Sen. Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Rep. Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin) have championed legislation to limit the liability that may be imputed to an innocent parent or other adult who sponsors a person under the age of 18 in obtaining a motor vehicle operator’s license. Under current Wisconsin law, Wisconsin is one of only eight states in which a parent or other adult who sponsors a minor driver has unlimited liability for injuries caused by the minor’s negligent acts while driving. Twenty-seven states impute no liability to an adult sponsor.

The Senate passed SB 408 this week by a voice vote.

When in the Assembly Committee on Judiciary, the bill was recommended for passage by a vote of 6-3. All Republicans voted “aye” and all Democrats voted “no.” The Assembly committee considered and on a party-line vote rejected an amendment authored by Rep. Dana Wachs (D-Eau Claire) which would have limited the liability limit we seek to create only to a parent or adult sponsor who has purchased an insurance policy with a limit of not less than $300,000 because of bodily injury or death of one person in any one accident.