AB754: Bill Text

LRB-3548/2

PJK:kjf:pg

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 754

October 13, 2005 - Introduced by Representatives Towns, Kestell, Nischke, Honadel, Strachota, Ainsworth, Wieckert, Musser, Suder, Townsend, Lothian, Vos, Krawczyk, Albers, Owens, Hines and Ott, cosponsored by Senators Roessler and Olsen. Referred to Committee on Children and Families.

AB754,1,5 An Act to renumber and amend 49.148 (1m) (b); to amend 49.148 (1m) (a); and to create 49.148 (1m) (bm) of the statutes; relating to: requiring a Wisconsin Works grant recipient who is a custodial parent with an infant to attend parenting skills training and to meet with a financial and employment planner.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a person who meets the eligibility requirements for the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program and who is the custodial parent of a child who is 12 weeks old or less may receive monthly grants of $673 and may not be required to work in a W-2 employment position during that time. This bill adds two requirements for persons who are receiving those grants.

During the first month in which the person receives a grant, he or she must participate in parenting skills training provided or arranged by the county department of social or human services of the county in which he or she resides. If the person does not participate in the training, the remainder of the monthly grants that he or she is eligible for will be canceled and he or she will not be eligible for any of these monthly grants in the future. Under the second new requirement, the person must meet with a financial and employment planner at any time during the last four weeks in which he or she is eligible to receive the monthly grants. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss such issues as available child care services, the person's eligibility for food stamps, and employment planning. If the person does not satisfy this requirement, he or she will not be eligible for any of these monthly grants in the future.

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:

AB754, s. 1 Section 1. 49.148 (1m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB754,2,10 49.148 (1m) (a) A Subject to par. (bm), an individual who meets the eligibility requirements under s. 49.145 (2) and (3) and who is a custodial parent of a child who is 12 weeks old or less and who meets the eligibility requirements under s. 49.145 (2) and (3) may receive a monthly grant of $673 unless another adult member of the custodial parent's Wisconsin works Works group is participating in, or is eligible to participate in, a Wisconsin works Works employment position or is employed in unsubsidized employment, as defined in s. 49.147 (1) (c). A Wisconsin works Works agency may not require a participant under this subsection to participate in any employment positions.

AB754,2,16 (c) 1. Receipt of a grant under this subsection does not constitute participation in a Wisconsin works Works employment position for purposes of the time limits under s. 49.145 (2) (n) or 49.147 (3) (c), (4) (b), or (5) (b) 2. if the child is born to the participant not more than 10 months after the date that the participant was first determined to be eligible for assistance under s. 49.19 or for a Wisconsin works Works employment position.

AB754, s. 2 Section 2. 49.148 (1m) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 49.148 (1m) (c) 2. and amended to read:

AB754,3,8 49.148 (1m) (c) 2. Receipt of a grant under this subsection constitutes participation in a Wisconsin works Works employment position for purposes of the time limits under ss. 49.145 (2) (n) and 49.147 (3) (c), (4) (b), or (5) (b) 2. if the child is born to the participant more than 10 months after the date that the participant was first determined to be eligible for assistance under s. 49.19 or for a Wisconsin works Works employment position unless the child was conceived as a result of a sexual assault in violation of s. 940.225 (1), (2), or (3) in which the mother did not indicate a freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse or of incest in violation of s. 944.06 or 948.06 and that incest or sexual assault has been reported to a physician and to law enforcement authorities.

AB754, s. 3 Section 3. 49.148 (1m) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB754,3,10 49.148 (1m) (bm) 1. In this paragraph:

AB754,3,12 a. "County department" means a county department of social services under s. 46.215 or 46.22, or a county department of human services under s. 46.23.

AB754,3,15 b. "Eligibility period" means a discrete time period during which an individual is eligible to receive a monthly grant under this subsection with respect to one or more children who are under the age of 12 weeks.

AB754,3,17 2. An individual who receives a grant under this subsection shall do all of the following:

AB754,4,2 a. During the first month in which he or she receives a grant during any eligibility period that begins on or after the effective date of this subd. 2. a. .... [revisor inserts date], participate in parenting skills training provided or arranged by the county department of the county in which the individual resides. The Wisconsin Works agency may allow the individual to participate in a parenting skills training program later if the individual is unable to participate during the first month in which he or she receives a grant. An individual who does not satisfy the requirement under this subd. 2. a. shall have his or her grant canceled and shall not be eligible for another grant at any time under this subsection.

AB754,4,13 b. At any time during the last 4 weeks in which he or she is eligible to receive a grant during any eligibility period that is in effect on the effective date of this subd. 2. b. .... [revisor inserts date], or that begins on or after the effective date of this subd. 2. b. .... [revisor inserts date], meet with a financial and employment planner regarding available child care services, employment and financial planning, family planning services, as defined in s. 253.07 (1) (b), community resources, eligibility for food stamps, and other food and nutrition programs. The county department of the county in which the individual resides shall arrange or assist the individual in arranging the meeting. An individual who does not satisfy the requirement under this subd. 2. b. shall not be eligible for another grant at any time under this subsection.

AB754,4,14 (End)