This substitute amendment makes various changes to the laws governing
veterans affairs, including changes to the powers of certain state public officials of
the Department of Veterans Affairs, changes to the powers of the Board of Veterans
Affairs, and changes regarding the maintenance of veterans homes.
This substitute amendment allows a state public official who is an officer or
employee of DVA to solicit, receive, and retain on behalf of the state anything of value
for the purpose of supporting veterans homes and members and veterans programs,
benefits, and services.
The substitute amendment transfers most of the powers of the Board of
Veterans Affairs to DVA. Under current law, the board has various powers, including
creating policies and making determinations relating to the disposition of moneys,
the making of loans, and the acquisition and conveyance of buildings and real
property.
The substitute amendment establishes a task force to study and report on
factors that may affect future operations of veterans benefits service organizations.
Finally, the substitute amendment makes various technical changes to laws
governing veterans affairs, including repealing obsolete or outdated appropriations.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB821-ASA1,1 8Section 1. 19.56 (3) (g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB821-ASA1,3,29 19.56 (3) (g) A state public official who is an officer or employee of the
10department of veterans affairs may solicit, receive, and retain on behalf of the state

1anything of value for the purpose of supporting veterans homes and members and
2veterans programs, benefits, and services.
AB821-ASA1,2 3Section 2. 20.485 (1) (b) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
AB821-ASA1,3,44 20.485 (1) (b) (title) Homes operation; general fund supplement.
AB821-ASA1,3 5Section 3. 20.485 (1) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 20.485 (4) (a).
AB821-ASA1,4 6Section 4. 20.485 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,3,117 20.485 (1) (g) Home exchange. The amounts in the schedule for the purchase
8of the necessary materials, supplies and equipment for the operation of the home
9exchange, and compensation for members' labor. All moneys received from the sale
10of products authorized by s. 45.51 (7) 45.50 (12) shall be credited to this
11appropriation.
AB821-ASA1,5 12Section 5. 20.485 (1) (gd) of the statutes is repealed.
AB821-ASA1,6 13Section 6. 20.485 (1) (gk) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55,
14section 768k, is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,4,315 20.485 (1) (gk) Institutional Homes operations. The amounts in the schedule
16for the care of the members of the Wisconsin veterans homes under s. 45.50, for the
17payment of stipends under s. 45.50 (2m) (f), for the transfer of moneys to the
18appropriation account under s. 20.435 (4) (ky) for payment of the state share of the
19medical assistance costs related to the provision of stipends under s. 45.50 (2m) (f),
20for the payment of assistance to indigent veterans under s. 45.43 to allow them to
21reside at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove, for the transfer of moneys
22to the appropriation accounts under pars. (kg) and par. (kj) and sub. (2) (ks), and for
23the payment of grants under s. 45.82. Not more than 1 percent of the moneys credited
24to this appropriation account may be used for the payment of assistance to indigent
25veterans under s. 45.43. All moneys received under par. (m) and s. 45.51 (7) (b) and

1(8)
45.50 (12) (b) and (13) and all moneys received for the care of members under
2medical assistance, as defined in s. 49.43 (8), shall be credited to this appropriation
3account.
AB821-ASA1,7 4Section 7. 20.485 (1) (gk) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55,
5section 768kb, and 2015 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:
AB821-ASA1,4,186 20.485 (1) (gk) Homes operations. The amounts in the schedule for the care of
7the members of the Wisconsin veterans homes under s. 45.50, for the payment of
8stipends under s. 45.50 (2m) (f), for the transfer of moneys to the appropriation
9account under s. 20.435 (4) (ky) for payment of the state share of the medical
10assistance costs related to the provision of stipends under s. 45.50 (2m) (f), for the
11payment of assistance to indigent veterans under s. 45.43 to allow them to reside at
12the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove, for the transfer of moneys to the
13appropriation account under sub. (2) (ks), and for the payment of grants under s.
1445.82. Not more than 1 percent of the moneys credited to this appropriation account
15may be used for the payment of assistance to indigent veterans under s. 45.43. All
16moneys received under par. (m) and s. 45.50 (12) (b) and (13) and all moneys received
17for the care of members under medical assistance, as defined in s. 49.43 (8), shall be
18credited to this appropriation account.
AB821-ASA1,8 19Section 8. 20.485 (1) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,4,2220 20.485 (1) (h) Gifts, grants, and bequests. All moneys received under s. 45.51
21(10)
45.50 (14) and (11) (15), or any moneys received by gifts, grants, or bequests, to
22carry out the purposes of ss. 45.50 and 45.51.
AB821-ASA1,9 23Section 9. 20.485 (1) (hm) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,5,3
120.485 (1) (hm) Gifts and grants, grants, and bequests. All moneys received
2from gifts and grants, grants, or bequests, specifically for the purpose of s. 45.50 (2m)
3(d), to carry out the purpose of s. 45.50 (2m) (d).
AB821-ASA1,10 4Section 10. 20.485 (1) (kg) of the statutes is renumbered 20.485 (2) (ks) and
5amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,5,96 20.485 (2) (ks) Grants to counties. The amounts in the schedule for the
7payments of grants made under s. 45.82 (1) to (3). All moneys transferred from the
8appropriation account under par. sub. (1) (gk) shall be credited to this appropriation
9account.
AB821-ASA1,11 10Section 11. 20.485 (1) (mn) of the statutes is repealed.
AB821-ASA1,12 11Section 12. 20.485 (1) (t) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,5,1412 20.485 (1) (t) Veterans homes member accounts. From the Wisconsin veterans
13homes members fund, all moneys received under s. 25.37 to make payments as
14provided under s. 45.51 (8), (10), 45.50 (13), (14), and (11) (15).
AB821-ASA1,13 15Section 13. 20.485 (1) (u) of the statutes is repealed.
AB821-ASA1,14 16Section 14. 20.485 (2) (a) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,5,1817 20.485 (2) (a) (title) General program operations; loans and aids fund
18operations
.
AB821-ASA1,15 19Section 15. 20.485 (2) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
AB821-ASA1,16 20Section 16. 20.485 (2) (d) of the statutes is repealed.
AB821-ASA1,17 21Section 17. 20.485 (2) (e) of the statutes is repealed.
AB821-ASA1,18 22Section 18. 20.485 (2) (rm) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,6,223 20.485 (2) (rm) Veterans assistance programs; fish and game vouchers housing
24and recovery programs
. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for general program
25operations of the veterans assistance program housing and recovery programs under

1s. 45.43, for grants under s. 45.03 (13) (j), and for reimbursements to the department
2of natural resources under s. 29.1945 (2).
AB821-ASA1,19 3Section 19. 20.485 (2) (rp) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,6,64 20.485 (2) (rp) Veterans assistance program receipts housing and recovery
5programs fees
. All moneys received from fees under s. 45.43 (2) for the provision of
6assistance housing and recovery programs to veterans under s. 45.43 (1).
AB821-ASA1,20 7Section 20. 20.485 (2) (u) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to
8read:
AB821-ASA1,6,99 20.485 (2) (u) (title) Veteran trust fund operations.
AB821-ASA1,21 10Section 21. 20.485 (2) (vy) of the statutes is repealed.
AB821-ASA1,22 11Section 22. 20.485 (2) (yg) of the statutes is repealed.
AB821-ASA1,23 12Section 23. 20.485 (2) (z) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,6,1313 20.485 (2) (z) (title) Gifts , grants, and bequests.
AB821-ASA1,24 14Section 24. 20.485 (3) (sm) of the statutes is renumbered 20.485 (2) (se).
AB821-ASA1,25 15Section 25. 20.485 (3) (v) of the statutes is repealed.
AB821-ASA1,26 16Section 26. 20.485 (3) (w) of the statutes is repealed.
AB821-ASA1,27 17Section 27. 20.485 (4) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,6,2218 20.485 (4) (g) Cemetery operations. The amounts in the schedule for the care
19and operation of the veterans memorial cemeteries under s. 45.61 other than those
20costs provided under pars. (q) and (r). All moneys received under s. 45.61 (3) and from
21the estate of decedents under s. 45.61 (5)
shall be credited to this appropriation
22account.
AB821-ASA1,28 23Section 28. 20.485 (4) (m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,7,424 20.485 (4) (m) Federal aid; cemetery operations and burials. All moneys
25received from the federal government for specific veterans programs other than for

1the care of veterans at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King and veterans facilities,
2for such purposes, and all
moneys received from the federal government for the
3operation of veterans memorial cemeteries under s. 45.61 as authorized by the
4governor under s. 16.54, to be used for that purpose.
AB821-ASA1,29 5Section 29. 20.485 (5) (c) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to
6read:
AB821-ASA1,7,77 20.485 (5) (c) (title) Museum operations; general fund.
AB821-ASA1,30 8Section 30. 20.485 (5) (mn) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,7,99 20.485 (5) (mn) (title) Federal projects; museum acquisitions and operations.
AB821-ASA1,31 10Section 31. 20.485 (5) (wd) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,7,1111 20.485 (5) (wd) (title) Operation of Wisconsin Veterans Museum operations .
AB821-ASA1,32 12Section 32. 20.485 (5) (zm) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to
13read:
AB821-ASA1,7,1414 20.485 (5) (zm) (title) Gifts, grants, and bequests.
AB821-ASA1,33 15Section 33. 25.36 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is
16amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,8,1217 25.36 (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), all moneys appropriated or transferred
18by law shall constitute the veterans trust fund which shall be used for the lending
19of money to the mortgage loan repayment fund under s. 45.37 (5) (a) 12. and for the
20veterans programs under ss. 20.485 (2) (m), (tm), (u), (vy), and (z), and (5) (mn), (v),
21(vo), and (zm), 45.03 (19), 45.07, 45.20, 45.21, 45.40 (1m), 45.41, 45.42, 45.43, and
2245.82 and administered by the department of veterans affairs, including all moneys
23received from the federal government for the benefit of veterans or their dependents,
24and for the veteran grant jobs pilot program under s. 38.31 administered by the
25technical college system board; all moneys paid as interest on and repayment of loans

1under the post-war rehabilitation fund; soldiers rehabilitation fund, veterans
2housing funds as they existed prior to July 1, 1961; all moneys paid as interest on
3and repayment of loans under this fund; all moneys paid as expenses for, interest on,
4and repayment of veterans trust fund stabilization loans under s. 45.356, 1995 stats.;
5all moneys paid as expenses for, interest on, and repayment of veterans personal
6loans; the net proceeds from the sale of mortgaged properties related to veterans
7personal loans; all mortgages issued with the proceeds of the 1981 veterans home
8loan revenue bond issuance purchased with moneys in the veterans trust fund; all
9moneys received from the state investment board under s. 45.42 (8) (b); all moneys
10received from the veterans mortgage loan repayment fund under s. 45.37 (7) (a) and
11(c); and all gifts of money received by the board of veterans affairs for the purposes
12of this fund.
AB821-ASA1,34 13Section 34. 25.37 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,8,18 1425.37 Wisconsin veterans homes members fund. There is established a
15separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the Wisconsin veterans homes
16members fund. The fund shall consist of moneys belonging to persons residing in
17Wisconsin veterans homes, that are paid to the homes, and that are transferred into
18the fund by the department of veterans affairs under s. 45.51 (8) 45.50 (13).
AB821-ASA1,35 19Section 35. 45.01 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,8,2320 45.01 (9) "Permanently and totally disabled veteran" means a person who is
21receiving 100 percent disability compensation from the U.S. department of veterans
22affairs under 38 USC 301 to 315, 331 to 337, and 350 to 362 1110 to 1155, due to a
23permanent and total service-connected disability.
AB821-ASA1,36 24Section 36. 45.02 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,9,5
145.02 (2) (intro.) Except as provided in sub. (3) and s. 45.51 (6m) (1m), to be
2eligible for benefits under this chapter an applicant shall be a resident of and living
3in this state at the time of making application or the veteran from whom the
4applicant derives eligibility is deceased, and the veteran from whom eligibility is
5derived meets one of the following conditions:
AB821-ASA1,37 6Section 37. 45.03 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,9,97 45.03 (3) (a) The council on veterans programs created under s. 15.497 shall
8advise the board and the department on solutions and policy alternatives relating
9to the problems of veterans.
AB821-ASA1,38 10Section 38. 45.03 (5) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,9,1911 45.03 (5) (a) 1. "Existing building" in relation to any conveyance, lease, or
12sublease made under par. (c) 1. means all detention, treatment, administrative,
13recreational, infirmary, hospital, vocational, and academic buildings ;, all
14dormitories and cottages;, all storage facilities, heating plants, and sewage disposal
15plants, and other buildings, structures, facilities, and permanent improvements that
16in the judgment of the board department are needed or useful for the purposes of the
17department, and all equipment for them and all improvements and additions to them
18that were erected, constructed, or installed prior to the making of the conveyance,
19lease, or sublease.
AB821-ASA1,39 20Section 39. 45.03 (5) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,9,2521 45.03 (5) (a) 2. "New building" in relation to any conveyance, lease, or sublease
22made under par. (c) 1. means all detention, treatment, administrative, recreational,
23infirmary, hospital, vocational, and academic buildings;, all dormitories and
24cottages;, all storage facilities, heating plants, and sewage disposal plants, and other
25buildings, structures, facilities, and permanent improvements as in the judgment of

1the board department are needed or useful for the purposes of the department, and
2all equipment for them and all improvements and additions to them that are erected,
3constructed, or installed after the making of the conveyance, lease, or sublease.
AB821-ASA1,40 4Section 40. 45.03 (5) (c) 1. a. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,10,105 45.03 (5) (c) 1. a. Without limitation by reason of any other provisions of the
6statutes except ss. 13.48 (14) (am) and 16.848 (1), unless otherwise required by law,
7the power to sell and to convey title in fee simple to a nonprofit corporation any land
8and any existing buildings owned by the state that are under the jurisdiction of the
9department for the consideration and upon the terms and conditions as in the
10judgment of the board department are in the public interest.
AB821-ASA1,41 11Section 41. 45.03 (5) (c) 1. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,10,1612 45.03 (5) (c) 1. b. Unless otherwise required by law, the power to lease to a
13nonprofit corporation for a term or terms not exceeding 50 years each any land and
14any existing buildings owned by the state that are under the jurisdiction of the
15department upon the terms and conditions as in the judgment of the board
16department are in the public interest.
AB821-ASA1,42 17Section 42. 45.03 (5) (c) 1. c. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,10,2318 45.03 (5) (c) 1. c. The power to lease or sublease from the nonprofit corporation,
19and to make available for public use, any land, or any land and existing buildings
20conveyed or leased to such nonprofit corporation under subd. 1. a. and b., and any
21new buildings erected upon such land or upon any other land owned by the nonprofit
22corporation, upon the terms, conditions, and rentals, subject to available
23appropriations, as in the judgment of the board department are in the public interest.
AB821-ASA1,43 24Section 43. 45.03 (5) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,11,2
145.03 (5) (c) 3. Nothing in this subsection empowers the board or the
2department to incur any state debt.
AB821-ASA1,44 3Section 44. 45.03 (5) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,11,94 45.03 (5) (c) 4. All powers and duties conferred upon the board or the
5department under this subsection shall be exercised and performed by resolution of
6the board.
All conveyances, leases, and subleases made under this subsection, when
7authorized by resolution of the board,
shall be made, executed, and delivered in the
8name of the department and shall be signed by the secretary and sealed with the seal
9of the department.
AB821-ASA1,45 10Section 45. 45.03 (12) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,11,1311 45.03 (12) (a) The department may receive gifts and bequests in its name for
12the benefit of Wisconsin veterans and their dependents in accordance with policies
13adopted by the board
. Moneys received shall be credited to the veterans trust fund.
AB821-ASA1,46 14Section 46. 45.03 (12) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB821-ASA1,11,1815 45.03 (12) (b) The department may receive moneys or other gifts and bequests
16in its name for the benefit of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. Moneys received shall
17be credited to the veterans trust fund and used, as far as practicable, in accordance
18with the wishes of the donors and in accordance with the board's policies.
AB821-ASA1,47 19Section 47. 45.03 (13) (j) of the statutes is repealed.
AB821-ASA1,48 20Section 48. 45.03 (13) (k) of the statutes is repealed.
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