LRB-1026/3
MGG:cjs&nwn:rs
2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE
April 15, 2011 - Introduced by Representatives Petersen, Wynn, Petryk,
Spanbauer, A. Ott, Kooyenga, Mursau, Kestell, Williams, Bies, Honadel,
Ballweg, Jacque, Kleefisch, Pridemore, Litjens, Ripp, Thiesfeldt, J. Ott
and
Nerison, cosponsored by Senators Leibham, Moulton and Lasee. Referred to
Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs.
AB96,1,5 1An Act to renumber and amend 15.49; to amend 15.04 (1) (a), 15.05 (1) (b),
245.03 (2) and 45.03 (4) (a); and to create 15.05 (1) (am), 15.05 (1) (e) and 15.49
3(1) of the statutes; relating to: the composition of the Board of Veterans Affairs,
4the appointment of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and promulgating rules
5for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, the secretary of veterans affairs is appointed by the Board
of Veterans Affairs to serve at the pleasure of the board. Under this bill, the secretary
is appointed by the governor to serve at his or her pleasure subject to confirmation
by the senate. Under the bill, before the governor makes his or her appointment, he
or she must personally consult with the presiding officers of at least six Wisconsin
veterans organizations.
Under current law, the Board of Veterans Affairs is composed of seven members
appointed by the governor for six-year terms. Under this bill, the number of board
members is increased to nine. The bill reduces the length of the term to three years
so that all members appointed and confirmed after the date this bill becomes law will
be appointed for three-year terms. Under the bill, for each congressional district in
the state there must be at least one member of the board who is a resident of that
district.
Under current law, all of the members must be veterans, and at least two of the
members must be Vietnam War veterans. Under the bill, all of the board members

must have served on active duty, but need not have served in any particular war or
conflict.
Under current law, the secretary of veterans affairs promulgates, with the
approval of the board, the rules for administering the Department of Veterans
Affairs (DVA) and for performing DVA's duties. Under this bill, the secretary must
consult with the Board of Veterans Affairs before promulgating these rules, but
approval by the board is not required.
For further information see the state 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:
AB96, s. 1 1Section 1. 15.04 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB96,2,42 15.04 (1) (a) Supervision. Except as provided in s. ss. 15.03 and 15.05 (1) (am),
3plan, direct, coordinate and execute the functions vested in the department or
4independent agency.
AB96, s. 2 5Section 2. 15.05 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB96,2,96 15.05 (1) (am) For the department of veterans affairs, the secretary of veterans
7affairs, after consulting with the board of veterans affairs, shall promulgate rules for
8administering the department of veterans affairs and for performing the duties of the
9department.
AB96, s. 3 10Section 3. 15.05 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB96,3,211 15.05 (1) (b) Except as provided in pars. (c) and, (d), and (e), if a department
12is under the direction and supervision of a board, the board shall appoint a secretary
13to serve at the pleasure of the board outside the classified service. In such
14departments, the powers and duties of the board shall be regulatory, advisory and
15policy-making, and not administrative. All of the administrative powers and duties
16of the department are vested in the secretary, to be administered by him or her under
17the direction of the board. The secretary, with the approval of the board, shall

1promulgate rules for administering the department and performing the duties
2assigned to the department, except as provided in par. (am).
AB96, s. 4 3Section 4. 15.05 (1) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
AB96,3,84 15.05 (1) (e) The secretary of veterans affairs shall be nominated by the
5governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, to serve at the
6pleasure of the governor. Before making his or her nomination, the governor shall
7personally consult with the presiding officers of at least 6 Wisconsin veterans
8organizations.
AB96, s. 5 9Section 5. 15.49 of the statutes is renumbered 15.49 (2) and amended to read:
AB96,3,1810 15.49 (2) There is created a department of veterans affairs under the direction
11and supervision of the board of veterans affairs. The board shall consist of 7 9
12members who all of whom shall be veterans, including at least 2 who shall be
13Vietnam war veterans,
who have served on active duty. The members shall be
14appointed for staggered 6-year 3-year terms. The board shall be composed so that
15for each congressional district in the state there is at least one member of the board
16who is a resident of that district. If a member ceases to reside within the boundaries
17of the congressional district where he or she resided as that district existed at the
18time that member's current term began, the member vacates his or her office.
AB96, s. 6 19Section 6. 15.49 (1) of the statutes is created to read:
AB96,3,2120 15.49 (1) In this section, "veteran" has the meaning given in s. 45.01 (12) (a)
21to (d).
AB96, s. 7 22Section 7. 45.03 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB96,4,223 45.03 (2) Board functions. Rule-making; records. The board secretary may
24promulgate rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter and the powers
25and duties conferred upon it in the manner provided in s. 15.05 (1) (am). The records

1and files of the department of military affairs and of any other state department or
2officer shall, upon request, be made available to the secretary or to the board.
AB96, s. 8 3Section 8. 45.03 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB96,4,84 45.03 (4) (a) The department shall employ staff necessary to carry out its
5functions. The secretary shall appoint under the classified service such persons as
6are necessary to carry out the policy of the board department. All persons appointed
7by the department shall, if possible, be veterans and preference shall be given to
8disabled veterans.
AB96, s. 9 9Section 9. Nonstatutory provisions.
AB96,4,1410 (1) Any incumbent holding the office of secretary of veterans affairs on the
11effective date of this subsection shall cease to hold office on that date. Thereafter,
12any person nominated to hold the office of secretary of veterans affairs shall be
13appointed in the manner provided in section 15.05 (1) (e) of the statutes, as created
14by this act.
AB96,4,2015 (2) Notwithstanding section 15.49 (2) of the statutes, as affected by this act, any
16person serving as a member of the board of veterans affairs on the effective date of
17this subsection whose nomination has been confirmed by the senate on or before that
18date may continue to hold office and exercise the powers and duties of that office for
19the residue of his or her unexpired 6-year term and until his or her successor is
20appointed and qualified.
AB96,4,2521 (3) Notwithstanding section 17.20 (2) of the statutes, any person serving as a
22member of the board of veterans affairs on the effective date of this subsection whose
23nomination has not been confirmed by the senate on or before that date may continue
24to hold office and exercise the powers and duties of that office only until his or her
25successor is appointed and qualified.
AB96,5,5
1(4) Until the membership of the board of veterans affairs comes into compliance
2with the residency requirements under section 15.49 (2) of the statutes, as affected
3by this act, the governor, in making appointments under section 15.49 (2) of the
4statutes, as affected by this act, shall ensure that the residency of the members of the
5board adheres, to the maximum extent possible, to these residency requirements.
AB96,5,96 (5) Notwithstanding the length of terms specified in section 15.49 (2) of the
7statutes, as affected by this act, the 2 additional members of the board of veterans
8affairs to be appointed under section 15.49 (2) of the statutes, as affected by this act,
9shall serve for terms that expire as follows:
AB96,5,1010 (a) One member shall serve for a term that expires on May 1, 2014.
AB96,5,1111 (b) One member shall serve for a term that expires on May 1, 2015.
AB96,5,1212 (End)
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