MPG:kjf&amn
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
January 29, 2018 - Introduced by Representatives Kooyenga, Rohrkaste,
Brandtjen, Jacque, Katsma, Kerkman, Schraa, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Vorpagel,
R. Brooks and Tusler, cosponsored by Senators Stroebel, Craig, Marklein
and Kapenga. Referred to Committee on Federalism and Interstate Relations.
AB879,1,2 1An Act to create 16.542 of the statutes; relating to: coercive conditions
2attached to federal funding.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Legislative Fiscal Bureau and the Legislative Council
Staff to submit a joint report, following each biennial budget act, to the governor,
attorney general, and legislature that identifies coercive conditions attached to
federal funds made available to the state. The report must identify each condition
that is coercive or could reasonably be considered coercive, as determined by the
Legislative Council Staff, and is placed on the state's continued eligibility to receive
federal funds. Under the bill, an eligibility condition is coercive if it requires the
expenditure of state or local funds or relates to matters of state or local policy other
than the manner in which federal, state, or local funds must be spent. The bill
requires that the report include only programs for which more than $5,000,000 in
federal funding is appropriated in the applicable budget act and exempts certain
grants.
The bill authorizes the attorney general to bring an action in the name of the
state to enjoin the application of a condition identified in the joint report and requires
the governor to consult with the governors of other states to develop a coordinated
approach among the states to coercive conditions attached to federal funding.

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:
AB879,1 1Section 1. 16.542 of the statutes is created to read:
AB879,2,7 216.542 Coercive federal funding. (1) Definition. In this section, “ grant”
3means a one-time payment of federal funds to the state for which the state, including
4any political subdivision of the state, voluntarily applies and for which no federal
5condition attached to the grant applies to the state or a political subdivision of the
6state after all of the federal funds have been expended by the state or political
7subdivision of the state.
AB879,2,12 8(2) Report. No later than 90 days after the effective date of each biennial
9budget act, the legislative fiscal bureau and the legislative council staff jointly shall
10submit to the governor, the attorney general, and the chief clerk of each house of the
11legislature for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) a report that
12contains all of the following:
AB879,2,1713 (a) As prepared by the legislative fiscal bureau, for each program for which the
14appropriation of federal funds in the biennial budget act exceeds $5,000,000 in the
15aggregate, a general description of the program and a list of each condition for the
16state's continued eligibility to receive the federal funds, together with citations to
17relevant federal law, regulations, and guidance.
AB879,3,218 (b) As prepared by the legislative council staff, an identification of each
19condition listed under par. (a) that is or could reasonably be considered to be coercive,
20as determined by the legislative council staff. A condition is coercive under this

1paragraph only if the condition does any of the following and is not attached to a
2grant:
AB879,3,43 1. Requires the expenditure of nonfederal state or local funds, including
4maintenance of effort and similar requirements.
AB879,3,65 2. Relates to matters of state or local policy other than the manner in which
6federal, state, or local funds must be spent.
AB879,3,7 7(3) Report sunset. Subsection (2) does not apply after June 30, 2039.
AB879,3,9 8(4) Suit authorized. The attorney general may bring an action in the name of
9the state to enjoin the application of a coercive condition identified under sub. (2) (b).
AB879,3,12 10(5) Coordination with other states. The governor shall consult with the
11governors of other states to develop a coordinated approach among the states to
12coercive conditions attached to federal funding.
AB879,2 13Section 2. Nonstatutory provisions.
AB879,3,1614 (1) Submission of initial report. The legislative fiscal bureau and the
15legislative council staff shall submit a report under section 16.542 of the statutes for
162017 Wisconsin Act 59 no later than December 31, 2018.
AB879,3,1717 (End)
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