(a) The Adjutant
General of the State of Wyoming shall fully implement the intent of the
legislature in enacting the Wyoming Military Assistance Trust Fund as contained
in W.S.
19-7-401 through
19-7-403. As the Military
Assistance Trust Fund may be available only as funds are provided by the
Wyoming legislature, the plan will be administered to fully utilize the
authorized funds. However, if funds are curtailed, a priority shall be
established to best advance the goals of the legislature in enacting the fund.
The Adjutant General is the final authority in administering the Wyoming
Military Assistance Trust Fund.
(b)
The Adjutant General, and designees, are permitted to exercise a wide latitude
of good faith discretion in administering the rules set forth herein. Moreover,
except for eligibility requirements, the Adjutant General, and designees
possess discretion to waive the requirements set forth herein.
(c) Evaluative Criterion For Approval (may
include but are not limited to):
(i) Nature
of assistance requested;
(ii)
Degree of financial hardship;
(A) Current
family income;
(B) Debt and
Obligations;
(C) Number of
dependents;
(iii) Link
and causation between financial hardship and military member's active duty
status;
(A) Change in income (based on
military active duty);
(B) Changes
in employment and income status of dependents related to military member's
active duty status;
(C) Increased
expenses based on military member's active duty;
(D) Military pay problems;
(E) Other issues of financial hardship
related to military member's active duty.
(iv) Bankruptcy filed or pending;
(v) Pending Disciplinary Action (Military
Member Only);
(vi) Length of active
duty;
(vii) Other aid available
and/or received;
(viii) Amounts and
date of any funds previously received from this fund.
(d) Approval Process.
(i) The level of approval authority is
dictated by the amount of assistance requested. Each approval authority
possesses the discretion to approve an amount lower than the amount requested,
or to deny the request completely. The approval authority will be as stated
below:
(A) Level 1 - Wyoming Military
Department State Family Program Director (applications up to $1,500).
(B) Level 2 - Deputy Director of Wyoming
Military Department (applications over $1,500 to $3,000).
(ii) Requests for over $3,000 can only be
approved by the Adjutant General, and only in extraordinary
circumstances.
(iii) Appeal &
Waiver Authority. The Adjutant General is the final appeal authority for:
(A) Any requests denied in total (automatic
when no assistance is initially approved);
(B) Any requests denied in part upon written
request by applicant submitted to the Wyoming Military Department.
