AB418: Bill Text

LRB-2973/4

JTK&MJL:jlg:km

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Assembly BILL 418

July 15, 1999 - Introduced by Joint Legislative Council. Referred to Committee on Government Operations.

AB418,1,5 An Act to create 13.94 (1) (q), 15.107 (13), 16.25, 16.26, 115.28 (42), 121.91 (4) (h) and 165.015 (5m) of the statutes; relating to: the establishment of a federal resources Web site by the department of administration, state assistance to school districts and local law enforcement agencies in capturing federal resources and creating a council on capture of federal resources.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill is explained in the Note provided by the joint legislative council.

For further information see the state 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:

Prefatory note: This bill was prepared for the joint legislative council's special committee on capture of federal resources.

Federal Resources Web Site

The bill requires the department of administration (DOA) to create and maintain a Web site on the Internet to provide information on the availability of federal grants, procurement and service contracts, financial assistance, matching funds and other federal resources to statewide and local industry, business and trade associations, local units of government, school districts and other educational institutions, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, procurement assistance organizations and other interested persons.

In addition, the bill provides that the Web site shall: 1) serve as a statewide clearinghouse to obtain and exchange information on available federal funding and other resources; 2) increase public awareness of opportunities for contracts with the federal government and organizations in Wisconsin that can assist in facilitating such contracts; and 3) inform interested parties about organizations, programs and courses in Wisconsin that offer training and assistance in applying for federal funding and in grant writing skills.

Under the bill, DOA must encourage the private sector, through statewide and local associations, to promote and publicize the Web site's existence.

Finally, the bill provides that a newly created council on capture of federal resources, described below, shall advise the department on the content and operation of the Web site.

State Assistance to School Districts and Local Law Enforcement Agencies

This bill requires the state superintendent of public instruction, within the limits of available resources, to provide assistance at the cooperative educational service agency (CESA) district level to school districts in identifying federal grants for which the school districts may be eligible and in applying for those grants, including the provision of training in grant writing. [CESAs are regional governmental units that provide services to school districts.] The bill also requires the attorney general to provide such assistance to local law enforcement agencies.

The bill creates a council on capture of federal resources consisting of 9 members appointed by the governor to serve for staggered three-year terms. The membership includes representatives of the department of public instruction, the department of justice, the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Extension, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, municipalities, school districts and procurement assistance organizations. The council is required to advise the state superintendent of public instruction and the attorney general regarding their duties under the bill.

The bill increases a school district's revenue limit by the amount needed to meet any matching requirement under a grant awarded by the federal government if the grant is applied for after the day on which the bill becomes law.

Finally, the bill requires the legislative audit bureau to prepare periodic reports on compliance by the state superintendent and the attorney general with their duties under the bill.

AB418, s. 1 Section 1. 13.94 (1) (q) of the statutes is created to read:

AB418,2,5 13.94 (1) (q) Prepare periodic reports on the compliance by the state superintendent of public instruction with s. 115.28 (42) and by the attorney general with s. 165.015 (5m). The bureau shall file the reports with the distributees specified in par. (b).

AB418, s. 2 Section 2. 15.107 (13) of the statutes is created to read:

AB418,3,3 15.107 (13) Council on capture of federal resources. There is created in the department of administration a council on capture of federal resources. The council shall consist of 9 members appointed for 3-year terms and include representatives of the department of public instruction, the department of justice, the University of Wisconsin-Extension, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, municipalities, school districts and procurement assistance organizations.

AB418, s. 3 Section 3. 16.25 of the statutes is created to read:

AB418,3,9 16.25 Council on capture of federal resources. The council on capture of federal resources shall advise the department on the content and operation of the federal resources Web site under s. 16.26, the state superintendent of public instruction regarding his or her duties under s. 115.28 (42) and the attorney general regarding his or her duties under s. 165.015 (5m).

AB418, s. 4 Section 4. 16.26 of the statutes is created to read:

AB418,3,17 16.26 Federal resources Web site. (1) Creation. The department shall establish and maintain an Internet Web site that provides information on the availability of federal grants, procurement and service contracts, financial assistance, matching funds and other federal resources to statewide and local industry, business and trade associations, local units of government, school districts and other educational institutions, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, procurement assistance organizations and other interested persons in this state.

AB418,3,20 (2) Duties. In addition to providing information on the availability of existing federal resources under sub. (1), the Web site shall be designed to do all of the following:

AB418,3,23 (a) Serve as a statewide clearinghouse for governmental, education, nonprofit and private entities and individuals to obtain and exchange information on available federal funding and other federal resources.

AB418,4,3 (b) Increase public awareness of federal procurement and service contract opportunities and the organizations in this state that can provide assistance in locating and obtaining federal contracts.

AB418,4,6 (c) Inform interested parties about organizations, programs and courses in this state that offer training and assistance in federal grant writing skills and application procedures.

AB418,4,9 (3) Web site promotion. The department shall encourage statewide and local industry, business and trade associations and other organizations to promote and publicize the existence of the Web site.

AB418, s. 5 Section 5. 115.28 (42) of the statutes is created to read:

AB418,4,15 115.28 (42) Assistance to school districts. Within the limits of available resources, provide assistance through cooperative educational service agencies to school districts in identifying federal grants for which the school districts may be eligible and in applying for those grants, including the provision of training in grant writing.

AB418, s. 6 Section 6. 121.91 (4) (h) of the statutes is created to read:

AB418,4,20 121.91 (4) (h) The limit otherwise applicable to a school district's revenue under sub. (2m) in any school year is increased by funds needed to meet any matching requirement of a grant awarded by the federal government if the grant is applied for after the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date].

AB418, s. 7 Section 7. 165.015 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB418,5,5 165.015 (5m) Assistance to local law enforcement agencies. Within the limits of available resources, provide assistance to local law enforcement agencies in identifying federal grants for which the agencies may be eligible and in applying for those grants, including the provision of training in grant writing. In this subsection, "local law enforcement agency" means a governmental unit of one or more persons employed full time by a political subdivision of this state for the purpose of preventing and detecting crime and enforcing state laws or local ordinances, employes of which unit are authorized to make arrests for crimes while acting within the scope of their authority.

AB418, s. 8 Section 8. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB418,5,9 (1) Notwithstanding the length of terms specified for the members of the council on capture of federal resources under section 15.107 (13) of the statutes, as created by this act, the initial members shall be appointed for the following terms:

AB418,5,10 (a) Three members for terms expiring on July 1, 2002.

AB418,5,11 (b) Three members for terms expiring on July 1, 2003.

AB418,5,12 (c) Three members for terms expiring on July 1, 2004.

AB418,5,13 (End)