SB335: Bill Text

LRB-2950/2

GMM:eev&sac:jm

2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

2013 Senate BILL 335

October 4, 2013 - Introduced by Senators Harsdorf, Leibham, Darling, Shilling, Erpenbach, Cowles, C. Larson, Schultz, Lassa and Lehman, cosponsored by Representatives Nerison, Tranel, Petryk, Pridemore, Bernier, Born, Weatherston, Nygren, Ballweg, LeMahieu, A. Ott, Kaufert, Nass, Kleefisch, Ripp, T. Larson, Marklein, Krug, Jacque, Czaja and Endsley. Referred to Committee on Economic Development and Local Government.

SB335,1,3 An Act to create 20.445 (1) (d) and 106.05 of the statutes; relating to: a tuition reimbursement program for apprentices and employers, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, any person 16 years of age or over may enter into an indenture, which is a contract whereby the person (apprentice) is to receive from his or her employer, in consideration for the apprentice's services, instruction in any trade, craft, or business. That instruction may include related classroom instruction.

This bill requires the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to administer a tuition reimbursement program under which DWD may reimburse, as provided in the bill, the cost of tuition incurred by a person who has completed an apprenticeship program and who is employed in the trade, craft, or business in which the person was trained under the apprenticeship program or incurred by the person's employer. Under the bill, the amount of that reimbursement is 25 percent of the cost of tuition incurred by the person or employer or $1,000, whichever is less, except that if the amount of funds applied for exceeds the amount available for tuition reimbursement, DWD may reduce the reimbursement percentage or deny applications for reimbursement that would otherwise qualify for reimbursement. In that case, DWD must determine the reimbursement percentage and eligibility on the basis of the dates on which applications for reimbursement were received.

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:

SB335,1 Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

SB335,2 Section 2. 20.445 (1) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

SB335,2,6 20.445 (1) (d) Tuition reimbursement for apprentices and employers. The amounts in the schedule for tuition reimbursement for apprentices and employers under s. 106.05 (2).

SB335,3 Section 3. 106.05 of the statutes is created to read:

SB335,2,12 106.05 Tuition reimbursement for apprentices and employers. (1) Definition. In this section, "tuition" means the program fees and additional fees described in s. 38.24 (1m) and (1s) that are charged by a technical college, or the fees charged by a proprietary school that is approved under s. 38.50, to enroll in a course providing classroom instruction that is related to an apprenticeship program.

SB335,3,3 (2) Tuition reimbursement program. (a) Administration; eligibility. The department shall administer a tuition reimbursement program under which the department may reimburse, as provided in par. (c), the cost of tuition incurred by a person who has completed an apprenticeship program and who is employed in the trade, craft, or business in which the person was trained under the apprenticeship program or incurred by the person's employer.

SB335,3,7 (b) Application. A person who meets the requirements specified in par. (a) or the person's employer may apply for reimbursement under par. (c) for the cost of tuition incurred by the person or employer by submitting an application to the department that meets all of the following requirements:

SB335,3,9 1. Is received by the department within a time limit set by the department by rule.

SB335,3,12 2. Contains all the information that the department determines is necessary for the department to establish the eligibility of the person or employer for the reimbursement.

SB335,3,19 3. Contains the signature of the person certifying that he or she has completed an apprenticeship program and is employed in the trade, craft, or business in which he or she was trained under the apprenticeship program, contains the signature of the person's sponsor certifying that the person has completed an apprenticeship program, and contains the signature of the person's employer certifying that the person is employed in the trade, craft, or business in which he or she was trained under the apprenticeship program.

SB335,3,23 4. Contains a statement signed by a representative of the technical college or proprietary school providing the course for which the tuition was paid indicating the amount of tuition paid and whether the tuition was paid by the person enrolled in the course or the person's employer.

SB335,4,3 (c) Reimbursement. Subject to par. (d), if the department determines that a person meets the requirements specified in par. (a), the department, from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (d), shall reimburse the person or the person's employer for 25 percent of the cost of tuition incurred by the person or employer or in the amount of $1,000, whichever is less.

SB335,4,9 (d) Limitations. 1. If the amount of funds applied for exceeds the amount available under s. 20.445 (1) (d), the department may reduce the reimbursement percentage or deny applications for reimbursement that would otherwise qualify under this subsection. In that case, the department shall determine the reimbursement percentage and eligibility on the basis of the dates on which applications for reimbursement were received.

SB335,4,14 2. The department may provide reimbursement under this subsection to a person who is delinquent in child support or maintenance payments or who owes past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses, as established by appearance of the person's name on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), only if the person provides the department with one of the following:

SB335,4,18 a. A repayment agreement that the person has entered into, that has been accepted by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5), and that has been kept current for the 6-month period immediately preceding the date of the application.

SB335,4,22 b. A statement that the person is not delinquent in child support or maintenance payments and does not owe past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses, signed by the department of children and families or its designee within 7 working days before the date of the application.

SB335,4,23 (3) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section.

SB335,4,24 (End)