Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulation:
None
Comparison with rules in adjacent states:
Illinois: The Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program pays tuition and certain fees at all Illinois state-supported higher education institutions for eligible veterans. The Illinois Military Veterans Assistance Act provides for financial assistance to indigent veterans through the city or town military veterans organization within each county. General assistance funds are allocated to a county for assistance to veterans and their families in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Public Aid Code. A review of Illinois statutes, rules, and website did not reveal similar state-funded grant programs for non-profit organizations, employment, or entrepreneurship as to those contained in chapter VA 2.
Iowa: The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs provides tuition assistance and tuition reimbursement programs. Iowa veterans are eligible for subsistence-type aid through the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund. A review of Iowa statutes, rules, and website did not reveal similar state-funded grant programs for non-profit organizations, employment, or entrepreneurship as to those contained in chapter VA 2.
Michigan: The Michigan National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program (MINGSTAP) provides tuition assistance to members of the Michigan National Guard up to $6,000 per year. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs provides grants up to $2,000 per year for qualified veterans and their families through a Military Family Relief Fund that provides subsistence-type aid. A review of Michigan statutes, rules, and website did not reveal similar state-funded grant programs for non-profit organizations, employment, or entrepreneurship as to those contained in chapter VA 2.
Minnesota: The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs provides education assistance in the form of a one-time grant for tuition paid to the institution or reimbursed to the veteran. The Minnesota GI Bill also provides educational assistance up to $3,000 per academic year or up to $2,000 per year for apprenticeships and employers are eligible to receive up to $2,000 for the placement and hiring of veterans. Survivors are eligible up to $750 per year from the Surviving Spouse & Dependent Education Benefit. A subsistence aid program provides temporary financial assistance for eligible veterans. A review of Minnesota statutes, rules, and website did not reveal similar state-funded grant programs for non-profit organizations or entrepreneurship as to those contained in chapter VA 2.
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies:
The current policies and administration of grants under this chapter were closely
reviewed to develop the proposed rule revisions. Pursuant to ss. 45.03 (2m) and 227.14 (2) (a) 6m., Stats., administrative rules prepared by the Department of Veterans Affairs must be provided to the Board of Veterans Affairs. The Board may prepare a report containing written comments and its opinion regarding the proposed rules. Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small business or in preparation of economic impact analysis:
The permanent rule will be posted to solicit economic impact comments.
Fiscal Estimate and Economic Impact Analysis:
The Fiscal Estimate is attached.
Effect on small business:
The proposed rules do not have an anticipated economic impact on small businesses, as defined in s. 227.114 (1), Stats. Agency Contact:
Mindy Allen, Administrative Rules Coordinator
Place where comments are to be submitted and deadline for submission:
Comments may be submitted to the contact information listed above no later than the date of the public hearing. The date, time, and place of the public hearing will be published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register.
TEXT OF RULE
section 1.
VA 2 (title) is amended to read: GRANTS; NEEDY VETERANS, VETERANS TUITION REIMBURSEMENT AND RETRAINING; NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ASSISTANCE GRANTS
section 2.
VA 2.01 (title) is amended to read: VA 2.01 (title) Assistance to needy veterans program Subsistence and health care aid grant programs.
section 3.
VA 2.01 (1) (intro.), (a) to (f), (i) to (p), and (r) to (u) are renumbered VA 2.01 (1r) (intro.), (a) to (f), (i) to (p), and (r) to (u), and VA 2.01 (1r) (intro.), (c), (d), (f), (L), (n), (r), (s), (t), and (u), as renumbered, are amended to read: VA 2.01 (1r) (intro.) Definitions. In this section the following terms shall have the designated meanings:
(c) “Approved treatment programs” means treatment programs approved by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs U.S. department of veterans affairs (USDVA) or alcohol and other drug treatment programs certified by the Wisconsin department of health services.
(d) “Available liquid assets” means cash on hand, including cash in checking, savings, money market or similar accounts, cash value of life insurance policies, liquid investments, including stocks and bonds and amounts deposited in any retirement plans, owned, either jointly or solely, by the applicant or the applicant’s family.
(f) “Dental care" means any care provided by a licensed dentist given to teeth, the supporting natural and artificial structures for teeth, and any replacement or restoration of teeth.
(L) “Health care” means dental care, dentures extended dental care, hearing care, and vision care.
(n) “Hearing care” means any care provided by a licensed audiologist related to hearing, including, but not limited to, hearing exams or hearing aids.
(r) “Subsistence" means essential living expenses including current rent or mortgage payments on the applicant’s primary residence, food, current medical insurance premiums, current costs for prescribed medications, essential travel, child care required because of employment, educational, or medical reasons, and current costs for electricity, heat, and basic telephone service for the applicant’s primary residence. Subsistence “Subsistence” also means any repairs or purchases required due to an economic emergency.
(s) “Subsistence aid" means the grant payment provided by the department for subsistence.
(t) “Unearned income” means the estimated amount the applicant and the applicant’s family receives in benefits or grants during any month from the USDVA or other federal government agencies, scholarships, fellowships, grants, tuition and fee waivers, all other definite awards other than loans, including amounts paid to the applicant or the applicant’s family or to the school on behalf of the applicant or applicant’s family for vocational rehabilitation by the USDVA or any other agency, income from trusts or inheritances, unemployment compensation insurance benefits, worker’s compensation, social security payments, net rentals from real estate, interest or dividend income or other income not included under earned income. It shall “Unearned income” does not include death benefits paid by the USDVA or other federal agencies.
(u) “Vision care” means a vision exam provided by a licensed vision care provider and a prescription for lens and frame.
section 4.
VA 2.01 (1) (g) is renumbered VA 2.01 (1r) (km) and amended to read: VA 2.01 (1r) (km) “Denture Extended dental care” means a dental device, including dentures, that replaces one or more teeth and includes all dental preparation and the manufacture and fitting of the device.
section 5.
VA 2.01 (1) (h) and (q) are repealed. section 6.
VA 2.01 (1) (v) is renumbered VA 2.01 (1r) (dm).
section 7.
VA 2.01 (1g) is created to read: VA 2.01 (1g) Authority and purpose. (a) The purpose of this section is to establish rules for the administration of the subsistence and health care aid grant programs, as authorized under s. 45.40, Stats. (b) The subsistence and health care aid grant programs provide limited financial assistance to eligible veterans or their dependents who are in need.
(c) Grants may be used up to the maximum grant limits as specified in this section.
