VA 6.03 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1965, No. 111, eff. 4-1-65; am. (1), (2), (4), (8) to (11), r. (3), Register, April, 1986, No. 364, eff. 5-1-86; am. (10), Register, June, 1992, No. 438, eff. 7-1-92.

VA 6.04 VA 6.04  Conduct and responsibilities of members.

VA 6.04(1) (1)  Rules and regulations. Members shall obey all rules of the home and all rules and regulations prescribed by the commandant.

VA 6.04(5) (5) Administration of members personal finances. Members shall be permitted to receive, disburse and manage their personal finances as long as they are capable of doing so. Upon determination by the medical staff that a member is unable to manage funds wisely, the commandant shall automatically assume control over the member's funds and prepare a letter setting forth such determination and assumption of control, copies of which shall be mailed to any relatives concerned and to the secretary of the department. Immediately upon assumption of control over a member's funds by the commandant, they shall be deposited in a personal account in the home administrative office and withdrawals from such account shall be confirmed by the commandant or the commandant's designee. Relatives and friends of members whose funds are under the control of the commandant may not be permitted to receive or disburse these members' funds or exercise control over their funds unless specifically authorized by appropriate court order.

VA 6.04(7) (7) Joint accounts prohibited. Joint accounts may not be held by members with any other person or persons.

VA 6.04(8) (8) Borrowing prohibited. A member shall not borrow from nor loan money to another member.

VA 6.04(9) (9) Disposal of clothing prohibited. A member shall not sell, give away, throw away nor destroy clothing issued by the home.

VA 6.04(10) (10) Alcoholic beverages prohibited. Members may not bring any alcoholic beverages onto the home grounds or keep such beverages in their quarters.

VA 6.04(11) (11) Physical examination. All members shall submit to periodic physical examinations and to such treatment as may from time to time be required.

VA 6.04(12) (12) Personal cleanliness. Cleanliness of person and dress is required of members at all times.

VA 6.04(13) (13) Cleanliness of quarters. Clothing, beds, quarters, dormitories and cottages shall be kept in a neat and clean condition, and all members' quarters shall be available for inspection during periods when formal inspections or fire drills are scheduled.

VA 6.04(14) (14) Gift of property by a member. A gift of property by a member shall be invalid unless physical possession of the property is transferred to the donee at the time the gift is made and unless the property is removed from the premises of the home before the death of the member. A gift of property by a member during the member's lifetime with the understanding that the member may retain physical possession of such property until the member's death or a gift of property which is to take effect upon the death of the member donor is invalid.

VA 6.04(15) (15) Loan of property to member. Property loaned to a member by a nonmember must be declared to be loaned property at the time its possession is transferred to the member, and the nonmember loaning the property to the member must at such time file a sales slip, invoice or other evidence of ownership with the home office and affix an identifying tag to the loaned property which tag must remain affixed to such property during the term of the member's stay at the home. Any property not so identified will be deemed the property of the member upon death, and will be distributed to the state.

VA 6.04 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1965, No. 111, eff. 4-1-65; am. (4), r. (5), Register, December, 1965, No. 120, eff. 1-1-66; am. (3), Register, October 1967, No. 142, eff. 11-1-67; am. (3) and cr. (5), Register, June, 1970. No. 174 eff. 7-1-70; r. (6), Register, August, 1972, No. 200, eff. 9-1-72; am. (3), (5), (13) and (14), r. (16) and (17), Register, April, 1986, No. 364, eff. 5-1-86; r. (2) to (4), Register, June, 1992, No. 438, eff. 7-1-92; corrections in (15) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 5., Stats., Register, January, 1995, No. 469.

VA 6.05 VA 6.05  Discipline, discharges and leaves of absence.

VA 6.05(1) (1)  Disciplinary procedure for serious offenses. The home shall maintain a complete record of each offense by a member for which the member could be given a dishonorable discharge under sub. (7), showing the name of the offender, date and place of the offense and the nature of the offense. Each member charged with such an offense shall be furnished with a copy of the charge or charges placed against the member. No member may be given a dishonorable discharge or disciplined in any way for the offense without a hearing before the commandant at a time and place to be fixed by the commandant. Each member charged with an offense shall be furnished with a copy of the charge or charges placed against the member. No member may be given a dishonorable discharge or disciplined in any way for the offense without a hearing before the commandant at a time and place to be fixed by the commandant. A summary of evidence introduced, the findings and the decision of the commandant shall be filed in each case.

VA 6.05(2) (2) Disciplinary orders, review and appeal. A member found guilty by the commandant under sub. (1) of an offense may be dishonorably discharged, given an enforced leave of absence for a period not exceeding 60 days, restricted to the home grounds or designated portions thereof, or disciplined in such other manner as the commandant deems just and proper. Upon written application by the member involved within 10 days of issuance of a disciplinary order by the commandant, the secretary shall review any discharge, enforced leave of absence, restriction or other disciplinary action ordered by the commandant, and confirm, modify or reverse the order. The member involved may, within 10 days of action by the secretary, appeal from the decision by the department before the appropriate departmental committee. In these cases, recommendations by the committee shall be submitted promptly to the board for review and final action on the appeal. Upon application for review or appeal, the disciplinary order involved shall be stayed pending determination of the review or appeal.

VA 6.05(3) (3) Off-limits. The commandant may prohibit any member from entering any tavern or establishment in the vicinity of the home and may declare any such establishment off-limits to any or all members if such action is necessary for the maintenance of discipline and control.

VA 6.05(4) (4) Grievance procedure. Any member having a grievance or complaint of any kind against the home or its management may present such grievance or complaint in writing to the commandant. In the event the member is not satisfied with action by the commandant upon such grievance or complaint the member may refer the matter to the secretary, and the commandant shall promptly transmit such grievance or complaint together with a written report of investigation and action thereon to the secretary. In the event the member is not satisfied with action by the commandant and the secretary upon such grievance or complaint he or she may appeal the matter to the board.

VA 6.05(5) (5) Honorable discharge. A member may receive an honorable discharge from membership at the home upon application, provided that he or she has paid all money due the home, has accounted for all property issued not suitable for reissue, that no disciplinary action has been currently imposed or is pending against the member, and that he or she is able to exercise sound judgment in planning and providing for his or her own physical welfare. When a member requires special living or travel facilities or is unable to exercise sound judgment in planning for his or her own physical welfare, the commandant may refer the request for discharge to the county veterans service officer in the member's home county for assistance, and may delay granting an honorable discharge until proper facilities for his or her care and travel are assured.

VA 6.05(6) (6) Undesirable discharge. A member may be given an undesirable discharge if an obligation to the home is not paid within 60 days of the date of the member's or personal representative's receipt of a billing statement from the home or if the member leaves the home without satisfying the conditions for an honorable discharge.

VA 6.05(7) (7) Dishonorable discharge. A member may be given a dishonorable discharge for frequent or habitual intoxication, willful disobedience of proper orders, failure to maintain restrictions imposed as a disciplinary measure, habitual use of profane, obscene or abusive language, defacing of, damage to or destruction of any structures, buildings, improvements, shrubs, trees or plants on the home grounds, for unauthorized discharge of firearms within the limits of the home, for assault on another person, for theft, for committing any other crime, or for immoral or indecent conduct.

VA 6.05(8) (8) Leaves of absence. Leaves of absence may be granted by the commandant for a period of not to exceed 60 days during a calendar year, but may be extended by the secretary if circumstances warrant. Payments to the state, as required by s. 45.51 (7), Stats., shall continue during the period of absence. The home will not be responsible for any expense incurred by members while absent from the home except for emergency medical expenses authorized by a home physician, providing notice is given to the home within 24 hours of the onset of the emergency. Quarters will not be reserved during any absence unless such absence is authorized by the commandant.

VA 6.05(9) (9) Leaves of absence, medical. Leaves of absence will be granted to veteran members while undergoing treatment in a veterans administration hospital, or in another authorized hospital, and to non-veteran members while in any hospital or sanatorium away from the home, and this leave shall not be charged to the 60 day annual allowance.

VA 6.05 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1965, No. 111, eff. 4-1-75; am. (2), (4), (8), Register, October, 1967, No. 142, eff. 11-1-67; am. (1) to (6) and (9), Register, April, 1986, No. 364, eff. 5-1-86; am. (6), Register, June, 1992, No. 438, eff. 7-1-92; correction in (8) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register March 2013 No. 687.

VA 6.06 VA 6.06  Employee rules.

VA 6.06(1) (1)  Rules and duties. Employees shall obey all rules prescribed by the commandant, and shall discharge such duties as may be assigned to them by or on the order of the commandant.

VA 6.06(2) (2) Member treatment. In case of alleged neglect or ill treatment of a member by an employee other than the commandant, complaint shall be made in writing to the commandant. If against the commandant, the complaint shall be made in writing to the secretary.

VA 6.06(4) (4) Financial dealings prohibited. Except as provided in s. VA 6.03 (9), no employee shall sell or solicit the sale of anything of value to a member or buy or solicit the purchase of anything of value from a member, or solicit, receive or agree to receive any compensation, gift, reward or gratuity from any member for any matter connected with or related to the duties of such employee, and no employee shall make any loan to or borrow from any member. An employee may, however, receive from a member a gift of food or handicraft having a nominal value, and may purchase handicraft items produced by members and make purchases from member employees at the home exchange.

VA 6.06(5) (5) Resident employee policy. The board shall establish by regulation the terms and conditions under which employees shall be required or permitted to live in quarters on the home grounds. Such regulations shall be published.

VA 6.06 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1965, No. 111, eff. 4-1-65; am. (2) Register, October, 1967, No. 142, eff. 11-1-67; r. and recr. (5), and am. (6), Register, August, 1972, No. 200, eff. 9-1-72; r. (6), Register, September, 1990, No. 417, eff. 10-1-90; r. (3), Register, June, 1992, No. 438, eff. 7-1-92.