Amendment ASA1-AB785

LRBs0270/1

MLJ:skw/cdc/amn

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1, TO ASSEMBLY BILL 785

February 20, 2020 - Offered by Representatives Hintz, Hesselbein, Spreitzer, Doyle, Anderson, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Cabrera, Considine, Crowley, Emerson, Fields, Goyke, Haywood, Hebl, Kolste, McGuire, B. Meyers, Milroy, L. Myers, Neubauer, Riemer, Pope, Sargent, Shankland, Sinicki, Stubbs, Stuck, Subeck, C. Taylor, Vining, Vruwink and Zamarripa.

AB785-ASA1,1,5 An Act to amend 45.44 (3) (c) (intro.) and 45.51 (2) (a) 1.; and to create 14.16 (17), 36.27 (2) (b) 5., 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. g., 38.24 (8) (a) 1r. g. and 45.01 (12) (fm) of the statutes; relating to: expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War and creating Hmong-Lao Veterans Day.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill expands the definition of “veteran” to include individuals who were naturalized pursuant to the Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000 or individuals who the secretary of Veterans Affairs has determined served honorably with a special guerrilla unit or irregular forces operating from a base in Laos in support of the armed forces of the United States at any time during the period from February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975, and who are citizens of the United States or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States who reside in Wisconsin. The bill extends most veterans benefits to anyone who meets this newly expanded definition of veteran; however, admission to a state veterans home and burial in a veterans cemetery are not included benefits as they are subject to federal regulation.

The bill also creates Hmong-Lao Veterans Day, the purpose of which is to recognize Southeast Asians, Americans, and their allies who served, suffered, sacrificed, or died in the Secret War in Laos during the Vietnam War in the years 1961 to 1975 in support of the armed forces of the United States and to recognize May 14, 1975, as the last day of airlift evacuation of officers and their families from the covert headquarters in Long Tieng, Laos, to the Nam Phong refugee camp in Thailand. The bill designates May 14 as Hmong-Lao Veterans Day and requires the governor to annually issue a proclamation for the observance of Hmong-Lao Veterans Day.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB785-ASA1,1 Section 1. 14.16 (17) of the statutes is created to read:

AB785-ASA1,2,13 14.16 (17) Hmong-Lao veterans day. To recognize Southeast Asians, Americans, and their allies who served, suffered, sacrificed, or died in the Secret War in Laos during the Vietnam War in the years 1961 to 1975 in support of the armed forces of the United States and in recognition of May 14, 1975, as the last day of airlift evacuation of officers and their families from the covert headquarters in Long Tieng, Laos, to the Nam Phong refugee camp in Thailand, May 14 is designated as the “Hmong-Lao Veterans Day.” The governor shall issue annually a suitable proclamation for the observance of “Hmong-Lao Veterans Day," ordering the flags at the state capitol building to be flown at half-staff, requesting that some portion of the day be used to recall the veterans' accomplishments and to thank those veterans for their service during that war, and encouraging schools to discuss Hmong military service in support of the armed forces of the United States.

AB785-ASA1,2 Section 2 . 36.27 (2) (b) 5. of the statutes is created to read:

AB785-ASA1,2,17 36.27 (2) (b) 5. A person who is a resident of and living in this state at the time of registering at an institution, and who is a veteran as described under s. 45.01 (12) (fm), is entitled to the exemption under par. (a).

AB785-ASA1,3 Section 3 . 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. g. of the statutes is created to read:

AB785-ASA1,3,2 36.27 (3p) (a) 1r. g. The person meets the criteria described under s. 45.01 (12) (fm).

AB785-ASA1,4 Section 4 . 38.24 (8) (a) 1r. g. of the statutes is created to read:

AB785-ASA1,3,5 38.24 (8) (a) 1r. g. The person meets the criteria described under s. 45.01 (12) (fm).

AB785-ASA1,5 Section 5. 45.01 (12) (fm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB785-ASA1,3,13 45.01 (12) (fm) A person who was naturalized pursuant to section 2 (1) of the federal Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000, P.L. 106-207, and resides in this state or a person who the secretary determines served honorably with a special guerrilla unit or irregular forces operating from a base in Laos in support of the armed forces of the United States at any time during the period beginning February 28, 1961, and ending May 7, 1975; is a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; and resides in the state.

AB785-ASA1,6 Section 6 . 45.44 (3) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB785-ASA1,3,16 45.44 (3) (c) (intro.) A veteran, as defined in s. 45.01 (12) (a) to (f) (fm), or one of the following:

AB785-ASA1,7 Section 7 . 45.51 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB785-ASA1,3,19 45.51 (2) (a) 1. A veteran, other than a veteran described under s. 45.01 (12) (fm).

AB785-ASA1,3,20 (End)