242 Relating to: the liability release exception to the requirement that proof of financial responsibility be provided after a motor vehicle accident (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Transportation).

Date of enactment: May 5, 2010
2009 Senate Bill 486 Date of publication*: May 19, 2010

* Section 991.11, Wisconsin Statutes 2007-08 : Effective date of acts. "Every act and every portion of an act enacted by the legislature over the governor's partial veto which does not expressly prescribe the time when it takes effect shall take effect on the day after its date of publication as designated" by the secretary of state [the date of publication may not be more than 10 working days after the date of enactment].

2009 WISCONSIN ACT 242

An Act to amend 344.14 (2) (h) and 344.18 (1) (b) of the statutes; relating to: the liability release exception to the requirement that proof of financial responsibility be provided after a motor vehicle accident (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Transportation).

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1 . 344.14 (2) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

344.14 (2) (h) To any person who would otherwise have to deposit security if, prior to the date the secretary would otherwise suspend the person's operating privilege and registrations under sub. (1) or order the impoundment of the motor vehicle under sub. (1m), there is filed with the secretary evidence satisfactory to the secretary that the person has been released from liability or has been finally adjudicated not to be liable or has executed a duly acknowledged written agreement providing for the payment of an agreed amount in installments with respect to all claims for injuries or damage resulting from the accident. The secretary may accept a release from liability executed by a parent as natural guardian or by a guardian ad litem on behalf of a minor child with respect to property damage or personal injuries sustained by the minor , provided that the total damages, including the cost of medical care, do not exceed $5,000 and that, in case of personal injury, the doctor's certificate of injury filed with the department certifies that the minor received no permanent injury .

Section 2 . 344.18 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

344.18 (1) (b) There is filed with the secretary evidence satisfactory to the secretary that the person whose operating privilege or registration was suspended or revoked has been released from liability or has been finally adjudicated not to be liable. The secretary may accept a release executed by a parent on behalf of a minor child only if the release satisfies the requirements specified in as provided under s. 344.14 (2) (h).

Section 3 . Initial applicability.

(1) This act first applies with respect to accidents occurring on the effective date of this subsection.