1997 Wisconsin Act 27

44.15 (9)  Rules. (intro.) In consultation with the council, the The historical society shall promulgate rules to implement and administer the program. The rules shall include all of the following:

27,1346k Section 1346k. 44.47 (1) (bm) of the statutes is repealed.

27,1346m Section 1346m. 44.47 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

44.47 (1) (f) “Object" means an article, implement or other item of archaeological interest. “Object" does not include human remains, as defined in s. 157.70 (1) (f), or a sunken log, as defined in s. 170.12 (1) (b).

27,1346r Section 1346r. 44.47 (5m) (f) of the statutes is repealed.

27,1346s Section 1346s. 44.47 (5r) of the statutes is amended to read:

44.47 (5r) Sunken logs. When reviewing an application to raise and remove sunken logs under s. 170.12, the director may do any all of the following apply:

(a) Require If the director determines that a permit is necessary to preserve or protect an identified archaeological site, the director may require that a permit under this section be secured.

(b) Waive In all other cases, the director shall waive the requirement for a permit under this section, but impose may recommend requirements relating to the gathering of data regarding any activity done pursuant to a permit issued under s. 170.12, which requirements shall be communicated to the board of commissioners of public lands and may be incorporated by that board into the s. 170.12 permit.

27,1346sf Section 1346sf. 44.51 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

27,1346sj Section 1346sj. 44.51 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

27,1346wg Section 1346wg. 44.57 of the statutes is repealed.

27,1347 Section 1347 . Subchapter IV of chapter 44 [precedes 44.70] of the statutes is created to read:

Chapter 44

Subchapter IV
technology for educational
achievement in Wisconsin board

44.70 Definitions. In this subchapter:

(1) “Board" means the technology for educational achievement in Wisconsin board.

(2) “Department" means the department of administration.

(3) “Educational technology" means technology used in the education or training of any person or in the administration of an elementary or secondary school and related telecommunications services.

(4) “Telecommunications" has the meaning given in s. 16.99 (1).

44.71 Technology for educational achievement in Wisconsin board. (1) Executive director; staff. The governor may appoint a person to serve as executive director of the board. The executive director may appoint subordinate staff, subject to authorization under s. 16.505.

(2) Duties. The board shall do all of the following:

(a) In cooperation with school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, the technical college system board, the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System and the department, promote the efficient, cost-effective procurement, installation and maintenance of educational technology by school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, technical college districts and the University of Wisconsin System.

(b) Identify the best methods of providing preservice and in-service training for teachers related to educational technology.

(c) With the consent of the department, enter into cooperative purchasing agreements under s. 16.73 (1) under which participating school districts and cooperative educational service agencies may contract for their professional employes to receive training concerning the effective use of educational technology.

(d) In cooperation with the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, the technical college system board, the department of public instruction and other entities, support the development of courses for the instruction of professional employes who are licensed by the state superintendent of public instruction concerning the effective use of educational technology.

(e) Subject to s. 196.218 (4r) (f), in cooperation with the department and the public service commission, provide telecommunications access to school districts, private schools, technical college districts, private colleges and public library boards under the program established under s. 196.218 (4r).

(f) No later than October 1 of each even-numbered year, submit a biennial report concerning the board's activities to the governor, and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3).

(g) Coordinate the purchasing of educational technology materials, supplies, equipment and contractual services for school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, technical college districts and the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System by the department under s. 16.72 (8), and, in cooperation with the department, establish standards and specifications for purchases of educational technology hardware and software by school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, technical college districts and the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

(h) Purchase educational technology equipment for use by school districts, cooperative educational service agencies and public educational institutions in this state and permit the districts, agencies and institutions to purchase or lease the equipment, with an option to purchase the equipment at a later date. This paragraph does not require the purchase or lease of any educational technology equipment from the board.

44.72 Educational technology training programs, grants, aids and loans. (1) Educational technology training and technical assistance grants. From the appropriation under s. 20.275 (1) (et), the board shall award grants to cooperative educational service agencies and to consortia consisting of 2 or more school districts or cooperative educational service agencies, or one or more school districts or cooperative educational service agencies and one or more public library boards, to provide technical assistance and training in the use of educational technology. An applicant for a grant shall submit to the board a plan that specifies the school districts and public library boards that will participate in the program and describes how the funds will be allocated. The board shall do all of the following:

(a) Award grants to applicants on a competitive basis through one funding cycle annually.

(b) Give preference in awarding grants to consortia that include one or more public library boards.

(c) To the extent possible, ensure that grants are equally distributed on a statewide basis.

(d) Promulgate rules establishing administrative procedures, eligibility and application requirements and criteria for awarding grants under this subsection.

(2) Educational technology block grants. (a) In the 1997-98 and 1998-99 school years, the board shall distribute the amount appropriated under s. 20.275 (1) (u) to eligible school districts in proportion to the number of persons who reside in each school district, as reported under s. 43.70 (1). The funds shall be distributed after the funds under s. 43.70 (3) are distributed and according to the schedule in s. 43.70 (3). If, after distributing the funds under s. 43.70, the balance of the common school fund income is less than the amount appropriated under s. 20.275 (1) (u), the board shall distribute the balance of the common school fund income instead of the amount appropriated under s. 20.275 (1) (u) under this paragraph.

(b) 1. In this paragraph, “equalized valuation per member" means equalized valuation, as defined in s. 121.004 (2), divided by membership, as defined in s. 121.004 (5), except as follows:

a. For a school district operating only high school grades, “equalized valuation per member" means equalized valuation, as defined in s. 121.004 (2), divided by the result obtained by multiplying membership, as defined in s. 121.004 (5), by 3.

b. For a school district operating only elementary grades, “equalized valuation per member" means equalized valuation, as defined in s. 121.004 (2), divided by the result obtained by multiplying membership, as defined in s. 121.004 (5), by 1.5.

c. If a school district's equalized valuation per member is less than $75,000, it shall be considered to be $75,000 for purposes of this paragraph.

2. From the appropriation under s. 20.275 (1) (f), annually the board shall pay $5,000 to each eligible school district. The board shall distribute the balance in the appropriation to eligible school districts in proportion to the weighted membership of each school district, which shall be determined by dividing the statewide average equalized valuation per member by the school district's equalized valuation per member and multiplying the result by the school district's membership, as defined in s. 121.004 (5).

3. In the 1997-98 school year, the board shall distribute the amount appropriated under s. 20.275 (1) (fs) to those school districts in which the equalized valuation per member in the 1996-97 school year was less than the state average equalized valuation per member in that school year. The amount distributed to each school district shall be the amount determined by subtracting the amount awarded to the school district under subd. 2. from $25,000, or the amount determined as follows, whichever is less:

a. Divide the school district's equalized valuation per member by the state average equalized valuation per member.

b. Subtract the quotient under subd. 3. a. from 1.0.

c. Multiply the remainder under subd. 3. b. by the amount necessary to fully distribute the amount appropriated under s. 20.275 (1) (fs), as determined by the board.

(c) A school district is eligible for a grant under par. (a) or (b) 2. only if the annual meeting in a common school district, or the school board in a unified school district or in a school district operating under ch. 119, adopts a resolution requesting the grant. A grant under this subsection may not be used to replace funding available from other sources.

(d) A school district receiving a grant under par. (a) or (b) shall deposit the moneys in a separate fund. The moneys may be used for any purpose related to educational technology, except that a school district may not use the moneys to pay the salary or benefits of any school district employe.

(e) The board shall distribute the grants under par. (b) 2. and 3. annually on the first Monday in February.

(3) Grants to public library boards. From the appropriation under s. 20.275 (1) (fL), the board shall award grants to public library boards for technology used in the administration of a public library and related telecommunications services. The board shall use a competitive, request-for-proposals process in awarding the grants.

(4) Subsidized educational technology infrastructure loans. (a) Subsidized loans authorized. The board may make subsidized loans under this subsection to school districts from the proceeds of public debt contracted under s. 20.866 (2) (zc) and to public library boards from the proceeds of public debt contracted under s. 20.866 (2) (zcm). Subsidized loans under this subsection may be used only for the purpose of upgrading the electrical wiring of school and library buildings in existence on the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], and installing and upgrading computer network wiring in accordance with rules promulgated by the board.

(b) Subsidized loan applications, terms and conditions. The board shall establish application procedures for, and the terms and conditions of, subsidized loans under this subsection. The terms may include provision of professional building construction services under s. 16.85 (15). The board shall determine the interest rate on these loans. The interest rate shall be as low as possible but shall be sufficient to fully pay all interest expenses incurred by the state and to provide reserves that are reasonably expected to be required in the judgment of the board to ensure against losses arising from delinquency and default in the repayment of subsidized loans.

(c) Repayment of subsidized loans. A school district's or public library board's total payments on a loan made under this subsection shall be equal to 50% of the total debt service on the loan, as determined by the board. A school district or public library board is not obligated to pay the remaining 50% of the debt service on the loan. The board shall credit all moneys received from school districts under this paragraph to the appropriation account under s. 20.275 (1) (h). The board shall credit all moneys received from public library boards under this paragraph to the appropriation account under s. 20.275 (1) (hb).

(d) Funding for subsidized loans. The board, with the approval of the governor and subject to the limits of s. 20.866 (2) (zc) and (zcm), may request that the building commission contract public debt in accordance with ch. 18 to fund loans under this subsection. The term of public debt contracted under s. 20.866 (2) (zc) and (zcm) may not exceed 10 years.

27,1348 Section 1348 . 45.01 of the statutes is amended to read:

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 in any subsequent wars, as enumerated in s. 45.35 (5) (e), or in Bosnia, Grenada, Lebanon, Panama, Somalia or a Middle East crisis under s. 45.34 who meets 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.

27,1348g Section 1348g. 45.03 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

45.03 (3) From the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (sm) (em), the department shall pay all debts that remain unpaid on February 15, 1992, for expenses incurred in operating the veterans memorial at The Highground in Clark county and shall contract for improvements related to the memorial. The improvements shall include the paving of the parking lot at the memorial.

27,1348m Section 1348m. 45.04 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

45.04 (2) Grant program. From the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (s) (e), the secretary shall award to eligible applicants grants to support the acquisition of land and construction of not more than 2 memorials in this state to honor state veterans who served in the U.S. armed forces. One memorial may be constructed to honor state veterans who served during the Korean conflict, June 27, 1950, to January 31, 1955, and one to honor state veterans who served during the Vietnam war, August 5, 1964, to June 30, 1975.

27,1349 Section 1349 . 45.16 of the statutes is amended to read:

45.16 Burial allowance. Each county veterans' service officer shall cause to be interred in a decent and respectable manner in any cemetery in this state, other than those used exclusively for the burial of paupers, the body of any person who served in any war of the United States, in the Korean conflict, in the Vietnam war, under section 1 of executive order 10957, dated August 10, 1961, or had service that entitled the person to receive the armed forces expeditionary medal, established by executive order 10977 on December 4, 1961, the Vietnam service medal established by executive order 11231 on July 8, 1965, the navy expeditionary medal or the marine corps expeditionary medal or who served in Bosnia, Grenada, Lebanon, Panama, Somalia or a Middle East crisis under s. 45.34 and who was discharged under honorable conditions after 90 days or more of active service, in the U.S. armed forces, or if having served less than 90 days was honorably discharged for a disability incurred in line of duty and who was living in the county at the time of death, meets the definition of a “veteran" under s. 45.35 (5) and who dies not leaving sufficient means to defray the necessary expenses of a decent burial, or under financial circumstances that would distress the person's family to pay the expenses of the burial, and the body of a spouse or surviving spouse of the person who dies not leaving such means or under the same financial circumstances and who was living in the county at the time of death, at an expense to the county of not more than $300 in addition to the burial allowance payable under laws administered by the U.S. department of veterans affairs.

27,1350 Section 1350 . 45.25 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

45.25 (1) Administration. The department of veterans affairs shall administer a tuition and fee reimbursement program for eligible veterans enrolling as undergraduates in any institution or center within the university of Wisconsin system or, enrolling in any technical college under ch. 38 or receiving a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47.

27,1350m Section 1350m. 45.25 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

45.25 (2) (c) The individual applies for the tuition and fee reimbursement program for courses completed within 6 10 years after separation from the service.

27,1353 Section 1353 . 45.25 (3) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 255, is amended to read:

45.25 (3) (a) An Except as provided in par. (am), an individual who meets the requirements under sub. (2), upon satisfactory completion of an undergraduate semester in any institution or center within the university of Wisconsin system or a semester at any technical college district school under ch. 38, may be reimbursed for up to 50% of the individual's tuition and fees, other than textbooks and other costs, charged by the institution, center or school, but that reimbursement is limited to a maximum of 50% of the standard cost for a state resident for an equivalent undergraduate course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison per course or the difference between the individual's tuition and fees and the grants or scholarships, including those made under s. 21.49, that the individual receives specifically for the payment of the tuition or fees, whichever is less. Reimbursement is available only for tuition and fees that are part of a curriculum that is relevant to a degree in a particular course of study at the institution, center or school.

27,1353g Section 1353g. 45.25 (3) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

45.25 (3) (am) A disabled individual who meets the requirements under sub. (2) and whose disability is rated at 30% or more under 38 USC 1114 or 1134, upon satisfactory completion of an undergraduate semester in any institution or center within the University of Wisconsin System or a semester at any technical college district school under ch. 38, may be reimbursed for up to 100% of the individual's tuition and fees, but that reimbursement is limited to 100% of the standard cost for a state resident for an equivalent undergraduate course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison per course, or the difference between the individual's tuition and fees and the grants or scholarships, including those made under s. 21.49, that the individual receives specifically for the payment of the tuition or fees, whichever is less. Reimbursement is available only for tuition and fees that are part of a curriculum that is relevant to a degree in a particular course of study at the institution, center or school.

27,1353m Section 1353m. 45.25 (3) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

45.25 (3) (b) (intro.) An application for reimbursement of tuition and fees under par. (a) or (am) shall meet all of the following requirements:

27,1355 Section 1355 . 45.25 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

45.25 (4) (a) An individual is not eligible for reimbursement under sub. (2) for more than 120 credits of part-time study or 8 full semesters of full-time study at any institution or center within the university of Wisconsin system or, 60 credits of part-time study or 4 full semesters of full-time study at a technical college under ch. 38, or an equivalent amount of credits at an institution where he or she is receiving a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47.

27,1357 Section 1357 . 45.35 (5) (a) 1. d. of the statutes is created to read:

45.35 (5) (a) 1. d. Has served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for 2 continuous years or more or the full period of the individual's initial service obligation, whichever is less. An individual discharged for reasons of hardship or a service-connected disability or released due to a reduction in the U.S. armed forces prior to the completion of the required period of service is eligible, regardless of the actual time served.

27,1358 Section 1358 . 45.35 (5m) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

45.35 (5m) (a) (intro.) “Dependent" of a veteran as used in this section and s. ss. 45.351 and 45.356 includes only:

27,1360 Section 1360 . 45.35 (15) of the statutes is amended to read:

45.35 (15) Liberal construction intended. This section, ss. 45.351, 45.356 and 45.37 and subch. II shall be construed as liberally as the language permits in favor of applicants.

27,1361 Section 1361 . 45.35 (18) of the statutes is created to read:

45.35 (18) Loan repayments. The department shall deposit all repayments of loans and payments of interest made on loans under s. 45.351 (2), 1995 stats., s. 45.352, 1971 stats., s. 45.356, 1995 stats., or s. 45.80, 1989 stats., in the veterans trust fund.

27,1362 Section 1362 . 45.351 (1j) of the statutes is created to read:

45.351 (1j) Health care aid grants. The department may grant to any veteran or dependents such temporary health care aid as the department considers advisable to prevent want or distress. Health care aid to meet medical or hospital bills under this subsection is limited to a payment of up to $5,000 per veteran or dependent for a 12-month period beginning with the first day of care for which the person seeks reimbursement under this subsection. The department may not give prior authorization for the payment of health care aid under this subsection but may issue a certificate of entitlement stating that a veteran or dependent is eligible for a health care aid grant under this subsection if the treatment is received within a time period that the department promulgates by rule. Health care aid may be used to provide payment for the treatment of alcoholism or other drug addiction or to provide payment for health care required because of alcoholism or other drug addiction or alcohol or other drug abuse. The department may not grant health care aid under this subsection unless the aid recipient's health care provider agrees to accept, as full payment for the medical treatment for which the aid is to be granted, the amount of the grant, the amount of the recipient's health insurance or other 3rd-party payments, if any, and the amount that the department determines the aid recipient is capable of paying. The department may not grant health care aid under this subsection if the combined liquid assets of the applicant for aid, and of the veteran and veteran's dependents who are living in the same household with the applicant, are in excess of $1,000.

27,1363 Section 1363 . 45.351 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

27,1364 Section 1364 . 45.351 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

45.351 (3) Appropriations. The department may award grants and loans under this section from the appropriation in s. 20.485 (2) (vm). Nothing in this section empowers the department to incur any state debt.

27,1365 Section 1365 . 45.353 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

45.353 (2) Upon application the department shall make a payment to any state veterans organization that establishes that it, or its national organization, or both, has maintained a full-time service office at the regional office for at least 5 of the 10 years preceding the date of application. The payment shall equal 25% of all salaries and travel expenses under sub. (3) paid during the previous fiscal year by the state veterans organization to employes engaged in veterans claims service and stationed at the regional office, except that the sum paid to a state veterans organization annually shall not be less than either $2,500, or the amount of salaries and travel expenses paid by the state veterans organization to employes stationed at the regional office, whichever is less, nor more than $15,000 $20,000.

27,1366 Section 1366 . 45.356 (title) of the statutes is amended to read: