Chapter 45

45.41(2)(am) (am) Upon application the department may make a payment to any state veterans organization that establishes that it, or its national organization, or both, has maintained a full-time service office at the regional office for 5 consecutive years out of the 10-year period immediately preceding the application. Any payment shall be calculated based on the total amount of all salaries and travel expenses under sub. (3) paid during the previous fiscal year by the state veterans organization to employees engaged in veterans claims service and stationed at the regional office. The department shall pay an amount equal to 50 percent of all salaries and travel expenses under sub. (3) or $175,000, whichever is less, to a recipient under this paragraph.

45.41(2)(e) (e) An organization that receives a payment under par. (am) shall maintain records as required by the department concerning the organization’s expenditure of the payment. That organization shall give the department access to those records upon request of the department, and the department may audit those records.

45.41(3) (3) A state veterans organization shall file an application annually with the department for the previous 12-month period ending on March 31 of the year in which it is filed. The application shall contain a statement of salaries and travel expenses paid to employees of the organization engaged in veterans claims service activities at the regional office by the state veterans organization covering the period for which application for a payment is made. The statement shall be certified as correct by a certified public accountant licensed or certified under ch. 442 and sworn to as correct by the adjutant or principal officer of the state veterans organization. The application shall include the state organization’s financial statement for its previous fiscal year and evidence of claims service activity that the department requires. The state veterans organization shall submit with its initial application sufficient evidence to establish that it or its national organization, or both, has maintained a full-time service office at the regional office for 5 consecutive years out of the 10-year period immediately preceding the application. Subsequent applications shall be accompanied by an affidavit by the adjutant or principal officer of the state veterans organization stating that the organization, on its own or with its national organization, maintained a full-time service office at the regional office for the entire 12-month period for which application for a payment is made.

45.41(3m) (3m) If the total amount of payments committed to be paid under sub. (2) (am) exceeds the amount available for the payments from the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (vw), the department shall prorate the reimbursement payments among the state veterans organizations receiving the payments.

45.41(4) (4) 

45.41(4)(a) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (s), the department shall annually provide a payment of $200,000 to the Wisconsin department of the Disabled American Veterans for the provision of transportation services to veterans.

45.41(4)(b) (b) The Wisconsin department of the Disabled American Veterans shall maintain records as required by the department concerning its expenditure of the payment under par. (a). The Wisconsin department of the Disabled American Veterans shall give the department access to those records upon request of the department and the department may audit those records to ensure that the Wisconsin department of the Disabled American Veterans is using the payment under par. (a) to provide transportation services to veterans.

45.41(5) (5) From the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (vs), the department may annually grant up to $75,000 to the Wisconsin department of the American Legion for the operation of Camp American Legion.

45.41 History History: 2005 a. 22; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20; 2017 a. 59; 2021 a. 58.

45.41 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. VA 7, Wis. adm. code.

45.42 45.42 Veterans personal loans.

45.42(1) (1) It is determined that the loan program established under this section is a special purpose credit program for an economically disadvantaged class of persons for purposes of 15 USC 1691-1691f.

45.42(2) (2) The department may lend a veteran, a veteran’s unremarried surviving spouse, or a deceased veteran’s child not more than $25,000, or a lesser amount established by the department under sub. (9). The department may prescribe loan conditions, but the term of the loan may not exceed 10 years, or a shorter term established by the department under sub. (12). The department shall ensure that the proceeds of any loan made under this section shall first be applied to pay any delinquent child support or maintenance payments owed by the person receiving the loan and then to pay any past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses owed by the person receiving the loan.

45.42(3) (3) The department may lend to the remarried surviving spouse of a deceased veteran or to the parent of a deceased veteran’s child not more than $25,000, or a lesser amount established by the department under sub. (9), for the education of the deceased veteran’s child.

45.42(4) (4) The department may execute necessary instruments, collect interest and principal, compromise indebtedness, sue and be sued, post bonds, and write off indebtedness that it considers uncollectible. If a loan under this section is secured by a real estate mortgage, the department may exercise the rights of owners and mortgagees generally and the rights and powers set forth in s. 45.32, 2017 stats. The department shall pay all interest and principal repaid on the loan into the veterans trust fund.

45.42(5) (5) The department may charge loan expenses incurred under this section to the loan applicant. The department shall pay all expenses received under this subsection into the veterans trust fund.

45.42(6) (6) The department may provide a loan under this section to an applicant whose name appears on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b) only if the applicant does one of the following:

45.42(6)(a) (a) Provides to the department a repayment agreement that the applicant has entered into, that has been accepted by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5), and that has been kept current for the 6-month period immediately preceding the date of the application.

45.42(6)(b) (b) Provides to the department a statement that the applicant is not delinquent in child support or maintenance payments and does not owe past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses, signed by the department of children and families or its designee within 7 working days before the date of the application.

45.42(6)(c) (c) Agrees to use the loan proceeds to pay any delinquent child support or maintenance payments and to pay any past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses if the applicant fails to meet the requirements under par. (a) or (b).

45.42(7) (7) No person may receive a loan under this section in an amount that, when added to the balance outstanding on the person’s existing loans under s. 45.351 (2), 1995 stats., and s. 45.356, 1995 stats., would result in a total indebtedness to the department of more than $25,000.

45.42(8) (8) The department may enter into transactions with the state investment board to obtain money to make loans under this section. Transactions authorized under this paragraph may include the sale of loans.

45.42(9) (9) Subject to the limits established in subs. (2) and (3), the department may periodically adjust the maximum loan amount based upon financial market conditions, funds available, needs of the veterans trust funds, or other factors that the department considers relevant.

45.42(10) (10) The department may periodically adjust the interest rates for loans made under this section, which may vary based upon the term of the loan, the type of security offered, the method of payment, or other factors that the department considers relevant.

45.42(11) (11) If an applicant’s total indebtedness for loans made under this section is more than $5,000, the loan shall be evidenced by a promissory note and secured by a mortgage on real estate located in this state. A loan of $5,000 or less made to an applicant whose total indebtedness for loans made under this section is $5,000 or less shall be evidenced by a promissory note and secured by a guarantor or by a mortgage on real estate located in this state. A mortgage securing a loan made under this section is acceptable if the applicant has equity in the property subject to the mortgage equal to or exceeding a minimum amount that the department establishes by rule.

45.42(12) (12) Subject to the limit established in sub. (2), the department may periodically adjust the maximum term limits for loans based upon financial market conditions, funds available, needs of the veterans trust fund, or other factors that the department considers relevant.

45.42 History History: 2005 a. 22, 25; 2007 a. 20; 2019 a. 9.

45.42 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. VA 12, Wis. adm. code.

45.43 45.43 Veterans assistance program.

45.43(1) (1) The department shall administer a program to provide assistance to persons who served in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces and who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The department shall provide assistance under this section to persons whose need for services is based upon homelessness, incarceration, or other circumstances designated by the department by rule. The eligibility requirements under s. 45.02 (2) do not apply to a person applying for assistance under this section. The department shall designate the assistance available under this section, which may include assistance in receiving medical care, dental care, education, employment, single room occupancy housing, and transitional housing. The department may provide payments to facilitate the provision of services under this section.

45.43(2) (2) The department may charge fees for single room occupancy housing, transitional housing, and for other assistance provided under this section that the department designates. The department shall promulgate rules establishing the fee schedule and the manner of implementation of that schedule.

45.43 History History: 2005 a. 22; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28; 2013 a. 20.

45.43 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. VA 13, Wis. adm. code.

45.437 45.437 Veterans employment and entrepreneurship grant program.

45.437(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “disabled veteran” means a veteran who is verified by the department to have a service-connected disability rating of at least 50 percent under 38 USC 1114 or 1134.

45.437(2) (2) Grants.

45.437(2)(a) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (qm), the department may award up to $500,000 annually in grants to veterans, employers, and nonprofit organizations under this section.

45.437(2)(b) (b) The department may not award a grant under par. (a) unless the department determines that the grant is likely to improve employment outcomes for veterans in this state. Subject to that limitation, the department may award grants to assist veteran entrepreneurs, to give employers in this state incentives to hire veterans, especially disabled veterans, to help fund employment training for veterans, especially disabled veterans, and for other programs or purposes as determined by the department by rule.

45.437(3) (3) Annual report. Annually, the department shall submit a report to the governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) that includes all of the following:

45.437(3)(a) (a) The number of grants awarded under this section.

45.437(3)(b) (b) The amount of each grant awarded under this section.

45.437(3)(c) (c) The purpose of each grant awarded under this section.

45.437(3)(d) (d) The outcomes attributable to each grant awarded under this section.

45.437(4) (4) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules implementing this section. The rules promulgated under this subsection shall include rules establishing the specific goals grant recipients must meet and requiring that those goals be met before any grant moneys are disbursed.

45.437 History History: 2015 a. 385.

45.437 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. VA 2.08, Wis. adm. code.

45.44 45.44 Veterans fee waiver program.

45.44(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

45.44(1)(a) (a) “License” means any of the following for which a fee is required:

45.44(1)(a)1. 1. A license under s. 13.63 (1) or registration of an interest under s. 13.67 (2).

45.44(1)(a)2. 2. A license or permit specified in s. 29.563 (15).

45.44(1)(a)3. 3. A license issued to a child welfare agency, group home, child care center, or shelter care facility, as required under s. 48.615 (1), 48.625 (2), 48.65 (3), or 938.22 (7).

45.44(1)(a)4. 4. A certification issued under s. 49.45 (42).

45.44(1)(a)5. 5. A license, certification, registration, or permit issued under s. 89.06, 89.072, 89.073, 94.10 (2), (3), or (3g), 94.50 (2), 94.704, 95.60, 97.17 (2), 97.175 (2), 97.22 (2), 98.145, 98.146, 98.18 (1) (a), or 168.23 (3).

45.44(1)(a)6. 6. An occupational license, as defined in s. 101.02 (1) (a) 2.

45.44(1)(a)7. 7. A license, certificate, or registration issued under s. 103.34, 103.91, 103.92, 105.06, or 105.07.

45.44(1)(a)8. 8. A license, permit, or certificate issued by the department of public instruction.

45.44(1)(a)9. 9. A license issued under s. 125.65.

45.44(1)(a)10. 10. A license specified in s. 169.31 (1m).

45.44(1)(a)11. 11. A permit issued under s. 170.12.

45.44(1)(a)11m. 11m. A registration issued under s. 202.13 or 202.14.

45.44(1)(a)12. 12. A license provided for in s. 218.0114 (14) (e), (f), or (fm) or issued under s. 218.04, 218.11, or 343.62 or a buyer identification card issued under s. 218.51.

45.44(1)(a)13. 13. A license issued under s. 224.725.

45.44(1)(a)14. 14. A license, certification, certification card, or permit issued under ss. 97.33, 254.176, 254.178, 254.20, and 256.15.

45.44(1)(a)15. 15. A license, registration, or certification issued under s. 280.15 (2m) or (3g), 281.17 (3), 281.48 (3), 285.51 (2), 289.42 (1), 291.23, or 299.51 (3) (c).

45.44(1)(a)16. 16. A credential, as defined in s. 440.01 (2) (a).

45.44(1)(a)17. 17. A license issued under s. 551.614.

45.44(1)(a)18. 18. A license, certificate, registration, or permit issued under chs. 601 to 655.

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 ethics commission; 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)(a) (a) An individual.

45.44(3)(b) (b) A resident of this state.

45.44(3)(c) (c) A veteran, as defined in s. 45.01 (12) (a) to (f), or one 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(3m) (3m) Reduced fee for certain licenses. An applicant who is applying for an initial license specified under sub. (1) (a) 16. and who has received a previous fee waiver under the program established under sub. (2), but who is otherwise eligible for a fee waiver under the program, shall pay a fee for the license that is equal to 10 percent of the standard fee for that license.

45.44(4) (4) Information on program. The department of veterans affairs shall establish an Internet website 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 website 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; 2015 a. 55, 118, 179; 2015 a. 195 s. 83; 2017 a. 319, 331; 2017 a. 365 s. 112; 2019 a. 129.

45.46 45.46 Grants to nonprofit organizations that serve veterans and their families. From the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (th), the department may make grants of up to $250,000 annually to nonprofit organizations, as defined in s. 108.02 (19), and no more than $25,000 to each grant recipient, to provide financial assistance or other services to veterans and their dependents.

45.46 History History: 2015 a. 383; 2017 a. 59.

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.

45.48 45.48 Veterans outreach and recovery program.

45.48(1) (1) To be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (qs), the department shall administer a program to provide outreach, mental health services, and support to individuals who reside in this state, who may have a mental health condition or substance use disorder, and who meet one of the following conditions: