AB100: Bill Text Engrossed

AB100-engrossed, s. 1353g Section 1353g. 45.25 (3) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,679,10 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.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1353m Section 1353m. 45.25 (3) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,679,13 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:

AB100-engrossed, s. 1355 Section 1355. 45.25 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,679,20 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.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1357 Section 1357. 45.35 (5) (a) 1. d. of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,680,2 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.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1358 Section 1358. 45.35 (5m) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,680,5 45.35 (5m) (a) (intro.) "Dependent" of a veteran as used in this section and s. ss. 45.351 and 45.356 includes only:

AB100-engrossed, s. 1360 Section 1360. 45.35 (15) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,680,9 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.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1361 Section 1361. 45.35 (18) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,680,14 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.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1362 Section 1362. 45.351 (1j) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,681,11 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.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1363 Section 1363. 45.351 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1364 Section 1364. 45.351 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,681,16 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.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1365 Section 1365. 45.353 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,682,2 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.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1366 Section 1366. 45.356 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,682,4 45.356 (title) Veterans trust fund stabilization personal loans.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1367 Section 1367. 45.356 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,682,7 45.356 (1m) (b) "Veteran" has the meaning given in s. 45.71 (16) (a) 45.35 (5) (a).

AB100-engrossed, s. 1368 Section 1368. 45.356 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,682,16 45.356 (2) The department may lend a veteran, a veteran's unremarried spouse or a deceased veteran's child who meets the requirements of s. 45.35 (5m) (a) 2. not more than $15,000 or a lesser amount established by the department by rule for the purchase of a mobile home, business or business property, the repair of or addition to his or her home or business property, the construction of a garage, the education of the veteran or his or her spouse or children, the payment of medical or funeral expenses or the consolidation of debt. The department may prescribe loan conditions, but the term of the loan may not exceed 10 years.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1369 Section 1369. 45.356 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,682,23 45.356 (3) The department may lend not more than $15,000 or a lesser amount established by the department by rule to a veteran's remarried surviving spouse, whether remarried or not, or to the parent of a deceased veteran's children child for the education of the minor or dependent children of the veteran if the surviving spouse or parent is a resident of and living in this state on the date of application a child who meets the requirements of s. 45.35 (5m) (a) 2.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1370 Section 1370. 45.356 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,683,2 45.356 (3m) To be eligible for a loan under this section, an applicant must be a resident of and living in this state on the date of the application.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1371 Section 1371. 45.356 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,683,12 45.356 (4) The department shall administer this program as a fiduciary for the purpose of maximizing the asset and income base of the veterans trust fund. The department may execute necessary instruments, collect interest and principal, compromise indebtedness, sue and be sued, post bonds and write off indebtedness that it considers uncollectible. If a loan under this subsection section is secured by a real estate mortgage, the department may exercise the rights of owners and mortgagees generally and the rights and powers set forth in s. 45.72. The department shall pay all interest and principal repaid on the loan into the veterans trust fund.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1372 Section 1372. 45.356 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,683,18 45.356 (8) No person may receive a loan under this section in an amount that, when added to the balance outstanding on the person's existing loans under s. 45.351 (2), 1995 stats., and s. 45.356, 1995 stats., would result in a total indebtedness to the department of more than $15,000, or a lesser amount as established by the department by rule.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1373 Section 1373. 45.356 (9) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,683,22 45.356 (9) (a) The department may borrow from the veterans mortgage loan repayment fund under s. 45.79 (7) (a) and shall pledge loans made under this section as collateral for the borrowing.

AB100-engrossed,683,24 (b) The department may enter into transactions with the state investment board to obtain money to make loans under this section.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1373m Section 1373m. 45.356 (10) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,684,16 45.356 (10) If a veteran who has obtained a loan under this section before, on or after the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date], dies after the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date], and before completing repayment of the loan, the veteran's obligation to complete repayment of the loan is limited to the extent of the amount of funds in the veteran's estate. The department shall issue a satisfaction of any security instruments executed in connection with the loan and write off the balance of the principal, interest and costs owing on the loan on the date that the department receives notice that the veteran has died without leaving any estate or upon receipt of the total amount of money in the veteran's estate not exceeding the balance remaining on the loan. The department, upon receipt of an application for refund, shall refund to the payer or heirs, executor or administrator, from the appropriation in s. 20.485 (2) (yn), any payments made on the loan after the date that the department receives the notice that the veteran has died without leaving any estate or after the date that the department receives the total amount of money, not exceeding the balance remaining on the loan, in the veteran's estate.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1374 Section 1374. 45.357 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,684,18 45.357 (title) Veterans rehabilitation assistance program.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1375 Section 1375. 45.357 of the statutes is renumbered 45.357 (1) and amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,685,5 45.357 (1) The department of veterans affairs shall administer a rehabilitation program to provide assistance to persons who served in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces and who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The department shall provide assistance to persons whose need for services is based upon homelessness, incarceration or other circumstances designated by the department by rule. The department shall designate the assistance available under this section, which may include assistance in receiving medical care, dental care, education, employment and transitional housing. The department may provide grants to facilitate the provision of services under this section.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1376 Section 1376. 45.357 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,685,10 45.357 (2) The department may charge fees for transitional housing and for such other assistance that is provided under this section as the department designates. The department shall promulgate rules establishing the fee schedule and the manner of implementation of that schedule.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1376d Section 1376d. 45.358 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,685,15 45.358 (3) (a) A veteran who died while on active duty or who was discharged or released from active duty in the U.S. armed forces under honorable conditions and who was a resident of this state at the time of his or her entry or reentry into active service and his or her dependent children and unremarried surviving spouse.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1376f Section 1376f. 45.358 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,685,20 45.358 (3) (b) A veteran who was discharged or released from active duty in the U.S. armed forces under honorable conditions and who was a resident of this state at the time of his or her death and his or her dependent children and unremarried surviving spouse.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1376j Section 1376j. 45.358 (3) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,686,6 45.358 (3) (f) A person who was a resident of this state at the time of his or her entry or reentry into service in the Wisconsin army national guard or air national guard or a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces or at the time of his or her death and who has 20 or more years of creditable military service for retirement pay as a member of the Wisconsin army national guard or air national guard or a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces or who would have been entitled to that retirement pay except that the person was under 60 years of age at the time of his or her death, and the person's spouse, unremarried surviving spouse and dependent children who are residents of this state at the time of the spouse's, unremarried surviving spouse's or dependent children's death.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1377 Section 1377. 45.37 (1a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,686,23 45.37 (1a) Definition of veteran. Except as provided in sub. (15) (a) and (b), in this section "veteran" has the meaning given in s. 45.35 (5) (a) or means any person who served on active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces who was entitled 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 or any person who served for at least one day during a war period, as defined in s. 45.35 (5) (e) or under section 1 of executive order 10957, dated August 10, 1961, and who was officially reported missing in action or killed in action or who died in service, or who was discharged under honorable conditions after 90 days or more of active service, or if having served less than 90 days was honorably discharged for a service-connected disability or for a disability subsequently adjudicated to have been service connected, or who died as a result of service-connected disability.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1378 Section 1378. 45.37 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1379 Section 1379. 45.37 (3) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1380 Section 1380. 45.396 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,687,15 45.396 (2) Any veteran upon the completion of any correspondence course or part-time classroom study from an institution of higher education located in this state or from any public or private high school may be reimbursed in whole or in part for the cost of the course, including necessary textbooks, by the department upon presentation to the department of a certificate from the school indicating that the veteran has completed the course and stating the cost of the course and necessary textbooks and upon application for reimbursement completed by the veteran and received by the department no later than 60 days after the termination of the course for which the application for reimbursement is made. The department shall accept and process an application received more than 60 days after the termination of the course if the applicant shows good cause for the delayed receipt. The department may not require that an application be received sooner than 60 days after a course is completed. Benefits granted under this section shall be paid out of the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (vm) (th).

AB100-engrossed, s. 1380m Section 1380m. 45.396 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,687,21 45.396 (3) (intro.)  A veteran who is a resident of this state and otherwise qualified to receive benefits under this section may receive the benefits under sub. (2) this section upon the completion of any correspondence courses or part-time classroom study from an institution of higher education located outside this state, if any of the following applies:

AB100-engrossed, s. 1381 Section 1381. 45.396 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,688,4 45.396 (4) Enrolled part-time classroom study or direct correspondence courses from a qualified educational institution may be authorized and the veteran reimbursed in whole or in part by the department when such courses are related to one's occupational, professional or educational employment objectives, and to the extent that payment or reimbursement is not available from any other sources, or, in cases where reimbursement is not specifically for fees and textbooks tuition, to the extent that such reimbursement is insufficient to cover all educational costs.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1382 Section 1382. 45.396 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,688,11 45.396 (5) The Except as provided in sub. (9), the reimbursement may not exceed 50% of the cost of tuition, and fees and textbooks and shall also be limited to a maximum of $300 per course and $1,100 per fiscal year 50% of the standard cost for a state resident for tuition and fees for an equivalent undergraduate course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison per course and may not be provided to an individual more than 4 times during any consecutive 12-month period.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1383 Section 1383. 45.396 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,688,15 45.396 (8) The department may not make a grant under this section unless the department determines that a course for which an application is made is related to the applicant's occupational, professional or employment objectives.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1383g Section 1383g. 45.396 (9) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,688,23 45.396 (9) A disabled veteran who meets the requirements under this section and whose disability is rated at 30% or more under 38 USC 1114 or 1134 may be reimbursed for up to 100% of the cost of tuition and fees, but that reimbursement is limited to 100% of the standard cost for a state resident for tuition and fees for an equivalent undergraduate course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison per course and may not be provided to an individual more than 4 times during any consecutive 12-month period.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1383m Section 1383m. 45.396 (10) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,689,4 45.396 (10) Beginning July 1, 1998, the department may provide reimbursement under this section from the appropriation account under s. 20.485 (2) (th) for the fiscal year in which the course was completed or in which the academic term during which the course was taken ended, whichever is earlier.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1383p Section 1383p. 45.397 (2) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 3, is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,689,13 45.397 (2) (a) The veteran is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an institution of higher education, as defined in s. 39.32 (1) (a), in a training course in a technical college in the state or in a proprietary school approved by the educational approval board under s. 39.51 in the state or is engaged in a structured on-the-job training program certified by the department of workforce development or the U.S. department of veterans affairs that meets program requirements promulgated by the department by rule.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1383t Section 1383t. 45.397 (2) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,689,17 45.397 (2) (cm) The veteran requesting a grant has not received reimbursement under s. 45.25 or 45.396 for courses completed during the same semester for which a grant would be received under this section.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1384 Section 1384. 45.42 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,690,7 45.42 (1) The department may compile a record of the burial places within the state of persons who served in the U.S. armed forces in time of war as defined in s. 45.35 (5) (e) or in Bosnia, Grenada, Lebanon, Panama, Somalia or a Middle East crisis under s. 45.34, or under section 1 of executive order 10957, dated August 10, 1961, or whose service entitled them 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 meet the definition of a "veteran" under s. 45.35 (5) (a). The record, so far as practicable, may indicate the name of each person; the service in which engaged; the appropriate designation of armed forces unit; the rank and period of service; the name and location of the cemetery or other place in which the body is interred; the location of the grave in the cemetery or other place; and the character of headstone or other marker, if any, at the grave.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1385 Section 1385. 45.42 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,690,21 45.42 (2) The department may have blank forms prepared whereby the information required for the record may be transmitted to it and may distribute the forms to county veterans' service officers. The county veterans' service officer within whose county and cemetery or burial place is located in which are interred the bodies of persons who served in the U.S. armed forces in time of war as defined in s. 45.35 (5) (e) or in Bosnia, Grenada, Lebanon, Panama, Somalia or a Middle East crisis under s. 45.34 or under section 1 of executive order 10957, dated August 10, 1961, or whose service entitled them 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 meet the definition of a "veteran" under s. 45.35 (5) (a) shall submit the facts required for such record to the department on the forms provided by it, if so requested by the department.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1385m Section 1385m. 45.43 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,691,11 45.43 (7) (a) Each county may annually apply to the department for a grant for the improvement of service to former military personnel of the county through the county veterans' service office. A county may not allocate any portion of a grant for use by another county department nor may the county reduce funding to a county veterans' service office based upon receipt of a grant. The county veterans' service officer of any county applying for the grant shall enter into an agreement with the department. The agreement shall state the goals and objectives to be attained by the county veterans' service office during the remainder of the year covered by the grant application. The department shall prepare the basic form of this agreement in consultation with the county veterans' service officers association and provide a copy and an explanation of that agreement to each county veterans' service officer. The department shall develop reasonable budget and operating standards to assure improved services, but full operating control of the county office shall be left to each county.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1386 Section 1386. 45.43 (7) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,692,3 45.43 (7) (b) The department shall award a grant not exceeding $5,000 annually to a county that meets the standards developed under this subsection and employs a county veterans' service officer who, if chosen after August 9, 1989, is chosen from a list of candidates who have taken a civil service examination for the position of county veterans' service officer developed and administered by the division of merit recruitment and selection in the department of employment relations, or is appointed under a civil service competitive examination procedure under ch. 63 or s. 59.52 (8). An eligible county initially applying for a grant after August 9, 1989, shall be eligible for an initial grant for the first year not exceeding $1,000, an annual grant for the next year not exceeding $3,000 and any subsequent annual grant not exceeding $5,000 The grant shall be $8,500 for a county with a population of under 20,000, $10,000 for a county with a population of 20,000 to 45,499, $11,500 for a county with a population of 45,500 to 74,999 and $13,000 for a county with a population of 75,000 or more. The department of veterans affairs shall use the most recent Wisconsin official population estimates prepared by the demographic services center when making grants under this paragraph.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1387 Section 1387. 45.52 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,692,12 45.52 Physical disability does not disqualify for public employment. A veteran, as defined under s. 45.37 (1a) 45.35 (5) (a), who has suffered a physical disability as a direct result of military or naval service shall not on that account be barred from employment in any public position or employment whether under state, county or municipal civil service or otherwise, if the licensed physician making a physical examination of the veteran for the public employer certifies that the applicant's disability will not materially handicap the veteran in the performance of the duties of the position.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1388 Section 1388. 45.71 (9) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100-engrossed,692,15 45.71 (9) (b) Unless temporary in nature and except as provided under s. 45.79 (2m) or 45.85, pensions and disability compensation shall be considered income.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1389 Section 1389. 45.71 (16) (a) 1m. e. of the statutes is created to read:

AB100-engrossed,692,22 45.71 (16) (a) 1m. e. 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.

AB100-engrossed, s. 1390 Section 1390. 45.74 (1) of the statutes is repealed.