Chapter VA 15

Chapter VA 15

AMERICAN INDIAN VETERANS’ SERVICE GRANTS

VA 15.01   Recognized tribes.

VA 15.02   Application, report and eligibility.

VA 15.03   Budget and operating standards.

VA 15.04   Use of grants for salary supplements.

VA 15.01 VA 15.01 Recognized tribes. Wisconsin American Indian tribes and bands are defined as the eleven following federally recognized tribes and bands in Wisconsin: the Bad River Band; Forest County Potawatomi Tribe; Ho-Chunk Nation; Lac Courte Oreilles Band; Lac du Flambeau Band; Menominee Tribe; Oneida Tribe; Red Cliff Band; Sokaogon (Mole Lake) Band; St. Croix Band; Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe.

VA 15.01 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00.

VA 15.02 VA 15.02 Application, report and eligibility.

VA 15.02(1) (1) Application. Application for American Indian grants shall be made by the governing body of a Wisconsin American Indian tribe or band not later than May 15 of the calendar year for which the grant is claimed, on forms prepared by the department. An application shall be accompanied by a copy of the budget proposed for the tribal veterans’ service office for the fiscal year for which the grant is claimed. Application shall be made annually. The tribe or band must agree to meet minimum budget and operating standards established by the department for the tribal veterans’ service office in order to qualify for the initial grant and for each succeeding grant.

VA 15.02(2) (2) Report. A copy of the last report, if any, to the governing body of the tribe or band covering operation of the tribal veterans’ service office shall be submitted with the initial grant application. Any report for the fiscal year for which the initial grant is claimed shall also be submitted to the department upon its completion. For subsequent applications, a report on tribal veterans’ service office operations shall be submitted on uniform forms established by the department as soon as completed. The department shall establish a standard system for evaluating the various types of tribal veterans’ service work performed by the tribal veterans’ service office, including tribal members or other federally recognized American Indians referred to county veterans’ service offices for applications submitted for state and federal benefits, travel in tribal veterans’ service work, inter-tribal veterans’ service activities, etc.

VA 15.02(3) (3) Eligibility. Only a governing body of a tribe or band that meets minimum budget and operating standards established by the department and that chooses any new tribal veterans’ service officer after August 1, 2000 who is a veteran as defined in s. 45.01 (12), Stats., is eligible for a grant. No grant shall be disbursed until the report required and a certified copy of the budget adopted by the governing body of the tribe or band for the tribal veterans’ service office operation for the fiscal year for which the grant is claimed have been received by the department. In those cases where a federally recognized tribe or band also has status as a county, the governing body of the tribe or band may apply for a grant under this chapter or for a county veterans’ service grant under ch. VA 8 but is not eligible for a grant under both chapters.

VA 15.02 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00; correction in (3) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register April 2003 No. 568; correction in (3) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register March 2013 No. 687; 2013 Wis. Act 189: am. (1) Register April 2014 No. 700, eff. 5-1-14.

VA 15.03 VA 15.03 Budget and operating standards. In order to qualify for an American Indian veterans’ service grant, the governing body of the tribe or band:

VA 15.03(1) (1) Shall appoint a veterans’ service officer who is a veteran and shall give the officer duties described in s. 45.80 (5), Stats., except that the officer shall report to the governing body of the tribe or band.

VA 15.03(2) (2) Shall provide sufficient staff to permit adequate service to tribal veterans. If it is not required that full or part time staff be hired in addition to the tribal veterans’ service officer, the governing body of the tribe or band shall keep the tribal veterans’ service office open and staffed during normal tribal or band working hours by providing staff from full time tribal or band offices who will receive telephone and personal inquiries in the absence of the tribal veterans’ service officer during such hours.

VA 15.03(3) (3) Shall authorize sufficient supplies, office space, and services to permit adequate service to the tribal veterans, including telephone expenses.

VA 15.03(4) (4) Shall authorize sufficient travel by the tribal veterans’ service office staff to permit adequate service to the tribal veterans, including travel to offices of veterans’ agencies, veterans’ service conferences, institutes and workshops and shall provide equitable allowance or reimbursement for such travel at the same rate other tribal employees are paid.

VA 15.03 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00; correction in (1) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register March 2013 No. 687; 2013 Wis. Act 189: am. (1) Register April 2014 No. 700, eff. 5-1-14.

VA 15.04 VA 15.04 Use of grants for salary supplements. An American Indian tribe or band may use all or part of its veterans’ service grant to supplement its salary payments to its tribal veterans’ service officer or service office staff or for other budgeted expenses of the tribal veterans’ service office.

VA 15.04 History History: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00.