LRB-4155/1
MDK:bjk:md
2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE
January 25, 2010 - Introduced by Representative Pocan, cosponsored by Senator
Risser. Referred to Joint Committee on Finance.
AB689,1,3
1An Act to amend 20.155 (1) (j); and
to create 196.31 (2m) of the statutes;
2relating to: Public Service Commission intervenor grants and making an
3appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law allows certain persons who are not public utilities to intervene in
proceedings before the Public Service Commission (PSC), and allows the PSC to
compensate such persons for their intervention costs. This bill requires the PSC to
provide $300,000 in annual grants from the appropriation for such compensation to
a nonprofit corporation that has a history of advocating on behalf of residential
ratepayers for affordable rates. The grants must be used to offset the general
expenses of the corporation, including salary, benefit, rent, and utility expenses. In
addition, the bill increases the appropriation to cover the grants, and changes the
appropriation from an annual to a biennial appropriation.
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:
AB689, s. 1
4Section
1. 20.155 (1) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB689,2,4
120.155
(1) (j)
Intervenor financing
and grants. The Biennially, the amounts in
2the schedule for intervenor financing
and grants under s. 196.31. All moneys
3received for intervenor financing under s. 196.31 (2) shall be credited to this
4appropriation.
AB689, s. 2
5Section
2. 196.31 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB689,2,116
196.31
(2m) From the appropriation under s. 20.155 (1) (j), the commission
7shall make an annual grant of $300,000 to a nonstock, nonprofit corporation that is
8described under section
501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that has a
9history of advocating on behalf of residential ratepayers for affordable rates, for the
10purpose of offsetting the general expenses of the corporation, including salary,
11benefit, rent, and utility expenses.
AB689,2,2213
(1)
In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation
14to the public service commission under section 20.155 (1) (j) of the statutes, as
15affected by the acts of 2009, the dollar amount is increased by $300,000 for the first
16fiscal year of the fiscal biennium in which this subsection takes effect to increase
17funding for the purpose for which the appropriation is made. In the schedule under
18section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the public service
19commission under section 20.155 (1) (j) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2009,
20the dollar amount is increased by $300,000 for the second fiscal year of the fiscal
21biennium in which this subsection takes effect to increase funding for the purpose
22for which the appropriation is made.
