AB506: Bill Text

AB506,17,10 2. An application for reimbursement of tuition under this subsection shall meet all of the following requirements:

AB506,17,14 a. 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.

AB506,17,16 b. Contain the information necessary to establish eligibility as determined by the department.

AB506,17,17 c. Be on the application form established by the department.

AB506,17,20 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.

AB506,18,4 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 reduce the reimbursement percentage, except to disabled veterans who are eligible for 100 percent of tuition and fees under par. (e), or deny applications for reimbursement that would otherwise qualify under this subsection. 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 par. (e), and eligibility on the basis of the dates on which applications for reimbursement were received.

AB506,18,8 4. Reimbursement of tuition for a course may be provided at an institution or school under this paragraph 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:

AB506,18,10 a. The curriculum at the institution or school consists only of courses necessary to complete a degree in a particular course of study.

AB506,18,13 b. The course is accepted as transfer credits at the institution or school listed under this paragraph from which the veteran is receiving his or her degree but is not available at that institution or school.

AB506,18,18 (d) Limitations. 1. A veteran's eligibility for reimbursement under this subsection at any institution of higher education in this state, at a school that is approved under s. 45.03 (11), at a proprietary school that is approved under s. 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:

AB506,18,22 a. 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.

AB506,19,2 b. 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.

AB506,19,6 c. 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.

AB506,19,11 2. The department may provide reimbursement under this subsection 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:

AB506,19,14 a. 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.

AB506,19,18 b. 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.

AB506,19,21 3. A veteran may not receive reimbursement under this subsection for any semester in which he or she is eligible for or received a grant under s. 21.49 or under 10 USC 2007.

AB506,19,24 4. A veteran may not receive reimbursement under this subsection for any semester in which the veteran fails to receive at least a 2.0 grade point average or an average grade of "C".

AB506,20,7 (e) Disabled veteran eligibility. A disabled veteran who meets the requirements under this subsection 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 if the tuition and fees are for an undergraduate semester in any institution of higher education.

AB506,20,12 (f) Reporting requirements. The department shall promulgate a rule that establishes the number of days after the commencement of an academic term that begins after December 31, 2005, by which a veteran who will be seeking reimbursement under this section must provide the department with all of the following information:

AB506,20,13 1. The veteran's name.

AB506,20,14 2. The educational institution the veteran is attending.

AB506,20,16 3. Whether the veteran is enrolled full-time or part-time at the educational institution.

AB506,20,18 4. An estimate of the amount of tuition reimbursement that the veteran will claim at the end of the academic term.

AB506, s. 53 Section 53. 45.21 (2) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 210), is amended to read:

AB506,20,25 45.21 (2) (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 38.50, 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.

AB506, s. 54 Section 54. 45.31 (9) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 210), is amended to read:

AB506,21,7 45.31 (9) "Home" means a building or portion of a building used as the veteran's principal place of by the veteran as a residence, and includes condominiums and income-producing property, a portion of which is used as a principal place of residence by the veteran, and the land, including existing improvements, appertaining to the building.

AB506, s. 55 Section 55. 45.31 (15) of the statutes is created to read:

AB506,21,10 45.31 (15) "Qualified veterans' mortgage bonds" means federally tax-exempt bonds issued under the authority of 26 USC 143.

AB506, s. 56 Section 56. 45.33 (1) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB506,21,15 45.33 (1) (d) Any person who has completed 6 continuous years of service under honorable conditions in the army or air national guard or in any reserve component of the U.S. armed forces, and who is living in this state at the time of his or her application for benefits.

AB506, s. 57 Section 57. 45.34 (1) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 210), is amended to read:

AB506,21,21 45.34 (1) (c) A loan of not more than $25,000 to improve a home, including the construction of a garage or the removal or other alteration of existing improvements that were made to improve the accessibility of a home for a permanently and totally disabled individual.

AB506, s. 58 Section 58. 45.34 (1) (d) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 210), is repealed and recreated to read:

AB506,21,25 45.34 (1) (d) Refinancing the balance due on an indebtedness that was incurred for a use designated in pars. (a) to (c).

AB506, s. 59 Section 59. 45.34 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 210), is amended to read:

AB506,22,5 45.34 (2) (b) 1. The residence property to be purchased, constructed, improved, or refinanced with financial assistance under this subchapter will be used as the person's principal by the person as a residence.

AB506, s. 60 Section 60. 45.34 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

AB506,22,11 45.34 (3) Qualified veterans mortgage bonds. If the source of the funding for a loan under this subchapter is the proceeds of a qualified veterans mortgage bond, the department shall apply any applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code in determining a person's eligibility for a loan to assure that the bonds are exempt from federal tax.

AB506, s. 61 Section 61. 45.40 of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 210), is repealed and recreated to read:

AB506,23,2 45.40 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 provide subsistence payments only to a veteran who has suffered a loss of income due to illness, injury, or natural disaster. The department may grant subsistence aid under this subsection to a veteran whose loss of income 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. No payment may be made under this subsection if the veteran has other assets or income available to meet basic subsistence needs or if the veteran is eligible to receive aid from other sources to meet those needs.

AB506,23,4 (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.

AB506,23,7 (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.

AB506,23,10 (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.

AB506,23,17 (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.

AB506,23,23 (2m) Dependents eligibility. (a) The unremarried spouse and dependent children of a veteran who died on active duty, or in the line of duty while on active or inactive duty for training purposes, in the U.S. armed forces or forces incorporated in the U.S. armed forces are eligible to receive payments under subs. (1) and (2) if the household income of those persons does not exceed the income limitations established under sub. (3m).

AB506,24,4 (b) The spouse and dependent children of a member of the U.S. armed forces or of the Wisconsin national guard who has been activated or deployed to serve in the U.S. armed forces who are residents of this state, who have suffered a loss of income due to that activation or deployment, and who experience an economic emergency during the member's activation or deployment are eligible to receive assistance under subs. (1) and (2).

AB506,24,6 (3) Limitations. The total cumulative amount that any veteran may receive under this section may not exceed $5,000.

AB506,24,8 (3m) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules establishing eligibility criteria and household income limits for payments under subs. (1), (2), and (2m).

AB506,24,11 (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.

AB506,24,25 (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. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the department that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the request for a supplement within 14 working days after the date of the department's notification, the supplement to the appropriation is approved. If, within 14 working days after the date of the department's notification, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the department that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed supplement, the supplement may occur only upon approval of the committee.

AB506, s. 62 Section 62. 45.42 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 210), is amended to read:

AB506,25,11 45.42 (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. (9). 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. (12). 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 owed by the person receiving the loan and then to pay any past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses owed by the person receiving the loan.

AB506, s. 63 Section 63. 45.42 (12) of the statutes is created to read:

AB506,25,16 45.42 (12) 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.

AB506, s. 64 Section 64. 45.50 (6) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 210), is amended to read:

AB506,25,22 45.50 (6) (a) The department may enter into agreements for furnishing and charging for water and sewer service from facilities constructed at and for veterans homes to public and private properties lying in the immediate vicinity of veterans homes.

AB506, s. 65 Section 65. 45.51 (3) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act ...(Assembly Bill 210), is amended to read:

AB506,26,7 45.51 (3) (b) Spouses, surviving spouses, and parents derive their eligibility from the eligibility of the person under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. Surviving spouses and parents of eligible persons under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. are shall not be eligible for admission only to a skilled nursing facility at a veterans home for admission to the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove or the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King unless a home's overall occupancy level is below an optimal level as determined by the board.

AB506, s. 66 Section 66. 45.51 (10) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 210), is amended to read:

AB506,26,16 45.51 (10) (b) The Except where a sale occurs under s. 16.848, the department may manage, sell, lease, or transfer property passing 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 the property. All expenditures necessary for the execution of functions under this paragraph or sub. (14) shall be made from the appropriation in s. 20.485 (1) (h).

AB506, s. 67 Section 67. 45.60 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 210), is repealed.

AB506, s. 68 Section 68. 45.82 (4) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act ...(Assembly Bill 210), is amended to read:

AB506,27,4 45.82 (4) The department shall 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. 45.80 (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 $8,500 under this subsection and shall promulgate rules to implement this subsection.

AB506, s. 69 Section 69. 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 100), section 9353 (2q) is amended to read:

AB506,27,11 [2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 100)], Section 9353 (2q) Fee remissions for spouse and children of certain veterans. The treatment of sections 36.27 (3n), and 38.24 (7), and 45.35 (14) (m) of the statutes first applies to students who enroll for classes in the academic year that commences after the effective date of this subsection.

AB506, s. 70 Section 70. 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 100), section 9353 (2r) is amended to read:

AB506,27,17 [2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 100)], Section 9353 (2r) Fee remissions for certain veterans. The treatment of sections 36.27 (3p), 38.22 (6) (f), and 38.24 (8), and 45.35 (14) (L) of the statutes first applies to students who enroll for classes in the academic year that commences after the effective date of this subsection.

AB506, s. 71 Section 71. 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 100), section 9455 (3w) is amended to read:

AB506,27,25 [2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 100)], Section 9455 (3w) Sale or contractual operation of state-owned heating, cooling, and power plants and wastewater treatment facilities. The treatment of sections 13.48 (2) (k) 1. and 2., 16.84 (1), 16.85 (4), 16.895, 16.90, 16.91, 16.93 (2) and (3), 20.255 (1) (b), 20.245 (1) (c), 20.255 (1) (c), 20.285 (1) (c), 20.410 (1) (f) and (gm), 20.465 (1) (f), 20.485 (4) (r), and 20.505 (5) (ka), and 45.365 (2m) (a) of the statutes takes effect on April 1, 2007.

AB506, s. 9153 Section 9153. Nonstatutory provisions; veterans affairs.

AB506,28,9 (1) Tuition reimbursement program emergency rules. The department of veterans affairs may promulgate emergency rules under section 227.24 of the statutes implementing section 45.20 of the statutes, as affected by this act. Notwithstanding section 227.24 (1) (a) and (3) of the statutes, the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB506,28,14 (2) Payment of certain tuition and part-time classroom courses. From the appropriation account under section 20.485 (2) (tf) of the statutes, the department of veterans affairs may expend not more than $1,020,000 in fiscal year 2005-06 to fund payments under sections 45.25 and 45.396, 2003 stats., for course work completed before July 1, 2005.

AB506,28,22 (3) Assistance to needy veterans and families emergency rules. The department of veterans affairs may promulgate an emergency rule under section 227.24 of the statutes implementing section 45.40 (3m) of the statutes, as affected by this act. Notwithstanding section 227.24 (1) (a) and (3) of the statutes, the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of an emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB506,28,23 (4) Treatments void.

AB506,29,15 (a) The treatment of sections 16.848 (2) (g), 20.485 (1) (go) and (q), (2) (b), (f), (km), (q), (th), (vg), (vm), and (vz), (4) (r), and (5) (title), (g), (gm), and (h), 20.505 (8) (hm) 13m., 25.36 (1), 29.506 (7m) (a), 36.27 (2) (b) 4., 36.27 (3p) (b), 38.24 (8) (b), 38.50 (11), 45.19 (1), 45.25 (1), (1g), (1m), (2) (intro.) (except 45.25 (2) (title)), (a), (c), (cm), (d), and (e), (3) (a), (am), (b) 1., (c), and (d) (intro.), (4) (c) and (d), and (6), 45.348 (title), (1) (intro.), and (2) (a) (intro.), 45.35 (8) (b) 4., (14) (h), (j), (k), (L), (m), and (n), and (17) (c) 1m. (intro.), 2. (intro.), and 3., 45.351, 45.356 (2) and (13), 45.365 (2m) (a), 45.37 (4) (b) and (c) 1m. c. and d. and (10) (c), 45.38 (2) (a) 1., 45.396 (title), (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (5m), (6), (7) (a) and (b), (8), and (9), 45.397 (2) (a) and (cm), 45.54 (title), (1) (intro.), (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g), (2), (3), (5), (7), (8), and (10) (title), (a), (b), (c), (cm), (d), (e), and (f), 45.71 (8), (12) (a), (15), and (16) (d), and 45.76 (1) (c) and (d), (3) (b) 1., and (4) of the statutes by 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 100), the renumbering and amendment of section 45.25 (4) (a) of the statutes by 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 100), the creation of section 45.25 (4) (a) 1. to 3. of the statutes by 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 100), and Sections 9153 (1), (1f), and (3k), 9246 (1m), 9253 (1), and 9353 (1) of 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 100) are void.

AB506,29,17 (b) Paragraph (a ) does not apply if 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 210) is not enacted into law by September 1, 2005.

AB506, s. 9246 Section 9246. Appropriation changes; technical college system.

AB506,30,2 (1m) Educational approval board transfer and lapse. Notwithstanding section 20.001 (3) (a) of the statutes, on June 30, 2006, there is transferred from the appropriation account under section 20.292 (2) (g) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2005, to the appropriation account under section 20.292 (2) (gm) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2005, $250,000 and, if after that transfer an unencumbered balance remains in the appropriation account under section 20.292 (2) (g) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2005, that unencumbered balance shall lapse to the general fund.

AB506, s. 9253 Section 9253. Appropriation changes; Veterans affairs.

AB506,30,6 (1) Massage therapists and bodyworkers. The unencumbered balance in the appropriation account under section 20.485 (5) (h), 2003 stats., is transferred to the appropriation account under section 20.165 (1) (g) of the statutes.

AB506,30,9 (2) Fee remissions for certain veterans. The treatment of sections 36.27 (3p) (b) and 38.24 (8) (b) of the statutes first applies to students who enroll for classes in the academic year that commences after the effective date of this subsection.

AB506, s. 9353 Section 9353. Initial applicability; Veterans affairs.

AB506,30,13 (1) Tuition reimbursement program. The treatment of sections 20.485 (2) (th), 25.36 (1), 45.20, and 45.21 (2) (a) of the statutes and Section 9153 (1) of this act first apply to courses completed on the effective date of this subsection.

AB506, s. 9400 Section 9400. Effective dates; general. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 9453 and 9455, this act takes effect on the date of publication of 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 100).

AB506, s. 9453 Section 9453. Effective dates; Veterans affairs.

AB506,30,20 (1) The amendment of 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 100), sections 9353 (2q) and (2r) and 9455 (3w), by this act takes effect on the day after publication of 2005 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 100).

AB506, s. 9455 Section 9455. Effective dates; other.