45.21 Retraining assistance program.

(1) Amount and application. The department may pay a veteran not more than $3,000 for retraining to enable the veteran to obtain gainful employment. The department shall determine the amount of the payment based on the veteran's financial need. A veteran may apply for aid to the county veterans service officer of the county in which the veteran is living. The department may, on behalf of a veteran who is engaged in a structured on-the-job training program and who meets the requirements under sub. (2), make a payment under this subsection to the veteran's employer.

(2) Eligibility. The department may provide aid under this section if all of the following apply:

(a) The veteran is enrolled in a training course in a technical college under ch. 38 or in a proprietary school in the state approved by the department of safety and professional services under s. 440.52, other than a proprietary school offering a 4-year degree or 4-year program, or is engaged in a structured on-the-job training program that meets program requirements promulgated by the department by rule.

(b) The veteran meets the financial assistance criteria established under sub. (3) (c).

(c) The veteran is unemployed, underemployed, as defined by rule, or has received a notice of termination of employment.

(d) The veteran requesting aid has not received reimbursement under s. 45.20 for courses completed during the same semester for which a grant would be received under this section.

(e) The department determines that the veteran's proposed program will provide retraining that could enable the veteran to find gainful employment. In making its determination, the department shall consider whether the proposed program provides adequate employment skills and is in an occupation for which favorable employment opportunities are anticipated.

(3) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules for the distribution of aid under this program, including all of the following:

(a) Standard budgets for single and married veterans.

(b) Selection procedures.

(c) Uniform need determination procedures.

(d) Application procedures.

(e) Coordination with other occupational training programs.

(f) Other provisions the department deems necessary to assure uniform administration of this program.

(4) Report. The department shall include in its biennial report under s. 15.04 (1) (d) information relating to the veterans retraining assistance program, including the number of veterans obtaining gainful employment after receiving aid and a description of the veterans receiving aid, including their sex, age, race, educational level, service-connected disability status, and income before and after obtaining gainful employment. This information may be based on a valid statistical sample.

History: 2005 a. 22, 25; 2017 a. 59.