SECTION 1. 20.485 (2) (kg) of the statutes is created to read:
20.485 (2) (kg) American Indian services coordinator. The amounts in the schedule for an American Indian veterans benefits services coordinator position. All moneys transferred from the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (8) (hm) 13g. shall be credited to this appropriation account. Notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (a), the unencumbered balance on June 30 of each year shall revert to the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (8) (hm).
****NOTE: This SECTION involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
SECTION 2. 20.485 (2) (km) of the statutes is created to read:
20.485 (2) (km) American Indian grants. The amounts in the schedule for grants to American Indian tribes and bands under s. 45.35 (14) (h). All moneys transferred from the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (8) (hm) 13m. shall be credited to this appropriation account. Notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (a), the unencumbered balance on June 30 of each year shall revert to the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (8) (hm).
****NOTE: This SECTION involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
SECTION 3. 20.485 (2) (vz) of the statutes is repealed.
****NOTE: This SECTION involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
SECTION 4. 20.505 (8) (hm) 13g. of the statutes is created to read:
20.505 (8) (hm) 13g. The amount transferred to s. 20.485 (2) (kg) shall be the amount in the schedule under s. 20.485 (2) (kg).
****NOTE: This SECTION involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
SECTION 5. 20.505 (8) (hm) 13m. of the statutes is created to read:
20.505
(8) (hm) 13m. The amount transferred to s. 20.485 (2) (km) shall be the amount in the schedule under s. 20.485 (2) (km).
****NOTE: This SECTION involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
(End)
LRB-0324LRB-0324/3
RPN:jld&kjf:rs
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Caucutt, BB0105 - Personal loan program
For 2005-07 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2005 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
veterans and military affairs
Under current law, DVA may lend a veteran, a veteran's unremarried surviving spouse, or a deceased veteran's child up to $25,000. The use of the loan is not restricted, but the loan must be repaid within ten years. If the loan exceeds $5,000, the loan must secured by a mortgage on real estate located in this state.
Under the bill, the term of the loan may not exceed ten years, unless adjusted by the department. The bill allows DVA to adjust the maximum terms of the loans based upon financial market conditions, funds available, needs of the trust fund, and other relevant factors.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 45.356 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.356 (2) The department may lend a veteran, a veteran's unremarried surviving spouse, or a deceased veteran's child not more than $25,000 or a lesser amount established by the department under sub. (10). The department may prescribe loan conditions, but the term of the loan may not exceed 10 years, or a shorter term established by the department under sub. (13). The department shall ensure that the proceeds of any loan made under this section shall first be applied to pay any delinquent child support or maintenance payments and then to pay any past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses.
SECTION 2. 45.356 (13) of the statutes is created to read:
45.356 (13) Subject to the limit established in sub. (2), the department may periodically adjust the maximum term limits for loans based upon financial market conditions, funds available, needs of the veterans trust fund, or other factors that the department considers relevant.
(End)
LRB-0325LRB-0325/1
RPN:lmk&kjf:rs
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Olsen-Hasek, BB0106 - Eliminate funeral honors stipend
For 2005-07 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2005 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
veterans and military affairs
Under current law, DVA coordinates the provision of military honors funerals to deceased veterans by members of local veterans organizations and the national guard. As part of that program, DVA reimburses the local veterans organization an amount not to exceed $50 for its costs in providing the military honors funeral.
This bill repeals the reimbursement of the costs of the military honors funeral.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 20.485 (2) (q) of the statutes is repealed.
****NOTE: This SECTION involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
SECTION 2. 45.19 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.19 (1) The department shall administer a program to coordinate the provision of military honors funerals to deceased veterans by local units of member organizations of the council on veterans programs and by members of the Wisconsin national guard activated under s. 21.11 (3). From the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (q), the department shall reimburse a local unit of a member organization of the council on veterans programs for the costs of providing a military honors funeral to a deceased veteran. The reimbursement may not exceed $50 for each military honors funeral.
(End)
LRB-0326LRB-0326/1
RPN:jld:rs
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Olsen-Hasek, BB0108 - Southeastern facility admissions
For 2005-07 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2005 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Veterans and military affairs
Current law prohibits admission of surviving spouses or parents of veterans to the southeastern facility for veterans at Union Grove, but permits admission of those persons to the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King if the Board of Veterans Affairs (board) determines that the home's overall occupancy level is below an optimal level, as determined by the board.
This bill allows surviving spouses or parents of veterans to be admitted to the southeastern facility for veterans at Union Grove if the board determines that the facility's overall occupancy level is below an optimal level, as determined by the board, the same standard as for the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 45.37 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
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 unless the facility's overall occupancy level is below an optimal level as determined by the board. 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.
SECTION 2. 45.37 (4) (c) 1m. c. of the statutes is amended to read:
45.37 (4) (c) 1m. c. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans shall be given 3rd priority for admission to the home.
SECTION 3. 45.37 (4) (c) 1m. d. of the statutes is amended to read:
45.37 (4) (c) 1m. d. Parents of eligible veterans shall be given 4th priority for admission to the home.
(End)
LRB-0327LRB-0327/1
RPN:jld:rs
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Olsen-Hasek, BB0109 - Financial help for indigent residents at vets facility at Union Grove
For 2005-07 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2005 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
veterans and military affairs
Currently, DVA has the authority to provide assistance to veterans whose need for assistance is based on homelessness, incarceration, or other circumstances determined by DVA. DVA designates the assistance that is available, which may include medical care, dental care, education, employment, or transitional housing.
This bill creates an appropriation for the payment of assistance to these veterans to enable them to reside at the southeastern facility at Union Grove operated by DVA.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 20.485 (1) (a) of the statutes is created to read:
20.485 (1) (a) Assistance to indigent residents. The amounts in the schedule for the payment of assistance to indigent veterans under s. 45.357 to enable the veterans to reside at the southeastern facility at Union Grove operated by the department of veteran affairs.
****NOTE: This SECTION involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
(End)
LRB-0328LRB-0328/5
RPN:jld/wlj/lmk:rs
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Caucutt, BB0110 - Education grant program
For 2005-07 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2005 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
veterans and military affairs
Under current law, DVA provides reimbursement to veterans for the costs associated with enrollment and completion of correspondence courses and class room study at proprietary schools, schools approved for the training of veterans, and institutions of higher education. Under the current tuition reimbursement program, a veteran is eligible for reimbursement if the person is enrolled as an undergraduate for at least 12 credits during a semester and the reimbursement is equal to the tuition or the standard cost of tuition for a state resident at the UW-Madison, whichever is less, minus any grants or scholarships. Eligibility for the tuition reimbursement program is limited to courses begun within ten years after leaving active service, and the annual income of the veteran and the spouse may not exceed $50,000, plus $1,000 for each dependent in excess of two dependents. Reimbursement is limited to 120 credits or eight full semesters at an institution of higher education or 60 credits or four semesters if the institution provides a degree after the completion of 60 credits.
Under the part-time classroom study program, a student may be reimbursed for the tuition paid for taking less than 12 credits, if an undergraduate, or less than nine credits, if a graduate student, for attending a summer session or for taking a correspondence class. The reimbursement amount and income eligibility are the same as for the full-time tuition reimbursement program. Veterans with a master's degree are not eligible for reimbursement under this program.
This bill combines these two programs and makes the following changes in the new, combined program:
1. Eligibility is limited to a veteran whose annual income combined with his or her spouse's income is less than the median household income for the state.
2. Veterans with undergraduate degrees are not eligible.
3. If funds are insufficient to provide for all of the veterans who apply for reimbursement, the bill allows DVA to reduce the reimbursement percentage. This provision does not apply to reimbursement for courses taken by veterans whose disability is rated at 30 percent or more by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.
4. The credits that are reimbursable are limited to 30 credits if the veteran served on active duty for 90 to 180 days, 60 credits if the veteran served for 181 days to 730 days, and 120 credits if the veteran served more than 730 days.
5. The limit on reimbursement to courses taken within ten years after leaving service does not apply to up to 60 credits of part-time classroom study courses.
