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.
45.03(5)(c)1.e.e. The power to pledge and assign all or any part of the revenues derived from the operation of any land or new buildings as security for the payment of rentals due and to become due under any lease or sublease of new buildings under subd. 1. c.
45.03(5)(c)1.f.f. The power to covenant and agree in any lease or sublease of any land or new buildings made under subd. 1. c. to impose fees, rentals, or other charges for the use and occupancy or other operation of new buildings in an amount calculated to produce net revenues sufficient to pay the rentals due and to become due under the lease or sublease.
45.03(5)(c)1.g.g. The power to apply all or any part of the revenues derived from the operation of any land or existing buildings to the payment of rentals due and to become due under any lease or sublease made under subd. 1. c.
45.03(5)(c)1.h.h. The power to pledge and assign all or any part of the revenues derived from the operation of any land or existing buildings to the payment of rentals due and to become due under any lease or sublease made under subd. 1. c.
45.03(5)(c)1.i.i. The power to covenant and agree in any lease or sublease made under subd. 1. c. to impose fees, rentals, or other charges for the use and occupancy or other operation of any land or existing buildings in an amount calculated to produce net revenues sufficient to pay the rentals due and to become due under the lease or sublease.
45.03(5)(c)1.j.j. The power and duty, upon receipt of notice of any assignment by any nonprofit corporation of any lease or sublease made under subd. 1. c., or of any of its rights under any sublease, to recognize and give effect to the assignment, and to pay to the assignee rentals or other payments then due or that may become due under any lease or sublease that has been assigned by the nonprofit corporation.
45.03(5)(c)2.2. The state shall be liable for accrued rentals and for any other default under any lease or sublease made under subd. 1. c., and may be sued for the accrued rentals or other default on contract as in other contract actions under ch. 775, except that the lessor under the lease or sublease or any assignee of the lessor or any person or other legal entity proceeding on behalf of the lessor is not required to file any claim with the legislature prior to the commencement of the action.
45.03(5)(c)3.3. Nothing in this subsection empowers the board or the department to incur any state debt.
45.03(5)(c)4.4. All powers and duties conferred upon the board or the department under this subsection shall be exercised and performed by resolution of the board. All conveyances, leases, and subleases made under this subsection, when authorized by resolution of the board, shall be made, executed, and delivered in the name of the department and shall be signed by the secretary and sealed with the seal of the department.
45.03(5)(c)5.5. All laws, conflicting with any provisions of this subsection, are, insofar as they conflict with this section and no further, superseded by this subsection.
45.03(6)(6)Coordination duties. The department shall coordinate the activities of all state agencies and the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority performing functions relating to the medical, hospital, or other remedial care; placement and training; and educational, economic, or vocational rehabilitation of veterans. In particular, the department shall coordinate the activities of the technical college system board, state selective service administration, department of health services, department of workforce development, department of public instruction, the University of Wisconsin System and other educational institutions, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, and all other departments or agencies performing any of the functions specified, to the end that the benefits provided in this section may be made available to veterans as promptly and effectively as possible.
45.03(7)(7)Contact duties. The department shall maintain contacts with county veterans service officers and local agencies, the American Red Cross, and veterans organizations concerned with the welfare of veterans and shall contact and cooperate with federal agencies in securing for veterans all benefits to which they may be entitled.
45.03(8)(8)Minors’ execution of documents; benefits exempt from execution.