Powers and duties of the department.

(1) The department shall do all of the following:

(a) Administer the national guard.

(b) Provide facilities and support for the national guard.

(c) Administer the Challenge Academy program for disadvantaged youth under 32 USC 509 . The department shall determine eligibility criteria for the Challenge Academy consistent with federal law. Annually, the department shall do all of the following:

1. Calculate the state share of the average cost per pupil attending the Challenge Academy program and report this information to the department of public instruction.

2. Notwithstanding s. 118.125 , report to each school district in which a pupil attending the program resides the pupil’s name and the name and address of the pupil’s custodial parent or guardian.

(d) Assist the department of transportation in making the determinations under s. 343.16 (2) (f) .

(e) Apply for contracts and receive and expend moneys and grants from the federal government related to homeland security.

(f)

1. In this paragraph, “substantive change” means any change that modifies the elements of a punitive article of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, creates a punitive article in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or repeals a punitive article from the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

2. By July 1 of each year, submit to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided under s. 13.172 (3) a report that summarizes any substantive changes that have been made to the Uniform Code of Military Justice during the prior federal fiscal year, compares those substantive changes to the Wisconsin Code of Military Justice, and provides recommendations to the legislature regarding whether those substantive changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice should be incorporated into the Wisconsin Code of Military Justice. The report shall be the subject of a public hearing, conducted no less often than annually, by the appropriate standing committees of the legislature.

(g) Establish and maintain a case management system that allows the national guard to manage and track all case-related information for cases of misconduct within the national guard.

(2) The department may do any of the following:

(a) Enter into an agreement to rent to appropriate organizations or individuals state-owned lands, buildings, and facilities used by, acquired for, or erected for the national guard when not required for use by the national guard. A rental agreement under this paragraph is not effective unless in writing and approved in writing by the adjutant general or his or her designee.

(b) Upon appraisal by the state chief engineer submitted to the governor in writing and with written approval of the governor sell and convey, any state-owned property acquired or erected for state military purposes, if the property is no longer useful to the national guard.

History: 1983 a. 27 ; 1997 a. 237 ; 2001 a. 109 ; 2005 a. 475 ; 2007 a. 162 ; 2007 a. 200 ss. 17 to 20m , 64 to 65 , 86 to 88 ; Stats. 2007 s. 321.03; 2013 a. 20 s. 171 ; 2023 a. 48 , 49 .