SB1057,4,83 45.01 (6m) “Duly authorized representative" means any person authorized in
4writing by the veteran to act for the veteran, the veteran's guardian if the veteran
5is adjudicated incompetent, or a legal representative of the estate if the veteran is
6deceased. Where for proper reason no representative has been or will be appointed,
7the veteran's spouse, an adult child, or, if the veteran is unmarried, either parent of
8the veteran shall be recognized as the duly authorized representative.
Note: Section 10 renumbers a definition so that it appears at the beginning of ch.
45, consistent with current style. It also amends the definition to clarify that a “legal
representative” is a “legal representative of the estate” of a deceased veteran.
SB1057,11 9Section 11 . 45.04 (1) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
Note: Section 11 repeals the definition of “service office.” Sections 12, 13, 14 , 15,
21, and 22 make conforming changes to reflect the repeal of this definition.
SB1057,12 10Section 12 . 45.04 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1057,4,1811 45.04 (2) Separation documents. Separation documents and copies of
12separation documents evidencing service in the armed forces of the U.S. are
13confidential and privileged. Examination of these records in the possession of the
14department or county veterans service office is limited to authorized employees of the
15department or county veterans service office and information entered in these
16records may be disclosed only to veterans and their duly authorized representatives
17or to interested governmental agencies for the purpose of assisting veterans and
18their dependents to obtain the rights and benefits to which they may be entitled.
SB1057,13 19Section 13 . 45.04 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1057,5,420 45.04 (3) U.S. department of veterans affairs records. Records and papers
21in the possession of the department or county veterans service office that are
22released to the department or county veterans service office by the U.S. department

1of veterans affairs or that contain information provided by the U.S. department of
2veterans affairs are confidential. Release of information from these records or
3papers may be made only under regulations of the U.S. department of veterans
4affairs.
SB1057,14 5Section 14 . 45.04 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1057,5,96 45.04 (5) Vital records. The county veterans service office may obtain a copy
7of a vital record under s. 69.30 (2) and may transmit the copy to the department or
8to the U.S. department of veterans affairs to assist a veteran or his or her dependent
9in obtaining a benefit.
SB1057,15 10Section 15 . 45.04 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1057,5,2311 45.04 (8) Disclosure of other information. Except as provided in subs. (2) to
12(6), all files, records, reports, papers, and documents pertaining to applications for
13benefits from the department, and information contained in them, may be released
14by the department or county veterans service office only under rules of the
15department. The rules shall provide for the furnishing of information required
16under sub. (7) and for official purposes by any agency of the U.S. government, by any
17agency of this state, by any law enforcement, social services, or human services
18agency of any Wisconsin county, or by members of the state senate and assembly. The
19rules shall otherwise provide for release of personal information pertaining to or
20contained in any application for benefits, whether pending or adjudicated, only when
21authorized in writing by the applicants or when necessary to assist applicants in
22securing veterans benefits that the applicants may be entitled to or when necessary
23for the efficient management of loans made by the department.
SB1057,16 24Section 16 . 45.05 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1057,6,13
145.05 Registration of certificate of discharge. Every person who has
2served in the U.S. armed forces at any time, and who has been honorably discharged
3or given a certificate of service or relieved from active service may record with the
4register of deeds of any county, in a suitable book provided by the county for that
5purpose, a certificate of discharge or release. The certificate shall be accessible only
6to the discharged person or that person's dependents or duly authorized
7representative, as defined in s. 45.04 (1) (a), the county veterans service officer, the
8department, or any person with written authorization from the discharged person
9or that discharged person's dependents. The register of deeds may not charge for
10recording, except that in counties where the register of deeds is under the fee system
11and not paid a fixed salary, the county shall pay the fee specified in s. 59.43 (2) (ag).
12The record of any certificate of discharge or release made prior to July 6, 1919, is
13legalized.
Note: Section 16 removes a cross-reference rendered unnecessary by the
renumbering of s. 45.04 (1) (a) by Section 10.
SB1057,17 14Section 17 . 45.08 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1057,6,2115 45.08 (1) Every department and agency of the state government, every court
16of the state, and every political subdivision of the state, shall give a leave of absence
17with pay for the last Monday in May of each year, the day of celebration for May 30,
18Memorial Day, to every person in the employ of the state or political subdivision who
19has at any time served in and been honorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces
20or from forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces. A refusal to give the
21leave of absence to a person entitled to the leave constitutes neglect of duty.
Note: Section 17 removes redundant language describing the legal holiday that
occurs on the last Monday in May.
SB1057,18 22Section 18 . 45.08 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1057,7,5
145.08 (2) If the nature of the duties of the department, agency, court, or political
2subdivision necessitates the employment of persons eligible for a leave of absence
3under sub. (1), the department, agency, court, or political subdivision shall arrange
4and assign the necessary work so as to permit the largest possible numbers of eligible
5persons to have a leave of absence for either all or part of Memorial Day.
Note: Section 18 conforms grammar to current style.
SB1057,19 6Section 19 . 45.60 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1057,7,117 45.60 (1) (b) Military funeral honors may be provided by local units of member
8organizations of the council on veterans programs, by local units of veterans
9organizations certified by the department to provide military funeral honors, by
10members of the Wisconsin national guard activated under s. 321.04 (2) (e), or by staff
11of the department.
SB1057,20 12Section 20 . 45.60 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1057,7,1813 45.60 (2) Stipends. From the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (sm), the
14department shall reimburse a local unit of a member organization of the council on
15veterans programs
or a local unit of a veterans organization certified by the
16department to provide military funeral honors for the costs of providing military
17funeral honors in this state to a person described in sub. (1). The reimbursement may
18not exceed $50 for each funeral for which military honors are provided.
SB1057,21 19Section 21 . 45.82 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1057,8,920 45.82 (1) Each county may annually apply to the department for a grant for the
21improvement of service to former military personnel of the county through the
22county veterans service office. A county may not allocate any portion of a grant for
23use by another county department nor may the county reduce funding to a county
24veterans service office based upon receipt of a grant. The county veterans service

1officer of any county applying for the grant shall enter into an agreement with the
2department. The agreement shall state the goals and objectives to be attained by the
3county veterans service office during the remainder of the year covered by the grant
4application. The department shall prepare the basic form of this agreement in
5consultation with the county veterans service officers association and provide a copy
6and an explanation of that agreement to each county veterans service officer. The
7department shall develop reasonable budget and operating standards to assure
8improved services, but full operating control of the county veterans service office
9shall be left to each county.
SB1057,22 10Section 22 . 69.30 (1) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1057,8,1211 69.30 (1) (bm) “Service office" has the meaning given in s. 45.04 (1) (b) means
12a county veterans service office
.
SB1057,8,1313 (End)
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