as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 05/21/2016 10:36am
A bill for an act
relating to transportation; establishing special veterans' plate design for certain
multinational peacekeepers military service; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014,
section 168.123, subdivisions 1, 2.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 168.123, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
(a) On payment of a fee of $10 for
each set of two plates, or for a single plate in the case of a motorcycle plate, payment of
the registration tax required by law, and compliance with other applicable laws relating to
vehicle registration and licensing, as applicable, the commissioner shall issue:
(1) special veteran's plates to annew text begin eligiblenew text end applicant who deleted text begin served in the active military
service in a branch of the armed forces of the United States or of a nation or society allied
with the United States in conducting a foreign war, was discharged under honorable
conditions, anddeleted text end is a registered owner of a passenger automobile, recreational motor
vehicle, or one-ton pickup truck, but which is not a commercial motor vehicle as defined
in section 169.011, subdivision 16; or
(2) a veteran's special motorcycle plate deleted text begin as described in subdivision 2, paragraph (a),
(e), (f), (h), (i), (j), or (m)deleted text end , or another special plate designed by the commissionernew text begin ,new text end to an
new text begin eligiblenew text end applicant who is a registered owner of a motorcycle deleted text begin and meets the criteria listed in
this paragraph and in subdivision 2, paragraph (a), (e), (f), (h), (i), (j), or (m)deleted text end .
new text begin (b) Special motorcyclenew text end plates issued under deleted text begin this clausedeleted text end new text begin paragraph (a), clause (2),new text end must
be the same size as regular motorcycle platesdeleted text begin . Special motorcycle license plates issued
under this clausedeleted text end new text begin , andnew text end are not subject to section 168.1293.new text begin A special motorcycle plate is not
available for a plate design specified in subdivision 2, paragraph (b), (c), (d), (g), (k), or (l).
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deleted text begin (b)deleted text end new text begin (c)new text end The additional fee of $10 is payable for each set of veteran's plates, is payable
only when the plates are issued, and is not payable in a year in whichnew text begin validationnew text end stickers
are issued instead of plates.
deleted text begin (c)deleted text end new text begin (d)new text end The veteran must have a certified copy of the veteran's discharge papers,
indicating character of discharge, at the time of application. If an applicant served in the
active military service in a branch of the armed forces of a nation or society allied with the
United States in conducting a foreign war and is unable to obtain a record of that service
and discharge status, the commissioner of veterans affairs may certify the applicant as
qualified for the veterans' plates provided under this section.
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(e) For purposes of this subdivision, "eligible applicant" means an applicant for a
special plate under this section who:
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(1) served in the active military service in a branch of the armed forces of the United
States or of a nation or society allied with the United States in conducting a foreign war;
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(2) unless otherwise specified, was discharged under honorable conditions; and
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(3) meets the eligibility requirements under subdivision 2 for the specific plate
design requested.
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This section is effective January 1, 2017.
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Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 168.123, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
The commissioner of veterans affairs
shall design the emblem for the veterans' special plates, subject to the approval of the
commissioner, that satisfy the following requirements:
(a) For a Vietnam veteran who served after July 1, 1961, and before July 1, 1978,
in the active military service in a branch of the armed forces of the United States or a
nation or society allied with the United States the special plates must bear the inscription
"VIETNAM VET."
(b) For a veteran stationed on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, or offshore, during the
attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the special plates must bear the inscription
"PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR."
(c) For a veteran who served during World War II, the plates must bear the
inscription "WORLD WAR VET."
(d) For a veteran who served during the Korean Conflict, the special plates must bear
the inscription "KOREAN VET."
(e) For a combat wounded veteran who is a recipient of the Purple Heart medal, the
plates must bear the inscription "COMBAT WOUNDED VET" and have a facsimile or an
emblem of the official Purple Heart medal.
A member of the United States armed forces who is serving actively in the military
and who is a recipient of the Purple Heart medal is also eligible for this license plate.
The commissioner of public safety shall ensure that information regarding the required
proof of eligibility for any applicant under this paragraph who has not yet been issued
military discharge papers is distributed to the public officials responsible for administering
this section.
(f) For a Persian Gulf War veteran, the plates must bear the inscription "GULF
WAR VET." For the purposes of this section, "Persian Gulf War veteran" means a person
who served on active duty after August 1, 1990, in a branch of the armed forces of the
United States or a nation or society allied with the United States or the United Nations
during Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, or other military operation in
the Persian Gulf area combat zone as designated in United States Presidential Executive
Order No. 12744, dated January 21, 1991.
(g) For a veteran who served in the Laos War after July 1, 1961, and before July 1,
1978, the special plates must bear the inscription "LAOS WAR VET."
(h) For a veteran who is the recipient of:
(1) the Iraq Campaign Medal, the special plates must be inscribed with a facsimile of
that medal and must bear the inscription "IRAQ WAR VET" directly below the special
plate number;
(2) the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the special plates must be inscribed with a
facsimile of that medal and must bear the inscription "AFGHAN WAR VET" directly
below the special plate number;
(3) the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the special plates must
be inscribed with a facsimile of that medal and must bear the inscription "GWOT
VETERAN" directly below the special plate number; or
(4) the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the special plates must bear an
appropriate inscription that includes a facsimile of that medal.
(i) For a veteran who is the recipient of the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,
the special plates must be inscribed with a facsimile of that medal and must bear the
inscription "GWOT VETERAN" directly below the special plate number. In addition,
any member of the National Guard or other military reserves who has been ordered to
federally funded state active service under United States Code, title 32, as defined in
section 190.05, subdivision 5b, and who is the recipient of the Global War on Terrorism
Service Medal, is eligible for the license plate described in this paragraph, irrespective of
whether that person qualifies as a veteran under section 197.447.
(j) For a veteran who is the recipient of the Korean Defense Service Medal,
the special plates must be inscribed with a facsimile of that medal and must bear the
inscription "KOREAN DEFENSE SERVICE" directly below the special plate number.
(k) For a veteran who is a recipient of the Bronze Star medal, the plates must bear
the inscription "BRONZE STAR VET" and have a facsimile or an emblem of the official
Bronze Star medal.
(l) For a veteran who is a recipient of the Silver Star medal, the plates must bear
the inscription "SILVER STAR VET" and have a facsimile or an emblem of the official
Silver Star medal.
(m) For a woman veteran, the plates must bear the inscription "WOMAN
VETERAN" and have a facsimile or an emblem as designated by the commissioners of
veterans affairs and public safety.
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(n) For a veteran who served in active military service in a branch of the armed
forces of the United States or a nation or society allied with the United States as part
of the United States multinational force in Lebanon after August 24, 1982, and before
February 26, 1984, the plates must bear an appropriate inscription and have a facsimile or
an emblem as designated by the commissioners of veterans affairs and public safety.
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This section is effective January 1, 2017.
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