HF 7 (LSB 1109HH (2) 85)

HOUSE FILE 7

BY  MURPHY

A BILL FOR

An Act providing free motor vehicle registration for certain disabled veterans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.34, subsection 12A, paragraph b, Code 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  An owner of a vehicle referred to in subsection 12 who applies for any type of special registration plates associated with service in the United States armed forces shall be issued one set of the special registration plates at no charge and subject to no annual registration fee if the owner is eligible for, but has relinquished to the department or the county treasurer or has not been issued, medal of honor registration plates under subsection 8 or disabled veteran registration plates under section 321.105, subsection 5 or 6.
    Sec. 2.  Section 321.105, Code 2013, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  6.  A veteran with a service-connected disability rated at thirty percent or higher shall be exempt from payment of the annual registration fee provided in this chapter for one vehicle, and shall be provided, without fee, with one set of regular registration plates or one set of any type of special registration plates associated with service in the United States armed forces for which the disabled veteran qualifies under section 321.34. The disabled veteran, to be able to claim the benefit, must be a resident of the state of Iowa. In lieu of the set of regular or special military registration plates available without fee, the disabled veteran may obtain a set of nonmilitary special registration plates or personalized plates issued under section 321.34 by paying the additional fees associated with those plates.
    Sec. 3.  Section 321.166, subsection 6, Code 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   6.  Registration plates issued to a disabled veteran under the provisions of section 321.105, subsection 5 or 6, shall display the alphabetical characters “DV” which shall precede the registration plate number. The plates may also display a persons with disabilities parking sticker if issued to the disabled veteran by the department under section 321L.2.
    Sec. 4.  Section 321L.2, subsection 1, paragraph a, subparagraph (2), Code 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   (2)  Persons with disabilities parking sticker. An applicant who owns a motor vehicle for which the applicant has been issued registration plates under section 321.34 or registration plates as a seriously disabled veteran under section 321.105, subsection 5 or 6, may apply to the department for a persons with disabilities parking sticker to be affixed to the plates. The persons with disabilities parking stickers shall bear the international symbol of accessibility.
    Sec. 5.  Section 321L.2, subsection 5, Code 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   5.  A seriously disabled veteran who has been provided with an automobile or other vehicle by the United States government under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq. (1970) is not required to apply for a persons with disabilities parking permit under this section unless the veteran has been issued special registration plates or personalized plates for the vehicle. The regular registration plates issued for the disabled veteran’s vehicle without fee pursuant to section 321.105, subsection 5, entitle the disabled veteran to all of the rights and privileges associated with persons with disabilities parking permits under this chapter.
EXPLANATION
   This bill provides that a veteran of the United States armed forces with a service-connected disability rated at 30 percent or higher is exempt from the payment of annual registration fees for one vehicle. The veteran is entitled to one set of disabled veteran registration plates to be issued free of charge. Currently, disabled veteran registration plates are available only to seriously disabled veterans who have been provided with an automobile or other vehicle by the United States government. The veteran may substitute any of the special plates associated with military service in lieu of the disabled veteran plates without additional fee, or the veteran may substitute a set of personalized plates or nonmilitary special plates upon payment of the additional fees associated with those plates. The use of the free registration plates passes to the surviving spouse upon the death of the veteran.