AB674: Bill Text

AB674, s. 17 Section 17. 29.563 (3) (a) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,7,3 29.563 (3) (a) 8. Annual fishing issued to a resident at Wisconsin Veterans Home at King and at the facilities operated by the department of veterans affairs under s. 45.385: $0.

AB674, s. 18 Section 18. 40.02 (48) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,7,15 40.02 (48) (am) "Protective occupation participant" includes any participant whose name is certified to the fund as provided in s. 40.06 (1) (d) and (dm) and who is a conservation warden, conservation patrol boat captain, conservation patrol boat engineer, conservation pilot, conservation patrol officer, forest fire control assistant, member of the state patrol, state motor vehicle inspector, police officer, fire fighter, sheriff, undersheriff, deputy sheriff, state probation and parole officer, county traffic police officer, state forest ranger, fire watcher employed by the at Wisconsin veterans home facilities, state correctional-psychiatric officer, excise tax investigator employed by the department of revenue, special criminal investigation agent in the department of justice, assistant or deputy fire marshal, or person employed under s. 61.66 (1).

AB674, s. 19 Section 19. 45.01 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,8,2 45.01 Wisconsin veterans museum; space for. The department of administration shall provide suitable space for the purpose of a memorial hall, designated as the Wisconsin veterans museum, dedicated to the men and women of Wisconsin who served in the armed forces of the United States in the civil war of 1861 to 1865 or who meets meet one of the conditions listed in s. 45.35 (5) (a) 1. a. to d., and the department of veterans affairs shall operate and conduct the Wisconsin veterans museum. The mission of the Wisconsin veterans museum is to acknowledge, commemorate and affirm the role of Wisconsin veterans in the United States of America's military past by means of instructive exhibits and other educational programs.

AB674, s. 20 Section 20. 45.35 (19) of the statutes is created to read:

AB674,8,9 45.35 (19) Collections. The department may enter into contracts to collect delinquent loan payments owed to the department. The department may allocate a portion of the amounts collected under the contracts to pay contract costs. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 45.36, the department may release information contained in its files pertaining to applications for benefits to contractors providing collection services to the department.

AB674, s. 21 Section 21. 45.365 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,8,12 45.365 (title) Wisconsin veterans home Veterans Home at King and southeastern facility; management.

AB674, s. 22 Section 22. 45.365 (1) (a) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB674,8,14 45.365 (1) (a) In this section and s. 45.37:

AB674,8,15 1. "Department" means the department of veterans affairs.

AB674,8,16 2. "Home" means the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King.

AB674,8,19 3. "Southeastern facility" means any of the residential, treatment or nursing care facilities operated by the department in southeastern Wisconsin under s. 45.385.

AB674, s. 23 Section 23. 45.365 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB674,9,4 45.365 (1) (am) The department shall operate the home, and employ a commandant and the officers, nurses, attendants and other personnel necessary for the proper conduct of the home. In compliance with the compensation plan established pursuant to s. 230.12 (3), the commandant may recommend to the director of personnel charges for meals, living quarters, laundry and other services furnished to employes and members of the employes' family maintained at the home. Complete personal maintenance and medical care to include programs and facilities which promote comfort, recreation, well-being or rehabilitation shall be furnished to all members of the home under the policy of the department.

AB674, s. 24 Section 24. 45.365 (1) (b) and (d) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB674,9,11 45.365 (1) (b) All money received in reimbursement for services to institutional home or southeastern facility employes under par. (a) or in payment for meals served to guests at the institution home or southeastern facility shall be accumulated in an account named "employe maintenance credits" and shall be paid into the general fund within one week after receipt and credited to the appropriation under s. 20.485 (1) (gk).

AB674,9,14 (d) The home and southeastern facility shall include a geriatric evaluation, research and education program. The program staff shall be funded from the appropriations under s. 20.485 (1) (hm), (j) and (mj).

AB674, s. 25 Section 25. 45.365 (2a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,9,21 45.365 (2a) The department may use moneys appropriated pursuant to s. 20.485 (1) (h) to purchase, erect, construct or remodel buildings, and to provide additions and improvements thereto, and to provide equipment therefor and to provide materials, supplies and services necessary for the purposes of the home and southeastern facilities, and for such expenses as may be necessary and incidental to acquisition of property pursuant to s. 45.37 (10) and (11).

AB674, s. 26 Section 26. 45.365 (2b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,9,25 45.365 (2b) The department may accept gifts, bequests, grants or donations of money or of property from private sources to be administered by the department for the purposes of the home and southeastern facility. All moneys so received shall be paid into the general fund and are appropriated therefrom as provided in s. 20.485 (1) (h), except that gifts or grants received specifically for the purposes of the geriatric program at the home and southeastern facility are appropriated as provided in s. 20.485 (1) (hm). The department shall not apply to the gifts and bequests fund interest on certificate of savings deposits for those members who do not receive maximum monthly retained income. The department shall establish for such persons upon their request individual accounts with savings and interest applied pursuant to such member requests.

AB674, s. 27 Section 27. 45.365 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,10,12 45.365 (5) The fire department at the home or southeastern facility in response to emergency fire calls may make runs and render fire fighting service beyond the confines of the home or southeastern facility.

AB674, s. 28 Section 28. 45.365 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,10,15 45.365 (6) The home is and the nursing care facility within the southeastern facility are subject to ch. 150, as specified in s. 150.46.

AB674, s. 29 Section 29. 45.37 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,10,20 45.37 (1) General statement. Within the limitations of the facilities of the home and southeastern facility, the department may admit to membership in the home and southeastern facility persons who meet the qualifications set forth in this section.

AB674, s. 30 Section 30. 45.37 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,10,23 45.37 (2) Basic eligibility requirements. (intro.) A veteran may be admitted to the home or southeastern facility if the veteran:

AB674, s. 31 Section 31. 45.37 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,11,3 45.37 (2) (a) Residence. Was a resident of this state at the time of entering service with the armed forces and is a resident of this state on the date of admission to the home or southeastern facility.

AB674, s. 32 Section 32. 45.37 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,11,12 45.37 (2) (f) Financial information. Provides a complete financial statement containing information that the department determines is necessary to evaluate the financial circumstances of the veteran and his or her spouse. The department may require a member of the home or southeastern facility to provide the department with information necessary for the department to determine the financial circumstances of the member and his or her spouse. If a member fails to provide the additional information, the department may discharge the member from the home or southeastern facility.

AB674, s. 33 Section 33. 45.37 (2) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,11,16 45.37 (2) (h) Care needs. Has care needs which the home or southeastern facility is able to provide within the resources allocated for the care of members of the home or southeastern facility.

AB674, s. 34 Section 34. 45.37 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,11,25 45.37 (4) (a) Order of eligibility of veterans. Applications from veterans except in cases where there is an immediate need for physical care or economic assistance shall be passed upon in order of priority based upon the date of receipt of the application by the home or southeastern facility. Establishment of the priority date of the application may be deferred to the date that the home or southeastern facility is able to verify its ability to provide appropriate care to the applicant or to assure that the appropriate care setting is available within the home or southeastern facility.

AB674, s. 35 Section 35. 45.37 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,12,8 45.37 (4) (b) Basis for eligibility of nonveterans. Spouses, surviving spouses and parents derive their eligibility from the eligibility of the veteran upon whose service it is based. Surviving spouses and parents of eligible veterans shall not be eligible for admission at a southeastern facility. Surviving spouses and parents of eligible veterans shall not be eligible for admission at the home except for those admitted to the home prior to May 5, 1976, or unless the home's overall occupancy level is below an optimal level as determined by the board.

AB674, s. 36 Section 36. 45.37 (4) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,12,11 45.37 (4) (c) Order of priority. (intro.) The order of priority for admission to the home or southeastern facility shall be as follows:

AB674, s. 37 Section 37. 45.37 (4) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,12,14 45.37 (4) (c) 3. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans shall be given 3rd priority for admission to the home;

AB674, s. 38 Section 38. 45.37 (4) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,12,17 45.37 (4) (c) 4. Parents of eligible veterans shall be given 4th priority for admission to the home;

AB674, s. 39 Section 39. 45.37 (8) of the statutes is repealed.

AB674, s. 40 Section 40. 45.37 (9) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,12,22 45.37 (9) (c) Work therapy program compensation. The board shall establish a pay plan for compensation of members for services rendered to the home or southeastern facility under its work therapy program.

AB674, s. 41 Section 41. 45.37 (9) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,13,6 45.37 (9) (d) Member payments. Members shall pay the amount due the state for care and maintenance of the member within 30 days after the receipt of the home's or southeastern facility's billing statement by the member or by the member's personal representative. The department may subject any bill not paid within 30 days after receipt of the billing statement to an interest assessment of 1% per month or fraction of a month. If payment is not made within 60 days after the receipt of the billing statement, the department may discharge the member from the home or southeastern facility.

AB674, s. 42 Section 42. 45.37 (9) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,13,12 45.37 (9) (g) Work therapy or hobby shop income. A member is not required to use income received from services rendered to the home or southeastern facility under its work therapy program or from the sale of products or services through the hobby shop as payment for the care or maintenance of the member at the home or southeastern facility.

AB674, s. 43 Section 43. 45.37 (9) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,13,17 45.37 (9) (h) Home or southeastern facility exchange. The operation of the home or southeastern facility exchange, including the operation of the hobby shop for the sale of products made by all members, shall be conducted under the supervision of the department.

AB674, s. 44 Section 44. 45.37 (9c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,14,2 45.37 (9c) Personal funds of member. A member may, in writing, authorize the home or southeastern facility to receive, hold and account for his or her personal funds. Section 49.498 (8) and the rules promulgated under that subsection apply to the funds of a member held by the home or southeastern facility under this subsection. The department may transfer the personal funds of a member received under this subsection to the Wisconsin veterans home facilities members fund under s. 25.37. Upon request of the member, the department shall pay to the member the amount of the member's personal funds requested by the member.

AB674, s. 45 Section 45. 45.37 (17) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,14,9 45.37 (17) Additional eligibility requirements. Any person admitted to the home after December 31, 1973, or the nursing care facility operated by the department within the southeastern facility shall meet during residence at the home or at the nursing care facility operated by the department within the southeastern facility the eligibility requirements under ss. 49.45 and 49.46 and rules promulgated thereunder except that:

AB674,14,14 (a) Persons with sufficient income and resources to meet the expenses of care for one or more months may be admitted to or remain in membership at the home or the nursing care facility operated by the department within the southeastern facility but shall apply income and resources to costs to the extent required by ss. 49.45 and 49.46 and rules promulgated thereunder; or

AB674,14,20 (b) Persons who meet all the requirements of this section but whose degree of physical disability does not meet the minimum requirements in ss. 49.45 and 49.46 and rules promulgated thereunder may be admitted to or remain in membership at the home or the nursing care facility operated by the department within the southeastern facility but shall apply income and resources to costs to the extent required by ss. 49.45 and 49.46 and rules promulgated thereunder.

AB674, s. 46 Section 46. 45.37 (18) of the statutes is created to read:

AB674,15,3 45.37 (18) Southeastern facility additional eligibility requirement. An otherwise eligible person may be admitted to or remain in residency at a residential or treatment facility within the southeastern facility only if the person has sufficient income and resources, and applies the income and resources to fully reimburse the department for the cost of providing care to the person. This income and resource limit on eligibility does not apply to persons admitted to the nursing care facility operated by the department within the southeastern facility.

AB674, s. 47 Section 47. 45.397 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,15,9 45.397 (2) (a) The veteran is enrolled in a training course in a technical college under ch. 38 or in a proprietary school in the state approved by the educational board under s. 39.51, other than a school offering four-year degrees or programs, or is engaged in a structured on-the-job training program that meets program requirements promulgated by the department by rule.

AB674, s. 48 Section 48. 45.71 (6m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB674,15,12 45.71 (6m) "Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation" means the corporation created under 12 USC 1451 to 1459.

AB674, s. 49 Section 49. 45.71 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,15,18 45.71 (7) "Funds" include cash on hand, and liquid investments, and any asset the conversion of which to cash would not result in a substantial loss, except as provided under s. 45.85. The funds of a veteran include all funds owned by the veteran and spouse, individually or jointly, unless the veteran and spouse are permanently separated.

AB674, s. 50 Section 50. 45.71 (9) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 45.71 (9) and amended to read:

AB674,15,24 45.71 (9) "Income" means the amount of adjusted gross income a veteran is receiving for regular work together with any income from other sources that may reasonably be expected to be regular and dependable, except as provided under s. 45.85.

AB674, s. 51 Section 51. 45.71 (9) (a) and (b) of the statutes are repealed.

AB674, s. 52 Section 52. 45.71 (12) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,16,4 45.71 (12) (intro.) "Mobile home" "Manufactured home" means a mobile home structure, as defined under s. 340.01 (29), by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation which:

AB674, s. 53 Section 53. 45.73 (title) of the statutes is repealed.

AB674, s. 54 Section 54. 45.73 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 45.73.

AB674, s. 55 Section 55. 45.73 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

AB674, s. 56 Section 56. 45.74 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,16,11 45.74 Eligible persons; disqualifying factors. (intro.) Except as provided under s. 45.745 or 45.85, no person may receive a loan under this subchapter if the department or authorized lender determines that any of the following applies:

AB674, s. 57 Section 57. 45.74 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

AB674, s. 58 Section 58. 45.74 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

AB674, s. 59 Section 59. 45.745 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,16,20 45.745 Loans to disabled veterans; qualifying factors. (intro.) A veteran who is receiving 100% disability compensation from the U.S. department of veterans affairs under 38 USC 301 to 315, 331 to 337 and 350 to 362 due to a permanent and total service-connected disability may receive a loan under this subchapter if the department or authorized lender determines, after disregarding any payment received under s. 45.85, that all of the following apply:

AB674, s. 60 Section 60. 45.745 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

AB674, s. 61 Section 61. 45.745 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

AB674, s. 62 Section 62. 45.76 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB674,17,3 45.76 (1) (a) 1. A mobile manufactured home or real property on which a mobile manufactured home is to be situated, but only if the veteran has available and applies on the total cost of the property, an amount equivalent to at least 15% of the total cost. This 15% requirement does not apply to a person who qualifies under s. 45.745.