Minnesota Session Laws - 2014, Regular Session

CHAPTER 207--H.F.No. 1916

An act

relating to veterans; authorizing special women veterans license plates; appropriating money;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 168.123, subdivision 1; Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 168.123, subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 168.123, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

General requirements; fees.

(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 an applicant who 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, and is a registered owner of a passenger automobile deleted text begin as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 24 deleted text end , recreational motor vehicle deleted text begin as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 27 deleted text end , or one-ton pickup truck deleted text begin as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 21b deleted text end , but which is not a commercial motor vehicle as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 16; or

(2) a veteran's special motorcycle plate as described in subdivision 2, paragraph (a), (f), (h), (i), deleted text begin or deleted text end (j), new text begin or (m), new text end or another special plate designed by the commissioner to an applicant who is a registered owner of a motorcycle deleted text begin as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 19, deleted text end and meets the criteria listed in this paragraph and new text begin the appropriate paragraph new text end in subdivision 2 deleted text begin , paragraph (a), (f), (h), (i), or (j) deleted text end . Plates issued under this clause must be the same size as regular motorcycle plates. Special motorcycle license plates issued under this clause are not subject to section 168.1293.

(b) 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 which stickers are issued instead of plates.

(c) 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.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2015. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 168.123, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Design.

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.

new text begin (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. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2015. new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin WOMAN VETERAN LICENSE PLATES; DESIGN. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of veterans affairs, in consultation with the commissioner of public safety, a representative of the Minnesota Women Veterans Initiative Working Group, and any interested Minnesota veterans service organization, shall design the "WOMAN VETERAN" special plates established in Minnesota Statutes, section 168.123, subdivision 2, subject to the approval of the commissioner of public safety. new text end

Presented to the governor May 6, 2014

Signed by the governor May 9, 2014, 10:15 a.m.