Jacque bill eliminates confusion in existing law for veterans
MADISON, WI…Bipartisan legislation authored by Sen. André Jacque (New Franken) to expand eligibility for displaying one’s veteran status on Wisconsin drivers licenses and identification cards was signed into law today by Governor Tony Evers as Act 207.
All 50 states currently offer a military veteran designation to be printed on state issued drivers licenses or identification cards, including Wisconsin starting in 2013. The identifier is an easy way someone can prove their veteran status after providing the proper verification to the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs. Unfortunately, questions have arisen regarding the precise definition and qualifications for obtaining veteran status.
“Over the years, I have spoken with many veterans who have expressed frustration with the lack of clarity on what the qualifications are for obtaining a veteran status designation on a driver’s license, and why their honorable service did not meet the criteria,” said Jacque.
Authored in partnership with Rep. Ben Franklin (De Pere), Act 207 expands eligibility for being granted the “Veteran” designation on a driver’s license or state issued identification card. The newly enacted law will allow a former service member to claim veteran status if they are “a former member of the U.S. armed forces who receives 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.”
“Act 207 will clear up the existing confusion many of our veterans now experience, as we can now appropriately honor the wartime contributions of all members of the military, regardless of whether they served in active duty, in the Reserve, or in the National Guard,” said Jacque.
Senator André Jacque represents Northeast Wisconsin’s First Senate District, consisting of Door and Kewaunee and Counties and portions of Brown, Calumet, Manitowoc, and Outagamie counties.
