Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

AS PASSED BY SENATE                                                        S.256
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                                          S.256
    An act relating to Department of Motor Vehicles credentials and number
    plates with veteran designations
 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
 Sec. 1. LEGISLATIVE INTENT
    (a) It is the intent of the General Assembly for the State to properly honor
 veterans, which includes Vermonters who have served in the active military,
 naval, air, or space service, and who have been discharged or released from
 active service under conditions other than dishonorable, where active military,
 naval, air, or space service includes:
       (1) active duty;
       (2) any period of active duty for training during which the individual
 concerned was disabled or died from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated
 in line of duty; and
       (3) any period of inactive duty training during which the individual
 concerned was disabled or died from an injury incurred or aggravated in line of
 duty or from an acute myocardial infarction, a cardiac arrest, or a
 cerebrovascular accident occurring during such training.
    (b) It is also the intent of the General Assembly that the Department of
 Motor Vehicles and the Vermont Office of Veterans’ Affairs:
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     AS PASSED BY SENATE                                                         S.256
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       (1) jointly determine which specialty plates should be offered to
 veterans so as to ensure specific recognition for those who have received a
 military award or decoration and those who have served in combat; and
       (2) allow for a means for a veteran to request that a new specialty plate
 be designed and offered to veterans when an existing specialty plate does not
 provide for specific recognition of the veteran.
 Sec. 2. 23 V.S.A. § 7(b) is amended to read:
    (b) In addition to any other requirement of law or rule, before an enhanced
 license may be issued to a person an individual, the person individual shall
 present for inspection and copying satisfactory documentary evidence to
 determine identity and U.S. citizenship. An application shall be accompanied
 by: a photo identity document, documentation showing the person’s
 individual’s date and place of birth, proof of the person’s individual’s Social
 Security number, and documentation showing the person’s individual’s
 principal residence address. New and renewal application forms shall include
 a space for the applicant to request that a “veteran” designation be placed on
 the enhanced license. If a veteran, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(2) and
 including an individual disabled during active military, naval, air, or space
 service, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(24), requests a veteran designation and
 provides a Department of Defense Form 214 or other proof of veteran status
 specified by the Commissioner, and the Office of Veterans Veterans’ Affairs VT LEG #374344 v.1
     AS PASSED BY SENATE                                                           S.256
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 confirms his or her the individual’s status as an honorably discharged veteran
 or; a veteran discharged under honorable conditions,; or an individual disabled
 during active military, naval, air, or space service, the identification card shall
 include the term “veteran” on its face. To be issued, an enhanced license must
 meet the same requirements as those for the issuance of a U.S. passport.
 Before an application may be processed, the documents and information shall
 be verified as determined by the Commissioner. Any additional personal
 identity information not currently required by the U.S. Department of
 Homeland Security shall need the approval of either the General Assembly or
 the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules prior to the
 implementation of the requirements.
 Sec. 3. 23 V.S.A. § 115 is amended to read:
 § 115. NONDRIVER IDENTIFICATION CARDS
    (a) Any Vermont resident may make application to the Commissioner and
 be issued an identification card that is attested by the Commissioner as to true
 name, correct age, residential address unless the listing of another address is
 requested by the applicant or is otherwise authorized by law, and any other
 identifying data as the Commissioner may require that shall include, in the case
 of minor applicants, the written consent of the applicant’s parent, guardian, or
 other person standing in loco parentis. Every application for an identification
 card shall be signed by the applicant and shall contain such evidence of age VT LEG #374344 v.1
     AS PASSED BY SENATE                                                          S.256
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 and identity as the Commissioner may require, consistent with subsection (l) of
 this section. New and renewal application forms shall include a space for the
 applicant to request that a “veteran” designation be placed on the applicant’s
 identification card. If a veteran, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(2) and including
 an individual disabled during active military, naval, air, or space service, as
 defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(24), requests a veteran designation and provides a
 Department of Defense Form 214 or other proof of veteran status specified by
 the Commissioner, and the Office of Veterans Veterans’ Affairs confirms the
 veteran’s status as an honorably discharged veteran or; a veteran discharged
 under honorable conditions,; or an individual disabled during active military,
 naval, air, or space service, the identification card shall include the term
 “veteran” on its face. The Commissioner shall require payment of a fee of
 $29.00 at the time application for an identification card is made, except that an
 initial nondriver identification card shall be issued at no charge to an individual
 who surrenders the individual’s license in connection with a suspension or
 revocation under subsection 636(b) of this title due to a physical or mental
 condition.
                                        ***
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     AS PASSED BY SENATE                                                         S.256
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 Sec. 4. 23 V.S.A. § 304 is amended to read:
 § 304. REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES; NUMBER PLATES; VANITY
        AND OTHER SPECIAL PLATES
                                       ***
    (j) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall, upon proper application,
 issue special plates to Vermont veterans, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(2) and
 including an individual disabled during active military, naval, air, or space
 service, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(24), and to members of the U.S. Armed
 Forces, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(10), for use on vehicles registered at the
 pleasure car rate, on vehicles registered at the motorcycle rate, and on trucks
 registered for less than 26,001 pounds and excluding vehicles registered under
 the International Registration Plan. The type and style of the plate plates shall
 be determined by the Commissioner, except that an American flag, or a
 veteran- or military-related emblem selected by the Commissioner and the
 Vermont Office of Veterans’ Affairs shall appear on one side of the plate. At a
 minimum, emblems shall be available to recognize recipients of the Purple
 Heart, Pearl Harbor survivors, former prisoners of war, and disabled veterans.
 An applicant shall apply on a form prescribed by the Commissioner, and the
 applicant’s eligibility as a member of one of the groups recognized will be
 certified by the Office of Veterans’ Affairs. The plates shall be reissued only
 to the original holder of the plates or the surviving spouse. The Commissioner VT LEG #374344 v.1
     AS PASSED BY SENATE                                                          S.256
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 may adopt rules to implement the provisions of this subsection. Except for
 new or renewed registrations, applications for the issuance of plates under this
 subsection shall be processed in the order received by the Department subject
 to normal workflow considerations. The costs associated with developing new
 emblems shall be borne by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
                                        ***
 Sec. 5. 23 V.S.A. § 610(a) is amended to read:
    (a) The Commissioner shall assign a distinguishing number to each
 licensee and shall furnish the licensee with a license certificate that shows the
 number and the licensee’s full name, date of birth, and residential address,
 except that at the request of the licensee, the licensee’s mailing address may be
 listed, or an alternative address may be listed if otherwise authorized by law.
 The certificate also shall include a brief physical description and a space for
 the signature of the licensee. The license shall be void until signed by the
 licensee. If a veteran, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(2) and including an
 individual disabled during active military, naval, air, or space service, as
 defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(24), requests a veteran designation and provides
 proof of veteran status as specified in subdivision 603(a)(3) of this title, and
 the Office of Veterans Veterans’ Affairs confirms his or her the individual’s
 status as an honorably discharged veteran or; a veteran discharged under
 honorable conditions,; or an individual disabled during active military, naval,
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     AS PASSED BY SENATE                                                          S.256
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 air, or space service, the license certificate shall include the term “veteran” on
 its face.
 Sec. 6. 23 V.S.A. § 4111 is amended to read:
 § 4111. COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE
    (a) Contents of license. A commercial driver’s license shall be marked
 “commercial driver’s license” or “CDL” and shall be, to the maximum extent
 practicable, tamper proof and shall include the following information:
                                        ***
       (12) A veteran designation if a veteran, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(2)
 and including an individual disabled during active military, naval, air, or space
 service, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(24), requests the designation and
 provides proof of veteran status as specified in subdivision 4110(a)(5) of this
 title, and if the Office of Veterans Veterans’ Affairs confirms his or her the
 individual’s status as an honorably discharged veteran or; a veteran discharged
 under honorable conditions; or an individual disabled during active military,
 naval, air, or space service.
                                        ***
 Sec. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE
    This act shall take effect on passage.
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Statutes affected: 
As Introduced: 23-7(b), 23-7, 23-115, 23-304, 23-610(a), 23-610, 23-4111
As Passed By the Senate -- Official: 23-7(b), 23-7, 23-115, 23-304, 23-610(a), 23-610, 23-4111
As Passed By the Senate -- Unofficial: 23-7(b), 23-7, 23-115, 23-304, 23-610(a), 23-610, 23-4111