May 12, 2015, Introduced by Rep. Kosowski and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
A bill to provide for the issuance of a military
transportation card to certain veterans and active duty members of
the armed forces of the United States; to prohibit a public
transportation provider from charging a fare, fee, or other charge
for use of public transportation to a veteran or active duty member
of the armed forces of the United States upon presentation of a
military transportation card; to provide for the powers and duties
of certain state officers and entities; and to authorize the
promulgation of rules.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. As used in this act:
(a) "Department" means the department of military and veterans
affairs.
(b) "Public transportation provider" means a public or private
entity that provides public transportation services. Public
transportation provider includes an authority formed under any of
the following:
(i) 1963 PA 55, MCL 124.351 to 124.359.
(ii) The urban cooperation act of 1967, 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 7,
MCL 124.501 to 124.512.
(iii) 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 8, MCL 124.531 to 124.536.
(iv) 1951 PA 35, MCL 124.1 to 124.13.
(v) The public transportation authority act, 1986 PA 196, MCL
124.451 to 124.479.
(vi) The revenue bond act of 1933, 1933 PA 94, MCL 141.101 to
141.140.
(c) "Veteran" means 1 of the following:
(i) An individual who served in the armed forces of the United
States on active military duty and received an honorable discharge
from active duty, if he or she served on active duty for reasons
other than training or if, while serving on active duty for
training, he or she incurred a disability recognized by the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States
Department of Defense as service-connected.
(ii) An individual who served in the United States Merchant
Marine who served on active duty for reasons other than training or
if, while serving on active duty for training, incurred a
disability recognized by the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs or the United States Department of Defense as service-
connected, if he or she satisfies 1 of the following conditions:
(A) He or she received an honorable report of separation from
active duty military service, as shown on form DD214 or form DD215.
(B) He or she served in the United States Merchant Marine
between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946.
Sec. 3. (1) The department shall issue a military
transportation card to an applicant who satisfies all of the
following:
(a) The applicant submits a written application stating that
he or she is a veteran or an active duty member of the armed forces
of the United States.
(b) The applicant submits documentary evidence in a form
satisfactory to the department showing that he or she is a veteran
or an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States.
(2) The department shall issue the military transportation
card described in subsection (1) at no cost to the individual to
whom it is issued.
(3) A military transportation card issued to a veteran under
subsection (1) does not expire. A military transportation card
issued to an active duty member of the armed forces of the United
States expires on the date that his or her membership is scheduled
to cease, as shown in the documentary evidence described in
subsection (1)(b).
(4) The department may promulgate rules under the
administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to
24.328, to implement this act.
Sec. 5. A public transportation provider shall not charge a
fee, fare, or other charge of any kind to a veteran or active duty
member of the armed forces of the United States to board or travel
on a bus operated by that public transportation provider if the
veteran or active duty member presents a military transportation
card issued under section 3.
Enacting section 1. This act takes effect 90 days after the
date it is enacted into law.