45.44(1)(a)8.
8. A license, permit, or certificate issued by the department of public instruction.
45.44(1)(a)16.
16. A license, permit, or certificate of certification or registration issued under
chs. 440 to
480.
45.44(1)(a)19.
19. A license to practice law or admission to the state bar.
45.44(1)(b)
(b) "Licensing agency" means the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection; the department of children and families; the department of financial institutions; the department of health services; the department of natural resources; the department of public instruction; the department of revenue; the department of safety and professional services and its examining boards and affiliated credentialing boards; the department of transportation; the department of workforce development; the board of commissioners of public lands; the government accountability board; or the office of the commissioner of insurance.
45.44(2)
(2) Program. The department of veterans affairs shall establish and maintain a program under which the department shall verify whether an applicant is eligible for a fee waiver for the issuance of a license. Before approving a fee waiver, the licensing agency, or the supreme court, if the supreme court agrees, shall request the department of veterans affairs to verify whether the applicant for the license is a eligible for a fee waiver. If the department verifies that the applicant for a license is eligible for a fee waiver, the licensing agency or the supreme court shall waive the accompanying fee for the license.
45.44(3)
(3) Eligibility. For the purpose of being eligible for a license fee waiver under the program established under
sub. (2), an applicant shall be applying for an initial license, shall not have received a previous fee waiver under the program for any type of license, and shall be all of the following:
45.44(3)(c)1.
1. A member of a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces or of the national guard, as defined in
32 USC 101 (3), who has served under honorable conditions for at least one year beginning on the member's date of enlistment in a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces or in the national guard.
45.44(3)(c)2.
2. A person who was discharged from a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces or from the national guard, as defined in
32 USC 101 (3), if that discharge was an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions.
45.44(4)
(4) Information on program. The department of veterans affairs shall establish an Internet Web site informing the public of the fee waiver program and shall include a list of the licenses and the licensing agencies to contact to receive each fee waiver. Each licensing agency shall also provide on their Internet Web site information regarding the fee waiver program and a list of the licenses that the licensing agency issues that are eligible for the fee waiver.
45.44 History
History: 2011 a. 209;
2013 a. 20; s. 35.17 correction in (1) (a) 11.
45.45
45.45
Grant to VETransfer, Inc. 45.45(1)
(1)
Payment. From the appropriation under
s. 20.485 (2) (vm), the department shall pay $500,000 to VETransfer, Inc., in fiscal year 2013-14, subject to the requirements under
subs. (2) to
(5).
45.45(2)
(2) Grants to veteran-owned start-up businesses. Of the moneys VETransfer, Inc., receives under
sub. (1), VETransfer, Inc., shall grant at least $300,000 to veterans who are residents of this state or to businesses owned by veterans who are residents of this state. A veteran or a veteran's business that is awarded a grant under this subsection may use the grant only to pay for costs associated with the start-up of a business located in this state that the veteran owns.
45.45(3)
(3) Veteran entrepreneurship training. Of the moneys VETransfer, Inc., receives under
sub. (1), VETransfer, Inc., may use up to $200,000 to provide entrepreneurial training and related services to veterans who are residents of this state.
45.45(4)
(4) Reporting requirements. Annually, by March 1, until 2018 or one year following the date established by the department under
sub. (5) (a), VETransfer, Inc., shall submit to the secretary, the governor, and the secretary of administration a report that includes all of the following:
45.45(4)(a)
(a) The most recent financial statement for VETransfer, Inc.
45.45(4)(b)
(b) A detailed description of the criteria VETransfer, Inc., used to determine who received a grant under
sub. (2) during the previous year.
45.45(4)(c)
(c) A verified statement describing in detail the grants VETransfer, Inc., made under
sub. (2), and the expenditures VETransfer, Inc., made under
sub. (3), during the previous year, signed by an independent certified public accountant and the director or principal officer of VETransfer, Inc., to attest to the accuracy of the verified statement. The verified statement shall include all of the following concerning each award of a grant VETransfer, Inc., made under
sub. (2) during the previous year:
45.45(4)(c)1.
1. The name and address of the grant recipient and the name and address of the start-up business.
45.45(4)(c)2.
2. The names and addresses of all of the start-up business's owners, including an identification of the business's owners who are veterans, and, if the grant recipient was a business other than the start-up business, the names and addresses of the grant recipient's owners, including an identification of the business's owners who are veterans.
45.45(4)(c)3.
3. The names and addresses of the start-up business's board of directors and key management employees and, if the grant recipient was a business other than the start-up business, the names and addresses of the grant recipient's board of directors and key management employees.
45.45(4)(c)4.
4. A description of the nature of the start-up business.
45.45(4)(c)5.
5. Any information the grant recipient submitted to VETransfer, Inc., to apply for the grant.
45.45(4)(c)6.
6. The amount of the grant and the date VETransfer, Inc., awarded the grant.
45.45(4)(c)7.
7. A statement of the number of employees the start-up business employed on January 1 of the previous year and the number of employees the start-up business employed on December 31 of the previous year.
45.45(4)(d)
(d) A summary of all investments and grants of any kind that VETransfer, Inc., made during the previous year.
45.45(5)(a)(a) Except as provided under
par. (b), VETransfer, Inc., may not expend any moneys it receives under
sub. (1) after June 30, 2017, or a later date established by the department.
45.45(5)(b)
(b) VETransfer, Inc., shall pay to the secretary of administration for deposit in the general fund any moneys it receives under
sub. (1) but does not expend by June 30, 2017, or by a later date established by the department under
par. (a).
45.45 History
History: 2013 a. 20,
190.
45.46
45.46
Grants to nonprofit organizations that serve veterans and their families. From the appropriation under
s. 20.485 (2) (tf), the department may make grants of up to a total of $250,000 to nonprofit organizations, as defined in
s. 108.02 (19), to provide financial assistance or other services to veterans and their dependents. The maximum amount of a grant that the department may make to any nonprofit organization during any fiscal year is $25,000.
45.46 History
History: 2013 a. 190.
45.47
45.47
Record-keeping and audit requirements for grant programs administered by the department. 45.47(1)(1)
Definition. In this section, "grant recipient" means a county, American Indian tribe or band, nonprofit organization, or other person that is not an individual and that receives a grant from the department under this chapter.
45.47(2)
(2) Requirements. Each grant recipient shall maintain records as required by the department concerning the grant recipient's expenditure of grant moneys. Each grant recipient shall give the department access to those records upon request of the department, and the department may audit those records to ensure compliance with applicable grant requirements.
45.47(3)
(3) Reduction, suspension, or termination of grant. If a grant recipient fails to comply with
sub. (2), the department may, in addition to any other legal remedy available to the department, reduce, suspend, or terminate a grant the department made to the grant recipient.
45.47 History
History: 2013 a. 190.
VETERANS HOMES
45.50
45.50
Veterans homes; management. 45.50(1)
(1)
Veterans Home at King. The department shall operate the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King and employ a commandant for the home.
45.50(2b)
(2b) Veterans Home at Union Grove. Subject to authorization under
ss. 13.48 (10) and
20.924 (1), the department may construct or renovate and operate residential, treatment, and nursing care facilities, including a community-based residential facility, to be known as the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove. The department shall employ a commandant for the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove.
45.50(2d)
(2d) Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls. Subject to authorization under
ss. 13.48 (10) and
20.924 (1), the department may develop, construct or renovate, and operate residential, treatment, and nursing care facilities and programs for veterans in northwestern Wisconsin, on the property of the Northern Wisconsin Center for the Developmentally Disabled in Chippewa Falls to be known as the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls. The programs and facilities may include an assisted living facility, a skilled nursing facility, a medical clinic, an adult day health care center, an activities center, and a veterans assistance program. The department may employ a commandant for the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls.
45.50(2m)(a)(a) The department shall provide complete personal maintenance and medical care, including programs and facilities that promote comfort, recreation, well-being, or rehabilitation, to all members of veterans homes.
45.50(2m)(b)
(b) The department may employ any personnel that are necessary for the proper management and operation of veterans homes. In compliance with the compensation plan established pursuant to
s. 230.12 (3), a commandant may recommend to the director of personnel charges for meals, living quarters, laundry, and other services furnished to employees and members of the employees' family maintained at veterans homes.
45.50(2m)(c)
(c) For the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls, in lieu of the department employing personnel as authorized under
par. (b) and providing the maintenance and medical care as specified in
par. (a), the department may enter into an agreement with a private entity to operate the home and perform such management and care using personnel employed by the private entity.
45.50(2m)(d)
(d) Veterans homes with a skilled nursing facility shall include a geriatric evaluation, research, and education program. The program shall be funded from the appropriations under
s. 20.485 (1) (hm) and
(mj).
45.50(2m)(e)
(e) All moneys received as reimbursement for services to veterans homes employees or as payment for meals served to guests at veterans homes shall be accumulated in an account named "employee maintenance credits" and shall be paid into the general fund within one week after receipt and credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.485 (1) (gk). This paragraph does not apply to any agreement entered into pursuant to
par. (c).
45.50(2m)(f)
(f) The department may develop a program to provide stipends to individuals to attend school and receive the necessary credentials to become employed at veterans homes. If the department develops a stipend program under this paragraph, the department shall promulgate rules related to the program, including the application process, eligibility criteria, stipend amount, repayment provisions, and other provisions that the department determines are necessary to administer the program.
45.50 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
VA 18, Wis. adm. code.
45.50(3)
(3) Land acquisition. The department may acquire, by gift, purchase, or condemnation, lands necessary for the purposes of the veterans homes. Title to the lands shall be taken in the name of this state and shall be held by and for the uses and purposes of the veterans homes. No payment may be made out of the state treasury or otherwise for the land until the title has been examined and approved by the attorney general. Every such deed of conveyance shall be immediately recorded in the office of the proper register of deeds and filed with the secretary of state.
45.50(4)(a)(a) The department may use moneys appropriated under
s. 20.485 (1) (h) to purchase, erect, construct, or remodel buildings, to provide additions and improvements, to provide equipment, materials, supplies, and services necessary for the purposes of veterans homes, and for expenses that are necessary and incidental to acquisition of property under
s. 45.51 (10) and
(11).
45.50(4)(b)
(b) The department may accept gifts, bequests, grants, or donations of money or of property from private sources to be administered by the department for the purposes of veterans homes. All moneys received shall be paid into the general fund and appropriated as provided in
s. 20.485 (1) (h), except that gifts or grants received specifically for the purposes of the geriatric program at veterans homes are appropriated as provided in
s. 20.485 (1) (hm). The department may not apply to the gifts and bequests fund interest on certificate of savings deposits for those members who do not receive maximum monthly retained income. The department shall establish for those persons upon their request individual accounts with savings and interest applied as the member requests.
45.50(6)(a)(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.
45.50(6)(b)
(b) Agreements under this subsection shall be drafted to hold harmless the department, to require all expense to be paid by the applicant, and to be terminable by the department when other water and sewer services become available to the applicant.
45.50(7)
(7) Enforcement authority. A commandant and employees designated by the commandant may summarily arrest all persons within or upon the grounds of veterans homes who are guilty of any offense against the laws of this state or the rules governing veterans homes. For this purpose, a commandant and deputies have the power of constables.
45.50(8)
(8) Fire fighting services. A fire department at a veterans home in response to emergency fire calls may make runs and render fire fighting service beyond the confines of a veterans home.
45.50(10)
(10) Hospitals authorized. The department may establish a hospital at a veterans home. All hospitals established under this subsection may not have a total approved bed capacity, as defined in
s. 150.01 (4m), greater than 16 beds. The approved bed capacity of a skilled nursing facility operated at a veterans home is reduced by one bed for each approved bed at the hospital established under this subsection at that home.
45.50(11)
(11) Medical assistance assessment exemption. A Wisconsin veterans home is exempt from paying any assessment imposed on the licensed beds in the home under
s. 50.14 (2) (am).
45.50 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
VA 6, Wis. adm. code.
45.51
45.51
Eligibility for membership. 45.51(1)
(1)
General statement. Within the limitations of veterans homes, the department may admit to membership in veterans homes persons who meet the qualifications set forth in this section.
45.51(2)(a)(a) The following persons are eligible for benefits under this subchapter if they meet the applicable requirements of this subchapter:
45.51(2)(a)2.
2. A person who has served on active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces for 90 days or more and at least one day during a war period or under section 1 of
executive order 10957, dated August 10, 1961.
45.51(2)(a)3.
3. A spouse, surviving spouse, or parent of a person under
subd. 1. or
2.
45.51(2)(b)
(b) A person under
par. (a) 1. or
2. may be admitted to a veterans home if the person meets all of the following conditions:
45.51(2)(b)2.
2. Is permanently incapacitated due to physical disability or age from any substantially gainful occupation.
45.51(2)(b)3.
3. Has not been convicted of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude or, if so, has produced sufficient evidence of subsequent good conduct and reformation of character as to be satisfactory to the department.
45.51(2)(b)4.
4. Provides a complete financial statement containing information that the department determines is necessary to evaluate the financial circumstances of the person. The department may require a member of a veterans home to provide the department with information necessary for the department to determine the financial circumstances of the person. If a person fails to provide the additional information, the department may discharge the person from the veterans home.
