1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to veterans; authorizing female-veteran designation for special veteran's 
1.3 	license plates or Gold Star license plates;amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, 
1.4 	section 168.123, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 168.123, is amended by adding a 
1.7 	subdivision to read:
1.8 		Subd. 1b.Signifying female veteran. (a) The following terms have the meanings 
1.9 	assigned herein, and apply to this subdivision:
1.10 	(1) "Female-veteran designation" means a special emblem or other license plate 
1.11 	design feature, including but not limited to a specially colored plate outline or background, 
1.12 	approved by the commissioner to signify that the applicant is a qualified person; and
1.13 	(2) "Qualified person" means a veteran, as defined in section 197.447, who is 
1.14 	a female and who is eligible and has applied for any special veteran's license plates 
1.15 	authorized under this section or section 168.124, 168.125, or 168.1255. "Qualified person" 
1.16 	also means the survivor of a female veteran if the survivor is eligible and has applied for 
1.17 	Gold Star license plates under section 168.1253.
1.18 	(b) The commissioner shall make available a female-veteran designation for the 
1.19 	special veteran's license plates or Gold Star license plates of any qualified person who 
1.20 	requests the designation when properly applying for the plate. When approved by the 
1.21 	commissioner, the female-veteran designation must be affixed to and displayed on the 
1.22 	plate of the qualified person in combination with any other required emblems and design 
1.23 	features appropriate to the plate.
2.1 	(c) In determining proof of eligibility for the female-veteran designation, the 
2.2 	commissioner may require and use an official copy of the person's federal Form DD-214 
2.3 	or other official military record, military identification card, military or state driver's 
2.4 	license, Minnesota state identification card, or other documentation as determined by 
2.5 	the commissioner.
2.6 	(d) A qualified person, when applying for special veteran's or Gold Star license 
2.7 	plates, has the option of requesting the female-veteran designation.
2.8 	(e) This subdivision does not obviate any other provision of law governing the 
2.9 	requirements for or issuance of any license plate.

2.10 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for license plates issued on or after 
2.11 	January 15, 2012.

2.12 	Sec. 2. DESIGN.
 2.13 	The commissioner of veterans affairs shall consult with the commissioner of 
2.14 	public safety, as well as a representative of the Minnesota Women Veterans Initiative 
2.15 	Working Group and interested Minnesota veterans service organizations, for the purpose 
2.16 	of determining the special emblem or other license plate design feature necessary for 
2.17 	implementing section 1.

2.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.