AB100: Bill Text

Under current law, DOT provides state aid, for each of four classes of mass transit systems, to local public bodies in urban areas served by mass transit systems to assist with their costs. This bill increases in 2006 and 2007 the total amount of state aid to each class of mass transit system.

Other transportation

This bill transfers from the transportation fund to the general fund $250,000,000 in fiscal year 2005-06 and $18,058,100 in fiscal year 2006-07.

Under current law, DOT collects a supplemental vehicle title fee and the Department of Commerce collects a supplemental manufactured home title fee. These fees are deposited into the transportation fund. By October 1 of each year, DOT must certify to DOA the amount of these fees collected during the previous fiscal year and that amount, minus $555,000, is transferred from the general fund to the environmental fund.

Under this bill, this transfer mechanism is eliminated and these fees are deposited directly into the environmental fund for nonpoint source water pollution abatement.

This bill allows DOT, through its Rail Passenger Route Development Program, to fund capital costs related to Amtrak service extension routes or other rail service routes between Chicago and Milwaukee and between Madison and La Crosse.

This bill provides transportation fund moneys for the federal Soo Locks project.

The bill also increases the authorized general obligation bonding limit for the acquisition and improvement of rail property from $32,500,000 to $39,000,000.

This bill increases the authorized general obligation bonding limit from $28,000,000 to $39,400,000 to provide grants for harbor improvements.

Under current law, DOT may award grants to partially reimburse eligible applicants for certain harbor improvements. This bill requires DOT to award a grant of $6,000,000 to a city in northeastern Wisconsin that has a harbor facility for constructing or improving boatlift facilities, and to award a grant of $2,100,000 for a boat slip repair and reconstruction project in northeastern Wisconsin, if certain conditions are met.

veterans and military affairs

Under current law, an eligible veteran may receive a home-improvement loan of up to $25,000 from the Veterans Housing Loan Program. This bill removes the limit on the amount of the loan.

The bill also provides that a person who completes six continuous years under honorable conditions in the national guard or a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces is eligible to receive a housing loan.

Currently, a veteran may receive a housing loan to pay for balances due on a construction or bridge loan or for the payment of a loan if the loan's balance does not exceed the amount requested in the veteran's prior loan application and the debt was incurred after the veteran made an application for a loan that was denied by DVA. This bill allows the use of a housing loan to refinance the balance due on any indebtedness as long as the previous loan was obtained for the same purposes as the program.

Under current law, DVA may lend a veteran, a veteran's unremarried surviving spouse, or a deceased veteran's child up to $25,000 for any use, but the loan must be repaid within ten years. This bill authorizes DVA to adjust the maximum term of the loan based upon financial market conditions, funds available, needs of the trust fund, and other relevant factors.

Under the current part-time classroom study program, DVA reimburses veterans for costs associated with correspondence courses and classroom study at proprietary schools, schools approved for the training of veterans, and institutions of higher education. Under the current tuition reimbursement program, DVA reimburses tuition to veterans who are enrolled as undergraduates for at least 12 credits during a semester. To be eligible for the tuition reimbursement program, the veteran must begin the course within ten years after leaving active service, and the annual income of the veteran and the spouse may not exceed $50,000 plus $1,000 for each dependent in excess of two dependents. Reimbursement is limited to 120 credits or eight full semesters at an institution of higher education or 60 credits or four semesters if the institution provides a degree after the completion of 60 credits.

Under the part-time classroom study program, reimbursement is limited to tuition paid for taking fewer than 12 credits if an undergraduate, or fewer than nine credits if a graduate student, for attending a summer session or for taking a correspondence class. The reimbursement amount and income eligibility are the same as for the full-time tuition reimbursement program. A veteran with a master's degree is not eligible for reimbursement.

This bill combines these two programs and makes the following changes in the new, combined program:

1. Eligibility is limited to a veteran whose annual income combined with his or her spouse's income is less than the median household income for the state.

2. Veterans with undergraduate degrees are not eligible.

3. If funds are insufficient to reimburse all of the veterans who apply, DVA may reduce the reimbursement percentage, except for courses taken by certain disabled veterans.

4. Reimbursement is limited to 30 credits if the veteran served on active duty for 90 to 180 days, 60 credits if the veteran served for 181 days to 730 days, and 120 credits if the veteran served more than 730 days.

5. The limit on reimbursement to courses taken within ten years after leaving service does not apply to up to 60 credits of part-time classroom study courses.

Under current law, DVA may grant aid to any incapacitated veteran or dependent of a veteran in an amount that DVA determines is necessary to prevent want or distress. The aid may be paid for no more than three months in any 12-month period. Currently, DVA may grant temporary health care aid to a veteran or dependent of a veteran to meet medical or hospital bills. The amount of aid is limited to $5,000 in any 12-month period and may be used to provide for the treatment of alcoholism or other drug addiction.

Under this bill, the aid is limited to incapacitated veterans and the maximum amount is $2,000 in a 12-month period. The bill limits the payment for health care assistance to dental, vision, and hearing care, with a limit in a 12-month period of $2,500 for dental care, $500 for vision care, and $1,500 for hearing care. The bill places a lifetime limit of $5,000 on the amount that a veteran may receive under the program.

Current law prohibits the admission of surviving spouses or parents of veterans to the southeastern facility for veterans at Union Grove, but permits the admission of these persons to the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King if the Board of Veterans Affairs determines that the home's overall occupancy level is below an optimal level.

This bill allows surviving spouses or parents of veterans to be admitted to the southeastern facility for veterans at Union Grove under the same standard that is used for admission to the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King.

This bill raises the maximum amount of grants that DVA may award to the governing bodies of federally recognized American Indian tribes and bands from $2,500 to $10,000 for the purpose of employing tribal veterans' service officers.

Under current law, DVA coordinates the provision of military honors funerals to deceased veterans by members of local veterans organizations and the national guard. As part of that program, DVA reimburses the local veterans organization an amount not to exceed $50 for its costs in providing the military honors funeral. This bill eliminates reimbursement for such costs.

This bill will be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a detailed analysis, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to result if the bill is enacted.

For further information see the state and local 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:

AB100, s. 1 Section 1. 13.101 (6) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2003 Wisconsin Act 64, is amended to read:

AB100,54,21 13.101 (6) (a) As an emergency measure necessitated by decreased state revenues and to prevent the necessity for a state tax on general property, the committee may reduce any appropriation made to any board, commission, department, or the University of Wisconsin System, or to any other state agency or activity, by such amount as it deems feasible, not exceeding 25% of the appropriations, except appropriations made by ss. 20.255 (2) (ac), (af), (bc), (bh), (cg), (cr), and (r), and (qr), 20.395 (1), (2) (cq), (eq) to (ex) and (gq) to (gx), (3), (4) (aq) to (ax), and (6) (af), (aq), and (ar), and (au), 20.435 (6) (a) and (7) (da), and 20.445 (3) (a) and (dz) or for forestry purposes under s. 20.370 (1), or any other moneys distributed to any county, city, village, town, or school district. Appropriations of receipts and of a sum sufficient shall for the purposes of this section be regarded as equivalent to the amounts expended under such appropriations in the prior fiscal year which ended June 30. All functions of said state agencies shall be continued in an efficient manner, but because of the uncertainties of the existing situation no public funds should be expended or obligations incurred unless there shall be adequate revenues to meet the expenditures therefor. For such reason the committee may make reductions of such appropriations as in its judgment will secure sound financial operations of the administration for said state agencies and at the same time interfere least with their services and activities.

AB100, s. 2 Section 2. 13.101 (13) of the statutes is repealed.

AB100, s. 3 Section 3. 13.121 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,55,5 13.121 (1) Current member. From the appropriation under s. 20.765 (1) (a) or (b) or (5), each member of the legislature shall be paid, in equal installments, the salary provided under s. 20.923.

AB100, s. 4 Section 4. 13.123 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,55,15 13.123 (1) (c) Each member shall certify to the chief clerk of the house in which the member serves, as promptly as may be following the 1st of each month, the number of days during the previous calendar month on which the member was in Madison on legislative business and for which the member seeks the allowance provided by this subsection. Such allowances shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.765 (1) (a) or (b) or (5) within one week after each calendar month; and shall be paid, upon the filing with the department of administration, the chief clerk's affidavit stating the number of days in Madison on legislative business for all members of the chief clerk's house.

AB100, s. 5 Section 5. 13.123 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,56,4 13.123 (2) Interim expenses. (intro.) From the appropriation under s. 20.765 (1) (a) or (b) or (5), each member of the legislature shall be entitled to an expense allowance for postage and clerical assistance for each full calendar month during which the legislature is in actual session 3 days or less. No allowance is payable to a representative to the assembly unless the speaker of the assembly files with the chief clerk of the assembly a written authorization for the allowance to be paid. No allowance is payable to a senator unless the majority leader of the senate files with the chief clerk of the senate a written authorization for the allowance to be paid. An authorization filed under this subsection becomes effective for the month in which it is filed and continues in effect through the month in which the speaker of the assembly or the majority leader of the senate files a written revocation of the authorization with the chief clerk of the appropriate house. The rate of such allowance shall be as follows:

AB100, s. 6 Section 6. 13.123 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,56,15 13.123 (3) (a) Any senator authorized by the committee on senate organization to attend a meeting outside the state capital, any representative to the assembly authorized by the committee on assembly organization to attend an out-of-state meeting or authorized by the speaker to attend a meeting within this state outside the state capital, and all members of the legislature required by law, legislative rule, resolution or joint resolution to attend such meetings, shall be paid no additional compensation for such services but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses from the appropriation under s. 20.765 (1) (a) or (b) or (5), but no legislator may be reimbursed under this subsection for expenses on any day for which the legislator submits a claim under sub. (1).

AB100, s. 7 Section 7. 13.125 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,56,21 13.125 Chaplains. The officiating chaplain of the senate and assembly shall be paid such amount as may be established by each house for each day of service from the appropriation under s. 20.765 (1) (a) or (b) or (5). Payment shall be made on certification by the chief clerk of the senate or of the assembly, respectively, showing the amount to which each chaplain is entitled.

AB100, s. 8 Section 8. 13.14 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,57,3 13.14 (2) Floral pieces. The senate and assembly may procure floral pieces for deceased or ill members of the legislature and state officers who, in the judgment of the presiding officer and chief clerk, have been identified with the legislative process. Such expenses shall be by voucher, signed by the presiding officer or chief clerk of the respective house, and shall be drawn on the appropriation under s. 20.765 (1) (a) or (b) or (5).

AB100, s. 9 Section 9. 13.14 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,57,9 13.14 (3) Travel; legislative personnel. The actual and necessary expenses of legislative policy research personnel, assistants to legislators, and research staff assigned to legislative committees incident to attending meetings outside the state capital shall be reimbursed from the appropriation under s. 20.765 (1) (a) or (b) or (5).

AB100, s. 10 Section 10. 13.40 (3) (fm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,57,12 13.40 (3) (fm) An appropriation for the 2003-05 2005-07 fiscal biennium to make payments to counties, towns, villages, and cities under s. 79.035.

AB100, s. 11 Section 11. 13.40 (3) (jm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100,57,14 13.40 (3) (jm) An appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (br).

AB100, s. 12 Section 12. 13.40 (3m) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

AB100, s. 13 Section 13. 13.40 (3m) (ae) of the statutes is created to read:

AB100,57,18 13.40 (3m) (ae) In this subsection, an "excluded appropriation" consists of all of the following:

AB100,57,20 1. State operations appropriations for the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

AB100,57,21 2. Appropriations for fuel and utility costs.

AB100,57,22 3. An appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (br).

AB100,57,23 4. An appropriation under s. 20.855 (4) (c) and (cm).

AB100, s. 14 Section 14. 13.40 (3m) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,58,9 13.40 (3m) (am) In addition to the limitations limitation under sub. (2) and par. (a), the amount appropriated from general purpose revenue for state operations in fiscal year 2005-06 and in fiscal year 2006-07,, less any excluded appropriation and excluding the estimated amount to be expended from general purpose revenue for debt service for that fiscal year, may not exceed the amount appropriated from general purpose revenue for state operations in fiscal year 2004-05, less any excluded appropriation and excluding the estimated amount to be expended from general purpose revenue for debt service for that fiscal year, as shown in the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) published in the 2003-04 Wisconsin Statutes, less $100,000,000.

AB100, s. 15 Section 15. 13.40 (3m) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB100, s. 16 Section 16. 13.45 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,58,16 13.45 (3) (a) For any day for which the legislator does not file a claim under s. 13.123 (1), any legislator appointed to serve on a legislative committee or a committee to which the legislator was appointed by either house or the officers thereof shall be reimbursed from the appropriations under s. 20.765 (1) (a) or (b) or (5) for actual and necessary expenses incurred as a member of the committee.

AB100, s. 17 Section 17. 13.48 (14) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,58,20 13.48 (14) (a) In this subsection, "agency" has the meaning given for "state agency" in s. 20.001 (1), except that prior to July 1, 2007, the term does not include the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

AB100, s. 18 Section 18. 13.48 (14) (d) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,59,8 13.48 (14) (d) 4. If the commission proposes to sell or transfer a parcel of surplus land having a fair market value of at least $20,000, the commission shall notify the joint committee on finance in writing of its proposed action. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the commission that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed sale or transfer within 14 working days after the date of the commission's notification, the parcel may be sold or transferred by the commission. If, within 14 working days after the date of the commission's notification, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the commission that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed sale or transfer, the parcel may be sold or transferred under this subdivision only upon approval of the committee. This subdivision does not apply to surplus land that is authorized to be sold under s. 16.848.

AB100, s. 19 Section 19. 13.48 (22) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,59,14 13.48 (22) Sale or lease of capitol area lands. The building commission may lease or resell lands acquired in the capitol planning area for public or private redevelopment and may set such conditions of sale or lease as it deems necessary to ensure development compatible with the needs of the community and the state. This subsection does not apply to lands that are authorized to be sold under s. 16.848.

AB100, s. 20 Section 20. 13.50 (6) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,60,2 13.50 (6) (am) The cochairpersons of the joint survey committee on retirement systems or the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance, with respect to any bill or amendment specified in par. (a), or the presiding officer of either house of the legislature, with respect to any bill or amendment specified in par. (a) that is pending in his or her house, may make a determination, based on any available information, that the bill or amendment may have a significant fiscal impact on the costs, actuarial balance or goals of the Wisconsin Retirement System and order the attachment of an independent actuarial opinion on such impact. The cochairpersons or presiding officer ordering such an opinion shall direct the staff under sub. (4) to obtain the opinion. The staff shall make payment for the opinion from the appropriation under s. 20.765 (2) (ab) or (5).

AB100, s. 21 Section 21. 13.56 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,60,12 13.56 (2) Participation in certain proceedings. The cochairpersons of the joint committee for review of administrative rules or their designated agents shall accept service made under ss. 227.40 (5) and 806.04 (11). If the committee determines that the legislature should be represented in the proceeding, it shall request the joint committee on legislative organization to designate the legislature's representative for the proceeding. The costs of participation in the proceeding shall be paid equally from the appropriations under s. 20.765 (1) (a) and (b) or shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.765 (5), if applicable, except that such costs incurred by the department of justice shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.455 (1) (d).

AB100, s. 22 Section 22. 13.57 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,60,15 13.57 (3) All expenses under sub. (1) shall be reimbursed from the appropriation under s. 20.765 (1) (a) or (b) or (5).

AB100, s. 23 Section 23. 13.81 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,60,22 13.81 (6) Reimbursement for special studies. At the end of each fiscal year, the general fund shall be reimbursed, from any other state fund, the amounts actually expended by the joint legislative council under s. 20.765 (3) (e) or (5) for the cost of making and publishing surveys and analyses of activities and policies related to such funds. The council shall bill such state funds at the end of each fiscal year for the costs so incurred, in accordance with cost records maintained by the council.

AB100, s. 24 Section 24. 13.81 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,61,2 13.81 (8) Conference on legislative procedures. Following each general election, the joint legislative council shall sponsor a conference to acquaint new legislators or legislators-elect with legislative procedures. Expenses for the conference shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.765 (3) (e) or (5).

AB100, s. 25 Section 25. 13.83 (3) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,61,6 13.83 (3) (c) 1. The joint legislative council shall pay the expenses incurred by the members appointed under par. (b) 1., in performing their functions on the special committee, from the appropriation under s. 20.765 (3) (e) or (5).

AB100, s. 26 Section 26. 13.90 (1) (j) of the statutes is repealed.

AB100, s. 27 Section 27. 13.90 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB100,61,17 13.90 (2) The cochairpersons of the joint committee on legislative organization or their designated agent shall accept service made under s. 806.04 (11). If the committee, the senate organization committee or the assembly organization committee, determines that the legislature should be represented in the proceeding, that committee shall designate the legislature's representative for the proceeding. The costs of participation in the proceeding shall be paid equally from the appropriations under s. 20.765 (1) (a) and (b) or shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.765 (5), if applicable, except that such costs incurred by the department of justice shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.455 (1) (d).