Chapter 45

45.08(2) (2) If the nature of the duties of the department, agency, court, or political subdivision necessitates the employment of persons eligible for a leave of absence under sub. (1), the department, agency, court, or political subdivision shall arrange and assign the necessary work so as to permit the largest possible numbers of eligible persons to have a leave of absence either all or part of Memorial Day.

45.08 History History: 2005 a. 22.

45.09 45.09 Veterans as classroom volunteers.

45.09(1) (1) In this section:

45.09(1)(a) (a) “Private school” has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (3r).

45.09(1)(b) (b) “Public school” has the meaning given in s. 115.01 (1).

45.09(1)(c) (c) “School term” has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (12).

45.09(1)(d) (d) “Tribal school” has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (15m).

45.09(2) (2) Subject to sub. (3), the department shall award a certificate of achievement and appreciation to any veteran who completes 20 hours of volunteer service in a public, private, or tribal school during a school term.

45.09(3) (3) A certificate shall be awarded under sub. (2) if all of the following requirements are met:

45.09(3)(a) (a) The volunteer service consists of classroom service that involves direct interaction with pupils, with an emphasis on sharing the lessons the veteran learned from his or her military experience.

45.09(3)(b) (b) The veteran is not an employee of the school or school district during the term in which the volunteer service takes place.

45.09(3)(c) (c) By July 1 after the school term in which the volunteer service takes place, the veteran submits to the department a form signed by the school principal or school district administrator verifying that the veteran fulfilled the 20 hours of volunteer service specified under par. (a).

45.09 History History: 2007 a. 22; 2009 a. 302.

45.095 45.095 Donation of abandoned vehicles. A nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance or other services to veterans and their dependents that receives a vehicle donated under s. 342.40 shall use at least 50 percent of the proceeds obtained through the donation to serve the needs of active duty service members, veterans, or the families of veterans.

45.095 History History: 2015 a. 106.

45.10 45.10 Veteran appearances. The department may reimburse any veteran who incurred travel expenses relating to an appearance that occurred at the request of the state, subject to the following:

45.10(1) (1) A veteran seeking reimbursement shall submit to the department documentation of travel expenses incurred.

45.10(2) (2) Notwithstanding ss. 16.53 (12) (c) and 20.916 (8) and (9), the department may reimburse all documented travel expenses but reimbursement shall not exceed $2,000 annually per veteran.

45.10 History History: 2015 a. 55.

45.12 45.12 Wisconsin veteran-owned business logotypes.

45.12(1) (1) In this section:

45.12(1)(a) (a) “Disabled veteran-owned business” means a business certified by the department of administration under s. 16.283 (3).

45.12(1)(b) (b) “Veteran-owned business” means each of the following:

45.12(1)(b)1. 1. A disabled veteran-owned business.

45.12(1)(b)2. 2. A business that is certified by the department for purposes of s. 16.75 (4).

45.12(1)(b)3. 3. A business not included under subds. 1. and 2. that the department certifies for purposes of this section as being at least 51 percent owned by one or more veterans.

45.12(2) (2) The department shall design an official logotype appropriate for use by veteran-owned businesses in this state. The logotype design shall contain the words “Wisconsin Veteran-Owned Business.”

45.12(2m) (2m) 

45.12(2m)(a) (a) The department shall certify each farmer who applies to the department to use the logotype under par. (b) if the farmer is one of the following:

45.12(2m)(a)1. 1. A veteran.

45.12(2m)(a)2. 2. An immediate family member of a veteran under s. 45.01 (12) (g) to (i).

45.12(2m)(b) (b) The department, in consultation with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall design an official logotype appropriate for use on agricultural products produced by persons certified under par. (a).

45.12(3) (3) The department may design an official logotype, in addition to the one designed under sub. (2), appropriate for use by disabled veteran-owned businesses in this state. The logotype design shall contain the words “Wisconsin Disabled Veteran-Owned Business.”

45.12(4) (4) The department shall consult with the department of administration to design the official logotype under sub. (2) and the official logotype under sub. (3), if any.

45.12 History History: 2015 a. 384; 2017 a. 121; 2017 a. 364 s. 49.

45.13 45.13 Wisconsin commission for the United States semiquincentennial commission.

45.13(1) (1) 

45.13(1)(a) (a) The Wisconsin commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial commission shall plan, coordinate, and implement a program to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and specifically highlight the role of Wisconsin in that event and the impact of its people on the nation’s past, present, and future.

45.13(1)(b) (b) The commission shall hold public meetings to solicit the input of citizens throughout the state in developing programs for the semiquincentennial.

45.13(1)(c) (c) The program is subject to the support of a majority of the commission, and a majority of the members constitutes a quorum.

45.13(1)(d) (d) Members may be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred when performing functions under this section.

45.13(2) (2) The commission shall coordinate with federal, state, local, and private agencies on infrastructural improvements and on projects to welcome regional, national, and international tourists.

45.13(3) (3) 

45.13(3)(a) (a) The commission shall plan and prepare educational events and opportunities relating to the semiquincentennial for use by public, private, and tribal elementary and secondary schools throughout the state. The commission shall provide informational materials about events and opportunities planned and prepared under this paragraph to the department of public instruction for distribution to public, private, and tribal elementary and secondary schools.

45.13(3)(b) (b) Each public elementary or secondary school, including each charter school, shall provide at least one event or educational opportunity under par. (a) to pupils in the 2025-26 school year.

45.13(3)(c) (c) For each public elementary or secondary school in a school district, the school board of the school district and, for each charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), the operator of the charter school shall report to the department of public instruction the event or educational opportunity that the school held to satisfy the requirement under par. (b). By no later than September 1, 2026, the department of public instruction shall compile and submit to the commission the information the department of public instruction received under this paragraph.

45.13(4) (4) 

45.13(4)(a) (a) The department and the state historical society shall work together to support the commission in the performance of its functions.

45.13(4)(b) (b) The state historical society shall, upon request of the commission, in accordance with its powers as described in s. 44.015 (8), contract with the Wisconsin Historical Foundation, Inc., for the purpose of providing support to the commission in performance of its functions of accepting donations, making procurements, expending funds, and entering into contracts, leases, or other agreements.

45.13(4)(c) (c) Upon request of the commission, any state agencies, as defined in s. 20.001 (1), shall cooperate with the commission in the performance of its functions.

45.13(5) (5) The commission may do any of the following:

45.13(5)(a) (a) Accept donations, make procurements, and expend funds.

45.13(5)(b) (b) Designate special committees with representatives from federal, state, local, and private groups to plan, develop, and coordinate specific activities.

45.13(5)(c) (c) Enter into contracts, leases, or other agreements.

45.13(5)(d) (d) Assume such other functions authorized by law as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

45.13(5)(e) (e) Appoint such committees as may be required to carry out its functions.

45.13(6) (6) 

45.13(6)(a) (a) No later than December 5, 2022, and annually thereafter until 2027, the commission shall submit a report to the governor and the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) that contains all of the following:

45.13(6)(a)1. 1. The commission’s recommendations to comply with this section.

45.13(6)(a)2. 2. A detailed timeline through 2027 of the plans for all events.

45.13(6)(a)3. 3. An accounting of all expenses incurred per year, all funds expended per year, and all donations, grants, or other moneys received per year by the commission in developing the program.

45.13(6)(a)4. 4. Any recommendations for legislation necessary to implement any aspect of the program.

45.13(6)(a)5. 5. A report on all activities and events that occurred each year.

45.13(6)(a)6. 6. Information received from the department of public instruction under sub. (3) (c).

45.13(6)(b) (b) No later than January 1, 2027, the commission shall complete its duties and submit a final report to the governor and the legislature under s. 13.172 (2). The final report shall contain an accounting of all funds expended and received and all activities and events. The commission shall cease to exist on January 1, 2027, and shall disburse any of its property to federal, state, local, and private entities.

45.13 History History: 2021 a. 95.

subch. II of ch. 45 SUBCHAPTER II

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

45.20 45.20 Tuition reimbursement.

45.20(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

45.20(1)(a) (a) “Institution of higher education” has the meaning given in 20 USC 1001 (a).

45.20(1)(c) (c) “Part-time classroom study” means any of the following:

45.20(1)(c)1. 1. Enrollment in courses for which no more than 11 semester or the equivalent trimester or quarter credits will be given upon satisfactory completion.

45.20(1)(c)2. 2. Enrollment in courses during a summer semester or session.

45.20(1)(d) (d) “Tuition,” when referring to the University of Wisconsin System, means academic fees and segregated fees; when referring to the technical colleges, means “program fees” and “additional fees” as described in s. 38.24 (1m) and (1s); and when referring to a high school, a school that is approved under s. 45.03 (11), or a proprietary school that is approved under s. 440.52, means the charge for the courses for which a person is enrolled.

45.20(2) (2) Tuition reimbursement program.

45.20(2)(a) (a) Administration.

45.20(2)(a)1. 1. The department shall administer a tuition reimbursement program for eligible veterans enrolling as undergraduates in any institution of higher education in this state, enrolling in a school that is approved under s. 45.03 (11), enrolling in a proprietary school that is approved under s. 440.52, enrolling in a public or private high school, enrolling in a tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), in any grade from 9 to 12, or receiving a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 36.27 (2r) or 39.47.

45.20(2)(a)2. 2. A veteran who is a resident of this state and otherwise qualified to receive benefits under this subsection may receive the benefits under this subsection 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. 45.03 (11), or from a proprietary school that is approved under s. 440.52, if any of the following applies:

45.20(2)(a)2.a. a. The part-time classroom study is not offered within 50 miles of the veteran’s residence by any school or institution under this paragraph and the educational institution from which the study is offered is located not more than 50 miles from the boundary line of this state.

45.20(2)(a)2.b. b. The correspondence course is not offered in this state.

45.20(2)(b) (b) Eligibility.

45.20(2)(b)1. 1. A veteran is eligible for the tuition reimbursement program if he or she meets all of the following criteria:

45.20(2)(b)1.a. a. The annual income of the veteran and his or her spouse does not exceed $50,000 plus $1,000 for each dependent in excess of 2 dependents.

45.20(2)(b)1.c. c. The veteran is a resident at the time of application for the program and was a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry into service or was a resident for any consecutive 12-month period after entry into service and before the date of his or her application. If a person applying for a benefit under this subsection meets the residency requirement of 12 consecutive months, 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.

45.20(2)(b)2. 2. In determining eligibility under this subsection, the department shall verify all reported income amounts.

45.20(2)(b)3. 3. A veteran is not eligible under this program if the veteran has an undergraduate degree from any institution of higher education.

45.20(2)(c) (c) Program benefits.