DOA:......Stinebrink, BB0345 - Veterans service officer grants
For 2025-2027 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
VETERANS
Veterans service officer grants
This bill increases the dollar amount of veteran service officer grants made to counties and governing bodies of federally recognized American Indian tribes and bands.
Under current law, DVA is required to annually award a grant to a county that employs a certain elected or appointed county veterans service officer. The grant is awarded for the purpose of improving a county’s services to veterans and varies in amount depending on the county’s population. A county that employs a part-time county veterans service officer is eligible to receive an annual grant not exceeding $550. DVA may also make annual grants to the governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band if the tribal governing body appoints a tribal veterans service officer and enters into an agreement with DVA regarding the creation, goals, and objectives of the tribal veterans service officer position.
The bill increases the dollar amount of the veterans service officer grants awarded to counties in the following ways: 1) for counties with a population of less than 20,000, the grant is increased from $11,688 to $12,300; 2) for counties with a population of 20,000 to 45,499, the grant is increased from $13,750 to $14,400; 3) for counties with a population of 45,500 to 74,999, the grant is increased from $15,813 to $16,600; and 4) for counties with a population of 75,000 or more, the grant is increased from $17,875 to $18,800. The bill also increases the dollar amount of the grant awarded to tribal governing bodies from $20,625 to $21,700. In addition, the bill repeals the restriction on a grant for a county employing a part-time county veterans services officer.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 45.82 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.82 (2) The department of veterans affairs shall award a grant annually to a county that meets the standards developed under this section if the county executive, administrator, or administrative coordinator certifies to the department that it employs a county veterans service officer who, if chosen after April 15, 2015, is elected or appointed under s. 45.80 (1). A grant for $11,688 $12,300 shall be awarded for a county with a population of less than 20,000, a grant for $13,750 $14,400 shall be awarded for a county with a population of 20,000 to 45,499, a grant for $15,813 $16,600 shall be awarded for a county with a population of 45,500 to 74,999, and a grant for $17,875 $18,800 shall be awarded for a county with a population of 75,000 or more. The department of veterans affairs shall use the most recent Wisconsin official population estimates prepared by the demographic services center when making grants under this subsection.
Section 2. 45.82 (3) of the statutes is repealed.
Section 3. 45.82 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.82 (4) The department shall provide grants to the governing bodies of federally recognized American Indian tribes and bands from the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (km) or (vu) if that governing body enters into an agreement with the department regarding the creation, goals, and objectives of a tribal veterans service officer, appoints a veteran to act as a tribal veterans service officer, and gives that veteran duties similar to the duties described in s. 45.80 (5), except that the veteran shall report to the governing body of the tribe or band. The department may make in an amount not to exceed $20,625 $21,700 per grant annual grants under this subsection and shall promulgate rules to implement this subsection.
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