LRB-3770/1
RJM&PG:kmg:rs
2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE
January 5, 2004 - Introduced by Representatives Shilling, Taylor, Turner, Black,
Staskunas, J. Lehman, Berceau, Albers, Vruwink and Plouff, cosponsored by
Senators Hansen, Wirch, Lassa, Erpenbach and Roessler. Referred to
Committee on Economic Development.
AB712,1,5
1An Act to create 15.155 (2m), 20.143 (1) (f), 20.292 (1) (br), 38.04 (25) and
2560.277 of the statutes;
relating to: creating a Manufacturing
3Competitiveness Grant Program and a Manufacturing Competitiveness Board,
4providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting
5rule-making authority, and making appropriations.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill creates a Manufacturing Competitiveness Grant Program (program),
which is administered by a Manufacturing Competitiveness Board (board) created
under the bill. The bill provides $9,500,000 of general purpose revenue to fund
grants under the program, although the aggregate total of all initial grants is limited
to $2,500,000.
Under the bill, the board may make grants to the Board of Regents of the
University of Wisconsin System, the Technical College System Board, and certain
entities that assist manufacturers. The bill specifies that a trade association or
chamber of commerce is not eligible to receive a grant under the program. A grant
may be used to fund, at least in part, any project that assists a manufacturer in
accomplishing improved productivity, reduced costs of operation, the use of new
technology in the manufacturing process, the improvement of the skills of its
workforce, the creation of new products, sales in new markets, or any other goal
approved by the board that benefits manufacturing in this state.
The bill also provides $500,000 to the Technical College System Board to
contract with and award grants to the tax-exempt organizations described above for
the purpose of conducting surveys to determine what manufacturers need in order
to improve productivity and stay competitive and to provide technical assistance to
manufacturers.
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:
AB712, s. 1
1Section
1. 15.155 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB712,2,42
15.155
(2m) Manufacturing competitiveness board. (a)
Members. There is
3created a manufacturing competitiveness board, attached to the department of
4commerce under s. 15.03, consisting of all of the following:
AB712,2,55
1. The secretary of commerce or his or her designee.
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2. The secretary of workforce development or his or her designee.
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3. The president of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
8or his or her designee.
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4. The president of the technical college system board or his or her designee.
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5. A member of the public representing organized labor.
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6. A member of the public representing manufacturers.
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7. A member of the public representing the public interest.
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8. The chairperson of the board of directors of each of 2 entities, the primary
14purpose of which is to assist manufacturers in improving productivity and competing
15more effectively.
AB712,2,1716
(b)
Terms. The members appointed under par. (a) 5., 6., and 7. shall be
17appointed for 3-year terms.
AB712, s. 2
18Section
2. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
19the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
-
See PDF for table ![PDF](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/assets/image/file_acrobat.gif)
AB712, s. 3
1Section
3. 20.143 (1) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
AB712,3,32
20.143
(1) (f)
Manufacturing Competitiveness Grant Program. As a continuing
3appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for grants under s. 560.277.
AB712, s. 4
4Section
4. 20.292 (1) (br) of the statutes is created to read:
AB712,3,75
20.292
(1) (br)
Manufacturing Competitiveness Grant Program. As a
6continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for the Manufacturing
7Competitiveness Grant Program under s. 38.04 (25).
AB712, s. 5
8Section
5. 38.04 (25) of the statutes is created to read:
AB712,3,119
38.04
(25) Manufacturing Competitiveness Grant Program. (a) In this
10subsection, "eligible organization" means an organization that satisfies the criteria
11under s. 560.277 (1) (b) 1. to 4.
AB712,3,1412
(b) The board shall contract with eligible organizations for the purpose of
13conducting surveys to determine what manufacturers need to improve productivity
14and stay competitive.
AB712,4,2
1(c) The board shall award grants to eligible organizations to provide technical
2assistance to manufacturers.
AB712, s. 6
3Section
6. 560.277 of the statutes is created to read:
AB712,4,5
4560.277 Manufacturing Competitiveness Grant Program. (1) 5Definitions. (a) "Board" means the manufacturing competitiveness board.
AB712,4,106
(b) "Eligible organization" means the Board of Regents of the University of
7Wisconsin System, the technical college system board, an entity, other than a trade
8association or chamber of commerce, the primary purpose of which is to assist
9manufacturers in improving productivity and competing more effectively, and any
10entity that satisfies all of the following conditions:
AB712,4,12111. The entity is described under section
501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code
12and is exempt from taxation under section
501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
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2. The primary purpose of the entity is to assist manufacturers located in this
14state.
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3. The entity's primary office is located in this state.
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4. The entity is not a trade association or chamber of commerce.
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(c) "Eligible project" means a project that assists a manufacturer in
18accomplishing any of the following:
AB712,4,1919
1. Improved productivity.
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2. Reduced costs of operation.
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3. The use of new technology in the manufacturing process.
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4. The improvement of the skills of its workforce.
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5. The creation of new products.
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6. Sales in new markets.
AB712,5,2
17. Any other goal approved by the board that benefits manufacturing in this
2state.
AB712,5,8
3(2) Grants authorized. The board may make a grant to an eligible
4organization for the purpose of funding, at least in part, an eligible project. The total
5of all grants under this subsection resulting from initial applications may not exceed
6$2,500,000. If an eligible organization receives a grant under this subsection, any
7subsequent grant made to that organization under this subsection may not exceed
83 times the amount of the preceding grant.
AB712,5,12
9(3) Application. (a)
Initial application. To obtain a grant under sub. (2), an
10eligible organization shall apply to the board in the form and manner prescribed by
11rule of the department. Each application for an initial grant under sub. (2) shall
12include all of the following information:
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1. The project budget.
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2. A description of the project, including a quantifiable goal of the project.
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3. A proposed method for measuring progress toward the goals of the project.
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4. The name and business address of each manufacturer to which assistance
17will be provided.
AB712,5,1918
5. Any other relevant information required by the board or by rule of the
19department.