SB419: Bill Text

LRB-3200/1

MPG:emw

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Senate BILL 419

December 3, 2015 - Introduced by Senators Petrowski, Carpenter, Darling, Harsdorf, LeMahieu, Marklein, Moulton, Olsen, Ringhand, L. Taylor and Vinehout, cosponsored by Representatives VanderMeer, Allen, Ballweg, Bernier, Brostoff, Edming, T. Larson, Macco, Milroy, Murphy, A. Ott, Petryk and Skowronski. Referred to Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs.

SB419,1,4 An Act to repeal 20.485 (2) (q) and 45.435; and to create 20.485 (2) (qm) and 45.437 of the statutes; relating to: a veterans employment and entrepreneurship grant program, veteran employment grants, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill eliminates a veteran employment grant program and creates a veterans employment and entrepreneurship grant program. Under current law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) may grant certain amounts to employers for each veteran or disabled veteran the employers hire, subject to specific limitations.

This bill eliminates that grant program. Instead, the bill creates a program under which DVA may, beginning in the 2016-17 fiscal year, make up to $500,000 in grants each year to veterans, employers, and nonprofit organizations to improve employment outcomes for veterans in this state. Specifically, the bill authorizes DVA to award grants to assist veteran entrepreneurs, to give employers in this state incentives to hire veterans, especially disabled veterans, to help fund employment training for veterans, especially disabled veterans, and for other programs or purposes as determined by DVA.

The bill requires DVA to promulgate rules establishing the goals grant recipients must meet before receiving any grant moneys. The bill also requires DVA to submit an annual report concerning the grant program to the governor and the legislature.

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:

SB419,1 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

SB419,2 Section 2. 20.485 (2) (q) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is repealed.

SB419,3 Section 3. 20.485 (2) (qm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB419,2,8 20.485 (2) (qm) Veterans employment and entrepreneurship grants. The amounts in the schedule for the payment of veterans employment and entrepreneurship grants under s. 45.437.

SB419,4 Section 4. 45.435 of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is repealed.

SB419,5 Section 5. 45.437 of the statutes is created to read:

SB419,2,15 45.437 Veterans employment and entrepreneurship grant program. (1) Definition. In this section, "disabled veteran" means a veteran who is verified by the department to have a service-connected disability rating of at least 50 percent under 38 USC 1114 or 1134.

SB419,3,3 (2) Grants. (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (qm), the department may award up to $500,000 annually in grants to veterans, employers, and nonprofit organizations under this section.

SB419,3,10 (b) The department may not award a grant under par. (a) unless the department determines that the grant is likely to improve employment outcomes for veterans in this state. Subject to that limitation, the department may award grants to assist veteran entrepreneurs, to give employers in this state incentives to hire veterans, especially disabled veterans, to help fund employment training for veterans, especially disabled veterans, and for other programs or purposes as determined by the department by rule.

SB419,3,13 (3) Annual report. Annually, the department shall submit a report to the governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) that includes all of the following:

SB419,3,14 (a) The number of grants awarded under this section.

SB419,3,15 (b) The amount of each grant awarded under this section.

SB419,3,16 (c) The purpose of each grant awarded under this section.

SB419,3,17 (d) The outcomes attributable to each grant awarded under this section.

SB419,3,21 (4) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules implementing this section. The rules promulgated under this subsection shall include rules establishing the specific goals grant recipients must meet and requiring that those goals be met before any grant moneys are disbursed.

SB419,6 Section 6. Effective date.

SB419,3,24 (1) This act takes effect on July 1, 2016, or on the day after publication, whichever is later.

SB419,3,25 (End)