16.22(3)
(3) Delegation of duties. The board may not directly provide a national service program. Subject to any limitations that the corporation may prescribe, the board may delegate any of the duties specified in
sub. (2), other than policy-making duties, to another state agency, a public agency or a nonprofit organization.
16.22(4)
(4) State funding. The department shall annually determine the amount of funding for administrative support of the board that is required for this state to qualify for federal financial assistance to be provided to the board. The department shall apportion that amount equally among the departments of administration, health services, public instruction, and workforce development and shall assess those entities for the necessary funding. The department shall credit the moneys received to the appropriation account under
s. 20.505 (4) (kb).
16.25
16.25
Service award program. 16.25(1)(b)
(b) "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code, as defined for the current taxable year under
s. 71.01 (6).
16.25(1)(c)
(c) "Municipality" means a city, county, village or town.
16.25(1)(d)
(d) "Program" means the service award program established under
sub. (2).
16.25(2)
(2) The board shall establish by rule a program to provide length-of-service awards, described in
26 USC 457 (e) (11), to volunteer fire fighters in municipalities that operate volunteer fire departments or that contract with volunteer fire companies organized under
ch. 181 or
213, to first responders in any municipality that authorizes first responders to provide first responder services, and to volunteer emergency medical technicians in any municipality that authorizes volunteer emergency medical technicians to provide emergency medical technical services in the municipality. To the extent permitted by federal law, the board shall design the program so as to treat the length-of-service awards as a tax-deferred benefit under the Internal Revenue Code.
16.25(3)
(3) The board shall promulgate rules to include the following design features for the program:
16.25(3)(a)
(a) All municipalities that operate volunteer fire departments or that contract with a volunteer fire company organized under
ch. 181 or
213, all municipalities that authorize first responders to provide first responder services, and all municipalities that authorize volunteer emergency medical technicians to provide emergency medical technical services are eligible to participate in the program.
16.25(3)(b)
(b) Annual contributions in an amount determined by the municipality shall be paid by each municipality for each volunteer fire fighter, first responder, and emergency medical technician who provides services for the municipality.
16.25(3)(c)
(c) The municipality may select from among the plans offered by individuals or organizations under contract with the board under
sub. (4) for the volunteer fire fighters, first responders, and emergency medical technicians who perform services for the municipality. The municipality shall pay the annual contributions directly to the individual or organization offering the plan selected by the municipality.
16.25(3)(d)1.1. Subject to
subd. 2., the board shall match all annual municipal contributions paid for volunteer fire fighters, first responders, and emergency medical technicians up to $250 per fiscal year, other than contributions paid for the purchase of additional years of service under
par. (e), to be paid from the appropriation account under
s. 20.505 (4) (er). This amount shall be adjusted annually on July 1 to reflect any changes in the U.S. consumer price index for all urban consumers, U.S. city average, as determined by the U.S. department of labor, for the 12-month period ending on the preceding December 31. The board shall pay all amounts that are matched under this paragraph to the individuals and organizations offering the plans selected by the municipalities.
16.25(3)(d)2.
2. If the moneys appropriated under
s. 20.505 (4) (er) are not sufficient to fully fund the contributions required to be paid by the board under
subd. 1., the board shall prorate the contributions paid for the volunteer fire fighters, first responders, and emergency medical technicians.
16.25(3)(e)
(e) A municipality may purchase additional years of service for volunteer fire fighters, first responders, and emergency medical technicians. The number of additional years of service that may be purchased under this paragraph may not exceed the number of years of volunteer fire fighting, first responder service, or emergency medical technical service performed by the volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician for the municipality.
16.25(3)(f)
(f) Except in the case of a volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician or the beneficiary of a volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician eligible for a lump sum under
par. (i), a vesting period of 10 years of volunteer fire fighting, first responder service, or emergency medical technical service for a municipality shall be required before a volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician may receive any benefits under the program.
16.25(3)(g)
(g) A volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician shall be paid a length of service award either in a lump sum or in a manner specified by rule, consisting of all municipal and state contributions made on behalf of the volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician and all earnings on the contributions, less any expenses incurred in the investment of the contributions and earnings, after the volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician attains 20 years of service for a municipality and reaches the age of 60. If a volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician has satisfied all vesting requirements under the program but has less than 20 years of service for a municipality or has not reached the age of 60, the program shall provide for the payment of a length of service award either in a lump sum or in a manner specified by rule in an amount to be determined by the board, but less than the amount paid to a volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician who has attained 20 years of service for a municipality and has reached the age of 60.
16.25(3)(h)
(h) The account of a volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician who has not met all of the vesting requirements under the program shall be closed if he or she should cease providing volunteer fire fighting, first responder, or emergency medical technical services for a municipality for a period of 6 months or more, unless he or she has been granted a leave of absence by his or her supervisor.
16.25(3)(i)1.1. The beneficiary of a volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician who is killed in the line of duty or while actively engaged in the rendering of volunteer fire fighting, first responder, or emergency medical technical service shall be paid a length of service award either in a lump sum or in a manner specified by rule, consisting of all municipal and state contributions made on behalf of the volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician and all earnings on the contributions, less any expenses incurred in the investment of the contributions and earnings.
16.25(3)(i)2.
2. A volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician who becomes disabled during his or her service as a volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician for the municipality shall be paid a length of service award either in a lump sum or in a manner specified by rule, in an amount to be determined by the board.
16.25(3)(j)
(j) The account of any volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician who has not met all of the vesting requirements under the program, who has not provided volunteer fire fighting, first responder, or emergency medical technical services for a municipality for a period of 6 months or more, who does not meet any other program requirement established by the municipality, and who has not been granted a leave of absence by his or her supervisor shall be closed.
16.25(3)(k)
(k) The board shall equitably allocate all moneys in accounts of volunteer fire fighters, first responders, and emergency medical technicians that have been closed to the accounts of volunteer fire fighters, first responders, and emergency medical technicians that have not been forfeited or closed.
16.25(4)(a)(a) The board shall establish by rule the requirements for, and the qualifications of, the individuals and organizations in the private sector that are eligible to provide administrative services and investment plans under the program, other than services funded from the appropriation under
s. 20.505 (4) (ec). In establishing the requirements and qualifications, the board shall develop criteria of financial stability that each individual and organization must meet in order to offer the services and plans under the program.
16.25(4)(b)
(b) The board may contract with any individual or organization in the private sector that seeks to provide administrative services and investment plans required for the program, other than services funded from the appropriation under
s. 20.505 (4) (ec), if the individual or organization fulfills the requirements and has the qualifications established by the board under
par. (a).
Section 16.72 (2) (b) does not apply to any such contract.
16.25(5)
(5) The board shall establish by rule a process by which a volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician may appeal to the board any decision made by the department or by an individual or organization under contract with the board under
sub. (4) that affects a substantial interest of the volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician under the program.
16.25(6)
(6) Annually, on or before December 31, the board shall submit a report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature under
s. 13.172 (2) describing the activities of the board.
16.25 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
VFF-EMT 1, Wis. adm. code.
16.255
16.255
College savings program vendor. 16.255(1)
(1) The department shall determine the factors to be considered in selecting a vendor of the program under
s. 14.64, which shall include:
16.255(1)(a)
(a) The person's ability to satisfy record-keeping and reporting requirements.
16.255(1)(b)
(b) The fees, if any, that the person proposes to charge account owners.
16.255(1)(c)
(c) The person's plan for promoting the college savings program and the investment that the person is willing to make to promote the program.
16.255(1)(d)
(d) The minimum initial contribution or minimum contributions that the person will require.
16.255(1)(e)
(e) The ability and willingness of the person to accept electronic contributions.
16.255(1)(f)
(f) The ability of the person to augment the college savings program with additional, beneficial services related to the program.
16.255(2)
(2) The department shall solicit competitive sealed proposals under
s. 16.75 (2m) from nongovernmental persons to serve as vendor of the college savings program. The department shall select the vendor based upon factors determined by the department under
sub. (1).
16.255(3)
(3) The contract between the department and the vendor shall ensure all of the following:
16.255(3)(a)
(a) That the vendor reimburses the state for all administrative costs that the state incurs for the college savings program.
16.255(3)(b)
(b) That a firm of certified public accountants selected by the vendor annually audits the college savings program and provides a copy of the audit to the college savings program board.
16.255(3)(c)
(c) That each account owner receives a quarterly statement that identifies the contributions to the college savings account during the preceding quarter, the total contributions to and the value of the college savings account through the end of the preceding quarter and any distributions made during the preceding quarter.
16.255(3)(d)
(d) That the vendor communicate to the beneficiary and account owner the requirements of
s. 14.64 (8).
16.255 History
History: 1999 a. 44;
2001 a. 38 s.
12.
16.257
16.257
Postsecondary education promotion. For the purpose of promoting attendance at nonprofit postsecondary institutions in this state, the department shall do all of the following:
16.257(1)
(1) Serve as the state's liaison agency between the higher educational aids board, the department of public instruction, the University of Wisconsin System, the technical college system, and other public and private organizations that are interested in promoting postsecondary education in this state.
16.257(2)
(2) Contract with The Wisconsin Covenant Foundation, Inc., if the secretary determines it appropriate, to establish and implement a campaign to promote attendance at nonprofit postsecondary educational institutions in this state.
16.257(3)
(3) Coordinate the postsecondary education promotional activities of the department, the persons specified in
sub. (1), and The Wisconsin Covenant Foundation, Inc., and prevent duplication of effort in conducting those activities.
16.257(5)
(5) On or before July 1, 2009, and every July 1 thereafter, submit to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under
s. 13.172 (3), a report on the postsecondary education promotional activities conducted by The Wisconsin Covenant Foundation, Inc., using funds provided under
s. 20.505 (4) (bm).
16.257 History
History: 2007 a. 20.
16.26
16.26
Weatherization assistance. Notwithstanding
s. 16.54 (2) (a), the department shall administer federal funds available to this state under the weatherization assistance for low-income persons program, as amended,
42 USC 6861 to
6873. The department shall administer the funds in accordance with
42 USC 6861 to
6873 and regulations adopted under
42 USC 6861 or
6873.
16.26 History
History: 1991 a. 39;
1995 a. 27,
289,
432;
2003 a. 33 s.
163; Stats. 2003 s. 16.26.
16.27
16.27
Low-income energy assistance. 16.27(1)
(1)
Definitions. In this section:
16.27(1)(am)
(am) "Crisis assistance" means a benefit that is given to a household experiencing or at risk of experiencing a heating-related emergency.
16.27(1)(b)
(b) "Dwelling" means the residence of a low-income warm room program volunteer.
16.27(1)(bm)
(bm) "Heating assistance" means a benefit, other than crisis assistance, that is given to a household to assist in meeting the cost of home heating.
16.27(1)(c)
(c) "Household" means any individual or group of individuals who are living together as one economic unit for whom residential energy is customarily purchased in common or who make undesignated payments for energy in the form of rent.
16.27(1)(d)
(d) "Low-income warm room program materials" include a removable, insulated radiator blanket, a portable remote control thermostat and other cost-efficient materials or repairs necessary to achieve maximum heating efficiency in a dwelling.
16.27(1)(e)
(e) "Low-income warm room program volunteer" means a person who is eligible for assistance under
42 USC 8621 to
8629, whose dwelling, in comparison to the dwellings of other persons eligible for assistance under
42 USC 8621 to
8629, has a high ratio of space to occupant, and who volunteers to take the training under
sub. (2) (b) and to cooperate with the department in the installation and operation of low-income warm room program materials in his or her dwelling.
16.27(1)(em)
(em) "Utility allowance" means the amount of utility costs paid by those individuals in subsidized housing who pay their own utility bills, as averaged from total utility costs for the housing unit by the housing authority.
16.27(2)(a)(a) The department shall administer low-income energy assistance as provided in this section to assist an eligible household to meet the costs of home energy with low-income home energy assistance benefits authorized under
42 USC 8621 to
8629.
16.27(2)(b)
(b) The department shall administer a low-income warm room program to install low-income warm room program materials in the dwellings of low-income warm room program volunteers and to train the low-income warm room program volunteers and the members of each low-income warm room program volunteer's household in the operation of the low-income warm room program materials to achieve maximum health and heating efficiency.
16.27(3)(b)
(b) By October 1 of every year from the appropriation under
s. 20.505 (1) (mb), determine the total amount available for payment of heating assistance under
sub. (6) and determine the benefit schedule.
16.27(3)(c)
(c) From the appropriation under
s. 20.505 (1) (mb), allocate $1,100,000 in each federal fiscal year for the department's expenses in administering the funds to provide low-income energy assistance.
16.27(3)(d)
(d) From the appropriation under
s. 20.505 (1) (n), allocate $2,900,000 in each federal fiscal year for the expenses of a county department, another local governmental agency or a private nonprofit organization in administering under
sub. (4) the funds to provide low-income energy assistance.
16.27(3)(e)1.
1. Allocate and transfer to the appropriation under
s. 20.505 (1) (kn), 15% of the moneys received under
42 USC 8621 to
8629 in each federal fiscal year under the priority of maintaining funding for the geographical areas on July 20, 1985, and, if funding is reduced, prorating contracted levels of payment, for the weatherization assistance program administered by the department under
s. 16.26.
16.27(3)(e)3.
3. Except as provided under
subd. 6., allocate the balance of funds received under
42 USC 8621 to
8629 in a federal fiscal year, after making the allocations under
pars. (c) and
(d) and
subd. 1., for the payment of heating assistance or for the payment of crisis assistance under
sub. (6).
16.27(3)(e)6.
6. If federal funds received under
42 USC 8621 to
8629 in a federal fiscal year total less than 90% of the amount received in the previous federal fiscal year, submit a plan of expenditure under
s. 16.54 (2) (b).
16.27(3)(e)7.
7. By October 1 of each year, allocate funds budgeted but not spent and any funds remaining from previous fiscal years to heating assistance under
sub. (6) or to the weatherization assistance program under
s. 16.26.
16.27(4)(a)(a) A household may apply after September 30 and before May 16 of any year for heating assistance from the county department under
s. 46.215 (1) (n) or
46.22 (1) (b) 4m. a. to
e. or from another local governmental agency or a private nonprofit organization with which the department contracts to administer the heating assistance program, and shall have the opportunity to do so on a form prescribed by the department for that purpose.
16.27(4)(b)
(b) If by February 1 of any year the number of households applying under
par. (a) substantially exceeds the number anticipated, the department may reduce the amounts of payments made under
sub. (6) made after that date. The department may suspend the processing of additional applications received until the department adjusts benefit amounts payable.
16.27(5)
(5) Eligibility. Subject to the requirements of
subs. (4) (b) and
(8), the following shall receive low-income energy assistance under this section:
16.27(5)(b)
(b) A household with income which is not more than 150% of the income poverty guidelines for the nonfarm population of the United States as prescribed by the federal office of management and budget under
42 USC 9902 (2).
16.27(5)(c)
(c) A household entirely composed of persons receiving aid to families with dependent children under
s. 49.19, food stamps under
7 USC 2011 to
2029, or supplemental security income or state supplemental payments under
42 USC 1381 to
1383c or
s. 49.77.
16.27(5)(d)
(d) A household with income within the limits specified under
par. (b) that resides in housing that is subsidized or administered by a municipality, a county, the state or the federal government in which a utility allowance is applied to determine the amount of rent or the amount of the subsidy.
16.27(6)
(6) Benefits. Within the limits of federal funds allocated under
sub. (3) and subject to the requirements of
sub. (4) (b) and
s. 16.54 (2) (b), heating assistance shall be paid under this section according to a benefit schedule established by the department based on household income, family size and energy costs.
16.27(7)
(7) Individuals in state prisons or secured juvenile facilities. No payment under
sub. (6) may be made to a prisoner who is imprisoned in a state prison under
s. 302.01 or to a person placed at a juvenile correctional facility, as defined in
s. 938.02 (10p), or a secured residential care center for children and youth, as defined in
s. 938.02 (15g).
16.27(8)
(8) Crisis assistance program. A household eligible for heating assistance under
sub. (6) may also be eligible for a crisis assistance payment to meet a weather-related or fuel supply shortage crisis. The department shall define the circumstances constituting a crisis for which a payment may be made and shall establish the amount of payment to an eligible household or individual. The department may delegate a portion of its responsibility under this subsection to a county department under
s. 46.215 or
46.22 or to another local governmental agency or a private nonprofit organization.
