SECTION 946. 44.20 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
44.20 (1) The historical society shall operate and maintain the historic sites known as Stonefield Village, Pendarvis, Villa Louis, Old Wade House, Madeline Island, Old World Wisconsin, H.H. Bennett Studios and, if the First Capitol state park has been transferred to the historical society under 1993 Wisconsin Act 16, section 9142 (1e), First Capitol.
SECTION 946g. 44.34 (13) of the statutes is created to read:
44.34 (13) Produce a CD-ROM about the restoration of the state capitol.
SECTION 946m. 44.49 of the statutes is created to read:
44.49 Heritage trust program. (1) PURPOSE. The legislature determines that the provision of assistance by the state under this section and the awarding of grants to the Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation under this section serve a statewide public purpose by assisting in the protection, restoration and rehabilitation of property located in this state that is significant in the history, prehistory, architecture, archaeology or culture of this state, its rural and urban communities or the nation.
(2) DEFINITIONS. In this section:
(a) "Local governmental unit" has the meaning given in s. 16.97 (7).
(b) "Trust" means the Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation.
(3) GRANTS TO GOVERNMENTAL UNITS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (zfm), the state historical society shall award grants to state agencies, local governmental units and nonprofit organizations for historic preservation. A grant recipient shall provide matching funds equal to 25% of the amount of the grant, except that the state historical society may require a recipient to provide matching funds equal to a higher percentage.
(b) The state historical society shall ensure that all grant recipients under par. (a) comply with the standards for rehabilitation in 36 CFR 67.7.
(c) The state historical society may award up to $1,000,000 in grants under par. (a) in the 2000-01 fiscal year and up to $1,500,000 in grants under par. (a) in each of the 9 succeeding fiscal years, except that if the state historical society awards less than the maximum amount allowed in any fiscal year the maximum amount allowed in the succeeding fiscal year is increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount awarded in the current fiscal year and the maximum amount allowed in the current fiscal year.
(4) GRANTS TO THE TRUST. (a) Subject to par. (b), the state historical society annually shall award a grant to the trust from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (zfm). In the 2000-01 fiscal year, the amount of the grant shall be $1,000,000. In each of the 9 succeeding fiscal years, the amount of the grant shall be $500,000.
(b) The state historical society may award a grant under par. (a) only if the following conditions are satisfied:
1. The bylaws of the trust state that the purpose of the trust is to develop and support statewide initiatives promoting historic preservation and that, if the trust dissolves, the trust shall in good faith take all reasonable measures to ensure that all moneys paid to the trust under this subsection revert to the state.
2. The trust provides public access to any meeting held for the purpose of deliberations regarding the awarding of grants under par. (c) 1. to the same extent as is required of, and subject to the same terms and enforcement provisions that apply to, a governmental body under subch. V of ch. 19.
(c) The moneys received under par. (a) shall constitute an endowment fund. The trust shall use the earnings of the endowment fund for the following purposes:
1. To award grants to state agencies, local governmental units and nonprofit organizations for historic preservation, including historic preservation to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Wisconsin statehood. A grant recipient shall provide matching funds equal to 25% of the amount of the grant, except that the trust may require a recipient to provide matching funds equal to a higher percentage.
2. To temporarily acquire historic property for the purpose of historic preservation.
(d) The trust shall comply, and shall ensure that all grant recipients under par. (c) 1. comply, with the standards for rehabilitation in 36 CFR 67.7.
(e) The trust shall contract with an independent certified public accountant to biennially audit the endowment fund. Within 30 days after the completion of each audit, the trust shall submit a detailed report of the audit to the governor and the joint committee on finance.
(5) SUNSET. The state historical society may not award a grant under this section after June 30, 2010.
SECTION 947. 44.53 (1) (fm) of the statutes is created to read:
44.53 (1) (fm) Conduct a program identical to that described in par. (f), but only for American Indian individuals and groups. The program shall be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.215 (1) (km).
SECTION 947m. 44.53 (1) (j) of the statutes is created to read:
44.53 (1) (j) Annually pay to the Milwaukee Foundation, Inc., for deposit in the High Point fund, the amount appropriated under s. 20.215 (1) (e).
SECTION 948. 44.53 (2) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
44.53 (2) (am) Enter into contracts with American Indian individuals, organizations and institutions and American Indian tribal governments for services furthering the development of the arts and humanities.
SECTION 949. 44.70 (2g) of the statutes is created to read:
44.70 (2g) "Educational agency" means a school district, private school, cooperative educational service agency, technical college district, private college, public library system, public library board, the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Wisconsin School for the Deaf.
SECTION 951. 44.70 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
44.70 (3m) "Public library system" has the meaning given in s. 43.01 (5).
SECTION 952. 44.70 (5) of the statutes is created to read:
44.70 (5) "Universal service fund" means the trust fund established under s. 25.95.
SECTION 953. 44.71 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 44.71 (2) (a), and 44.71 (2) (a) 5. and 8., as renumbered, are amended to read:
44.71 (2) (a) 5. Subject to s. 196.218 (4r) (f) 44.73 (5), in cooperation with the department and the public service commission, provide telecommunications access to school districts, private schools, cooperative educational service agencies, technical college districts, private colleges and public library boards educational agencies under the program established under s. 196.218 (4r) 44.73.
8. Purchase educational technology equipment for use by school districts, cooperative educational service agencies and public educational institutions in this state and permit the districts, agencies and institutions to purchase or lease the equipment, with an option to purchase the equipment at a later date. This paragraph subdivision does not require the purchase or lease of any educational technology equipment from the board.
SECTION 953g. 44.71 (2) (a) 6m. of the statutes is created to read:
44.71 (2) (a) 6m. No later than October 1 of each year, submit a report containing the discount rates provided to the board for telecommunications service under 47 USC 254 to the department of administration, the joint committee on finance and the public service commission.
SECTION 954. 44.71 (2) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
44.71 (2) (bm) The board may contract with the Wisconsin advanced telecommunications foundation to provide administrative services to the foundation.
SECTION 955. 44.72 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
44.72 (1) (a) Award grants to applicants on a competitive basis through one funding cycle annually, except that the board shall ensure that at least one grant is awarded annually to an applicant located in the territory of each cooperative educational service agency.
SECTION 955m. 44.72 (1) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
44.72 (1) (d) Promulgate rules establishing administrative procedures, eligibility criteria and application requirements for awarding grants under this section.
SECTION 955p. 44.72 (1) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
44.72 (1) (e) Consult with the department of public instruction before awarding grants under this subsection.
SECTION 955t. 44.72 (2) (a) of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 956. 44.72 (2) (b) 3. of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 956g. 44.72 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
44.72 (2) (c) A school district is eligible for a grant under par. (a) or (b) 2. only if the annual meeting in a common school district, or the school board in a unified school district or in a school district operating under ch. 119, adopts a resolution requesting the grant. A grant under this subsection may not be used to replace funding available from other sources.
SECTION 956r. 44.72 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
44.72 (2) (d) A school district receiving a grant under par. (a) or (b) shall deposit the moneys in a separate fund. The moneys may be used for any purpose related to educational technology, except that a school district may not use the moneys to pay the salary or benefits of any school district employe.
SECTION 957. 44.72 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
44.72 (2) (e) The board shall distribute the grants under par. (b) 2. and 3. annually on the first Monday in February.
SECTION 958. 44.72 (4) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
44.72 (4) (title) SUBSIDIZED EDUCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE LOANS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
SECTION 959. 44.72 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
44.72 (4) (a) Subsidized loans Financial assistance authorized. The board may make subsidized loans provide financial assistance under this subsection to school districts from the proceeds of public debt contracted under s. 20.866 (2) (zc) and to public library boards from the proceeds of public debt contracted under s. 20.866 (2) (zcm). Subsidized loans Financial assistance under this subsection may be used only for the purpose of upgrading the electrical wiring of school and library buildings in existence on October 14, 1997, and installing and upgrading computer network wiring.
SECTION 960. 44.72 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
44.72 (4) (b) Subsidized loan Financial assistance applications, terms and conditions. The board shall establish application procedures for, and the terms and conditions of, subsidized loans financial assistance under this subsection. The board shall make a loan to a school district or public library board in an amount equal to 50% of the total amount of financial assistance for which the board determines the school district or public library board is eligible and provide a grant to the school district or public library board for the remainder of the total. The terms of any financial assistance under this subsection may include provision of professional building construction services under s. 16.85 (15). The board shall determine the interest rate on these loans under this subsection. The interest rate shall be as low as possible but shall be sufficient to fully pay all interest expenses incurred by the state in making the loans and to provide reserves that are reasonably expected to be required in the judgment of the board to ensure against losses arising from delinquency and default in the repayment of subsidized the loans. The term of a subsidized loan under this subsection may not exceed 10 years.
SECTION 961. 44.72 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
44.72 (4) (c) Repayment of subsidized loans. A school district's or public library board's total payments on a loan made under this subsection shall be equal to 50% of the total debt service on the loan, as determined by the board. A school district or public library board is not obligated to pay the remaining 50% of the debt service on the loan. The board shall credit all moneys received from school districts under this paragraph for repayment of loans under this subsection to the appropriation account under s. 20.275 (1) (h). The board shall credit all moneys received from public library boards under this paragraph for repayment of loans under this subsection to the appropriation account under s. 20.275 (1) (hb).
SECTION 962. 44.72 (4) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
44.72 (4) (d) Funding for subsidized loans financial assistance. The board, with the approval of the governor and subject to the limits of s. 20.866 (2) (zc) and (zcm), may request that the building commission contract public debt in accordance with ch. 18 to fund loans financial assistance under this subsection.
SECTION 967. 45.25 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.25 (1) ADMINISTRATION. The department of veterans affairs shall administer a tuition and fee reimbursement program for eligible veterans enrolling as undergraduates in any institution within the university of Wisconsin system, enrolling in any technical college under ch. 38 of higher education, as defined in s. 45.396 (1) (a), in this state or receiving a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47.
SECTION 968. 45.25 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.25 (2) (d) The individual is a resident at the time of application for the tuition and fee reimbursement program and was a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry or reentry into service or was a resident for any consecutive 5-year period after completing entry or reentry into service on active duty and before the time date of his or her application. If a person applying for a benefit under this section meets that 5-consecutive-year residency requirement, the department may not require the person to reestablish that he or she meets the 5-consecutive-year residency requirement when he or she later applies for any other benefit under this chapter that requires a 5-consecutive-year residency.
SECTION 969. 45.25 (2) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
45.25 (2) (e) The individual is enrolled for at least 12 credits during the semester for which reimbursement is sought.
SECTION 970. 45.25 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.25 (3) (a) Except as provided in par. (am), an individual who meets the requirements under sub. (2), upon satisfactory completion of an a full-time undergraduate semester in any institution within the university of Wisconsin system or a semester at any technical college district school under ch. 38 of higher education, as defined in s. 45.396 (1) (a), in this state or any institution from which the individual receives a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47, may be reimbursed for up to 50% 65% of the individual's tuition and fees, but that. The reimbursement under this paragraph is limited to a maximum of 50% 65% of the standard cost for a state resident for an equivalent undergraduate course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison per course or the difference between the individual's tuition and fees and the grants or scholarships, including those made under s. 21.49, that the individual receives specifically for the payment of the tuition or fees, whichever is less. Reimbursement is available only for tuition and fees that are part of a curriculum that is relevant to a degree in a particular course of study at the institution or school.
SECTION 971. 45.25 (3) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.25 (3) (am) A disabled individual who meets the requirements under sub. (2) and whose disability is rated at 30% or more under 38 USC 1114 or 1134, upon satisfactory completion of an undergraduate semester in any institution within the university of Wisconsin system or a semester at any technical college district school under ch. 38 of higher education, as defined in s. 45.396 (1) (a), in this state or any institution from which the individual receives a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47, may be reimbursed for up to 100% of the individual's tuition and fees, but that. The reimbursement under this paragraph is limited to 100% of the standard cost for a state resident for an equivalent undergraduate course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison per course, or the difference between the individual's tuition and fees and the grants or scholarships, including those made under s. 21.49, that the individual receives specifically for the payment of the tuition or fees, whichever is less. Reimbursement is available only for tuition and fees that are part of a curriculum that is relevant to a degree in a particular course of study at the institution or school.
SECTION 972. 45.25 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.25 (4) (a) An individual is not eligible for reimbursement under sub. (2) for more than 120 credits of part-time study or 8 full semesters of full-time study at any institution within the university of Wisconsin system of higher education, as defined in s. 45.396 (1) (a), in this state, 60 credits of part-time study or 4 full semesters of full-time study at a technical college under ch. 38 any institution of higher education, as defined in s. 45.396 (1) (a), in this state that offers a degree upon completion of 60 credits, or an equivalent amount of credits at an institution where he or she is receiving a waiver of nonresident tuition under s. 39.47.
SECTION 973. 45.25 (4) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.25 (4) (b) (intro.) The department may provide reimbursement under sub. (2) to an individual who is delinquent in child support or maintenance payments or who owes past support, medical expenses or birth expenses, as established by the receipt by the department of a certification under s. 49.855 appearance of the individual's name on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), only if the individual provides the department with one of the following:
SECTION 974. 45.25 (4) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
45.25 (4) (b) 2. A statement that the individual is not delinquent in child support or maintenance payments and does not owe past support, medical expenses or birth expenses, signed by the clerk of circuit court department of workforce development or its designee within 7 working days before the date of the application.
SECTION 975. 45.35 (5) (a) 2. c. of the statutes is amended to read:
45.35 (5) (a) 2. c. Has been a resident of this state for any consecutive 5-year period after completing entry or reentry into service on active duty and before the date of his or her application or death. If a person applying for a benefit under this subchapter meets that 5-consecutive-year residency requirement, the department may not require the person to reestablish that he or she meets the 5-consecutive-year residency requirement when he or she later applies for any other benefit under this chapter that requires a 5-consecutive-year residency.
SECTION 976. 45.35 (14) (h) of the statutes is created to read:
45.35 (14) (h) To provide grants to the governing bodies of federally recognized American Indian tribes and bands from the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (km) if that governing body enters into an agreement with the department regarding the creation, goals and objectives of a tribal veterans' service officer, appoints a veteran to act as a tribal veterans' service officer and gives that veteran duties similar to the duties described in s. 45.43 (5), except that the veteran shall report to the governing body of the tribe or band. The department may make annual grants of up to $2,500 under this paragraph and shall promulgate rules to implement this paragraph.
SECTION 977. 45.35 (15) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.35 (15) LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION INTENDED. This section, ss. 45.25, 45.351, 45.356 and 45.37 and subch. II shall be construed as liberally as the language permits in favor of applicants.
SECTION 979. 45.356 (6) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.356 (6) (intro.) The department may provide a loan under this section after the department receives a certification under s. 49.855 (7) that the applicant is delinquent in child support or maintenance payments or owes past support, medical expenses or birth expenses to an applicant whose name appears on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b) only if the applicant does one of the following: