FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2163

                         C 234 L 97

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Clarifying the requirements for a veterans or military personnel remembrance emblem.

Sponsors:  Representatives Sheldon, Conway, Sehlin, Zellinsky, K. Schmidt, D. Sommers, Veloria, Huff, D. Schmidt, Johnson, Lantz, Sullivan, Koster, Pennington, Smith, Costa, Cairnes, Reams, Robertson and Hatfield.

House Committee on Transportation Policy & Budget

Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:  Upon payment of a $10 fee, a person who has been honorably discharged or is serving on active duty in the U.S. military may be issued a package of veteran license plate emblems.  Each package contains one veteran emblem, one American flag emblem, and one campaign emblem.

Examples of the campaign ribbon remembrance emblems include the World War II victory medal, the Korean service medal, the Vietnam service medal, and the Desert Storm medal.  The director of the Department of Licensing may issue additional campaign emblems by rule, as authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense.  In lieu of a campaign emblem, the veterans or military personnel who have not served during periods of war or armed conflict may be issued an additional flag emblem.

Veterans or military personnel requesting veteran license plate emblems must provide a copy of their discharge papers or military orders indicating their military status and the campaign ribbon awarded.  Applicants often fail to bring this documentation with them when they register their vehicles.

Two dollars of the $10 veteran license plate emblem fee is paid to the county treasurer.  The remaining $8 goes to the Department of Veterans Affairs for projects that pay tribute to veterans.  For instance, the monies may be used to preserve and operate existing memorials, as well as for planning, acquiring land, and constructing future memorials.

Summary:  Veterans or active duty military personnel requesting veteran license plate emblems may show proof of eligibility by:  (1) providing discharge papers; (2) providing a copy of orders awarding a campaign ribbon; or (3) by attesting in a notarized affidavit of their eligibility.

Votes on Final Passage:

House960

Senate470

Effective:July 27,  1997