XX30 Legislature.
XX31 Lieutenant Governor.
XX32 Local Government.
XX33 Medical College of Wisconsin.
XX34 Military Affairs.
XX35 Natural Resources.
XX36 Public Defender Board.
XX37 Public Instruction.
XX38 Public Lands, Board of Commissioners of.
XX39 Public Service Commission.
XX40 Regulation and Licensing.
XX41 Revenue.
XX42 Secretary of State.
XX43 State Employment Relations, Office of.
XX44 State Fair Park Board.
XX45 Supreme Court.
XX46 Technical College System.
XX47 Tourism.
XX48 Transportation.
XX49 Treasurer.
XX50 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority.
XX51 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Board.
XX52 University of Wisconsin System.
XX53 Veterans Affairs.
XX54 Workforce Development.
XX55 Other.
For example, for general nonstatutory provisions relating to the State
Historical Society, see Section 9123. For any agency that is not assigned a two-digit
identification number and that is attached to another agency, see the number of the
latter agency. For any other agency not assigned a two-digit identification number
or any provision that does not relate to the functions of a particular agency, see
number "55" (Other) within each type of provision.
In order to facilitate amendment drafting and the enrolling process, separate
section numbers and headings appear for each type of provision and for each state
agency, even if there are no provisions included in that section number and heading.
Section numbers and headings for which there are no provisions will be deleted in
enrolling and will not appear in the published act.
Following is a list of the most commonly used abbreviations appearing in the
analysis.
DATCPDepartment of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
DCFDepartment of Children and Families
DETFDepartment of Employee Trust Funds
DFIDepartment of Financial Institutions
DHSDepartment of Health Services
DMADepartment of Military Affairs
DNRDepartment of Natural Resources
DOADepartment of Administration
DOCDepartment of Corrections
DOJDepartment of Justice
DORDepartment of Revenue
DOTDepartment of Transportation
DPIDepartment of Public Instruction
DRLDepartment of Regulation and Licensing
DSPSDepartment of Safety and Professional Services
DVADepartment of Veterans Affairs
DWDDepartment of Workforce Development
JCFJoint Committee on Finance
OCIOffice of the Commissioner of Insurance
PSCPublic Service Commission
UWUniversity of Wisconsin
WEDCWisconsin Economic Development Corporation
WHEDAWisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority
WHEFAWisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority
__________________________________________________________________
agriculture
Under current law, a farmer may qualify for the farmland preservation tax
credit if the farmland is located in a farmland preservation zoning district. Also
under current law, a political subdivision may not rezone land out of a farmland
preservation zoning district unless the person who requested the rezoning pays a
conversion fee equal to the number of acres rezoned multiplied by three times the per
acre value of the highest value of cropland in the area, as determined for the purposes
of use value assessment. This bill eliminates the requirement that a person who
requests that land be rezoned out of a farmland preservation zoning district pay a
conversion fee.
Under current law, DATCP administers a program under which it, in
conjunction with local governments and nonprofit conservation organizations,
purchases agricultural conservation easements from willing landowners. An
agricultural conservation easement requires that land covered by the easement be
kept in agricultural use. This bill eliminates this program.
Current law requires DATCP to promote the consumption of locally produced
foods and to improve the distribution of foods for local consumption. DATCP also
awards grants for projects designed to increase the local sale of food grown in this
state. This bill eliminates these provisions.
Under current law, DATCP awards grants for land and water resource
management projects. This bill increases the general obligation bonding authority
for these grants by $7,000,000.
commerce and economic development
Economic development
Currently, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) administers, or assists in
administering, programs intended to promote economic development in this state.
Generally, the programs provide assistance in the form of grants, loans, or tax
benefits to persons who meet specified eligibility requirements. With certain
exceptions, the bill eliminates current programs that provide grants and loans, and
transfers Commerce's duties under programs that provide tax benefits to the
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) created in
2011 Wisconsin
Act 7.
Grant and loan programs
With limited exceptions, the bill eliminates all current economic development
grant and loan programs administered by Commerce, including grants to Wisconsin
Business Development Finance Corporation for a capital access program; grants and
loans to a business or researcher for projects generally related to renewable energy;
loans to manufacturing businesses for projects generally related to energy efficiency
and renewable energy; grants and loans to businesses for diversifying a local
economy; grants and loans for improving the profitability of businesses negatively
impacted by a casino; grants to the city of Milwaukee to fund remediation and
redevelopment projects in the Menomonee Valley; grants to the Center for Advanced
Technology and Innovation; grants to businesses for employee skills training or other
education; grants to businesses for expenses in hiring students as paid interns; and
grants and loans to businesses, municipalities, and other entities for encouraging
minority businesses and businesses in economically distressed areas, and for
strengthening urban and rural communities.
Commerce currently awards grants to businesses for innovation and research
assistance and awards grants to the Women's Business Initiative Corporation
(WBIC). The bill transfers administration of these grants to DSPS, formerly called
DRL.
Tax incentives
Current law provides tax incentives for conducting certain business activities
in the state; Commerce's role is generally to certify that a business meets specified
eligibility requirements. The bill transfers Commerce's role in administering most
tax incentives to WEDC, including electronic medical records credit; angel
investment tax credits; early stage seed investment credit; and jobs credit. The bill
transfers Commerce's duties under the film production credit to the Department of
Tourism and transfers Commerce's duties under the dairy manufacturing facility
investment credit to DATCP.
Currently, Commerce may certify a person as eligible for the jobs tax credit if
the person increases net employment in the person's business and one of the
following applies: 1) an employee for whom the person claims the credit earns at least
$20,000 or $30,000 (depending on the classification of the community where the
employee is located) but not more than $100,000 per year; or 2) the person improves
employee skills, trains an employee in new technologies, or provides training to an
employee in his or her first full-time job. The bill provides that WEDC may certify
a person for the jobs tax credit if the person conducts training as described above or
increases net employment in the person's business, without regard to the salary of
the employee for whom the credit is claimed.
Current law also provides tax incentives for projects that create jobs, make
capital investments, train employees, or establish or retain corporate headquarters
in areas of the state (development zones) that meet specified criteria and Commerce
has designated, or that have been designated, by Commerce or by law. The bill
transfers Commerce's duties under these development zone programs to WEDC and
deletes a current provision authorizing the designation of a business incubator as a
development zone.
The bill directs WEDC to award annual grants up to $100,000 to regional
economic development agencies to fund marketing activities.
Other economic development duties
Currently, Commerce's Office of Regulatory Assistance must generally help
businesses to obtain permits, licenses, and approvals necessary to operate a business
in this state. The bill eliminates the Office of Regulatory Assistance.
Current law requires Commerce to facilitate arrangements between investors
of venture capital and entrepreneurs seeking to obtain venture capital. Commerce
must also develop programs in metropolitan areas for supporting persons who
arrange venture capital for entrepreneurs. The bill repeals these requirements.
Current law requires Commerce to enter into an agreement with a recipient of
a grant, loan, or specified tax incentives (incentive) that requires the recipient to
repay the incentive if, within five years, the recipient ceases to conduct in this state
the economic activity for which the incentive was provided and commences
substantially the same economic activity outside the state. The bill transfers this
requirement to WEDC.
The bill deletes the current State Main Street Program, which generally
requires Commerce to assist municipalities with programs to revitalize local,
downtown business areas.
The bill eliminates the Small Business Environmental Council, which
generally assists small businesses in complying with federal and state laws
regulating air and water pollution.
Under current law, Commerce administers programs to certify disabled
veteran-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, and minority businesses
that are designed to promote such Wisconsin businesses. A business certified under
one of these programs may be eligible to receive certain benefits including
advantages bidding on public projects. This bill transfers the administration of those
certifications to DSPS.
Under current law, WHEFA may issue a bond to finance certain projects
undertaken by a participating health or research institution or educational facility,
or refinance the debt of a participating institution, and may engage in other
contractual relations with participating institutions incident to its project financing
or debt refinancing. This bill specifies that WHEFA may also contract with an
affiliate entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, an
entity organized under the laws of Wisconsin or authorized by Wisconsin law to
provide or operate certain facilities. The bill also authorizes WHEFA to issue a bond
for a project located outside of Wisconsin if that project includes a substantial
component located in Wisconsin, as determined by WHEFA's executive director.
Buildings and safety
Under current law, Commerce administers various laws, including laws that
promote safety in public and private buildings and in the subsystems of those
buildings, including building codes. Commerce issues various licenses, permits,
registrations, and other credentials (licenses) to persons engaged in occupations
regulated by Commerce, such as electricians and plumbers, and in connection with
the administration of other laws relating to public health and safety such as those
regulating private sewage systems, fireworks, and the storage of flammable liquids.
This bill transfers these functions to DSPS.
Financial institutions
Under current law, a person may apply to be a notary public to the Office of the
Secretary of State (OSOS). If OSOS determines that the applicant is qualified, OSOS
issues a certificate of appointment as a notary public. This bill transfers notary
public functions from the OSOS to DFI.
Under current law, a person may file for state trademark or service mark
registration with OSOS. If applicable requirements are met, OSOS issues a
certificate of registration of the mark. This bill transfers these trademark functions
from OSOS to DFI.
Under current law, a person cannot transact business in this state as an
investment adviser unless the person registers with DFI or is exempt from
registration. This bill eliminates registration exemptions for entities of institutional
character with assets of more than $10,000,000 and for private business
development companies, trusts with assets of more than $5,000,000, and entities in
which all of the equity owners are accredited investors.
Housing
Under current law, Commerce makes grants and loans to defray housing costs
for persons and families of low and moderate income; awards grants to various
entities to support independent living of, mental health services to, and shelter for,
homeless persons; awards grants to supplement the operating budgets of
administers housing programs funded by federal block grants and other federal
moneys; and administers a program to transfer surplus state-owned real estate. The
bill transfers Commerce's duties under these programs to WHEDA, except that the
bill eliminates the program for the transfer of surplus state-owned real estate.
Under current law, Commerce must prepare and annually update a state
housing strategy plan to inform review of bills and rules affecting housing and
generally guide WHEDA's housing-related activities. The bill transfers Commerce's
duties related to the plan to WHEDA.
Other commerce
