Assembly Bill 597 proposes the establishment of a state matching grant program aimed at supporting organizations that provide services to homeless veterans. This program will offer state matching per diem payments to eligible entities that have received federal per diem payments for the upcoming fiscal year. Specifically, the bill allows the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs to award grants of $25 per day for each veteran that an eligible entity can house, with payments made quarterly based on the number of veterans housed in the previous quarter.

The bill defines "eligible entity" as those organizations that meet the criteria set forth in federal law and have been awarded federal per diem payments. The Department of Veterans Affairs will accept grant applications annually and will prioritize funding based on the order of applications received. This initiative aims to enhance the support for homeless veterans by providing additional financial resources to organizations already engaged in their care.