SB251: Bill Text

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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE

2023 Senate BILL 251

April 20, 2023 - Introduced by Senators Quinn, Hesselbein, Cowles, James and Marklein, cosponsored by Representatives Kurtz, Penterman, Jacobson, C. Anderson, Bare, Conley, Considine, Edming, Green, Joers, Novak, O'Connor, Ohnstad, Rozar, Sinicki, Spiros and Stubbs. Referred to Committee on Labor, Regulatory Reform, Veterans and Military Affairs.

SB251,1,4 An Act to repeal 15.497 (2) (h); to renumber 15.497 (2) (b) to (g); to renumber and amend 15.497 (2) (a); to amend 15.497 (2) (intro.); and to create 15.497 (2) (ag) (intro.), 15.497 (2) (am) and 15.497 (2) (ar) of the statutes; relating to: members of the Council on Veterans Programs.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Council on Veterans Programs advises the Board of Veterans Affairs and Department of Veterans Affairs on solutions and policy alternatives relating to the problems of veterans. The council consists of numerous representatives of various veterans organizations who are appointed by those organizations for one-year terms.

This bill adds the following members to the council, selected by the member's peers, to serve one-year terms:

1. A veteran services coordinator who is employed at a Wisconsin technical college.

2. A veteran services coordinator who is employed at a University of Wisconsin System institution.

The bill also removes the following members from the council, due to the organizations they represent being inactive:

1. A representative of the Navy Club of the U.S.A.

2. A representative of the American Ex-prisoners of War.

3. A representative of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Inc.

4. A representative of the Catholic War Veterans of the U.S.A.

5. A representative of the Army and Navy Union of the United States of America.

6. A representative of the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II.

7. A representative of the Blinded Veterans Association of Wisconsin.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB251,1 Section 1. 15.497 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB251,2,5 15.497 (2) Council on veterans programs. (intro.) There is created in the department of veterans affairs a council on veterans programs consisting of all of the following representatives appointed for one-year terms by the organization that each member represents:

SB251,2 Section 2. 15.497 (2) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 15.497 (2) (ag) 1. and amended to read:

SB251,2,18 15.497 (2) (ag) 1. One representative each of the state departments of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Marine Corps League, the Navy Club of the U.S.A., the Veterans of World War II (AMVETS), the American Ex-prisoners of War, the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Inc., the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., the Catholic War Veterans of the U.S.A., the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., the Polish Legion of American Veterans, the National Association for Black Veterans, Inc., the Army and Navy Union of the United States of America, the Wisconsin Association of Concerned Veteran Organizations, the United Women Veterans, Inc., the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II, the Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans, Inc., and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

SB251,3 Section 3. 15.497 (2) (ag) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

SB251,3,2 15.497 (2) (ag) (intro.) The following representatives appointed for one-year terms by the organization that each member represents:

SB251,4 Section 4. 15.497 (2) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

SB251,3,6 15.497 (2) (am) For a one-year term, a veteran services coordinator who is employed at a technical college in this state and who is popularly selected by other technical college veteran services coordinators in this state.

SB251,5 Section 5. 15.497 (2) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:

SB251,3,11 15.497 (2) (ar) For a one-year term, a veteran services coordinator who is employed at a University of Wisconsin System institution, as defined in s. 36.05 (9), and who is popularly selected by other University of Wisconsin System institution veteran services coordinators.

SB251,6 Section 6. 15.497 (2) (b) to (g) of the statutes are renumbered 15.497 (2) (ag) 2. to 7.

SB251,7 Section 7. 15.497 (2) (h) of the statutes is repealed.

SB251,3,15 (End)