MLJ:cdc&skw
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
November 19, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Stuck, Stubbs, Anderson,
Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Cabrera, Crowley, Doyle, Emerson, Goyke,
Hebl, Hintz, Kulp, Milroy, Murphy, Neubauer, Sargent, Shankland, Sinicki,
Subeck, C. Taylor, Tusler and Zamarripa, cosponsored by Senators Shilling,
Carpenter, Jacque, Johnson, Ringhand, Schachtner, Smith and L. Taylor.
Referred to Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs.
AB618,1,4
1An Act to amend 45.44 (3) (c) (intro.) and 45.51 (2) (a) 1.; and
to create 36.27
2(2) (b) 5., 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. g., 38.24 (8) (a) 1r. g. and 45.01 (12) (fm) of the statutes;
3relating to: expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in
4support of the United States during the Vietnam War.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill expands the definition of “veteran” to include individuals who were
naturalized pursuant to the Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000 or
individuals who the secretary of Veterans Affairs has determined served honorably
with a special guerrilla unit or irregular forces operating from a base in Laos in
support of the armed forces of the United States at any time during the period from
February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975, and who are citizens of the United States or aliens
lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States who reside in
Wisconsin. The bill extends most veterans benefits to anyone who meets this newly
expanded definition of veteran, however, admission to a state veterans home and
burial in a veterans cemetery are not included benefits as they are subject to federal
regulation.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB618,1
5Section 1
. 36.27 (2) (b) 5. of the statutes is created to read:
AB618,2,3
136.27
(2) (b) 5. A person who is a resident of and living in this state at the time
2of registering at an institution, and who is a veteran as described under s. 45.01 (12)
3(fm), is entitled to the exemption under par. (a).
AB618,2
4Section 2
. 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. g. of the statutes is created to read:
AB618,2,65
36.27
(3p) (a) 1r. g. The person meets the criteria described under s. 45.01 (12)
6(fm).
AB618,3
7Section 3
. 38.24 (8) (a) 1r. g. of the statutes is created to read:
AB618,2,98
38.24
(8) (a) 1r. g. The person meets the criteria described under s. 45.01 (12)
9(fm).
AB618,4
10Section
4. 45.01 (12) (fm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB618,2,1711
45.01
(12) (fm) A person who was naturalized pursuant to section 2 (1) of the
12federal Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000, P.L.
106-207, and resides in
13this state or a person who the secretary determines served honorably with a special
14guerrilla unit or irregular forces operating from a base in Laos in support of the
15armed forces of the United States at any time during the period beginning February
1628, 1961, and ending May 7, 1975; is a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully
17admitted for permanent residence in the United States; and resides in the state.
AB618,5
18Section 5
. 45.44 (3) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB618,2,2019
45.44
(3) (c) (intro.) A veteran, as defined in s. 45.01 (12) (a) to
(f) (fm), or one
20of the following:
AB618,6
21Section 6
. 45.51 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB618,2,2322
45.51
(2) (a) 1. A veteran
, other than a veteran described under s. 45.01 (12)
23(fm).
