Governor Doyle Signs AB 210 Providing Broad Package of Veterans' Benefits*

*/Also Signs SB 225, AB 437, and SB 265/*

Governor Jim Doyle today signed Assembly Bill 210, which outlines the most comprehensive veterans' benefits package in the country.

"Wisconsin's veterans, their families, and those who are serving today in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of the world have earned the respect and admiration of our grateful state," Governor Doyle said. "We cannot repay the debt of gratitude that is owed to each of them; but we can keep the promises we made to honor their service and sacrifice. This bill clearly defines our state's commitment to preserving and enhancing benefits for our veterans."

AB 210 expands the number of Wisconsin residents eligible for veteran benefits such as education, tax credits, and health care benefits. AB 210 expands the very definition of veteran to include those missing in action, those who died as a result of a service-related disability, and those killed in the line of duty while on inactive or active duty. This expansion increases the number of Wisconsin residents eligible for veteran benefits such as emergency financial assistance, education benefits, and employment assistance.

In addition, AB 210 allows deceased persons who served under honorable conditions in the National Guard or Reserves to receive military funeral honors. Currently, military funeral honors are limited to deceased persons who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. This bill also expands the definition of war period to include any period after the Iraq War that results in a person receiving an Expeditionary Medal.

"Unfortunately, we can't ease the pain of loss for veterans and their families, but this bill will help to ease the financial burden on these individuals who have made the greatest of sacrifices," Governor Doyle said.

Governor Doyle praised the bipartisan support of AB 210, and also applauded the dedication and persistence of Representatives John Townsend, Terry Musser, Louis Molepske, Marlin Schneider, and Senator Roger Breske, as well as the other members of the Legislative Council Study Committee in seeing AB 210 through the legislature.

Governor Doyle also signed three other bills: Assembly Bill 437, Senate Bill 225, and Senate Bill 265.

Assembly Bill 437 creates a standard process for acquiring local government land for construction of transmission lines, and has the potential to reduce the time for constructing high-voltage transmission lines.

AB 437 will provide certainty to the siting process while maintaining the fair and consistent negotiating process used by the American Transmission Company (ATC) and other local communities.

Governor Doyle thanked the co-authors of AB 437, Senator Jeff Plale and Representative Phil Montgomery, for their support of and work on the bill.

Senate Bill 225 provides greater flexibility in determining who qualifies to serve on Wisconsin's delegation to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Previously, a former legislator who was a member of the delegation during his or her term in office and who is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin could be appointed if there were not enough current legislators with membership to the state bar. Under SB 225, a former legislator in good standing with the state bar can serve on the delegation if current, qualified legislators are unwilling to serve.

The authors of SB 225 are Senator Dale Schultz and Representative John Gard.

Senate Bill 265 was sponsored by the Joint Committee on Employment Relations. It modifies the vacation schedule for non-represented state employees who are subject to the wage and hour provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Identical changes to vacation schedules were negotiated in the state employee labor contracts that were passed by JCOER and the legislature this week and signed by the Governor this morning. This statutory change is intended to maintain uniformity in the vacation schedules of represented and non-represented state employees.

Authorized and paid for by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Joe Wineke, Chair. www.wisdems.org <http://www.wisdems.org/>

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.