SB201: Bill Text

LRB-3017/1

EAW:jld

2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

2017 Senate BILL 201

April 20, 2017 - Introduced by Senators Darling, Kapenga, Marklein, Stroebel, Vinehout and Wanggaard, cosponsored by Representatives Rodriguez, Allen, Ballweg, Bernier, Born, Brandtjen, Duchow, Edming, Gannon, Kitchens, Knodl, Krug, Kulp, Loudenbeck, Quinn, Riemer, Ripp, Sanfelippo, Tauchen and Thiesfeldt. Referred to Committee on Public Benefits, Licensing and State-Federal Relations.

SB201,1,2 An Act to amend 49.155 (1m) (c) 1.; and to create 49.155 (1m) (c) 1d. of the statutes; relating to: mitigating the benefit drop-off in Wisconsin Shares.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill allows an individual who receives a child care subsidy through the Wisconsin Shares program to continue to be eligible to receive a partial subsidy if that individual's family gross income increases to above 200 percent of the poverty line for a family the size of the individual's family.

Wisconsin Shares is a part of the Wisconsin Works program under current law, which provides work experience and benefits for low-income custodial parents who are at least 18 years old. Under Wisconsin Shares, an individual who is the parent of a child under the age of 13 or, if the child is disabled, under the age of 19, who needs child care services to participate in various educational or work activities, and who satisfies other eligibility criteria, may receive a child care subsidy for child care services. Under current law, one of the eligibility criteria for receiving a child care subsidy under Wisconsin Shares is having a family gross income at or below 185 percent of the poverty line. If an individual is already receiving a child care subsidy under Wisconsin Shares and his or her family's gross income increases above 185 percent of the poverty line, under current law the individual remains eligible for the child care subsidy until his or her family's gross income exceeds 200 percent of the poverty line. Under this bill, the individual remains eligible to receive a child care subsidy under Wisconsin Shares if his or her family's gross income exceeds 200 percent of the poverty line, but the individual's copayment increases by $1 for every $3 by which the family's gross income exceeds 200 percent of the poverty line.

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:

SB201,1 Section 1. 49.155 (1m) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB201,2,13 49.155 (1m) (c) 1. Except as provided in subds. 1d., 1g., 1h., 1m., 2., and 3., the gross income of the individual's family is at or below 185 percent of the poverty line for a family the size of the individual's family or, for an individual who is already receiving a child care subsidy under this section, the gross income of the individual's family is at or below 200 percent of the poverty line for a family the size of the individual's family. In calculating the gross income of the family, the department or county department or agency determining eligibility shall include court-ordered child or family support payments received by the individual, if those support payments exceed $1,250 per month, and income described under s. 49.145 (3) (b) 1. and 3., except that, in calculating farm and self-employment income, the department or county department or agency determining eligibility shall include the sum of the following:

SB201,2 Section 2. 49.155 (1m) (c) 1d. of the statutes is created to read:

SB201,2,20 49.155 (1m) (c) 1d. Notwithstanding sub. (5) (b), if the individual is already receiving a child care subsidy under this section and the gross income of the individual's family exceeds 200 percent of the poverty line for a family the size of the individual's family, the individual's copayment amount under sub. (5) increases by $1 for every $3 by which the individual's family's gross income exceeds 200 percent of the poverty line for a family the size of the individual's family.

SB201,3 Section 3. Effective date.

SB201,3,2 (1) Child care subsidy copayments. This act takes effect on July 1, 2018, or on the first day of the 12th month beginning after publication, whichever is later.

SB201,3,3 (End)