Section 6.02. Duties and responsibilities of the commandant.

  The commandant of a veterans home, under the direction of the secretary, shall operate the home pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes and in accordance with policies established by the department. The commandant shall:

(1)  Coordinate a program of medical and nursing care for all members of the home as their needs may require.

(2)  Keep a record of each member of the home which will include information establishing eligibility for admission, date of admission, personal and financial data, and period of membership.

(3)  Have charge and custody of the home including all property appertaining thereto or within the boundaries thereof, and may take such reasonable steps as may be necessary to safeguard such property including examination of vehicles, baggage, parcels or any property leaving the home.

(4)  Employ such persons as may be necessary and authorized to carry out the functions of the home.

(5)  Designate as deputies such employees as may be necessary to assist in enforcing upon the grounds of the home the laws of the state of Wisconsin and the rules and regulations governing the home, and for such purposes, the commandant and the deputies shall have all the powers of constables.

(6)  Establish a work therapy program at the home and permit as many members as possible to participate in this program. Participation in the program shall be voluntary and participating members may work as many hours as they desire up to a maximum of 5 hours per day.

(7)  Prepare the home's biennial budget requests so as to permit the home to meet applicable standards established by state regulatory agencies and present such budget request to the secretary.

(8)  Supervise all funds of the home and see that proper records are kept, maintain internal fiscal control, account for all funds received and disbursed, and take all necessary steps to recover any property or funds transferred, assigned or withheld contrary to law.

(9)  Prepare an annual report covering operations of the home as soon as practicable after the close of each fiscal year.

(10)  Provide a surety bond at the expense of the home in an amount sufficient to cover the commandant's financial responsibility and be adequately bonded for responsibilities as legal guardian of members and administrator of the estates of deceased members.

(11)  Safeguard all records of the home and maintain the confidential nature of medical and personal information regarding employees and members pursuant to s. 45.04 , Stats., and s. VA 1.10 .

(13)  Submit other reports and attend other meetings upon the request of the secretary.

(14)  Authorize emergency first aid medical service to a person not connected with the home only when transportation to a local doctor or hospital would, in the opinion of the home medical director, endanger the life of the person.

(15)  Establish and publish rules for the regulation of employee conduct.

History: Cr. Register, March, 1965, No. 111 , eff. 4-1-65; am. (1), (8), (12), (13), Register, October, 1967, No. 142 , eff. 11-1-67; r. and recr. (7), Register, August, 1972, No. 200 , eff. 9-1-72; r. and recr. Register, April, 1986, No. 364 , eff. 5-1-86; am. (1), (6) and (7), Register, June, 1992, No. 438 , eff. 7-1-92; correction in (11) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. , Stats., Register March 2013 No. 687 ; 2013 Wis. Act 189 : am. (intro.), r. (12) Register April 2014 No. 700 , eff. 5-1-14.