Chapter 45

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

45.44(3)(c)1. 1. A member of a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces or of the national guard, as defined in 32 USC 101 (3), who has served under honorable conditions for at least one year beginning on the member’s date of enlistment in a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces or in the national guard.

45.44(3)(c)2. 2. A person who was discharged from a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces or from the national guard, as defined in 32 USC 101 (3), if that discharge was an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions.

45.44(3m) (3m) Reduced fee for certain licenses. An applicant who is applying for an initial license specified under sub. (1) (a) 16. and who has received a previous fee waiver under the program established under sub. (2), but who is otherwise eligible for a fee waiver under the program, shall pay a fee for the license that is equal to 10 percent of the standard fee for that license.

45.44(4) (4) Information on program. The department of veterans affairs shall establish an Internet website informing the public of the fee waiver program and shall include a list of the licenses and the licensing agencies to contact to receive each fee waiver. Each licensing agency shall also provide on their Internet website information regarding the fee waiver program and a list of the licenses that the licensing agency issues that are eligible for the fee waiver.

45.44 History History: 2011 a. 209; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55, 118, 179; 2015 a. 195 s. 83; 2017 a. 319, 331; 2017 a. 365 s. 112; 2019 a. 129.

45.46 45.46 Grants to nonprofit organizations that serve veterans and their families. From the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (th), the department may make grants of up to $250,000 annually to nonprofit organizations, as defined in s. 108.02 (19), and no more than $25,000 to each grant recipient, to provide financial assistance or other services to veterans and their dependents.

45.46 History History: 2015 a. 383; 2017 a. 59.

45.47 45.47 Record-keeping and audit requirements for grant programs administered by the department.

45.47(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “grant recipient” means a county, American Indian tribe or band, nonprofit organization, or other person that is not an individual and that receives a grant from the department under this chapter.

45.47(2) (2) Requirements. Each grant recipient shall maintain records as required by the department concerning the grant recipient’s expenditure of grant moneys. Each grant recipient shall give the department access to those records upon request of the department, and the department may audit those records to ensure compliance with applicable grant requirements.

45.47(3) (3) Reduction, suspension, or termination of grant. If a grant recipient fails to comply with sub. (2), the department may, in addition to any other legal remedy available to the department, reduce, suspend, or terminate a grant the department made to the grant recipient.

45.47 History History: 2013 a. 190.

45.48 45.48 Veterans outreach and recovery program.

45.48(1) (1) To be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (qs), the department shall administer a program to provide outreach, mental health services, and support to individuals who reside in this state, who may have a mental health condition or substance use disorder, and who meet one of the following conditions:

45.48(1)(a) (a) Are serving in the national guard of any state or a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces.

45.48(1)(b) (b) Served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces, forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces, or the national guard of any state and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

45.48(1m) (1m) The department shall expend at least $100,000 annually under sub. (1) to promote suicide prevention and awareness by providing outreach, mental health services, and support to individuals who are members of a traditionally underserved population, including minority groups and individuals who reside in rural areas of the state. The department may enter into contracts to provide services under this subsection.

45.48(2) (2) The eligibility requirements under s. 45.02 do not apply to an individual receiving services under sub. (1).

45.48(3) (3) The department may provide payments to facilitate the provision of services under sub. (1).

45.48 History History: 2019 a. 9; 2021 a. 58.

subch. V of ch. 45 SUBCHAPTER V

VETERANS HOMES

45.50 45.50 Veterans homes; management.

45.50(1) (1) Veterans Home at King. The department shall operate the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King and employ a commandant for the home.

45.50(2b) (2b) Veterans Home at Union Grove. Subject to authorization under ss. 13.48 (10) and 20.924 (1), the department may construct or renovate and operate residential, treatment, and nursing care facilities, including a community-based residential facility, to be known as the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove. The department shall employ a commandant for the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove.

45.50(2d) (2d) Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls. Subject to authorization under ss. 13.48 (10) and 20.924 (1), the department may develop, construct or renovate, and operate residential, treatment, and nursing care facilities and programs for veterans in northwestern Wisconsin, on the property of the Northern Wisconsin Center for the Developmentally Disabled in Chippewa Falls to be known as the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls. The programs and facilities may include an assisted living facility, a skilled nursing facility, a medical clinic, an adult day health care center, an activities center, and a veterans assistance program. The department may employ a commandant for the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls.

45.50(2m) (2m) Services; staffing of homes.

45.50(2m)(a) (a) The department shall provide complete personal maintenance and medical care, including programs and facilities that promote comfort, recreation, well-being, or rehabilitation, to all members of veterans homes.

45.50(2m)(b) (b) The department may employ any personnel that are necessary for the proper management and operation of veterans homes. In compliance with the compensation plan established pursuant to s. 230.12 (3), a commandant may recommend to the director of personnel charges for meals, living quarters, laundry, and other services furnished to employees and members of the employees’ family maintained at veterans homes.

45.50(2m)(c) (c) For the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls, in lieu of the department employing personnel as authorized under par. (b) and providing the maintenance and medical care as specified in par. (a), the department may enter into an agreement with a private entity to operate the home and perform such management and care using personnel employed by the private entity.

45.50(2m)(e) (e) All moneys received as reimbursement for services to veterans homes employees or as payment for meals served to guests at veterans homes shall be accumulated in an account named “employee maintenance credits” and shall be paid into the general fund within one week after receipt and credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.485 (1) (gk). This paragraph does not apply to any agreement entered into pursuant to par. (c).

45.50(2m)(f) (f) The department may develop a program to provide stipends to individuals to attend school and receive the necessary credentials to become employed at veterans homes. If the department develops a stipend program under this paragraph, the department shall promulgate rules related to the program, including the application process, eligibility criteria, stipend amount, repayment provisions, and other provisions that the department determines are necessary to administer the program.

45.50 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. VA 18, Wis. adm. code.

45.50(3) (3) Land acquisition. The department may acquire, by gift, purchase, or condemnation, lands necessary for the purposes of the veterans homes. Title to the lands shall be taken in the name of this state and shall be held by and for the uses and purposes of the veterans homes. No payment may be made out of the state treasury or otherwise for the land until the title has been examined and approved by the attorney general. Every such deed of conveyance shall be immediately recorded in the office of the proper register of deeds and filed with the secretary of state.

45.50(4) (4) Gifts and grants.

45.50(4)(a) (a) The department may use moneys appropriated under s. 20.485 (1) (h) to purchase, erect, construct, or remodel buildings, to provide additions and improvements, to provide equipment, materials, supplies, and services necessary for the purposes of veterans homes, and for expenses that are necessary and incidental to acquisition of property under s. 45.51 (10) and (11).

45.50(4)(b) (b) The department may accept gifts, bequests, grants, or donations of money or of property from private sources to be administered by the department for the purposes of veterans homes. All moneys received shall be paid into the general fund and appropriated as provided in s. 20.485 (1) (h). The department may not apply to the gifts and bequests fund interest on certificate of savings deposits for those members who do not receive maximum monthly retained income. The department shall establish for those persons upon their request individual accounts with savings and interest applied as the member requests.

45.50(6) (6) Water and sewer services.

45.50(6)(a) (a) The department may enter into agreements for furnishing and charging for water and sewer service from facilities constructed at and for veterans homes to public and private properties lying in the immediate vicinity of veterans homes.

45.50(6)(b) (b) Agreements under this subsection shall be drafted to hold harmless the department, to require all expense to be paid by the applicant, and to be terminable by the department when other water and sewer services become available to the applicant.

45.50(7) (7) Enforcement authority. A commandant and employees designated by the commandant may summarily arrest all persons within or upon the grounds of veterans homes who are guilty of any offense against the laws of this state or the rules governing veterans homes. For this purpose, a commandant and deputies have the power of constables.

45.50(8) (8) Fire fighting services. A fire department at a veterans home in response to emergency fire calls may make runs and render fire fighting service beyond the confines of a veterans home.

45.50(10) (10) Hospitals authorized. The department may establish a hospital at a veterans home. All hospitals established under this subsection may not have a total approved bed capacity, as defined in s. 150.01 (4m), greater than 16 beds. The approved bed capacity of a skilled nursing facility operated at a veterans home is reduced by one bed for each approved bed at the hospital established under this subsection at that home.

45.50(11) (11) Medical assistance assessment exemption. A Wisconsin veterans home is exempt from paying any assessment imposed on the licensed beds in the home under s. 50.14 (2) (am).

45.50(12) (12) Natural disaster or state of emergency. The department may expend moneys from the appropriation under s. 20.485 (1) (ks) to pay any necessary costs to prepare for or respond to the emergency at a veterans home. The department may expend moneys under this subsection only after all funds allocated by the federal government to veterans homes in this state for purposes of responding to the emergency have been exhausted.

45.50 History History: 2005 a. 22; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20; 2017 a. 59; 2021 a. 58.

45.50 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. VA 6, Wis. adm. code.

45.51 45.51 Eligibility for membership.

45.51(1) (1) General statement. Within the limitations of veterans homes, the department may admit to membership in veterans homes persons who meet the qualifications set forth in this section.

45.51(2) (2) Eligibility.

45.51(2)(a) (a) The following persons are eligible for benefits under this subchapter if they meet the applicable requirements of this subchapter:

45.51(2)(a)1. 1. A veteran.

45.51(2)(a)2. 2. A person who has served on active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces for 90 days or more and at least one day during a war period or under section 1 of executive order 10957, dated August 10, 1961.

45.51(2)(a)3. 3. A spouse or surviving spouse of a person under subd. 1. or 2. or a parent of a person who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces.

45.51(2)(b) (b) A person under par. (a) 1. or 2. may be admitted to a veterans home if the person meets all of the following conditions:

45.51(2)(b)2. 2. Is permanently incapacitated due to physical disability or age from any substantially gainful occupation.

45.51(2)(b)3. 3. Has not been convicted of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude or, if so, has produced sufficient evidence of subsequent good conduct and reformation of character as to be satisfactory to the department.

45.51(2)(b)4. 4. Provides a complete financial statement containing information that the department determines is necessary to evaluate the financial circumstances of the person. The department may require a member of a veterans home to provide the department with information necessary for the department to determine the financial circumstances of the person. If a person fails to provide the additional information, the department may discharge the person from the veterans home.

45.51(2)(b)5. 5. Has care needs that the veterans home is able to provide within the resources allocated for the care of members of the veterans home.

45.51(3) (3) Admission priorities.

45.51(3)(a) (a)

45.51(3)(a)1. 1. In this paragraph, “physical care” includes skilled rehabilitation services following a hospital stay that meets the qualifications under 42 CFR 409.30.

45.51(3)(a)2. 2. Except in cases where there is an immediate need for physical care or economic assistance, the department shall act on applications based upon the date of receipt of the application by the veterans home. The department may defer establishment of the priority date of the application to the date that the veterans home is able to verify its ability to provide appropriate care to the applicant or to assure that the appropriate care setting is available within the home.

45.51(3)(b) (b) Spouses, surviving spouses, and parents derive their eligibility from the eligibility of the person under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. Surviving spouses and parents of eligible persons under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. shall not be eligible for admission to the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove, the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, or the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls unless a home’s overall occupancy level is below an optimal level as determined by the board.

45.51(3)(c) (c)

45.51(3)(c)1. 1. The categories for the order of priority for admission to a veterans home shall be as follows:

45.51(3)(c)1.a. a. Eligible persons under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. have 1st priority.

45.51(3)(c)1.b. b. Spouses of eligible persons under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. have 2nd priority.

45.51(3)(c)1.c. c. Surviving spouses of eligible persons under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. have 3rd priority for admission.

45.51(3)(c)1.d. d. Parents of eligible persons under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. have 4th priority for admission.

45.51(3)(c)1m. 1m. Within each category specified in subd. 1., the following order of priority shall apply:

45.51(3)(c)1m.a. a. A person who is a resident of the state on the date of application for membership in a veterans home and who has been residing continuously in the state for a period of more than 6 months immediately preceding the date of application for membership has first priority for admission.

45.51(3)(c)1m.b. b. A person who is a resident of the state on the date of application for membership in a veterans home and who has been residing continuously in the state for a period of 6 months or less immediately preceding the date of application for membership has 2nd priority for admission.

45.51(3)(c)1m.c. c. A person who is not a resident of the state on the date of application for membership in a veterans home has 3rd priority for admission.

45.51(3)(c)2. 2. The department may deviate from this sequence upon order of the board to prevent the separation of a husband and wife.

45.51(4) (4) Additional eligibility requirements of a spouse of a veteran.

45.51(4)(am) (am) Except as provided in par. (bm), a spouse of an eligible person under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. is eligible only if the spouse meets the requirements of sub. (2) (b) 3. to 5. and if all of the following apply:

45.51(4)(am)1. 1. The person under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. is a member, or if not a member is institutionalized elsewhere because of physical or mental disability, and the spouse had lived with the person for not less than 6 months immediately before making application for membership.

45.51(4)(am)2. 2. Separation from the spouse necessitated by reason of employment, hospitalization, or because of a physical or mental disability of either spouse shall not be taken to constitute an interruption of the 6-month period.

45.51(4)(am)3. 3. A spouse of an eligible person under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. by virtue of a marriage that was void when entered into but validated under s. 765.21 before applying for admission shall, for the purpose of this paragraph and sub. (6), be considered married to the eligible person under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. from the date the marriage was entered into.

45.51(4)(bm) (bm) A spouse of an eligible person under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. is eligible if the spouse meets the requirements of sub. (2) (b) 2. to 5., and the spouse had lived with the person for not less than 6 months immediately before making application for the membership. Separation from the spouse necessitated by reason of employment, hospitalization, or because of a physical or mental disability of either spouse shall not be taken to constitute an interruption of the 6-month period under this paragraph. A spouse of an eligible person under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. by virtue of a marriage that was void when entered into but validated under s. 765.21 before applying for admission shall, for the purpose of this paragraph and sub. (6), be considered married to the eligible person under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. from the date the marriage was entered into.

45.51(5) (5) Additional eligibility requirements of a surviving spouse. The surviving spouse of a person under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. is eligible if the surviving spouse meets the requirements of sub. (2) (b) 3. to 5. and if the surviving spouse satisfies all of the following conditions:

45.51(5)(a) (a)

45.51(5)(a)1. 1. The surviving spouse satisfies any of the following conditions:

45.51(5)(a)1.a. a. Was married to and living with the deceased person under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. not less than 6 months immediately prior to the death of the person.

45.51(5)(a)1.b. b. Was married to the person under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. at the time the person entered the service and who became a widow or widower by the death of the person while in the service or as a result of physical disability of the person incurred during the service.

45.51(5)(a)1.c. c. The period during which the surviving spouse was married to and lived with the deceased person under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. plus the period of widowhood or widowerhood is 6 months or more.

45.51(5)(a)1.d. d. Was married to and living with the person under sub. (2) (a) 1. or 2. less than 6 months and a child was born of the marriage.