(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.