration in state law of authorized special
groups is limited to those special groups enumerated before October 2, 1998.
This bill establishes an authorized special group specifically enumerated in
state law for persons interested in obtaining special plates displaying the words "In
God We Trust." In addition to the regular vehicle registration fee, special group
members must pay a $15 fee for issuance or reissuance of these special plates, which

fee is deposited into the veterans trust fund. Special group members must also pay
a $25 annual fee that provides funds to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the
care of residents of the Wisconsin veterans homes.
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:
AB372, s. 1 1Section 1. 20.485 (1) (gf) of the statutes is created to read:
AB372,2,42 20.485 (1) (gf) Veterans home member care. All moneys received under s. 341.14
3(6r) (b) 15. for the care of the members of the Wisconsin veterans homes under s.
445.50.
AB372, s. 2 5Section 2. 25.40 (1) (a) 30. of the statutes is created to read:
AB372,2,86 25.40 (1) (a) 30. Moneys received under s. 341.14 (6r) (b) 15. that are deposited
7into the general fund and credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.485 (1)
8(gf).
AB372, s. 3 9Section 3. 341.14 (6r) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB372,2,1410 341.14 (6r) (b) 2. An additional fee of $15 shall be charged for the issuance or
11reissuance of the plates for special groups specified under par. (f), except that no
12additional fee may be charged under this subdivision for the issuance or reissuance
13of the plates for special groups specified under par. (f) 1. to 32., 49. to 49s., 51., or 56.,
14or 62.
AB372, s. 4 15Section 4. 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. b. of the statutes, as created by 2009 Wisconsin
16Act 230
, is amended to read:
AB372,3,217 341.14 (6r) (b) 9. b. A fee of $15 shall be charged for the issuance or reissuance
18of a plate for the special group specified under par. (f) 15m. or 62. All moneys received
19under this subd. 9. b. in excess of the initial costs of production of the special group

1plate under par. (f) 15m. or $23,700, whichever is less, shall be deposited in the
2veterans trust fund.
AB372, s. 5 3Section 5. 341.14 (6r) (b) 15. of the statutes is created to read:
AB372,3,164 341.14 (6r) (b) 15. A fee of $25 that is in addition to the fee under subd. 9. b.
5shall be charged for the issuance or renewal of a plate issued on an annual basis for
6the special group specified under par. (f) 62. A fee of $50 that is in addition to the fee
7under subd. 9. b. shall be charged for the issuance or renewal of a plate issued on the
8biennial basis for the special group specified under par. (f) 62. if the plate is issued
9or renewed during the first year of the biennial registration period or $25 for the
10issuance or renewal if the plate is issued or renewed during the 2nd year of the
11biennial registration period. All moneys received under this subdivision, in excess
12of $23,700 for the initial costs of production of the special group plate under par. (f)
1362., shall be deposited into the general fund and credited to the appropriation
14account under s. 20.485 (1) (gf). To the extent permitted under ch. 71, the fee under
15this subdivision is deductible as a charitable contribution for purposes of the taxes
16under ch. 71.
AB372, s. 6 17Section 6. 341.14 (6r) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 32,
18is amended to read:
AB372,5,419 341.14 (6r) (c) Special group plates shall display the word "Wisconsin", the
20name of the applicable authorized special group, a symbol representing the special
21group, not exceeding one position, and identifying letters or numbers or both, not
22exceeding 6 positions and not less than one position. Except as provided in this
23paragraph, the department shall specify the design for special group plates, but the
24department shall consult the president of the University of Wisconsin System before
25specifying the word or symbol used to identify the special groups under par. (f) 35.

1to 47., the secretary of natural resources before specifying the word or symbol used
2to identify the special groups under par. (f) 50. and 59., the chief executive officer of
3the professional football team and an authorized representative of the league of
4professional football teams described in s. 229.823 to which that team belongs before
5specifying the design for the applicable special group plate under par. (f) 55., the chief
6trademark officer of Harley-Davidson Michigan, LLC before specifying the design
7for the applicable special group plate under par. (f) 61r., the department of veterans
8affairs before specifying the design for the special group plates under par. (f) 49d.,
949h., and 49s., and the department of tourism and chief executive officer of the
10organization specified in par. (f) 55m. before specifying the design and word or
11symbol used to identify the special group name for special group plates under par.
12(f) 55m. Special group plates under par. (f) 50. shall be as similar as possible to
13regular registration plates in color and design. Special group plates issued under
14par. (f) 62. shall display the words "In God We Trust".
The department shall make
15available 2 designs for the special group plates under par. (f) 60. The department
16may not specify any design for the special group plates under par. (f) 60. unless the
17design is approved by the executive vice president of the Milwaukee Brewers
18Baseball Club LP. The word or symbol used to identify the special group under par.
19(f) 59. shall be different from the word or symbol used to identify the special group
20under par. (f) 50. and the design shall cover the entire plate. Special group plates
21under par. (f) 61m. shall display a logo or image of the lion associated with the Lions
22Clubs International. Special group plates under par. (f) 61r. shall display a bar and
23shield logo associated with Harley-Davidson, Inc., on the left portion of the plates
24and the words "share the road" on the bottom portion of the plates. Notwithstanding
25par. (e), special group plates under par. (f) 33m. and 48m. shall be the same color and

1design that was specified by the department for special group plates under par. (f)
233. and 48., respectively, immediately prior to January 1, 2007. The design for
3special group plates under par. (f) 33. and 48. shall be different from the design of
4special group plates under par. (f) 33m. and 48m., respectively.
AB372, s. 7 5Section 7. 341.14 (6r) (f) 62. of the statutes is created to read:
AB372,5,76 341.14 (6r) (f) 62. Persons interested in obtaining registration plates with the
7words "In God We Trust" on them.
AB372, s. 8 8Section 8. 341.14 (6r) (fm) 7. of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act
932
, is amended to read:
AB372,5,1610 341.14 (6r) (fm) 7. After October 1, 1998, additional authorized special groups
11may only be special groups designated by the department under this paragraph. The
12authorized special groups enumerated in par. (f) shall be limited solely to those
13special groups specified under par. (f) on October 1, 1998. This subdivision does not
14apply to the special groups specified under par. (f) 3m., 6m., 9g., 9m., 12g., 12m.,15m.,
1519m., 33m., 48m., 49d., 49h., 49s., 54., 55., 55m., 56., 57., 58., 59., 60., 61., 61m., and
1661r., and 62.
AB372, s. 9 17Section 9. Nonstatutory provisions.
AB372,5,2518 (1) Notwithstanding section 16.42 (1) (e) of the statutes, if this subsection takes
19effect in fiscal year 2012-13, in submitting information under section 16.42 of the
20statutes for purposes of the 2013-15 biennial budget bill, the department of
21transportation shall submit information concerning the appropriation under section
2220.395 (5) (cq) of the statutes as though the total amount appropriated under section
2320.395 (5) (cq) of the statutes for the 2012-13 fiscal year was $23,700 less than the
24total amount that was actually appropriated under section 20.395 (5) (cq) of the
25statutes for the 2012-13 fiscal year.
AB372, s. 10
1Section 10. Fiscal changes.
AB372,6,62 (1) In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation
3to the department of transportation under section 20.395 (5) (cq) of the statutes, as
4affected by the acts of 2011, the dollar amount is increased by $23,700 for the fiscal
5year in which this subsection takes effect to increase funding for special registration
6plates displaying the words "In God We Trust."
AB372, s. 11 7Section 11. Effective date.
AB372,6,98 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 5th month beginning after
9publication.
AB372,6,1010 (End)
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