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2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
February 1, 2016 - Introduced by Senator Wanggaard, cosponsored by
Representatives Skowronski, Petryk, Kooyenga and A. Ott. Referred to
Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs.
SB668,2,11 1An Act to repeal 20.485 (1) (gd), 20.485 (1) (mn), 20.485 (1) (u), 20.485 (2) (b),
220.485 (2) (d), 20.485 (2) (e), 20.485 (2) (vy), 20.485 (2) (yg), 20.485 (3) (v), 20.485
3(3) (w), 45.03 (13) (j), 45.03 (13) (k), 45.70 (1b) (b), 45.70 (1m), 45.80 (5) (e), 45.80
4(6) (intro.), 45.80 (7), 45.80 (8), 45.805 and 45.82 (3); to renumber 20.485 (1)
5(d), 20.485 (3) (sm), 45.50 (2b), 45.51 (8), 45.51 (11), 45.51 (12), 45.80 (6) (a) and
645.80 (6) (b); to renumber and amend 20.485 (1) (kg), 45.51 (6m), 45.51 (7),
745.51 (10) and 45.70 (1b) (a); to amend 20.485 (1) (g), 20.485 (1) (gk), 20.485
8(1) (h), 20.485 (1) (hm), 20.485 (1) (kg), 20.485 (1) (t), 20.485 (2) (a) (title), 20.485
9(2) (rm), 20.485 (2) (rp), 20.485 (2) (vx), 20.485 (2) (vx), 20.485 (2) (z) (title),
1020.485 (4) (g), 20.485 (4) (m), 20.485 (5) (mn) (title), 20.485 (5) (wd) (title), 25.36
11(1), 25.37, 45.01 (9), 45.02 (2) (intro.), 45.03 (3) (a), 45.03 (5) (a) 1., 45.03 (5) (a)
122., 45.03 (5) (c) 1. a., 45.03 (5) (c) 1. b., 45.03 (5) (c) 1. c., 45.03 (5) (c) 3., 45.03
13(5) (c) 4., 45.03 (12) (a), 45.03 (12) (b), 45.03 (15), 45.21 (1), 45.37 (1), 45.37 (2),
1445.37 (4) (a), 45.37 (4) (b) 1., 45.37 (4) (b) 2., 45.37 (6) (a) 2., 45.37 (6) (c) 2., 45.37

1(7) (a) (intro.), 45.37 (7) (b), 45.37 (10) (a), 45.43 (title) and (1), 45.47 (1), 45.50
2(4) (a), 45.51 (3) (b), 45.51 (3) (c) 1. d., 45.51 (3) (c) 1m. c., 45.51 (3) (c) 2., 45.57
3(1), 45.62 (2), 45.70 (2) (b), 45.80 (title), 45.80 (1) (a), 45.80 (1) (c), 45.80 (4), 45.80
4(5) (intro.), 45.81 (2), 45.81 (3) (a), 45.81 (4), 45.81 (6), 45.82 (1), 45.82 (2), 45.84
5and 851.09; to repeal and recreate 20.485 (1) (b) (title), 20.485 (1) (gk), 20.485
6(2) (u) (title), 20.485 (5) (c) (title) and 20.485 (5) (zm) (title); and to create 19.56
7(3) (g), 20.485 (1) (fm), 45.01 (4m), 45.01 (4p), 45.50 (2b) (b), 45.80 (5) (f), 45.80
8(9) and 45.805 of the statutes; relating to: powers of officers and employees of
9the Department of Veterans Affairs, powers of the Board of Veterans Affairs,
10employment of veterans regional coordinators and claims officers, and making
11appropriations.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill makes various changes to the laws governing veterans affairs,
including changes to the powers of certain state public officials of the Department
of Veterans Affairs, changes to the powers of the Board of Veterans Affairs, and
changes regarding the maintenance of veterans homes.
This bill allows a state public official who is an officer or employee of DVA to
solicit, receive, and retain on behalf of the state anything of value for the purpose of
supporting veterans homes and members and veterans programs, benefits, and
services.
The bill transfers most of the powers of the Board of Veterans Affairs to DVA.
Under current law, the board has various powers, including creating policies and
making determinations relating to the disposition of moneys, the making of loans,
and the acquisition and conveyance of buildings and real property.
The bill directs DVA to provide annually $42,000 to the town of Dover to
reimburse the town for the costs of municipal services provided to the Wisconsin
Veterans Home at Union Grove. The bill also creates a full-time position within DVA
to act as facilities manager at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove.
The bill also provides that DVA may approve a county veterans service
consortium to administer veterans benefits and services and makes county veterans
service officers optional for counties. Current law requires each county to elect or
appoint a county veterans service officer.
Finally, the bill makes various technical changes to laws governing veterans
affairs, including repealing obsolete or outdated appropriations.

For further information see the state and local 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:
SB668,1 1Section 1. 19.56 (3) (g) of the statutes is created to read:
SB668,3,52 19.56 (3) (g) A state public official who is an officer or employee of the
3department of veterans affairs may solicit, receive, and retain on behalf of the state
4anything of value for the purpose of supporting veterans homes and members and
5veterans programs, benefits, and services.
SB668,2 6Section 2. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
7the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table PDF
SB668,3 8Section 3. 20.485 (1) (b) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
SB668,3,99 20.485 (1) (b) (title) Homes operation; general fund supplement.
SB668,4 10Section 4. 20.485 (1) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 20.485 (4) (a).
SB668,5 11Section 5. 20.485 (1) (fm) of the statutes is created to read:
SB668,3,1412 20.485 (1) (fm) Town of Dover municipal services reimbursement. The amounts
13in the schedule for reimbursing the town of Dover for municipal services at the
14Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove.
SB668,6 15Section 6. 20.485 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB668,4,5
120.485 (1) (g) Home exchange. The amounts in the schedule for the purchase
2of the necessary materials, supplies and equipment for the operation of the home
3exchange, and compensation for members' labor. All moneys received from the sale
4of products authorized by s. 45.51 (7) 45.50 (12) shall be credited to this
5appropriation.
SB668,7 6Section 7. 20.485 (1) (gd) of the statutes is repealed.
SB668,8 7Section 8. 20.485 (1) (gk) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55,
8section 768k, is amended to read:
SB668,4,229 20.485 (1) (gk) Institutional Homes operations. The amounts in the schedule
10for the care of the members of the Wisconsin veterans homes under s. 45.50, for the
11payment of stipends under s. 45.50 (2m) (f), for the transfer of moneys to the
12appropriation account under s. 20.435 (4) (ky) for payment of the state share of the
13medical assistance costs related to the provision of stipends under s. 45.50 (2m) (f),
14for the payment of assistance to indigent veterans under s. 45.43 to allow them to
15reside at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove, for the transfer of moneys
16to the appropriation accounts under pars. (kg) and par. (kj) and sub. (2) (ks), and for
17the payment of grants under s. 45.82. Not more than 1 percent of the moneys credited
18to this appropriation account may be used for the payment of assistance to indigent
19veterans under s. 45.43. All moneys received under par. (m) and s. 45.51 (7) (b) and
20(8)
45.50 (12) (b) and (13) and all moneys received for the care of members under
21medical assistance, as defined in s. 49.43 (8), shall be credited to this appropriation
22account.
SB668,9 23Section 9. 20.485 (1) (gk) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55,
24section 768kb, and 2015 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:
SB668,5,13
120.485 (1) (gk) Homes operations. The amounts in the schedule for the care of
2the members of the Wisconsin veterans homes under s. 45.50, for the payment of
3stipends under s. 45.50 (2m) (f), for the transfer of moneys to the appropriation
4account under s. 20.435 (4) (ky) for payment of the state share of the medical
5assistance costs related to the provision of stipends under s. 45.50 (2m) (f), for the
6payment of assistance to indigent veterans under s. 45.43 to allow them to reside at
7the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove, for the transfer of moneys to the
8appropriation account under sub. (2) (ks), and for the payment of grants under s.
945.82. Not more than 1 percent of the moneys credited to this appropriation account
10may be used for the payment of assistance to indigent veterans under s. 45.43. All
11moneys received under par. (m) and s. 45.50 (12) (b) and (13) and all moneys received
12for the care of members under medical assistance, as defined in s. 49.43 (8), shall be
13credited to this appropriation account.
SB668,10 14Section 10. 20.485 (1) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB668,5,1715 20.485 (1) (h) Gifts, grants, and bequests. All moneys received under s. 45.51
16(10)
45.50 (14) and (11) (15), or any moneys received by gifts, grants, or bequests, to
17carry out the purposes of ss. 45.50 and 45.51.
SB668,11 18Section 11. 20.485 (1) (hm) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB668,5,2119 20.485 (1) (hm) Gifts and grants, grants, and bequests. All moneys received
20from gifts and grants, grants, or bequests, specifically for the purpose of s. 45.50 (2m)
21(d), to carry out the purpose of s. 45.50 (2m) (d).
SB668,12 22Section 12. 20.485 (1) (kg) of the statutes is renumbered 20.485 (2) (ks) and
23amended to read:
SB668,6,224 20.485 (2) (ks) Grants to counties. The amounts in the schedule for the
25payments of grants made under s. 45.82 (1) to (3). All moneys transferred from the

1appropriation account under par. sub. (1) (gk) shall be credited to this appropriation
2account.
SB668,13 3Section 13. 20.485 (1) (kg) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB668,6,74 20.485 (1) (kg) Grants to counties. The amounts in the schedule for the
5payments of grants made under s. 45.82 (1) to (3) and (2). All moneys transferred
6from the appropriation account under par. (gk) shall be credited to this appropriation
7account.
SB668,14 8Section 14. 20.485 (1) (mn) of the statutes is repealed.
SB668,15 9Section 15. 20.485 (1) (t) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB668,6,1210 20.485 (1) (t) Veterans homes member accounts. From the Wisconsin veterans
11homes members fund, all moneys received under s. 25.37 to make payments as
12provided under s. 45.51 (8), (10), 45.50 (13), (14), and (11) (15).
SB668,16 13Section 16. 20.485 (1) (u) of the statutes is repealed.
SB668,17 14Section 17. 20.485 (2) (a) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB668,6,1615 20.485 (2) (a) (title) General program operations; loans and aids fund
16operations
.
SB668,18 17Section 18. 20.485 (2) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
SB668,19 18Section 19. 20.485 (2) (d) of the statutes is repealed.
SB668,20 19Section 20. 20.485 (2) (e) of the statutes is repealed.
SB668,21 20Section 21. 20.485 (2) (rm) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB668,6,2521 20.485 (2) (rm) Veterans assistance programs; fish and game vouchers housing
22and recovery programs
. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for general program
23operations of the veterans assistance program housing and recovery programs under
24s. 45.43, for grants under s. 45.03 (13) (j), and for reimbursements to the department
25of natural resources under s. 29.1945 (2).
SB668,22
1Section 22. 20.485 (2) (rp) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB668,7,42 20.485 (2) (rp) Veterans assistance program receipts housing and recovery
3programs fees
. All moneys received from fees under s. 45.43 (2) for the provision of
4assistance housing and recovery programs to veterans under s. 45.43 (1).
SB668,23 5Section 23. 20.485 (2) (u) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to
6read:
SB668,7,77 20.485 (2) (u) (title) Veteran trust fund operations.
SB668,24 8Section 24. 20.485 (2) (vx) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB668,7,119 20.485 (2) (vx) County grants. The amounts in the schedule for payment of
10grants under s. 45.82 and for county veterans services consortium grants under s.
1145.805
.
SB668,25 12Section 25 . 20.485 (2) (vx) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act
13.... (this act), is amended to read:
SB668,7,1614 20.485 (2) (vx) County grants. The amounts in the schedule for payment of
15grants under s. 45.82 and for county veterans services consortium grants under s.
1645.805
.
SB668,26 17Section 26. 20.485 (2) (vy) of the statutes is repealed.
SB668,27 18Section 27. 20.485 (2) (yg) of the statutes is repealed.
SB668,28 19Section 28. 20.485 (2) (z) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB668,7,2020 20.485 (2) (z) (title) Gifts, grants, and bequests.
SB668,29 21Section 29. 20.485 (3) (sm) of the statutes is renumbered 20.485 (2) (se).
SB668,30 22Section 30. 20.485 (3) (v) of the statutes is repealed.
SB668,31 23Section 31. 20.485 (3) (w) of the statutes is repealed.
SB668,32 24Section 32. 20.485 (4) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB668,8,5
120.485 (4) (g) Cemetery operations. The amounts in the schedule for the care
2and operation of the veterans memorial cemeteries under s. 45.61 other than those
3costs provided under pars. (q) and (r). All moneys received under s. 45.61 (3) and from
4the estate of decedents under s. 45.61 (5)
shall be credited to this appropriation
5account.
SB668,33 6Section 33. 20.485 (4) (m) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB668,8,127 20.485 (4) (m) Federal aid; cemetery operations and burials. All moneys
8received from the federal government for specific veterans programs other than for
9the care of veterans at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King and veterans facilities,
10for such purposes, and all
moneys received from the federal government for the
11operation of veterans memorial cemeteries under s. 45.61 as authorized by the
12governor under s. 16.54, to be used for that purpose.
SB668,34 13Section 34. 20.485 (5) (c) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to
14read:
SB668,8,1515 20.485 (5) (c) (title) Museum operations; general fund.
SB668,35 16Section 35. 20.485 (5) (mn) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB668,8,1717 20.485 (5) (mn) (title) Federal projects; museum acquisitions and operations.
SB668,36 18Section 36. 20.485 (5) (wd) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB668,8,1919 20.485 (5) (wd) (title) Operation of Wisconsin Veterans Museum operations.
SB668,37 20Section 37. 20.485 (5) (zm) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to
21read:
SB668,8,2222 20.485 (5) (zm) (title) Gifts, grants, and bequests.
SB668,38 23Section 38. 25.36 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is
24amended to read:
SB668,9,21
125.36 (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), all moneys appropriated or transferred
2by law shall constitute the veterans trust fund which shall be used for the lending
3of money to the mortgage loan repayment fund under s. 45.37 (5) (a) 12. and for the
4veterans programs under ss. 20.485 (2) (m), (tm), (u), (vy), and (z), and (5) (mn), (v),
5(vo), and (zm), 45.03 (19), 45.07, 45.20, 45.21, 45.40 (1m), 45.41, 45.42, 45.43, and
645.82 and administered by the department of veterans affairs, including all moneys
7received from the federal government for the benefit of veterans or their dependents,
8and for the veteran grant jobs pilot program under s. 38.31 administered by the
9technical college system board; all moneys paid as interest on and repayment of loans
10under the post-war rehabilitation fund; soldiers rehabilitation fund, veterans
11housing funds as they existed prior to July 1, 1961; all moneys paid as interest on
12and repayment of loans under this fund; all moneys paid as expenses for, interest on,
13and repayment of veterans trust fund stabilization loans under s. 45.356, 1995 stats.;
14all moneys paid as expenses for, interest on, and repayment of veterans personal
15loans; the net proceeds from the sale of mortgaged properties related to veterans
16personal loans; all mortgages issued with the proceeds of the 1981 veterans home
17loan revenue bond issuance purchased with moneys in the veterans trust fund; all
18moneys received from the state investment board under s. 45.42 (8) (b); all moneys
19received from the veterans mortgage loan repayment fund under s. 45.37 (7) (a) and
20(c); and all gifts of money received by the board of veterans affairs for the purposes
21of this fund.
SB668,39 22Section 39. 25.37 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB668,9,25 2325.37 Wisconsin veterans homes members fund. There is established a
24separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the Wisconsin veterans homes
25members fund. The fund shall consist of moneys belonging to persons residing in

1Wisconsin veterans homes, that are paid to the homes, and that are transferred into
2the fund by the department of veterans affairs under s. 45.51 (8) 45.50 (13).
SB668,40 3Section 40. 45.01 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
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