AB917: Bill Text

LRB-4969/2

PG&TNF:kmg:km

1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE

1995 Assembly BILL 917

February 21, 1996 - Introduced by Representatives Ourada, Murat, Hahn, Black, Vrakas, Hutchison, Boyle, Zukowski, Goetsch, Kreuser, Hasenohrl, Lehman, Ainsworth, Notestein, Plombon and R. Young, cosponsored by Senator Shibilski. Referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities.

AB917,1,5 An Act to renumber 15.375 (3) (title), 15.375 (3) (b), 15.375 (3) (c), 115.375 (2) (a) and 115.375 (2) (e); to renumber and amend 15.375 (3) (a), 20.255 (2) (ee), 20.255 (2) (ra), 115.375 (title) and (1), 115.375 (2) (b), 115.375 (2) (c) and 115.375 (2) (d); to amend 36.25 (29m) (a); and to create 20.285 (1) (q) of the statutes; relating to: the environmental education board and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the environmental education board is responsible for identifying needs and establishing priorities for environmental education in public schools. The environmental education board also awards grants to nonstock, nonprofit corporations and public agencies for the development, dissemination and presentation of environmental education programs. Grants are funded from general purpose revenue, gifts and grants and the environmental fund. Currently, the environmental education board is attached to the department of education.

This bill transfers the environmental education board to the University of Wisconsin System effective July 1, 1996. The bill also appropriates money from the conservation fund to provide additional funds for the grants.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB917, s. 1 Section 1. 15.375 (3) (title) of the statutes is renumbered 15.915 (6) (title).

AB917, s. 2 Section 2. 15.375 (3) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 15.915 (6) (a) and amended to read:

AB917,2,5 15.915 (6) (a) Creation. There is created an environmental education board attached to the department of education University of Wisconsin System under s. 15.03.

AB917, s. 3 Section 3. 15.375 (3) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 15.915 (6) (b).

AB917, s. 4 Section 4. 15.375 (3) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 15.915 (6) (c).

AB917, s. 5 Section 5. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

AB917, s. 6 Section 6. 20.255 (2) (ee) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 20.285 (1) (ee) and amended to read:

AB917,2,14 20.285 (1) (ee) Environmental education grants. The amounts in the schedule for environmental education grants under s. 115.375 36.54 (2).

AB917, s. 7 Section 7. 20.255 (2) (ra) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 20.285 (1) (r) and amended to read:

AB917,3,2 20.285 (1) (r) Environmental education; environmental assessments. From the environmental fund, as a continuing appropriation, an amount equal to 50% of the environmental assessments under s. 144.992 (1) for environmental education grants under s. 115.375 36.54 (2).

AB917, s. 8 Section 8. 20.285 (1) (q) of the statutes is created to read:

AB917,3,5 20.285 (1) (q) Environmental education grants. From the conservation fund, the amounts in the schedule for environmental education grants under s. 36.54 (2).

AB917, s. 9 Section 9. 36.25 (29m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB917,3,9 36.25 (29m) (a) Assist the environmental education board in addressing statewide teacher training needs in environmental education and in administering grants under s. 36.54 (2).

AB917, s. 10 Section 10. 115.375 (title) and (1) of the statutes are renumbered 36.54 (title) and (1), and 36.54 (1), as renumbered, is amended to read:

AB917,3,17 36.54 (1) (a) The environmental education board shall consult with the state superintendent in identifying needs and establishing priorities for environmental education in public schools, including needs for teacher training, curriculum development and the development and dissemination of curriculum materials. The state superintendent shall seek the advice of the environmental education board in carrying out these activities.

AB917,3,21 (b) The environmental education board shall consult with other state agencies, including the university of Wisconsin-extension, conservation and environmental groups, youth organizations and nature and environmental centers in identifying needs and establishing priorities for environmental education.

AB917, s. 11 Section 11. 115.375 (2) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 36.54 (2) (a).

AB917, s. 12 Section 12. 115.375 (2) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 36.54 (2) (b) and amended to read:

AB917,4,9 36.54 (2) (b) From the appropriations under s. 20.255 (1) (jr) and (2) (ee) and (ra) 20.285 (1) (ee), (j), (q) and (r), the environmental education board shall award grants to corporations and public agencies for the development, dissemination and presentation of environmental education programs. Programs shall be funded on an 18-month basis. The environmental education board may not award a grant unless the grant recipient matches at least 25% of the amount of the grant. Private funds and in-kind contributions may be applied to meet the matching requirement. Grants under this paragraph may not be used to replace funding available from other sources.

AB917, s. 13 Section 13. 115.375 (2) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 36.54 (2) (c) and amended to read:

AB917,4,19 36.54 (2) (c) The environmental education board shall promulgate rules establishing the criteria and procedures for the awarding of grants for programs and projects under par. (b). The environmental education board shall use the priorities established under sub. (1) for awarding grants if the amount in the appropriations under s. 20.255 (1) (jr) and (2) (ee) and (ra) 20.285 (1) (ee), (j), (q) and (r) in any fiscal year is insufficient to fund all applications under this subsection. The department of education shall assist the environmental education board in administering this section.

AB917, s. 14 Section 14. 115.375 (2) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 36.54 (2) (d) and amended to read:

AB917,4,23 36.54 (2) (d) The environmental education board shall seek private funds for the purpose of the grants under this subsection.

AB917, s. 15 Section 15. 115.375 (2) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 36.54 (2) (e).

AB917, s. 16 Section 16. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB917,5,1 (1) Environmental education board.

AB917,5,6 (a) Assets and liabilities. On the effective date of this paragraph, the assets and liabilities of the department of education primarily related to the functions of the environmental education board, as determined by the secretary of administration, shall become the assets and liabilities of the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

AB917,5,11 (b) Tangible personal property. On the effective date of this paragraph, all tangible personal property, including records, of the department of education that is primarily related to the functions of the environmental education board, as determined by the secretary of administration, is transferred to the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

AB917,5,18 (c) Pending matters. Any matter pending with the department of education on the effective date of this paragraph that is primarily related to the environmental education board, as determined by the secretary of administration, is transferred to the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All materials submitted to or actions taken by the department of education with respect to the pending matter are considered as having been submitted to or taken by the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

AB917,6,2 (d) Contracts. All contracts entered into by the department of education in effect on the effective date of this paragraph that are primarily related to the functions of the environmental education board, as determined by the secretary of administration, remain in effect and are transferred to the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System. The board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System shall carry out any obligations under those contracts unless modified or rescinded by the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System to the extent allowed under the contract.

AB917,6,10 (e)  Rules and orders. All rules promulgated by the department of education in effect on the effective date of this paragraph that are primarily related to the environmental education board remain in effect until their specified expiration date or until amended or repealed by the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All orders issued by the department of education in effect on the effective date of this paragraph that are primarily related to the environmental education board remain in effect until their specified expiration date or until modified or rescinded by the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

AB917, s. 17 Section 17. Appropriation changes.

AB917,6,18 (1) In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of education under section 20.255 (1) (a) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 1995, the dollar amount is decreased by $32,900 for fiscal year 1996-97 to decrease funding for the environmental education board and to decrease the authorized FTE positions for the department by 0.5 GPR position for the performance of duties for the environmental education board.

AB917,6,25 (2) In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System under section 20.285 (1) (a) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 1995, the dollar amount is increased by $32,900 for fiscal year 1996-97 to provide funds for the environmental education board and to increase the authorized FTE positions for the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System by 0.5 GPR position for the performance of duties for the environmental education board.

AB917, s. 18 Section 18. Effective date.

AB917,7,2 (1) This act takes effect on July 1, 1996.