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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 580
October 31, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives PETERSEN, VOS, HURD, CALLAHAN,
MURPHY, EDMING, PENTERMAN, DONOVAN, SHANKLAND, GUSTAFSON, ARMSTRONG,
BEHNKE, CABRERA, DITTRICH, GOEBEN, MAGNAFICI, MICHALSKI, MURSAU, NOVAK,
O'CONNOR, ORTIZ-VELEZ, PALMERI, ROZAR, STUBBS, SUBECK and SINICKI,
cosponsored by Senators BALLWEG, NASS, WANGGAARD, HESSELBEIN, JAMES,
MARKLEIN, TAYLOR and TESTIN. Referred to Committee on Veterans and
Military Affairs.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to renumber and amend 45.51 (4); and to create 45.51 (4) (bm) of the
statutes; relating to: admission of spouses at veterans homes.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill allows spouses of veterans to be admitted as members to state veterans
homes before the veteran spouse is admitted as a member. Under current law, in
addition to other eligibility requirements, a spouse of a veteran may be admitted to
a state veterans home only if that person's veteran spouse is already a member of the
state veterans home. This bill provides that a spouse of a veteran may be admitted
to a state veterans home even when the person's veteran spouse is not a member of
the state veteran home, if the spouse of the veteran meets all other eligibility
requirements, including that he or she 1) is permanently incapacitated due to
physical disability or age from any substantially gainful occupation; 2) has not been
convicted of certain crimes; 3) provides a financial statement to the Department of
Veterans Affairs; and 4) has care needs that the veterans home is able to provide.
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:
SECTION 1. 45.51 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 45.51 (4) (am), and 45.51 (4)
(am) (intro.) and 3., as renumbered, are amended to read:
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SECTION 1 ASSEMBLY BILL 580
45.51 (4) (am) (intro.) A 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:
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 subsection 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.
SECTION 2. 45.51 (4) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
45.51 (4) (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.
(END)
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