Wisconsin Legislature: 25,707

1. The person has served on active duty for at least one qualifying term of service under subds. 2. to 4. under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces during a war period or in a crisis zone.

2. The person has served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated in the U.S. armed forces under honorable conditions, for 2 continuous years or more or for the full period of his or her initial service obligation, whichever is less.

3. The person has served on active duty for 90 days or more under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated in the U.S. armed forces during a war period or for any period of service under section 1 of executive order 10957 dated August 10, 1961.

4. The term of service in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces under honorable conditions entitled the person to receive the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, established by executive order 10977 on December 4, 1961, the Vietnam Service Medal established by executive order 11231 on July 8, 1965, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, or an equivalent expeditionary or service medal.

5. The person was honorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces or from forces incorporated in the U.S. armed forces for a service-connected disability, for a disability subsequently adjudicated to have been service connected, or for reasons of hardship.

6. The person was released under honorable conditions from the U.S. armed forces or from forces incorporated in the U.S. armed forces due to a reduction in the U.S. armed forces.

(b) The board shall grant a remission equal to 100 percent of nonresident tuition and 50 percent of the academic fees and segregated fees charged for 128 credits or 8 semesters, whichever is longer, less the amount of any academic fees or segregated fees paid under 10 USC 2107 (c) or 38 USC 3104 (a) (7) (A), to any student who is a veteran.

25,704 Section 704. 36.34 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

36.34 (1) (b) The board shall establish a grant program for minority undergraduates enrolled in the system. The board shall designate all grants under this subsection as Lawton grants. Grants shall be awarded from the appropriations appropriation under s. 20.285 (4) (dd) and (g). The board may not make a grant under this subsection to a person whose name appears on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), unless the person provides to the board a payment agreement that has been approved by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and that is consistent with rules promulgated under s. 49.858 (2) (a).

25,704g Section 704g. 36.34 (1) (c) 1. a. and b. of the statutes are amended to read:

36.34 (1) (c) 1. a. For purposes of determining the appropriation calculating the amount to be appropriated under s. 20.285 (4) (dd) for fiscal year 2005-06 2007-08, "base amount" means the amount shown in the schedule under s. 20.005 for that appropriation for fiscal year 2004-05 2006-07.

b. For purposes of determining the appropriation calculating the amount to be appropriated under s. 20.285 (4) (dd) for each fiscal year after fiscal year 2005-06 2007-08, "base amount" means the appropriation determined under subd. 2. for the previous fiscal year.

25,704m Section 704m. 36.34 (1) (c) 2. (intro.) and a. of the statutes are amended to read:

36.34 (1) (c) 2. (intro.) Beginning in 2005, annually 2007, biennially, by February 1, the board shall determine the appropriation calculate the amounts to be appropriated under s. 20.285 (4) (dd) for the next fiscal year biennium as follows:

a. The board shall determine the percentage by which the undergraduate academic fees that will be charged for the current next academic year at each institution within the University of Wisconsin System has increased or decreased, as estimated by the board, will increase or decrease from the undergraduate academic fees charged for the previous current academic year.

25,704p Section 704p. 36.34 (1) (c) 2. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

36.34 (1) (c) 2. b. The appropriation for the next first fiscal year of the next biennium shall be the result obtained by increasing, to the nearest $100, the base amount by the highest average of the percentage increase increases determined under subd. 2a., except that, if the undergraduate academic fees for the current next academic year decreased or did are estimated to decrease or not change from the undergraduate academic fees charged for the previous current academic year at each institution specified in subd. 2a., the appropriation shall be the base amount.

25,704r Section 704r. 36.34 (1) (c) 2am. of the statutes is created to read:

36.34 (1) (c) 2am. The board shall determine the percentage by which the undergraduate academic fees that will be charged for the academic year after the next academic year at each institution within the University of Wisconsin System, as estimated by the board, will increase or decrease from the estimated undergraduate fees that will be charged for the next academic year.

25,704s Section 704s. 36.34 (1) (c) 2bm. of the statutes is created to read:

36.34 (1) (c) 2bm. The appropriation for the 2nd fiscal year of the next biennium shall be the result obtained by increasing, to the nearest $100, the base amount by the average of the percentage increases determined under subd. 2am., except that, if the undergraduate academic fees for the academic year after the next academic year are estimated to decrease or not change from the estimated undergraduate academic fees charged for the next academic year at each institution specified under subd. 2am., the appropriation shall be the base amount.

25,704t Section 704t. 36.46 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

36.46 (title) Auxiliary reserves transfer report.

25,704w Section 704w. 36.46 (1) of the statutes is repealed.

25,704x Section 704x. 36.46 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 36.46.

25,705 Section 705. 36.54 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

36.54 (2) (b) From the appropriations under s. 20.285 (1) (ee), (j), (r) and (rc), the environmental education board shall award grants to corporations and public agencies for the development, dissemination and presentation of environmental education programs. Programs shall be funded on an 18-month basis. The environmental education board may not award a grant unless the grant recipient matches at least 25% of the amount of the grant. Private funds and in-kind contributions may be applied to meet the matching requirement. Grants under this paragraph may not be used to replace funding available from other sources.

25,706 Section 706. 36.54 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

36.54 (2) (c) The environmental education board shall promulgate rules establishing the criteria and procedures for the awarding of grants for programs and projects under par. (b). The environmental education board shall use the priorities established under sub. (1) for awarding grants if the amount in the appropriations under s. 20.285 (1) (ee), (j), (r) and (rc) in any fiscal year is insufficient to fund all applications under this subsection.

25,707 Section 707. 38.04 (23) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

38.04 (23) Workplace Literacy Resource Center. (intro.) From the appropriation under s. 20.292 (1) (bm), the The board shall operate a workplace literacy resource center. The workplace literacy resource center shall do all of the following:

25,707g Section 707g. 38.04 (29) of the statutes is created to read:

38.04 (29) Master logger apprenticeship grants. The board shall use the moneys appropriated under s. 20.292 (1) (km) to award grants to businesses that provide technical college students with forest product internships for the purpose of placing eligible apprentices with loggers who are certified by the Wisconsin Professional Loggers Association as master loggers.

25,707m Section 707m. 38.17 of the statutes is created to read:

38.17 Levy limit. (1) Definition. In this section, "debt service" includes debt service on debt issued or reissued to fund or refund outstanding municipal obligations, interest on outstanding municipal obligations, and related issuance costs and redemption premiums.

(2) Limit. Except as provided in subs. (3) and (4), no district board may increase its levy for any fiscal year to an amount that exceeds its levy for the previous fiscal year multiplied by 1.026.

(3) Adjustments. (a) 1. If a district board transfers to another governmental unit responsibility for providing any service that it provided in the preceding fiscal year, the limit otherwise applicable under sub. (2) in the current fiscal year is decreased by the cost that it would have incurred to provide that service, as determined by the department of revenue.

2. If a district board increases the services that it provides by adding responsibility for providing a service transferred to it from another governmental unit that provided the service in the previous fiscal year, the limit otherwise applicable under sub. (2) in the current fiscal year is increased by the cost of that service, as determined by the department of revenue.

(b) 1. If the amount of debt service for a district board in the preceding fiscal year is less than the amount of debt service needed in the current fiscal year, as a result of the district board adopting a resolution before July 1, 2005, authorizing the issuance of debt, the limit otherwise applicable under sub. (2) for the current fiscal year is increased by the difference between the 2 amounts, as determined by the department of revenue.

2. The limit otherwise applicable under this section does not apply to amounts levied by a district board for the payment of any general obligation debt service, including debt service on debt issued or reissued to fund or refund outstanding municipal obligations, interest on outstanding municipal obligations, or the payment of related issuance costs or redemption premiums, authorized on or after July 1, 2005, by a referendum and secured by the full faith and credit of the district.

(4) Referendum. (a) 1. A district board may exceed the levy limit under sub. (2) if it adopts a resolution to that effect and the resolution is approved in a referendum. The resolution shall specify the proposed amount of increase in the levy beyond the amount that is allowed under sub. (2), and shall also specify whether the proposed amount of increase is for the next fiscal year only or if it will apply on an ongoing basis.

2. Except as provided in subd. 3., the district board may call a special referendum for the purpose of submitting the resolution to the electors of the district for approval or rejection.

3. A referendum to exceed the limit under sub. (2) for the levy for the 2006-07 fiscal year shall be held at the spring primary or election or September primary or general election in 2006.

(b) The district board shall publish type A, B, C, D, and E notices of the referendum under s. 10.01 (2). Section 5.01 (1) applies in the event of failure to comply with the notice requirements of this paragraph.

(c) The referendum shall be held in accordance with chs. 5 to 12. The district board shall provide the election officials with all necessary election supplies. The form of the ballot shall correspond substantially with the standard form for referendum ballots prescribed by the elections board under ss. 5.64 (2) and 7.08 (1) (a). The question shall be submitted as follows: "Under state law, the percentage increase in the levy of the .... (name of district) for the next fiscal year, .... (year), is limited to ....%, resulting in a levy of $..... Shall the .... (name of district) be allowed to exceed this limit such that the percentage increase for the next fiscal year, .... (year), will be ....%, resulting in a levy of $....?".

(d) Within 14 days after the referendum, the district board shall certify the results of the referendum to the department of revenue. The limit otherwise applicable to the district under sub. (2) is increased for the next fiscal year by the amount approved by a majority of those voting on the question. If the resolution specifies that the increase is for one year only, the amount of the increase shall be subtracted from the base used to calculate the limit for the 2nd succeeding fiscal year.

(4m) Penalty. The department of revenue shall notify the board of any amount levied by a district board that exceeds the district's limit under this section. The board shall reduce the district's state aid under s. 38.28 in the same fiscal year in which the excess levy occurred by an amount equal to the amount of the excess levy. The amount of the reduction shall lapse to the general fund.

(5) Sunset. This section does not apply beginning 3 years after the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date].

25,708d Section 708d. 38.22 (6) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

38.22 (6) (f) Any person verified by the department of veterans affairs as being a resident of this state under s. 38.24 (8) (a).

25,709 Section 709. 38.24 (1s) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

38.24 (1s) (b) A short-term, professional development, vocational-adult seminar or workshop, consisting of no more than 24 hours of instruction, offered to individuals who are employed in a related field. The additional fee may not exceed an amount equal to the full cost of the seminar or workshop less the fee under sub. (1m). Annually the district board shall report to the board the courses for which an additional fee was charged under this paragraph and the amount of the additional fee.

25,709m Section 709m. 38.24 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

38.24 (7) Fee remission for spouse, surviving spouse, and children of certain veterans. (a) In this subsection, "eligible veteran" means a person verified by the department of veterans affairs to be either of the following:

1. A person who has served on active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces, in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces, in the national guard, or in a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces; who was a resident of this state at the time of entry into that service; and who, while a resident of this state, either died on active duty, or died in the line of duty while on active or inactive duty for training purposes.

2. A person who was a resident of this state at the time of entry into service described in subd. 1. and who, while a resident of this state, incurred at least a 30 percent service-connected disability rating under 38 USC 1114 or 1134.

(b) Except as provided in subds. 1. to 3., the district board shall grant full remission of fees under sub. (1m) (a) to (c) for 128 credits or 8 semesters, whichever is longer, to any resident student who is also any of the following:

1. A spouse of an eligible veteran. The remission under this subdivision applies only during the first 10 years after the eligible veteran received the service-connected disability rating.

2. An unremarried surviving spouse of an eligible veteran. The remission under this subdivision applies only during the first 10 years after the veteran died.

3. A child of an eligible veteran, if the child is at least 18 but not yet 26 years of age and is a full-time student at a technical college.

25,709n Section 709n. 38.24 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

38.24 (8) Fee remission for veterans. (a) In this subsection, "veteran" means a person who is verified by the department of veterans affairs as being a resident of this state for purposes of receiving benefits under ch. 45, as being a resident at the time of his or her entry into the U.S. armed forces or forces incorporated in the U.S. armed forces, and as meeting any of the following conditions:

6. The person was released under honorable conditions from the U.S. armed forces or from forces incorporated in the U.S. armed forces due to a reduction in the U.S. armed forces.

(b) The district board shall grant remission equal to 50 percent of the fees charged under sub. (1m) (a) to (c) for 128 credits or 8 semesters, whichever is longer, less the amount of any fees paid under 10 USC 2107 (c) or 38 USC 3104 (a) (7) (A), to any student who is a veteran.

25,710 Section 710. 38.28 (1m) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

38.28 (1m) (a) 1. "District aidable cost" means the annual cost of operating a technical college district, including debt service charges for district bonds and promissory notes for building programs or capital equipment, but excluding all expenditures relating to auxiliary enterprises and community service programs, all expenditures funded by or reimbursed with federal revenues, all receipts under sub. (6) and ss. 38.12 (9), 38.14 (3) and (9), 118.15 (2) (a), and 118.55 (7r), and 146.55 (5), all receipts from grants awarded under ss. 38.04 (8), (20), (28), and (31), 38.14 (11), 38.26, 38.27, 38.33, and 38.38, all fees collected under s. 38.24, and driver education and chauffeur training aids.

25,713m Section 713m. 38.35 of the statutes is repealed.

25,714d Section 714d. 38.40 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

38.40 (title) School-to-work, Technical preparation, school-to-work, and work-based learning programs.

25,715d Section 715d. 38.40 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

38.40 (1) Employment and education program administration. The board shall plan, coordinate, administer, and implement the technical preparation, school-to-work, and work-based learning programs under sub. (1m) and such other employment and education programs as the governor may by executive order assign to the board. Notwithstanding any limitations placed on the use of state employment and education funds under this section or under an executive order assigning an employment and education program to the board, the board may issue a general or special order waiving any of those limitations on finding that the waiver will promote the coordination of employment and education services.

25,716d Section 716d. 38.40 (1m) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

38.40 (1m) (title) School-to-work Technical preparation, school-to-work, and work-based learning programs.

25,716m Section 716m. 38.40 (1m) (a) of the statutes is created to read:

38.40 (1m) (a) A technical preparation program that includes the technical preparation programs under s. 118.34.

25,719d Section 719d. 38.40 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

38.40 (2) Interagency assistance. The council on workforce investment established under 29 USC 2821 and the department of public instruction shall assist the board in providing the technical preparation, school-to-work, and work-based learning programs under sub. (1m).

25,724m Section 724m. 38.41 of the statutes is created to read:

38.41 Jobs advantage training program. (1) Subject to sub. (2), the board may award a grant to a business if all of the following apply:

(a) The business is located in this state and satisfies any of the following criteria:

1. The business has not more than 50 full-time employees.

2. The business had not more than $5,000,000 in gross annual income in the year preceding the year in which the business receives the grant.

(b) The business has been in compliance with s. 77.58 for at least 6 months before applying for the grant.

(c) The business agrees in writing to use the grant only to provide skills training or other education related to the needs of the business to current or prospective employees of the business.