Amendment ASA1-SB55

SB55-ASA1,545,21 44.73 (2r) (a) A public library board that is provided access to a data line under the program established under sub. (1) may enter into a shared service agreement with a political subdivision that provides the political subdivision with access to any excess bandwidth on the data line that is not used by the public library board, except that a public library board may not sell, resell, or transfer in consideration for money or anything of value to a political subdivision access to any excess bandwidth. A shared service agreement under this paragraph is not valid unless the agreement allows the public library board to cancel the agreement at any time after providing notice to the political subdivision.

SB55-ASA1,545,24 (b) A political subdivision that obtains access to bandwidth under a shared service agreement under par. (a) may not receive compensation for providing any other person with access to the bandwidth.

SB55-ASA1,546,3 (c) A public library board shall provide the technology for educational achievement in Wisconsin board with written notice within 30 days after entering into or modifying a shared service agreement under par. (a).

SB55-ASA1, s. 871 Section 871. 44.73 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,546,8 44.73 (3) The board shall submit an annual report to the department on the status of providing data lines and video links that are requested under sub. (2) (a) and the impact on the universal service fund of any payment under contracts under s. 16.974 (7).

SB55-ASA1, s. 1440b Section 1440b. 44.73 (6) of the statutes is renumbered 44.73 (6) (a) and amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,546,23 44.73 (6) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.275 (1) (s) or (tm), the board may award an annual grant to a school district or private school that had in effect on October 14, 1997, a contract for access to a data line or video link, as documented by the board. The board shall determine the amount of the grant, which shall be equal to the cost incurred by the state to provide telecommunications access to a school district or private school under a contract entered into under s. 16.974 (7) (a) or (c) (1) or (3) less the amount that the school district or private school would be paying under sub. (2) (d) if the school district or private school were participating in the program established under sub. (1), except that the amount may not be greater than the cost that a school district or private school incurs under the contract in effect on October 14, 1997. A school district or private school receiving a grant under this subsection is not eligible to participate in the program under sub. (1). No grant may be awarded under this subsection after June 30, 2002 December 31, 2005.

SB55-ASA1, s. 1440c Section 1440c. 44.73 (6) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB55-ASA1,547,4 44.73 (6) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), the board may award a school district that operates more than one high school and that had in effect on October 14, 1997, a contract for access to more than one data line or video link an annual grant for each data line or video link serving each high school covered by that contract.

SB55-ASA1, s. 872 Section 872. 45.01 of the statutes is renumbered 45.014.

SB55-ASA1, s. 873 Section 873. 45.25 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,547,12 45.25 (1) Administration. The department of veterans affairs shall administer a tuition and fee 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, or receiving a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47.

SB55-ASA1, s. 874 Section 874. 45.25 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,547,22 45.25 (2) (d) The individual is a resident at the time of application for the tuition and fee reimbursement program and was a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry or reentry into service or was a resident for any consecutive 5-year 12-month period after entry or reentry into service and before the date of his or her application. If a person applying for a benefit under this section meets that 5-consecutive-year the residency requirement of 12 consecutive months, the department may not require the person to reestablish that he or she meets the 5-consecutive-year that residency requirement when he or she later applies for any other benefit under this chapter that requires a 5-consecutive-year that residency.

SB55-ASA1, s. 875 Section 875. 45.25 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,548,15 45.25 (3) (a) Except as provided in par. (am), an individual who meets the requirements under sub. (2), upon satisfactory completion of a full-time undergraduate semester in any institution of higher education, as defined in s. 45.396 (1) (a), in this state, any school that is approved under s. 45.35 (9m), any proprietary school that is approved under s. 45.54, or any institution from which the individual receives a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47, may be reimbursed for up to 65% an amount not to exceed the total cost of the individual's tuition and fees. The reimbursement under this paragraph is limited to a maximum of 65% of minus any grants or scholarships, including those made under s. 21.49, that the individual receives specifically for the payment of the tuition or fees, or 85% of the standard cost for a state resident for an equivalent undergraduate course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison per course or the difference between the individual's tuition and fees and the grants or scholarships, including those made under s. 21.49, that the individual receives specifically for the payment of the tuition or fees, whichever is less. Reimbursement is available only for tuition and fees that are part of a curriculum that is relevant to a degree in a particular course of study at the institution.

SB55-ASA1, s. 876 Section 876. 45.25 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,548,24 45.25 (4) (a) An individual is not eligible 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, or at an institution where he or she is receiving a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47.

SB55-ASA1, s. 877 Section 877. 45.35 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 45.012 and amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,549,4 45.012 Definition. In this chapter subchapter, "board" means the board of veterans affairs.

SB55-ASA1, s. 878 Section 878. 45.35 (2g) of the statutes is created to read:

SB55-ASA1,549,7 45.35 (2g) Definition. In this section, "department" means the department of veterans affairs.

SB55-ASA1, s. 879 Section 879. 45.35 (3d) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,549,11 45.35 (3d) (a) The council on veterans programs created under s. 15.497 shall advise the board of veterans affairs and the department of veterans affairs on solutions and policy alternatives relating to the problems of veterans.

SB55-ASA1, s. 880 Section 880. 45.35 (3d) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,549,19 45.35 (3d) (b) The council on veterans programs and the department of veterans affairs, jointly or separately, shall submit a report regarding the council on veterans programs to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) by November 1, 1989, and by September 30 of every odd-numbered year thereafter. The report shall include a general summary of the activities and membership over the past 2 years of the council and each organization on the council.

SB55-ASA1, s. 1451m Section 1451m. 45.35 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 45.35 (4) (a) and amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,550,2 45.35 (4) (a) The Except as provided in pars. (b) to (d), 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) and preference shall be given to disabled veterans.

SB55-ASA1, s. 1451n Section 1451n. 45.35 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB55-ASA1,550,9 45.35 (4) (b) The department shall employ not more than 5 regional coordinators. The duties of a regional coordinator shall include providing claims and benefit application assistance to veterans. The regional coordinators shall coordinate claims and benefit application assistance with the appropriate county veterans' service officers under s. 45.43 to maximize the level of assistance and benefits provided to veterans.

SB55-ASA1, s. 1451p Section 1451p. 45.35 (4) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

SB55-ASA1,550,13 45.35 (4) (c) The department shall employ no more than 7 claims officers. The claims officers shall provide federal claims and benefit assistance to veterans and shall be based in the department's regional office in Milwaukee County.

SB55-ASA1, s. 1451r Section 1451r. 45.35 (4) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

SB55-ASA1,550,21 45.35 (4) (d) The department shall employ no more than 2 mobile claims officers in the department's southeast region and shall employ no more than one mobile claims officer in each of the department's other 3 regions. The mobile claims officers shall provide claim and benefit assistance to veterans. The mobile claims officers shall coordinate that claim and benefit assistance with the appropriate county veterans' service officers under s. 45.43 to maximize the level of assistance and benefits provided to veterans.

SB55-ASA1, s. 881 Section 881. 45.35 (5) (a) 2. c. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,551,4 45.35 (5) (a) 2. c. Has been a resident of this state for any consecutive 5-year 12-month period after entry or reentry into service and before the date of his or her application or death. If a person applying for a benefit under this subchapter meets that 5-consecutive-year that residency requirement of 12 consecutive months, the department may not require the person to reestablish that he or she meets the 5-consecutive-year that residency requirement when he or she later applies for any other benefit under this chapter that requires a 5-consecutive-year that residency.

SB55-ASA1, s. 882 Section 882. 45.35 (5) (e) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,551,8 45.35 (5) (e) 8. Persian Gulf war: Between August 1, 1990, and the ending date of Operation Desert Shield or the ending date of Operation Desert Storm as established by the department of veterans affairs by rule.

SB55-ASA1, s. 883 Section 883. 45.351 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,552,9 45.351 (1) Subsistence grants. The department may grant subsistence aid to any incapacitated individual who is a veteran or to any a dependent of a veteran in an amount that the department determines is advisable to prevent want or distress. The department may grant subsistence aid under this subsection to an individual whose incapacitation is the result of the individual's abuse of alcohol or other drugs if the individual is participating in an alcohol and other drug abuse treatment program that is approved by the department. The department may grant subsistence aid on a month-to-month basis or for a 3-month period. The department may grant subsistence aid for a 3-month period if the veteran or dependent whose incapacity is the basis for the aid 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. Subsistence aid is limited to a maximum of 3 months in a 12-month period unless the department determines that the need for subsistence aid in excess of this maximum time period is caused by the aid recipient's relapse. 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) for subsistence grants to veterans. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the secretary of the department within 14 working days after the date of the department's submittal that the committee intends to schedule a meeting to review the request, the appropriation account shall be supplemented as provided in the request. If, within 14 working days after the date of the department's submittal, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the secretary of the department that the committee intends to schedule a meeting to review the request, the appropriation account shall be supplemented only as approved by the committee.

SB55-ASA1, s. 884 Section 884. 45.353 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,552,20 45.353 (2) Upon application the department shall make a payment to any state veterans organization that establishes that it, or its national organization, or both, has maintained a full-time service office at the regional office for at least 5 of the 10 years preceding the date of application. The payment shall equal 25% of all salaries and travel expenses under sub. (3) paid during the previous fiscal year by the state veterans organization to employees engaged in veterans claims service and stationed at the regional office, except that the sum paid to a state veterans organization annually shall not be less than either $2,500, or the amount of salaries and travel expenses paid by the state veterans organization to employees stationed at the regional office, whichever is less, nor more than $20,000 $30,000.

SB55-ASA1, s. 885 Section 885. 45.353 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB55-ASA1,552,24 45.353 (3m) From the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (s), the department shall annually provide a grant of $100,000 to the Wisconsin department of the Disabled American Veterans for the provision of transportation services to veterans.

SB55-ASA1, s. 1458m Section 1458m. 45.353 (3r) of the statutes is created to read:

SB55-ASA1,553,5 45.353 (3r) From the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (vw) the department, annually, shall award a grant of $12,500 to the Wisconsin chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., to reimburse the costs of training individuals to represent veterans in federal benefits disputes. No grant awarded under this subsection may be counted toward the payment limits under sub. (2).

SB55-ASA1, s. 886 Section 886. 45.37 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,553,16 45.37 (3) Exceptions to the basic eligibility requirements. A veteran who was not a resident of this state at the time of enlistment or induction into service but who is otherwise qualified for membership may be admitted if the veteran has been a resident of this state for any consecutive 5-year 12-month period after enlistment or induction into service and before the date of his or her application. If a person applying for a benefit under this subchapter meets that 5-consecutive-year the residency requirement of 12 consecutive months, the department may not require the person to reestablish that he or she meets the 5-consecutive-year that residency requirement when he or she later applies for any other benefit under this chapter that requires a 5-consecutive-year residency.

SB55-ASA1, s. 887 Section 887. 45.37 (6) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,553,19 45.37 (6) (f) Has been a resident of this state for the 5 years 12 months immediately preceding the date of application for membership.

SB55-ASA1, s. 888 Section 888. 45.37 (7) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,553,22 45.37 (7) (b) Has been a resident of this state for the 5 years next 12-months preceding the date of application for membership; and

SB55-ASA1, s. 889 Section 889. 45.396 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,553,25 45.396 (1) (a) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning given in 20 USC 1088 (a) 20 USC 1001 (a).

SB55-ASA1, s. 890 Section 890. 45.396 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,554,16 45.396 (2) Any veteran 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. 45.35 (9m), from a proprietary school that is approved under s. 45.54, or from any public or private high school may be reimbursed in part for the cost of the course by the department upon presentation to the department of a certificate from the school indicating that the veteran has completed the course and stating the cost of the course and upon application for reimbursement completed by the veteran and 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. The department may not require that an application be received sooner than 60 days after a course is completed. Benefits granted under this section shall be paid out of the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (th).

SB55-ASA1, s. 891 Section 891. 45.396 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,554,23 45.396 (3) (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, if any of the following applies:

SB55-ASA1, s. 892 Section 892. 45.396 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,555,6 45.396 (5) Except as provided in sub. (9), the amount of the reimbursement may not exceed 65% 85% of the total cost of the individual's tuition and fees and shall also be limited to a maximum of 65% of or 85% 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, whichever is less, and may not be provided to an individual more than 4 times during any consecutive 12-month period.

SB55-ASA1, s. 893 Section 893. 45.397 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,555,15 45.397 (1) Grant amount and application. The department may grant 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 grant based on the veteran's financial need. A veteran may apply for a grant 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), pay a retraining grant under this subsection to the veteran's employer.

SB55-ASA1, s. 1470m Section 1470m. 45.43 (7) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,555,17 45.43 (7) (title) Grants to counties for improvement of services.

SB55-ASA1, s. 1470p Section 1470p. 45.43 (7m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB55-ASA1,555,24 45.43 (7m) Transportation services grants to counties. (a) Annually, from the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (s), the department shall award grants to counties that are served by transportation services provided by the Wisconsin department of Disabled American Veterans to develop, maintain, and expand transportation services for disabled veterans. No grant awarded under this paragraph may exceed $1,000.

SB55-ASA1,556,5 (b) Annually, from the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (s), the department shall award grants to counties that are not served by transportation services provided by the Wisconsin department of Disabled American Veterans to develop, maintain, and expand transportation services for disabled veterans. The grants may be used to support multi-county cooperative transportation services.

SB55-ASA1,556,7 (c) The department shall promulgate rules specifying the application procedures and eligibility criteria for grants under this subsection.

SB55-ASA1,556,10 (d) A county may not allocate any portion of a grant awarded under this subsection for use by another county department and may not reduce funding to a county veterans' service office based upon receipt of a grant.

SB55-ASA1, s. 894 Section 894. 45.54 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,556,20 45.54 (2) Purpose. The purpose of the board is to approve schools and courses of instruction for the training of veterans of the armed forces and war orphans receiving assistance from the federal government, protect the general public by inspecting and approving private trade, correspondence, business, and technical schools doing business within this state whether located within or outside this state, changes of ownership or control of these schools, teaching locations used by these schools, and courses of instruction offered by these schools and to regulate the soliciting of students for correspondence or classroom courses and courses of instruction offered by these schools.

SB55-ASA1, s. 895 Section 895. 45.54 (6) of the statutes is renumbered 45.35 (9m), and 45.35 (9m) (a), as renumbered, is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,557,3 45.35 (9m) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the board department shall be the state approval agency for the education and training of veterans and war orphans. It The department shall approve and supervise schools and courses of instruction for their the training of veterans and war orphans under Title 38, USC, and may enter into and receive money under contracts with the U.S. department of veterans affairs or other appropriate federal agencies.

SB55-ASA1, s. 896 Section 896. 45.71 (16) (a) 2m. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,557,11 45.71 (16) (a) 2m. a. Has been a resident of this state for any consecutive 5-year 12-month period after enlistment or induction into service and before the date of his or her application or death. If a person applying for a benefit under this subchapter meets that 5-consecutive-year the residency requirement of 12 consecutive months, the department may not require the person to reestablish that he or she meets the 5-consecutive-year that residency requirement when he or she applies for any other benefit under this chapter that requires a 5-consecutive-year that residency.

SB55-ASA1, s. 897 Section 897. 45.76 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,557,16 45.76 (1) (c) Home improvements. 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 disabled individual.

SB55-ASA1, s. 898 Section 898. 45.79 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,557,21 45.79 (3) (b) Casualty insurance coverage. Mortgages given to secure loans under this section shall provide for adequate fire and extended coverage insurance. Policies providing such insurance coverage shall name the authorized lender involved or the department as an insured.

SB55-ASA1, s. 899 Section 899. 45.79 (5) (a) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,558,13 45.79 (5) (a) 6. Require borrowers to make monthly escrow payments to be held by the authorized lender or the department for real estate taxes and casualty insurance premiums which. The authorized lender or, if the department holds the payments in escrow, the department shall be paid by the authorized lender where due to the extent of the amounts owing thereon or to the extent escrowed, whichever is less pay all of the amounts due for real estate taxes and casualty insurance premiums, even if the amount held in escrow is insufficient to cover the amounts due. If the amount held in escrow is insufficient to cover the amounts due, the authorized lender or, if the department holds the payments in escrow, the department shall recover from the borrower, after paying the amounts due under this subdivision, an amount equal to the difference between the amounts paid and the amount held in escrow. If the amount held in escrow is more than the amounts due, the authorized lender or, if the department holds the payments in escrow, the department shall refund to the borrower, after paying the amounts due under this subdivision, an amount equal to the difference between the amount held in escrow and the amounts paid by the authorized lender or the department.

SB55-ASA1, s. 900 Section 900. 45.79 (5) (a) 10. of the statutes is created to read:

SB55-ASA1,558,17 45.79 (5) (a) 10. Service loans made under this section and purchase from authorized lenders the servicing rights for loans made by authorized lenders under this section.

SB55-ASA1, s. 901 Section 901. 45.79 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,559,2 45.79 (5) (b) 1. Persons Veterans receiving loans under this section shall pay at the time of closing an origination fee to the authorized lender participating in the loan, except that the department shall pay, on behalf of a veteran who receives a loan under this section and who has at least a 30% service connected disability rating for purposes of 38 USC 1114 or 1134, the origination fee to the authorized lender. The origination fee charged to borrowers under this section paragraph shall be negotiated between the department and the authorized lender but may not exceed that which the authorized lender would charge other borrowers in the ordinary course of business under the same or similar circumstances.

SB55-ASA1, s. 902 Section 902. 45.79 (7) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,559,17 45.79 (7) (a) (intro.) There is created the veterans mortgage loan repayment fund. All moneys received by the department for the repayment of loans funded under sub. (6) (a) except for servicing fees required to be paid to authorized lenders, net proceeds from the sale of mortgaged properties, any repayment to the department of moneys paid to authorized lenders, gifts, grants, other appropriations, and interest earnings accruing thereon, any repayment of moneys borrowed under s. 45.356 (9) (a), all moneys received under sub. (5) (a) 6., and any moneys deposited or transferred under s. 18.04 (6) (b) or (d) shall be promptly deposited into the veterans mortgage loan repayment fund. The board shall establish by resolution a system of accounts providing for the maintenance and disbursement of moneys of the veterans mortgage loan repayment fund to fund loans under sub. (6) (a) or to fund, refund, or acquire public debt as provided in s. 18.04 (5). The system of accounts shall record and provide moneys for all of the following purposes:

SB55-ASA1, s. 903 Section 903. 45.79 (7) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB55-ASA1,559,22 45.79 (7) (a) 4. Payment of all costs incurred by the department in processing and servicing loans, purchasing servicing rights for loans under this section, and accounting for and administering the program under this section, including a portion of grants made to county veterans' service officers under s. 45.43 (7).