HF 2279 (LSB 5327YH (1) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2279

BY  BODEN

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to driver’s licenses marked to reflect veteran status.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Sec. 2.  Section 321.189, subsection 8, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   8.  Veterans Veteran status.  A licensee who is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States may request that the license be marked to reflect the licensee’s veteran status. Upon such a request, the word “VETERAN” shall be marked prominently on the face of the license. Such a license shall be issued upon receipt of satisfactory proof of veteran status pursuant to procedures established by the department in consultation with the department of veterans affairs, or upon presentation of the licensee’s certification of release or discharge from active duty, DD form 214, to the department at the time of the licensee’s request, if the form indicates the licensee was honorably discharged. If the license is issued upon presentation of the licensee’s certification of release or discharge from active duty, DD form 214, the department shall notify the commission of veteran affairs of the county of the licensee’s residence that the licensee was issued a license marked to reflect the licensee’s veteran status. After receiving notification from the department, the commission of veteran affairs shall initiate contact with the licensee.  For purposes of this subsection, “veteran” includes but is not limited to a person who served in the national guard, regardless of the number of active duty service days served by the person. 
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Under current law, a person who is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States may request that the person’s driver’s license be marked to reflect the person’s status as a veteran. “Veteran” is not defined for purposes of this provision. Under 761 IAC 605.4(7)(e), the department of transportation (DOT) has provided, for purposes of driver’s license veteran status, that a veteran includes, among other persons, an honorably discharged member of the national guard or reserve forces who served for at least a minimum aggregate of 90 days of active duty service for purposes other than training. The DOT’s rule generally reflects the definition of “veteran” under Code section 35.1 for purposes of veterans affairs, which definition is also referenced in many places throughout the Code to define “veteran”.
   The bill provides that, for purposes of driver’s license veteran status, “veteran” includes a person who served in the national guard, regardless of the number of active duty service days served by the person.