AB100: Bill Text

AB100,435,3 44.53 (2) (am) Enter into contracts with American Indian individuals, organizations and institutions and American Indian tribal governments for services furthering the development of the arts and humanities.

AB100, s. 745 Section 745. 45.16 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,435,15 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 was living in the county at the time of death, meets the definition of a "veteran" under s. 45.35 (5) 45.001 (4) 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.

AB100, s. 746 Section 746. 45.19 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,435,24 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.

AB100, s. 747 Section 747. 45.25 (1) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100,436,1 45.25 (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB100,436,2 (a) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning given in 20 USC 1001 (a).

AB100,436,4 (b) "Median household income" means the median family income for the state, as determined annually by the U.S. department of housing and urban development.

AB100,436,5 (c) "Part-time classroom study" means any of the following:

AB100,436,7 1. Enrollment in courses for which no more than 11 semester or the equivalent trimester or quarter credits will be given upon satisfactory completion.

AB100,436,8 2. Enrollment in courses during a summer semester or session.

AB100,436,11 (d) "Tuition," when referring to the University of Wisconsin System, means "academic fees," as described in s. 36.27 (1), and when referring to the technical colleges, means "program fees," as described in s. 38.24 (1m) (a) and (b).

AB100, s. 748 Section 748. 45.25 (1g) of the statutes is repealed.

AB100, s. 749 Section 749. 45.25 (1m) of the statutes is renumbered 45.25 (1m) (a) and amended to read:

AB100,436,20 45.25 (1m) (a) The department shall administer a tuition reimbursement program for eligible veterans enrolling as undergraduates in any institution of higher education, as defined in s. 45.396 (1) (a), in this state, enrolling in a school that is approved under s. 45.35 (9m), enrolling in a proprietary school that is approved under s. 45.54, 38.50, enrolling in a public or private high school, or receiving a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47.

AB100, s. 750 Section 750. 45.25 (2) (intro.) (except 45.25 (2) (title)) of the statutes is renumbered 45.25 (2) (a) (intro.).

AB100, s. 751 Section 751. 45.25 (2) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 45.25 (2) (a) 1. and amended to read:

AB100,437,2 45.25 (2) (a) 1. The annual income of the veteran and his or her spouse does not exceed the amount under s. 45.396 (7) (a) median household income for the state.

AB100, s. 752 Section 752. 45.25 (2) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 45.25 (2) (a) 2. and amended to read:

AB100,437,8 45.25 (2) (a) 2. The veteran applies for the tuition reimbursement program for courses begun within 10 years after separation from the service. This subdivision does not apply to a veteran who is applying for reimbursement for up to 60 credits of part-time classroom study courses.

AB100, s. 753 Section 753. 45.25 (2) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100,437,11 45.25 (2) (cm) A veteran is not eligible under this program if the veteran has an undergraduate degree from any institution of higher education.

AB100, s. 754 Section 754. 45.25 (2) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 45.25 (2) (a) 3.

AB100, s. 755 Section 755. 45.25 (2) (e) of the statutes is repealed.

AB100, s. 756 Section 756. 45.25 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,438,4 45.25 (3) (a) Except as provided in par. (am), a A veteran who meets the eligibility requirements under sub. (2), may be reimbursed upon satisfactory completion of a full-time an undergraduate semester in any institution of higher education, as defined in s. 45.396 (1) (a), in this state, or upon satisfactory completion of a course at any school that is approved under s. 45.35 (9m), any proprietary school that is approved under s. 45.54, 38.50, any public or private high school, or any institution from which the veteran receives a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47, may be reimbursed an amount. Except as provided in sub. (5), the amount of reimbursement may not to exceed the total cost of the veteran's tuition minus any grants or scholarships that the veteran receives specifically for the payment of the tuition, or, if the tuition is for an undergraduate semester in any institution of higher education, the standard cost of tuition for a state resident for an equivalent undergraduate semester at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, whichever is less. Reimbursement is available only for tuition that is part of a curriculum that is relevant to a degree in a particular course of study at the institution.

AB100, s. 757 Section 757. 45.25 (3) (am) of the statutes is repealed.

AB100, s. 758 Section 758. 45.25 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,438,10 45.25 (3) (b) 1. Be completed and received by the department no later than 60 days after the completion of the semester or course. The department may accept an application received more than 60 days after the completion of the semester or course if the applicant shows good cause for the delayed receipt.

AB100, s. 759 Section 759. 45.25 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,438,20 45.25 (3) (c) Reimbursement provided under this section shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (tf). If the amount of funds applied for exceeds the amount available under s. 20.485 (2) (tf), the department may reduce the reimbursement percentage, except to disabled veterans who are eligible for 100 percent of tuition and fees under sub. (5), or deny applications for reimbursement that would otherwise qualify under this section. In those cases, the department shall determine the reimbursement percentage, except to disabled veterans who are eligible for 100 percent of tuition and fees under sub. (5), and eligibility on the basis of the dates on which applications for reimbursement were received.

AB100, s. 760 Section 760. 45.25 (3) (d) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,438,25 45.25 (3) (d) (intro.) Reimbursement of tuition and fees for a course may be provided at an institution or school under par. (a) other than the one from which the veteran is receiving his or her degree or certificate of graduation or course completion if all of the following apply:

AB100, s. 761 Section 761. 45.25 (4) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 45.25 (4) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB100,439,11 45.25 (4) (a) (intro.) A veteran is not eligible veteran's eligibility for reimbursement under sub. (2) for more than 120 credits or 8 full semesters of full-time study at any institution of higher education, as defined in s. 45.396 (1) (a), in this state, 60 credits or 4 full semesters of full-time study at any institution of higher education, as defined in s. 45.396 (1) (a), in this state that offers a degree upon completion of 60 credits, or an equivalent amount of credits at a school that is approved under s. 45.35 (9m), at a proprietary school that is approved under s. 45.54, 38.50, at a public or private high school, or at an institution where he or she is receiving a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47. is limited to the following:

AB100, s. 762 Section 762. 45.25 (4) (a) 1. to 3. of the statutes are created to read:

AB100,439,16 45.25 (4) (a) 1. If the veteran served on active duty, except service on active duty for training purposes, for 90 to 180 days, the veteran may be reimbursed for a maximum of 30 credits or 2 semesters, or an equivalent amount of credits or semesters if at a school other than an institution of higher education.

AB100,439,20 2. If the veteran served on active duty, except service on active duty for training purposes, for 181 to 730 days, the veteran may be reimbursed for a maximum of 60 credits or 4 semesters, or an equivalent amount of credits or semesters if at a school other than an institution of higher education.

AB100,439,24 3. If the veteran served on active duty, except service on active duty for training purposes, for more than 730 days, the veteran may be reimbursed for a maximum of 120 credits or 8 semesters, or an equivalent amount of credits or semesters if at a school other than an institution of higher education.

AB100, s. 763 Section 763. 45.25 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,440,3 45.25 (4) (c) A veteran may not receive reimbursement under sub. (2) for any semester in which he or she is eligible for or received a grant under s. 21.49 or 45.396 under 10 USC 2007.

AB100, s. 764 Section 764. 45.348 (title) and (1) (intro.) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB100,440,9 45.348 (title) Dependent and child care defined for ss. 45.35, 45.351, and 45.356. (1) (intro.) In this section and ss. 45.35, 45.351, and 45.356 unless otherwise modified, "child" means any natural child, any legally adopted child, any stepchild or child if a member of the veteran's household, or any nonmarital child if the veteran acknowledges paternity or paternity has been otherwise established.

AB100, s. 765 Section 765. 45.348 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,440,12 45.348 (2) (a) (intro.) In ss. s. 45.35 and 45.351, "dependent" includes any of the following:

AB100, s. 766 Section 766. 45.35 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,440,18 45.35 (4) (a) The secretary shall appoint under the classified service such persons as are necessary to carry out the policy of the board and for the proper conduct of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. All persons appointed by the department shall, if possible, be veterans as defined in sub. (5) 45.001 (4) and preference shall be given to disabled veterans.

AB100, s. 767 Section 767. 45.35 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

AB100, s. 768 Section 768. 45.35 (8) (b) 4. of the statutes is repealed.

AB100, s. 769 Section 769. 45.35 (14) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,441,5 45.35 (14) (h) To provide grants to the governing bodies of federally recognized American Indian tribes and bands from the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (vz) (km) if that governing body enters into an agreement with the department regarding the creation, goals and objectives of a tribal veterans' service officer, appoints a veteran to act as a tribal veterans' service officer and gives that veteran duties similar to the duties described in s. 45.43 (5), except that the veteran shall report to the governing body of the tribe or band. The department may make annual grants of up to $2,500 $10,000 under this paragraph and shall promulgate rules to implement this paragraph.

AB100, s. 770 Section 770. 45.35 (17) (c) 1m. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,441,10 45.35 (17) (c) 1m. (intro.) The department shall declare immediately due and payable any loan made after July 29, 1979 under a program administered by the department under s. 45.351 or subch. II, if it finds that the loan was granted to an ineligible person due to any of the following circumstances:

AB100, s. 771 Section 771. 45.35 (17) (c) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,441,13 45.35 (17) (c) 2. (intro.) Loan application forms processed by the department for programs administered under s. 45.351 or subch. II shall:

AB100, s. 772 Section 772. 45.35 (17) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,441,17 45.35 (17) (c) 3. The department shall incorporate the payment acceleration requirements of subd. 1m. in all loan documents for programs administered by the department under s. 45.351 or subch. II.

AB100, s. 773 Section 773. 45.351 of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB100,442,2 45.351 Assistance to needy veterans. (1) Subsistence aid. (a) The department may provide subsistence payments to a veteran on a month-to-month basis or for a 3-month period. The department may pay subsistence aid for a 3-month period if the veteran will be incapacitated for more than 3 months and if earned or unearned income or aid from sources other than those listed in the application will not be available in the 3-month period. The department may grant subsistence aid under this subsection to a veteran whose incapacitation is the result of abuse of alcohol or other drugs only if the veteran is participating in an alcohol and other drug abuse treatment program that is approved by the department.

AB100,442,4 (b) The maximum amount that any veteran may receive under this subsection per occurrence during a consecutive 12-month period may not exceed $2,000.

AB100,442,7 (2) Health care. (a) The department may provide health care aid to a veteran for dental care, including dentures; vision care, including eyeglass frames and lenses; and hearing care, including hearing aids.

AB100,442,10 (b) The maximum amount that may be paid under this subsection for any consecutive 12-month period may not exceed $2,500 for dental care, $500 for vision care, and $1,500 per ear for hearing care.

AB100,442,17 (c) The department may not provide health care aid under this subsection unless the aid recipient's health care provider agrees to accept, as full payment for the health care provided, the amount of the payment, the amount of the recipient's health insurance or other 3rd-party payments, if any, and the amount that the department determines the veteran is capable of paying. The department may not pay health care aid under this subsection if the liquid assets of the veteran are in excess of $1,000.

AB100,442,19 (3) Limitations. The total cumulative amount that any veteran may receive under this section may not exceed $5,000.

AB100,442,22 (4) Appropriations. The department may make payments under this section from the appropriation in s. 20.485 (2) (vm). Nothing in this section empowers the department to incur any state debt.

AB100,443,5 (5) Joint finance supplemental funding. The department may submit a request to the joint committee on finance for supplemental funds from the veterans trust fund to be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.485 (2) (vm) to provide payments under this section. The joint committee on finance may, from the appropriation under s. 20.865 (4) (u), supplement the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (vm) in an amount equal to the amount that the department expects to expend under this section. Notwithstanding s. 13.101 (3) (a), the committee is not required to find that an emergency exists.

AB100, s. 774 Section 774. 45.356 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,443,14 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.

AB100, s. 775 Section 775. 45.356 (13) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100,443,19 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.

AB100, s. 776 Section 776. 45.37 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,444,3 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.

AB100, s. 777 Section 777. 45.37 (4) (c) 1m. c. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,444,6 45.37 (4) (c) 1m. c. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans shall be given 3rd priority for admission to the home.

AB100, s. 778 Section 778. 45.37 (4) (c) 1m. d. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,444,9 45.37 (4) (c) 1m. d. Parents of eligible veterans shall be given 4th priority for admission to the home.

AB100, s. 779 Section 779. 45.37 (10) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,444,17 45.37 (10) (c) The Except where a sale occurs under s. 16.848, the department may manage, sell, lease or transfer property descending to the state pursuant to this section or conveyed to it by members, defend and prosecute all actions concerning it, pay all just claims against it, and do all other things necessary for the protection, preservation and management of such property. All expenditures necessary for the execution of functions under this paragraph or sub. (11) shall be made from the appropriation in s. 20.485 (1) (h).

AB100, s. 780 Section 780. 45.38 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,444,24 45.38 (2) (a) 1. Without limitation by reason of any other provisions of the statutes except s. 16.848, the power to sell and to convey title in fee simple to a nonprofit corporation any land and any existing buildings thereon owned by, or owned by the state and held for, the department or of any of the institutions under the jurisdiction of the department for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as in the judgment of the board are in the public interest.

AB100, s. 781 Section 781. 45.396 (title) of the statutes is repealed.

AB100, s. 782 Section 782. 45.396 (1) of the statutes is repealed.

AB100, s. 783 Section 783. 45.396 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

AB100, s. 784 Section 784. 45.396 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 45.25 (1m) (b), and 45.25 (1m) (b) (intro.) and 1., as renumbered, are amended to read:

AB100,445,10 45.25 (1m) (b) (intro.) A veteran who is a resident of this state and otherwise qualified to receive benefits under this section may receive the benefits under this section upon the completion of any correspondence courses or part-time classroom study from an institution of higher education located outside this state, from a school that is approved under s. 45.35 (9m), or from a proprietary school that is approved under s. 45.54 38.50, if any of the following applies: