SB 823

Under current law, a veteran of the U.S. armed forces may elect to indicate his

or her veteran status on his or her Wisconsin operator's license or identification card.

“Veteran" is a defined term that includes individuals who have served a specified

period of active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces or in forces

incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces. With limited exceptions, neither

national guard duty nor service in a reserve unit qualifies as active duty.

This bill creates a definition of “veteran" that applies only for the purpose of

indicating veteran status on an operator's license or identification card and includes

all of the following:

1. A former member of the U.S. armed forces who received a discharge under

honorable conditions, or a former member of a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces

or the national guard who met the requirements for satisfactory completion of his or

her initial term of obligated service and received a discharge of either honorable or

under honorable conditions.

2. A person who is entitled or, but for age, would be entitled to retired pay for

nonregular service.

3. A person who was admitted into the United States as a refugee from Laos

and served with a special guerilla unit, or irregular forces, operating from a base in

Laos in support of the U.S. military during the period beginning February 28, 1961,

and ending September 18, 1978.