1     
VETERANS' BENEFIT AMENDMENTS

2     
2017 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Jacob L. Anderegg

5     
House Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill provides discounts to veterans for certain state fees.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     provides a minimum 25% discount to veterans for:
13               •     hunting and fishing licenses; and
14               •     certain motor vehicle fees; and
15          ▸     makes technical changes.
16     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17          None
18     Other Special Clauses:
19          None
20     Utah Code Sections Affected:
21     AMENDS:
22          23-19-38.3, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 366
23          41-1a-1206, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 303
24          41-1a-1211, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 119
25     ENACTS:
26          23-19-38.4, Utah Code Annotated 1953
27     


28     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29          Section 1. Section 23-19-38.3 is amended to read:
30          23-19-38.3. Fishing licenses for veterans -- Free or reduced price.
31          (1) The division [may] shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
32     Administrative Rulemaking Act, under which a veteran [with a disability] may receive a
33     fishing license free or at a reduced price.
34          (2) In making rules under this section, the division shall:
35          (a) use the definition of veteran set forth in Section 68-3-12.5;
36          (b) [utilize] use the same guidelines for disability as the United States Department of
37     Veterans Affairs[.]; and
38          (c) set the minimum discount at 25%.
39          Section 2. Section 23-19-38.4 is enacted to read:
40          23-19-38.4. Hunting licenses for veterans -- Free or reduced price.
41          (1) (a) For purposes of this section, "hunting license" means the same as used in
42     Sections 23-19-24 and 23-19-26.
43          (b) The division shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
44     Administrative Rulemaking Act, under which a veteran may receive a hunting license free or at
45     a reduced price.
46          (2) In making rules under this section, the division shall:
47          (a) use the definition of veteran set forth in Section 68-3-12.5;
48          (b) use the same guidelines for disability as the United States Department of Veterans
49     Affairs; and
50          (c) set the minimum discount at 25%.
51          Section 3. Section 41-1a-1206 is amended to read:
52          41-1a-1206. Registration fees -- Fees by gross laden weight.
53          (1) Except as provided in Subsections (2) and (3), at the time application is made for
54     registration or renewal of registration of a vehicle or combination of vehicles under this
55     chapter, a registration fee shall be paid to the division as follows:
56          (a) $44.50 for each motorcycle;
57          (b) $43 for each motor vehicle of 12,000 pounds or less gross laden weight, excluding
58     motorcycles;

59          (c) unless the semitrailer or trailer is exempt from registration under Section 41-1a-202
60     or is registered under Section 41-1a-301:
61          (i) $31 for each trailer or semitrailer over 750 pounds gross unladen weight; or
62          (ii) $28.50 for each commercial trailer or commercial semitrailer of 750 pounds or less
63     gross unladen weight;
64          (d) (i) $53 for each farm truck over 12,000 pounds, but not exceeding 14,000 pounds
65     gross laden weight; plus
66          (ii) $9 for each 2,000 pounds over 14,000 pounds gross laden weight;
67          (e) (i) $69.50 for each motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles, excluding farm
68     trucks, over 12,000 pounds, but not exceeding 14,000 pounds gross laden weight; plus
69          (ii) $19 for each 2,000 pounds over 14,000 pounds gross laden weight;
70          (f) (i) $69.50 for each park model recreational vehicle over 12,000 pounds, but not
71     exceeding 14,000 pounds gross laden weight; plus
72          (ii) $19 for each 2,000 pounds over 14,000 pounds gross laden weight; and
73          (g) $45 for each vintage vehicle that is less than 40 years old.
74          (2) At the time application is made for registration or renewal of registration of a
75     vehicle under this chapter for a six-month registration period under Section 41-1a-215.5, a
76     registration fee shall be paid to the division as follows:
77          (a) $33.50 for each motorcycle; and
78          (b) $32.50 for each motor vehicle of 12,000 pounds or less gross laden weight,
79     excluding motorcycles.
80          (3) (a) The initial registration fee for a vintage vehicle that is 40 years old or older is
81     $40.
82          (b) A vintage vehicle that is 40 years old or older is exempt from the renewal of
83     registration fees under Subsection (1).
84          (c) A vehicle with a Purple Heart special group license plate issued in accordance with
85     Section 41-1a-421 is exempt from the registration fees under Subsection (1).
86          (d) A camper is exempt from the registration fees under Subsection (1).
87          (e) (i) The division shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
88     Administrative Rulemaking Act, under which a veteran is not subject to the registration fee
89     under Subsection (1), or is subject to the registration fee in Subsection (1) at a reduced price.

90          (ii) In making rules under Subsection (3)(e)(i), the division shall:
91          (A) use the definition of veteran set forth in Section 68-3-12.5;
92          (B) use the same guidelines for disability as the United States Department of Veterans
93     Affairs; and
94          (C) set the minimum discount at 25%.
95          (4) If a motor vehicle is operated in combination with a semitrailer or trailer, each
96     motor vehicle shall register for the total gross laden weight of all units of the combination if the
97     total gross laden weight of the combination exceeds 12,000 pounds.
98          (5) (a) Registration fee categories under this section are based on the gross laden
99     weight declared in the licensee's application for registration.
100          (b) Gross laden weight shall be computed in units of 2,000 pounds. A fractional part
101     of 2,000 pounds is a full unit.
102          (6) The owner of a commercial trailer or commercial semitrailer may, as an alternative
103     to registering under Subsection (1)(c), apply for and obtain a special registration and license
104     plate for a fee of $130.
105          (7) Except as provided in Section 41-6a-1642, a truck may not be registered as a farm
106     truck unless:
107          (a) the truck meets the definition of a farm truck under Section 41-1a-102; and
108          (b) (i) the truck has a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 12,000 pounds; or
109          (ii) the truck has a gross vehicle weight rating of 12,000 pounds or less and the owner
110     submits to the division a certificate of emissions inspection or a waiver in compliance with
111     Section 41-6a-1642.
112          (8) A violation of Subsection (7) is an infraction that shall be punished by a fine of not
113     less than $200.
114          (9) Trucks used exclusively to pump cement, bore wells, or perform crane services
115     with a crane lift capacity of five or more tons, are exempt from 50% of the amount of the fees
116     required for those vehicles under this section.
117          Section 4. Section 41-1a-1211 is amended to read:
118          41-1a-1211. License plate fees -- Application fees for issuance and renewal of
119     personalized and special group license plates -- Replacement fee for license plates --
120     Postage fees.

121          (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsections (11), (12), (13), and (14), a license plate fee
122     established in accordance with Section 63J-1-504 shall be paid to the division for the issuance
123     of any new license plate under Part 4, License Plates and Registration Indicia.
124          (b) The license plate fee shall be deposited as follows:
125          (i) $1 in the Transportation Fund; and
126          (ii) the remainder of the fee charged under Subsection (1)(a), as provided in Section
127     41-1a-1201.
128          (2) An applicant for original issuance of personalized license plates issued under
129     Section 41-1a-410 shall pay a $50 per set license plate application fee in addition to the fee
130     required in Subsection (1).
131          (3) Beginning July 1, 2003, a person who applies for a special group license plate shall
132     pay a $5 fee for the original set of license plates in addition to the fee required under
133     Subsection (1).
134          (4) An applicant for original issuance of personalized special group license plates shall
135     pay the license plate application fees required in Subsection (2) in addition to the license plate
136     fees and license plate application fees established under Subsections (1) and (3).
137          (5) An applicant for renewal of personalized license plates issued under Section
138     41-1a-410 shall pay a $10 per set application fee.
139          (6) (a) The division may charge a fee established under Section 63J-1-504 to recover
140     the costs for the replacement of any license plate issued under Part 4, License Plates and
141     Registration Indicia.
142          (b) The license plate fee shall be deposited as follows:
143          (i) $1 in the Transportation Fund; and
144          (ii) the remainder of the fee charged under Subsection (6)(a), as provided in Section
145     41-1a-1201.
146          (7) The division may charge a fee established under Section 63J-1-504 to recover its
147     costs for the replacement of decals issued under Section 41-1a-418.
148          (8) The division may charge a fee established under Section 63J-1-504 to recover the
149     cost of issuing stickers under Section 41-1a-416.
150          (9) In addition to any other fees required by this section, the division shall assess a fee
151     established under Section 63J-1-504 to cover postage expenses if new or replacement license

152     plates are mailed to the applicant.
153          (10) The fees required under this section are separate from and in addition to
154     registration fees required under Section 41-1a-1206.
155          (11) (a) An applicant for a license plate issued under Section 41-1a-407 is not subject
156     to the license plate fee under Subsection (1).
157          (b) An applicant for a Purple Heart special group license plate issued in accordance
158     with Section 41-1a-421 is exempt from the fees under Subsections (1), (3), and (7).
159          (12) A person is exempt from the fee under Subsection (1) or (6) if the person:
160          (a) was issued a clean fuel special group license plate in accordance with Section
161     41-1a-418 prior to the effective date of rules made by the Department of Transportation under
162     Subsection 41-6a-702(5)(b);
163          (b) beginning on the effective date of rules made by the Department of Transportation
164     authorized under Subsection 41-6a-702(5)(b), is no longer eligible for a clean fuel special
165     group license plate under the rules made by the Department of Transportation; and
166          (c) upon renewal or reissuance, is required to replace the clean fuel special group
167     license plate with a new license plate.
168          (13) Until June 30, 2011, a person is exempt from the license plate fee under
169     Subsection (1) or (6) if the person:
170          (a) was issued a firefighter recognition special group license plate in accordance with
171     Section 41-1a-418 prior to July 1, 2009;
172          (b) upon renewal of the person's vehicle registration on or after July 1, 2009, is not a
173     contributor to the Firefighter Support Restricted Account as required under Section 41-1a-418;
174     and
175          (c) is required to replace the firefighter special group license plate with a new license
176     plate in accordance with Section 41-1a-418.
177          (14) A person is not subject to the license plate fee under Subsection (1) if the person
178     presents official documentation that the person is a recipient of the Purple Heart Award issued:
179          (a) by a recognized association representing peace officers who:
180          (i) receives a salary from a federal, state, county, or municipal government or any
181     subdivision of the state; and
182          (ii) works in the state; or

183          (b) in accordance with Subsection 41-1a-421(2).
184          (15) (a) The division shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
185     Administrative Rulemaking Act, under which a veteran is not subject to the license plate fee
186     under Subsection (1), or is subject to the license plate fee in Subsection (1) at a reduced price.
187          (b) In making rules under Subsection (15)(a), the division shall:
188          (i) use the definition of veteran set forth in Section 68-3-12.5;
189          (ii) use the same guidelines for disability as the United States Department of Veterans
190     Affairs; and
191          (iii) set the minimum discount at 25%.






Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel