AB210: Bill Text

AB210,59,13 (2) Separation documents. Separation documents and copies of separation documents evidencing service in the armed forces of the U.S. are confidential and privileged. Examination of these records in the possession of the department or service office is limited to authorized employees of the department or service office and information entered in these records may be disclosed only to veterans and their duly authorized representatives or to interested governmental agencies for the purpose of assisting veterans and their dependents to obtain the rights and benefits to which they may be entitled.

AB210,59,19 (3) U.S. department of veterans affairs records. Records and papers in the possession of the department or service office that are released to the department or service office by the U.S. department of veterans affairs or that contain information provided by the U.S. department of veterans affairs are confidential. Release of information from these records or papers may be made only under regulations of the U.S. department of veterans affairs.

AB210,59,25 (4) Investigation. All reports of investigation made by employees of the department or at the direction of the department for official departmental purposes are only for the use of the secretary and staff. Materials and information that disclose the investigative techniques of the department or the identity of confidential informants and material received in confidence by representatives of the department may not be released.

AB210,60,3 (5) Vital records. The service office may obtain a copy of a vital record under s. 69.30 (2) and may transmit the copy to the department or to the U.S. department of veterans affairs to assist a veteran or his or her dependent in obtaining a benefit.

AB210,60,9 (6) Disclosure of monetary benefits. The department shall disclose, to any person who requests, the amount of any payment, grant, or loan made by the department to any applicant. A person seeking this information shall be required to sign a statement setting forth the person's name and address and the reason for making the request and certifying that the person will not use the information obtained for commercial or political purposes.

AB210,60,16 (7) Disclosure of loan status information. The department may disclose to a consumer reporting agency, as defined in 15 USC 1681a (f), the current repayment status of, the balances due on, and other relevant information pertaining to department loans that is readily accessible on any loans on which balances are due and owing the department. The department may charge consumer reporting agencies an amount sufficient to cover all the costs of preparation and delivery of the information.

AB210,61,4 (8) Disclosure of other information. Except as provided in subs. (2) to (6), all files, records, reports, papers, and documents pertaining to applications for benefits from the department, and information contained in them, may be released by the department or service office only under rules of the department. The rules shall provide for the furnishing of information required under sub. (7) and for official purposes by any agency of the U.S. government, by any agency of this state, by any law enforcement, social services, or human services agency of any Wisconsin county, or by members of the state senate and assembly. The rules shall otherwise provide for release of personal information pertaining to or contained in any application for benefits, whether pending or adjudicated, only when authorized in writing by the applicants or when necessary to assist applicants in securing veterans benefits that the applicants may be entitled to or when necessary for the efficient management of loans made by the department.

AB210,61,17 45.05 Registration of certificate of discharge. Every person who has served in the U.S. armed forces at any time, and who has been honorably discharged or given a certificate of service or relieved from active service may record with the register of deeds of any county, in a suitable book provided by the county for that purpose, a certificate of discharge or release. The certificate shall be accessible only to the discharged person or that person's dependents or duly authorized representative, as defined in s. 45.04 (1) (a), the county veterans service officer, the department, or any person with written authorization from the discharged person or that discharged person's dependents. The register of deeds may not charge for recording, except that in counties where the register of deeds is under the fee system and not paid a fixed salary, the county shall pay the fee specified in s. 59.43 (2) (ag). The record of any certificate of discharge or release made prior to July 6, 1919, is legalized.

AB210,62,2 45.06 Security. (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to receive or accept as a security or to withhold from a veteran or a person who was honorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces any discharge paper, citation, warrant, medal, badge, or evidence upon which the veteran is entitled to certain rights, as a veteran under the laws of the United States or of this state, and any transfer of the item during the life of the veteran upon a consideration or otherwise shall be null and void, and the refusal or willful neglect of any person to return or deliver upon demand the discharge paper, citation, warrant, medal, badge, or evidence is punishable as provided in sub. (2).

AB210,62,4 (2) Any person who violates this section shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.

AB210,62,13 45.07 Wisconsin Veterans Museum. (1) The department of administration shall provide suitable space for the purpose of a memorial hall, designated as the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, dedicated to the veterans of Wisconsin and to the men and women of Wisconsin who served in the armed forces of the United States during the civil war of 1861 to 1865 and during any subsequent period. The department of veterans affairs shall operate the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. The mission of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum is to acknowledge, commemorate, and affirm the role of Wisconsin veterans in the United States of America's military past by means of instructive exhibits and other educational programs.

AB210,62,17 (2) The battle flags of Wisconsin units serving in the nation's wars and all relics and mementos of the nation's wars donated to or otherwise acquired by the state for display in the Wisconsin Veterans Museum shall constitute the memorial collection. The department shall do all of the following:

AB210,62,18 (a) Catalog and identify all war relics and mementos of the memorial collection.

AB210,62,20 (b) Restore, preserve, and safeguard the relics and mementos of the memorial collection.

AB210,62,21 (c) Procure additions to the memorial collection.

AB210,62,23 (d) Provide proper display equipment and display the memorial collection to make it instructive and attractive to visitors.

AB210,63,6 45.08 Memorial Day. (1) Every department and agency of the state government, every court of the state, and every political subdivision of the state, shall give a leave of absence with pay for the last Monday in May of each year, the day of celebration for May 30, Memorial Day, to every person in the employ of the state or political subdivision who has at any time served in and been honorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces or from forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces. A refusal to give the leave of absence to a person entitled to the leave constitutes neglect of duty.

AB210,63,11 (2) If the nature of the duties of the department, agency, court, or political subdivision necessitates the employment of persons eligible for a leave of absence under sub. (1), the department, agency, court, or political subdivision shall arrange and assign the necessary work so as to permit the largest possible numbers of eligible persons to have a leave of absence either all or part of Memorial Day.

AB210,63,12 sUbchapter II

AB210,63,13 education and training

AB210,63,15 45.20 Veterans education programs. (1) General provisions. (a) Definitions. In this section:

AB210,63,16 1. "Institution of higher education" has the meaning given in 20 USC 1001 (a).

AB210,63,17 2. "Full-time classroom study" means any of the following:

AB210,63,20 a. Enrollment by a graduate student in courses for which more than 8 semester or the equivalent trimester or quarter credits will be given upon satisfactory completion.

AB210,63,23 b. Enrollment by a graduate student in courses that upon satisfactory completion will fulfill more than the minimum semester or equivalent trimester or quarter credit requirements of the program or school in which the student is enrolled.

AB210,64,3 c. Enrollment by any other eligible student in courses for which more than 11 semester or the equivalent trimester or quarter credits will be given upon satisfactory completion.

AB210,64,4 3. "Part-time classroom study" means any of the following:

AB210,64,7 a. Enrollment by a graduate student in courses for which no more than 8 semester or the equivalent trimester or quarter credits will be given upon satisfactory completion.

AB210,64,11 b. Enrollment by a graduate student in courses that upon satisfactory completion will fulfill no more than the minimum semester or equivalent trimester or quarter credit requirements of the program or school in which the student is enrolled.

AB210,64,14 c. Enrollment by any other eligible student in courses for which no more than 11 semester or the equivalent trimester or quarter credits will be given upon satisfactory completion.

AB210,64,15 d. Study during a summer semester or session.

AB210,64,16 3. "Tuition" means any of the following:

AB210,64,18 a. For the University of Wisconsin System, academic fees, as described in s. 36.27 (1), and segregated fees.

AB210,64,20 b. For technical colleges, program fees, as described in s. 38.24 (1m) (a) and (b) and additional fees reported and assessed by the college for the course of study.

AB210,64,23 c. For a high school, a school that is approved under s. 45.03 (11), or a proprietary school that is approved under s. 39.90, the charge for the courses for which a person is enrolled.

AB210,65,3 d. For an institution from which a person receives a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47, the amount of the reciprocal fee under s. 39.47 (2) and any fees that are similar to segregated fees for the University of Wisconsin System.

AB210,65,6 (b) Income limit. 1. No veteran may receive reimbursement under this section if the department determines that the income of the veteran and his or her spouse exceeds $50,000 plus $1,000 for each additional dependent in excess of 2 dependents.

AB210,65,8 2. In determining eligibility under this section, the department shall verify all reported income amounts.

AB210,65,13 (c) Reimbursement limit. The amount of the reimbursement under sub. (2) or (3) may not exceed the total cost of the veteran's tuition or the standard cost for a state resident for tuition for an equivalent undergraduate course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison per course, whichever is less, minus any grants or scholarships that the veteran receives specifically for the payment of tuition.

AB210,65,19 (d) Child support or maintenance delinquency. The department may provide reimbursement under sub. (2) or (3) to a veteran who is delinquent in child support or maintenance payments or who owes past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses, as established by appearance of the veteran's name on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), only if the veteran provides the department with one of the following:

AB210,65,23 1. A repayment agreement that the veteran has entered into, that has been accepted by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5), and that has been kept current for the 6-month period immediately preceding the date of the application.

AB210,66,2 2. A statement that the veteran is not delinquent in child support or maintenance payments and does not owe past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses, signed by the department of workforce development or its designee within 7 working days before the date of the application.

AB210,66,5 (2) Tuition reimbursement program. (a) Eligibility. A veteran is eligible for the tuition reimbursement program under this subsection if he or she meets all of the following conditions:

AB210,66,7 1. The veteran applies for the tuition reimbursement program for courses begun within 10 years after separation from the service.

AB210,66,9 2. The veteran is a resident at the time of application for the tuition reimbursement program.

AB210,66,11 3. The veteran is enrolled for at least 12 credits during the semester for which reimbursement is sought.

AB210,66,20 (b) Program benefits. 1. A veteran who meets the requirements under par. (a), upon satisfactory completion of a full-time undergraduate semester in any institution of higher education in this state, any school that is approved under s. 45.03 (11), any proprietary school that is approved under s. 39.90, or any institution from which the veteran receives a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47, may be reimbursed an amount 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. 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.

AB210,66,22 2. The application for reimbursement of tuition under this subsection shall meet all of the following conditions:

AB210,67,2 a. Be completed and received by the department no later than 60 days after the completion of the semester. The department may accept an application received more than 60 days after the completion of the semester if the applicant shows good cause for the delayed receipt.

AB210,67,4 b. Contain the information necessary to establish eligibility as determined by the department.

AB210,67,5 c. Be on the application form approved by the department.

AB210,67,8 d. Contain the signatures of both the applicant and a representative of the institution or school certifying that the applicant has satisfactorily completed the semester.

AB210,67,14 3. Reimbursement provided under this subsection 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 deny applications for reimbursement that would otherwise qualify under this subsection. In those cases, the department shall determine eligibility on the basis of the dates on which applications for reimbursement were received.

AB210,67,17 4. Reimbursement of tuition and fees for a course may be provided at an institution or school under subd. 1. other than one from which the veteran is receiving his or her degree if all of the following apply:

AB210,67,19 a. The curriculum at the institution or school consists only of courses necessary to complete a degree in a particular course of study.

AB210,67,22 b. The course is accepted as transfer credits at the institution or school listed under subd. 1. from which the veteran is receiving his or her degree but is not available at that institution or school.

AB210,68,5 (c) Limitations. 1. A veteran is not eligible for reimbursement under this subsection for more than 120 credits or 8 full semesters of full-time study at any institution of higher education in this state, 60 credits or 4 full semesters of full-time study at any institution of higher education 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. 45.03 (11), at a proprietary school that is approved under s. 39.90, or at an institution where he or she is receiving a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47.

AB210,68,7 2. A veteran may not receive reimbursement under this subsection for any semester in which he or she received reimbursement under sub. (3) or s. 21.49.

AB210,68,9 (3) Correspondence courses and part-time classroom study. (a) Eligibility. The following persons are eligible for benefits under this section:

AB210,68,10 1. A veteran.

AB210,68,12 2. An unremarried surviving spouse or minor or dependent child of a deceased veteran.

AB210,68,24 (b) Program benefits. 1. A person, upon the completion of any correspondence course or part-time classroom study from an institution of higher education located in this state, from a school that is approved under s. 45.03 (11), from a proprietary school that is approved under s. 39.90, or from any public or private high school, may be reimbursed in part for the cost of the course by the department. The person shall present to the department a certificate from the school indicating that the person has completed the course and stating tuition and shall apply for reimbursement on an application that is 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.

AB210,69,5 2. A person who is a resident of this state and otherwise qualified to receive benefits under this subsection may receive the benefits under this subsection 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:

AB210,69,9 a. The part-time classroom study is not offered within 50 miles of the person's residence by any school or institution under sub. (2) and the educational institution from which the study is offered is located not more than 50 miles from the boundary line of this state.

AB210,69,10 b. The correspondence course is not offered by an institution in this state.

AB210,69,17 3. Enrolled part-time classroom study or direct correspondence courses from a qualified educational institution may be authorized and the person reimbursed in part by the department when the courses are related to one's occupational, professional, or 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 tuition, to the extent that the reimbursement is insufficient to cover all educational costs.

AB210,69,19 (b) Limitations. 1. a. No person who has obtained a master's degree or its equivalent is eligible for reimbursement under this subsection.

AB210,69,23 b. No person who has obtained at least a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent but not a master's degree or its equivalent is eligible for reimbursement under this subsection if the person has remaining U.S. department of veterans affairs education benefits.

AB210,70,3 c. For the purpose of this subsection, any person who has received a baccalaureate degree shall be deemed to be a graduate student whether he or she is taking graduate or undergraduate courses.

AB210,70,6 2. The department may not provide reimbursement under this subsection unless the department determines that a course for which an application is made is related to the applicant's occupational, professional, or employment objectives.

AB210,70,8 3. A person may not be reimbursed under this subsection more than 4 times during any consecutive 12-month period.

AB210,70,16 45.21 Retraining assistance program. (1) Amount and application. The department may pay a veteran not more than $3,000 for retraining to enable the veteran to obtain gainful employment. The department shall determine the amount of the payment based on the veteran's financial need. A veteran may apply for aid to the county veterans service officer of the county in which the veteran is living. The department may, on behalf of a veteran who is engaged in a structured on-the-job training program and who meets the requirements under sub. (2), make a payment under this subsection to the veteran's employer.

AB210,70,18 (2) Eligibility. The department may provide aid under this section if all of the following apply:

AB210,70,23 (a) The veteran is enrolled in a training course in a technical college under ch. 38 or in a proprietary school in the state approved by the educational approval board under s. 39.90, other than a proprietary school offering a 4-year degree or 4-year program, or is engaged in a structured on-the-job training program that meets program requirements promulgated by the department by rule.

AB210,70,25 (b) The veteran meets the financial assistance criteria established under sub. (3) (c).

AB210,71,2 (c) The veteran is unemployed, underemployed, as defined by rule, or has received a notice of termination of employment.

AB210,71,5 (d) The veteran requesting aid has not received reimbursement under s. 45.20 for courses completed during the same semester for which a grant would be received under this section.

AB210,71,10 (e) The department determines that the veteran's proposed program will provide retraining that could enable the veteran to find gainful employment. In making its determination, the department shall consider whether the proposed program provides adequate employment skills and is in an occupation for which favorable employment opportunities are anticipated.

AB210,71,12 (3) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules for the distribution of aid under this program, including all of the following:

AB210,71,13 (a) Standard budgets for single and married veterans.

AB210,71,14 (b) Selection procedures.

AB210,71,15 (c) Uniform need determination procedures.

AB210,71,16 (d) Application procedures.

AB210,71,17 (e) Coordination with other occupational training programs.

AB210,71,19 (f) Other provisions the department deems necessary to assure uniform administration of this program.

AB210,71,25 (4) Report. The department shall include in its biennial report under s. 15.04 (1) (d) information relating to the veterans retraining assistance program, including the number of veterans obtaining gainful employment after receiving aid and a description of the veterans receiving aid, including their sex, age, race, educational level, service-connected disability status, and income before and after obtaining gainful employment. This information may be based on a valid statistical sample.

AB210,72,1 sUbchapter III

AB210,72,2 Veterans Housing loan program

AB210,72,11 45.30 Purpose. (1) Legislative findings. It is determined that veterans, who have sacrificed in the service of their country valuable years of their lives and considerable earning potential, constitute a readily identifiable and particularly deserving segment of this state's population. It is further determined that by making additional housing funds available to eligible veterans, limited private home loan funds will be more readily available to all. It is further determined that the loan programs established under this subchapter are special purpose credit programs for an economically disadvantaged class of persons for the purposes of 15 USC 1691-1691f.