Chapter 45

45.01(8) (8) “Memorial” means a building, structure, statue, or creation used to keep alive the remembrance of a veteran, veterans group, or an event related to a veteran and may include land upon which the building, structure, statue, or creation is located. “Memorial” does not include a museum.

45.01(9) (9) “Permanently and totally disabled veteran” means a person who is receiving 100 percent disability compensation from the U.S. department of veterans affairs under 38 USC 1101 to 1115, 1131 to 1137, and 1151 to 1162, due to a permanent and total service-connected disability.

45.01(10) (10) “Secretary” means the secretary of the department.

45.01(11) (11) “Service in a crisis zone” means any of the following:

45.01(11)(a) (a) Service in Lebanon and Grenada. A person shall be considered to have served in Lebanon or Grenada if the person was on active duty in Lebanon or its territorial waters under honorable conditions between August 1, 1982, and August 1, 1984, or in Grenada between October 23, 1983, and November 21, 1983, and meets one of the following conditions:

45.01(11)(a)1. 1. Was entitled to receive the armed forces expeditionary medal established by executive order 10977 on December 4, 1961.

45.01(11)(a)2. 2. Was entitled to receive the marine corps or navy expeditionary medal.

45.01(11)(a)3. 3. Was not entitled to receive a medal under par. (a) or (b) but submits other proof of service acceptable to the department.

45.01(11)(b) (b) Middle East crisis. A person shall be considered to have served in a Middle East crisis if, because of active duty in the U.S. armed forces or forces incorporated as a part of U.S. armed forces, any of the following applies:

45.01(11)(b)1. 1. The person was awarded the humanitarian service medal for participating in the attempt to rescue American hostages in Iran.

45.01(11)(b)2. 2. The person was awarded the valor ribbon bar by the U.S. state department for having been a hostage in Iran during the Iranian hostage crisis in 1980 and 1981.

45.01(11)(b)3. 3. The person participated in the April 14, 1986, military action against Libya.

45.01(11)(b)4. 4. The person served on the U.S.S. Stark on May 17, 1987.

45.01(11)(b)5. 5. The person served in support of Operation Desert Shield or Operation Desert Storm under all of the following conditions:

45.01(11)(b)5.a. a. Under an active duty order, a unit assignment order or an involuntary extension of an active duty order or in the Middle East or in territorial or international waters adjacent to the Middle East.

45.01(11)(b)5.b. b. Under honorable conditions.

45.01(11)(b)5.c. c. Between August 1, 1990, and the ending date of Operation Desert Shield or Operation Desert Storm, as established by the department by rule.

45.01(11)(b)6. 6. The person served for 90 days or more in support of Operation Enduring Freedom or an operation that is a successor to Operation Enduring Freedom or served in the Operation Enduring Freedom theater of operation under all of the following conditions:

45.01(11)(b)6.a. a. Under an active duty order, a unit assignment order, or an involuntary extension of an active duty order.

45.01(11)(b)6.b. b. Under honorable conditions.

45.01(11)(b)6.c. c. Between September 11, 2001, and the ending date of Operation Enduring Freedom or an operation that is a successor to Operation Enduring Freedom, as established by the department by rule.

45.01(11)(c) (c) Service in Panama. A person shall be considered to have served in Panama if the person was on active duty in the U.S. armed forces in Panama or its territorial waters under honorable conditions between December 20, 1989, and January 31, 1990.

45.01(11)(d) (d) Service in Somalia. A person shall be considered to have served in Somalia if the person was on active duty in the U.S. armed services in Somalia or in territorial waters adjacent to Somalia under honorable conditions between December 9, 1992, and the ending date of Operation Restore Hope, as established by the department by rule.

45.01(11)(e) (e) Service in Bosnia. A person shall be considered to have served in Bosnia if the person served for 90 days or more in support of Operation Balkan Endeavor or served for 90 days or more in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia including the autonomous provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina, Slovakia, or Slovenia, or in territorial waters adjacent to any of those countries, under all of the following conditions:

45.01(11)(e)1. 1. Under an active duty order, an involuntary extension of an active duty order, or a unit assignment order.

45.01(11)(e)2. 2. Under honorable conditions.

45.01(11)(e)3. 3. Between December 1, 1995, and the ending date of Operation Balkan Endeavor or a successor operation, as established by the department by rule.

45.01(12) (12) “Veteran”, except in s. 45.001, means any of the following:

45.01(12)(a) (a) A person who has served on active duty for at least one qualifying term of service under pars. (b) to (d) under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces during a war period or in a crisis zone.

45.01(12)(b) (b) A person who has served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces under honorable conditions, for 2 continuous years or more or for the full period of his or her initial service obligation, whichever is less.

45.01(12)(c) (c) A person who has served on active duty for 90 days or more under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces during a war period or for any period of service under section 1 of executive order 10957 dated August 10, 1961.

45.01(12)(d) (d) A person whose term of service in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces under honorable conditions entitled him or her to receive the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, established by executive order 10977 on December 4, 1961, the Vietnam Service Medal established by executive order 11231 on July 8, 1965, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, or an equivalent expeditionary or service medal.

45.01(12)(e) (e) A person who was honorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces or from forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces for a service-connected disability, for a disability subsequently adjudicated to have been service connected, or for reasons of hardship.

45.01(12)(f) (f) A person who was released under honorable conditions from the U.S. armed forces or from forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces due to a reduction in the U.S. armed forces.

45.01(12)(g) (g) A person who died while in service in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces.

45.01(12)(h) (h) A person who, while serving in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces, is missing in action.

45.01(12)(i) (i) A person who died as the result of a service-connected disability.

45.01(12)(j) (j) A person who died in the line of duty while on inactive or active duty for training purposes in the U.S. armed forces, in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces, or in the national guard.

45.01(12)(k) (k) For purposes of ss. 343.14 and 343.17 only, a person who was admitted into the United States as a refugee from Laos under 8 USC 1157 and served with a special guerilla unit, or irregular forces, operating from a base in Laos in support of the U.S. military during the period beginning February 28, 1961, and ending September 18, 1978. The person shall provide documentation of the person’s service with a special guerilla unit or irregular forces as provided under section 4 of the federal Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000, P.L. 106-207.

45.01(12m) (12m) “Veterans home” means the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove, the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, and the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls.

45.01(13) (13) “War period” means any of the following:

45.01(13)(a) (a) Indian War: between 1860 and 1898.

45.01(13)(b) (b) Spanish-American War: between April 21, 1898, and April 11, 1899.

45.01(13)(c) (c) Philippine Insurrection: between April 12, 1899, and July 4, 1902 (extended to July 15, 1903, if actually engaged in Moro Province hostilities).

45.01(13)(d) (d) Boxer Rebellion: between June 16, 1900, and May 12, 1901.

45.01(13)(e) (e) Mexican border service: between June 19, 1916, and April 5, 1917.

45.01(13)(f) (f) World War I: between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918 (extended to April 1, 1920, if service was in Russia).

45.01(13)(g) (g) World War II: between August 27, 1940, and July 25, 1947.

45.01(13)(h) (h) Korean conflict: between June 27, 1950, and January 31, 1955.

45.01(13)(i) (i) Vietnam War: between August 5, 1964, and January 1, 1977, excepting service on active duty for training purposes only.

45.01(13)(j) (j) 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 by rule.

45.01(13)(k) (k) Afghanistan War: between September 11, 2001, and the ending date of Operation Enduring Freedom or an operation that is a successor to Operation Enduring Freedom, as established by the department by rule.

45.01(13)(m) (m) Iraq War: between March 19, 2003, and the ending date of Operation Iraqi Freedom or an operation that is a successor to Operation Iraqi Freedom, as established by the department by rule.

45.01(13)(n) (n) Any period after the period specified in par. (m) that the department determines and designates by rule, after reviewing the criteria used to establish the war periods under pars. (a) to (m) and after consultation with the U.S. department of defense, to be a period when the United States is in a conflict that places persons at such a risk that the period should be designated as a war period for purposes of this chapter.

45.01 History History: 2005 a. 22, 253; 2017 a. 365; 2023 a. 205.

45.02 45.02 Eligibility for benefits.

45.02(1) (1) Any person whose service on active duty with the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces makes that person eligible for general U.S. department of veterans affairs benefits shall be considered to have served under honorable conditions for purposes of this chapter.

45.02(2) (2) Except as provided in sub. (3) and s. 45.51 (6m), to be eligible for benefits under this chapter an applicant shall be a resident of and living in this state at the time of making application or the veteran from whom the applicant derives eligibility is deceased, and the veteran from whom eligibility is derived meets one of the following conditions:

45.02(2)(a) (a) His or her selective service local board, if any, and home of record at the time of entry or reentry into active service as shown on the veteran’s report of separation from the U.S. armed forces for a qualifying period were in this state.

45.02(2)(b) (b) The veteran was a resident of this state at the time of entry or reentry into active duty.

45.02(2)(c) (c) The veteran was a resident of this state for any consecutive 12-month period after entry or reentry into service and before the date of his or her application or death.

45.02(3) (3) Veterans who are otherwise eligible and who are serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces need not be living in this state on the date of application to qualify for benefits from the department.

45.02(4) (4) If the department determines that a person applying for a benefit under this chapter meets the residency requirement under sub. (2) (c), the department may not require the person to reestablish that he or she meets that residency requirement when he or she later applies for any other benefit under this chapter that requires that residency.

45.02 History History: 2005 a. 22; 2013 a. 20.

45.03 45.03 Department of veterans affairs.

45.03(1) (1) Policy. It is the policy of the state to give health, educational, and economic assistance to veterans and their dependents who are residents of this state to the extent and under the conditions determined by the board within the limitations set forth in this section.

45.03(2) (2) Rule-making; records. The secretary, after consulting with the board, may promulgate rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter and the powers and duties conferred upon it. The records and files of the department of military affairs and of any other state department or officer shall, upon request, be made available to the secretary or to the board.

45.03(2m) (2m) Rule-making; board comments. The secretary shall provide the board with a copy of any rule that the department is preparing as a proposed rule under s. 227.14 (1). The board may prepare a report containing written comments and its opinion regarding the proposed rule. In preparing the proposed rule, the department shall include in the analysis under s. 227.14 (2) a copy of any such written comments and opinion.

45.03(3) (3) Council on veterans programs.

45.03(3)(a) (a) The council on veterans programs created under s. 15.497 shall advise the board and the department on solutions and policy alternatives relating to the problems of veterans.

45.03(3)(b) (b) The council on veterans programs and the department, 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 September 30 of every odd-numbered year. 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.

45.03(4) (4) Department staff.

45.03(4)(a) (a) The department shall employ staff necessary to carry out its functions. The secretary shall appoint under the classified service such persons as are necessary to carry out the policy of the department. All persons appointed by the department shall, if possible, be veterans and preference shall be given to disabled veterans.

45.03(4)(b) (b) The department upon request shall assist without charge all persons residing in the state having claims against the United States where the claims have arisen out of or by reason of service in the U.S. armed forces. The department may act as agent or power of attorney in pursuing claims for persons requesting the department to do so.

45.03(4)(c) (c) The department shall employ regional coordinators. The duties of a regional coordinator shall include providing direct claims and benefit application assistance to veterans. The regional coordinators shall coordinate claims and benefit application assistance with the appropriate county veterans service officers to maximize the level of assistance and benefits provided to veterans.

45.03(4)(d) (d) The department shall employ 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.

45.03(4)(e) (e) The department shall employ mobile claims officers in each of the department’s regions. The mobile claims officers shall provide claims and benefit assistance to veterans. The mobile claims officers shall coordinate that claims and benefit assistance with the appropriate county veterans service officers to maximize the level of assistance and benefits provided to veterans.

45.03(5) (5) Department powers to provide structures, facilities, and permanent improvements.

45.03(5)(a) (a) In this subsection, unless the context requires otherwise:

45.03(5)(a)1. 1. “Existing building” in relation to any conveyance, lease, or sublease made under par. (c) 1. means all detention, treatment, administrative, recreational, infirmary, hospital, vocational, and academic buildings; all dormitories and cottages; all storage facilities, heating plants, sewage disposal plants, and other buildings, structures, facilities, and permanent improvements that in the judgment of the board are needed or useful for the purposes of the department, and all equipment for them and all improvements and additions to them that were erected, constructed, or installed prior to the making of the conveyance, lease, or sublease.

45.03(5)(a)2. 2. “New building” in relation to any conveyance, lease, or sublease made under par. (c) 1. means all detention, treatment, administrative, recreational, infirmary, hospital, vocational, and academic buildings; all dormitories and cottages; all storage facilities, heating plants, sewage disposal plants, and other buildings, structures, facilities, and permanent improvements as in the judgment of the board are needed or useful for the purposes of the department, and all equipment for them and all improvements and additions to them that are erected, constructed, or installed after the making of the conveyance, lease, or sublease.

45.03(5)(a)3. 3. “Nonprofit corporation” means a nonstock corporation that is organized under ch. 181 and that is a nonprofit corporation, as defined in s. 181.0103 (17).

45.03(5)(b) (b) The department may acquire by gift, purchase, or condemnation property for the purposes of providing a headquarters and museum building for the department.

45.03(5)(c) (c)

45.03(5)(c)1. 1. To provide new buildings and to enable the construction and financing of new buildings, to refinance indebtedness created by a nonprofit corporation for the purpose of providing a new building or buildings or additions or improvements to a new building that is located on land owned by, or owned by the state and held for, the department or on lands of the institutions under the jurisdiction of the department or by the nonprofit corporation, or for any one or more of these purposes, the department has the following powers and duties:

45.03(5)(c)1.a. a. Without limitation by reason of any other provisions of the statutes except ss. 13.48 (14) (am) and 16.848 (1), unless otherwise required by law, the power to sell and to convey title in fee simple to a nonprofit corporation any land and any existing buildings owned by the state that are under the jurisdiction of the department for the consideration and upon the terms and conditions as in the judgment of the board are in the public interest.

45.03(5)(c)1.b. b. Unless otherwise required by law, the power to lease to a nonprofit corporation for a term or terms not exceeding 50 years each any land and any existing buildings owned by the state that are under the jurisdiction of the department upon the terms and conditions as in the judgment of the board are in the public interest.

45.03(5)(c)1.c. c. The power to lease or sublease from the nonprofit corporation, and to make available for public use, any land, or any land and existing buildings conveyed or leased to such nonprofit corporation under subd. 1. a. and b., and any new buildings erected upon such land or upon any other land owned by the nonprofit corporation, upon the terms, conditions, and rentals, subject to available appropriations, as in the judgment of the board are in the public interest.

45.03(5)(c)1.d. d. The duty to submit the plans and specifications for all new buildings to the building commission for approval whenever required by law and to submit plans and specifications for all new buildings and all conveyances, leases, and subleases made under this subsection to the department of administration and the governor for written approval before they are finally adopted, executed, and delivered.