28.035 American Legion State Forest.

(1) The state forest located in townships 38 and 39 north, ranges 7, 8 and 9 east, Oneida County, shall be named the American Legion State Forest.

(2) The department shall enter into an agreement with the Wisconsin department of the American Legion for hunting in the state forest lands described as lots 3, 4, 6 and 7 of section 8 and lots 2 and 3 of section 17, township 38 north, range 7 east, Oneida County, which are used in connection with Camp American Legion and which the Legion is now maintaining on this location as a restoration camp for sick and disabled veterans and their dependents.

(3)

(a) The written lease entered into between the Wisconsin state department of the American Legion and the department of natural resources dated June 15, 1944, which leases Camp American Legion for a period of 10 years commencing June 1, 1944, shall continue in full force for an additional 10 years, and may be renewed for additional 10-year periods, notwithstanding the expiration of the term expressed in the lease, so long as the Wisconsin state department of the American Legion or any of the American Legion posts organized under s. 188.08 maintains on the property structures which were constructed prior to May 31, 1956, at the expense of the Wisconsin state department of the American Legion or any post, for the purpose of the rehabilitation, restoration, or recreation of veterans and their dependents of the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, the Mexican border service, World Wars I and II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam War, the Iraq War, and service in a crisis zone, as defined in s. 45.01 (11).

(b) The ownership of all of the buildings and equipment of the camp shall revert to the state upon the discontinuance of the use thereof for such purposes. On or before January 15 of each year the department of the American Legion shall file with the governor, the department of veterans affairs and the department of natural resources a written report of the operations and the financial status of the camp.

History: 1971 c. 164; 1977 c. 29 s. 537; 1977 c. 224; 1979 c. 34; 1983 a. 430; 1987 a. 399; 1991 a. 2, 165; 1993 a. 16; 2003 a. 83; 2005 a. 22; 2015 a. 196.