SB333: Bill Text

LRB-3183/2

PJK:jld:jf

2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

2013 Senate BILL 333

October 4, 2013 - Introduced by Senators Darling, Gudex, C. Larson, Lassa, Lazich, Lehman, Olsen, Schultz, Shilling and Wirch, cosponsored by Representatives Weatherston, Mason, Ballweg, Bies, Brooks, Czaja, Endsley, Jagler, Kerkman, Kleefisch, Kolste, Krug, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nygren, Ohnstad, A. Ott, Petryk, Stone and Tittl. Referred to Committee on Economic Development and Local Government.

SB333,1,4 An Act to renumber 49.163 (1) (a); to amend 49.155 (1m) (a) 3r., 49.163 (title), 49.163 (2) (a) (intro.), 49.163 (2) (b), 49.163 (3) (a) 3. c., 49.163 (5) (a) and 49.175 (1) (k); and to create 49.163 (1) (am) of the statutes; relating to: a Transitional Jobs program.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law requires the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to establish a Transform Milwaukee Jobs program (TMJ program) in Milwaukee County under which DCF pays to an employer, or a person with which DCF contracts to administer the program (contractor), that employs a program participant a wage subsidy that is equal to the wage the employer or contractor pays the participant, up to 40 hours per week at minimum wage. The employer or contractor must employ the participant at least 20 hours per week at a location in this state and pay at least minimum wage, although the employer, or contractor with the approval of DCF, may pay the participant more than the wage subsidy. An individual may participate in the program for a maximum of 1,040 hours, which is equivalent to 26 40-hour weeks. In addition to paying the wage subsidy, DCF may reimburse an employer or contractor for certain taxes, unemployment insurance contributions or taxes, and worker's compensation insurance premiums that are attributable to employment of the participant.

To be eligible to participate in the TMJ program, an individual must be at least 18 years old, and, if over 24 years old, must be the parent or primary relative caregiver of a child under the age of 18. The individual must have household income below 150 percent of the poverty line, be unemployed for at least four weeks, be ineligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits, and not be participating in a Wisconsin Works (W-2) employment position. A program participant may be eligible for a child care subsidy under Wisconsin Shares, which generally provides child care subsidies for participants in W-2, if the program participant needs child care services in order to participate in the program.

DCF may administer the TMJ program or contract with any person, including a W-2 agency, county department, local workforce development board, or community action agency, to perform administrative functions, including determining eligibility, providing or identifying employers to provide jobs for eligible individuals, providing job orientation and employment services, and maintaining participant demographic, eligibility, and employment records. DCF may recover an overpayment from a participant that results from a misrepresentation about his or her eligibility, and must recover an overpayment from a contractor that results from a failure to comply with the contract or to meet performance standards established by DCF.

This bill authorizes DCF to establish a Transitional Jobs program if funding is available, with the same provisions as the TMJ program, in one or more geographic areas of the state that are not in Milwaukee County, to the extent of available funds. In selecting the geographic area or areas in which to conduct the Transitional Jobs program, DCF must give priority to those areas with relatively high rates of unemployment and childhood poverty.

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:

SB333,1 Section 1. 49.155 (1m) (a) 3r. of the statutes, as created by 2013 Wisconsin Act 20, is amended to read:

SB333,2,4 49.155 (1m) (a) 3r. Participate in the Transform Milwaukee Jobs program, or the Transitional Jobs program, under s. 49.163.

SB333,2 Section 2. 49.163 (title) of the statutes, as created by 2013 Wisconsin Act 20, is amended to read:

SB333,2,8 49.163 (title) Transform Milwaukee Jobs program and Transitional Jobs program.

SB333,3 Section 3. 49.163 (1) (a) of the statutes, as created by 2013 Wisconsin Act 20, is renumbered 49.163 (1) (aw).

SB333,4 Section 4. 49.163 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

SB333,3,3 49.163 (1) (am) "Program" means the Transform Milwaukee Jobs program, or the Transitional Jobs program, under this section.

SB333,5 Section 5. 49.163 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes, as created by 2013 Wisconsin Act 20, is amended to read:

SB333,3,13 49.163 (2) (a) (intro.) The department shall establish a Transform Milwaukee Jobs program in Milwaukee County and, if funding is available, may establish a Transitional Jobs program outside of Milwaukee County. To the extent of available funds, the department shall conduct the Transitional Jobs program, if established, in one or more geographic areas in the state that are not in Milwaukee County. In selecting the geographic area or areas in which to conduct the Transitional Jobs program, the department shall give priority to those areas with relatively high rates of unemployment and childhood poverty.

SB333,3,15 (am) To be eligible to participate in the program, an individual must satisfy all of the following criteria:

SB333,6 Section 6. 49.163 (2) (b) of the statutes, as created by 2013 Wisconsin Act 20, is amended to read:

SB333,3,21 49.163 (2) (b) For purposes of par. (a) (am) 3., the household income of an individual transitioning from foster care to independent living shall be based on the individual's own income over a period determined by the department and shall not include the household income of the individual's foster parents.

SB333,7 Section 7. 49.163 (3) (a) 3. c. of the statutes, as created by 2013 Wisconsin Act 20, is amended to read:

SB333,3,25 49.163 (3) (a) 3. c. State and federal unemployment insurance contributions or taxes, if any.

SB333,8 Section 8. 49.163 (5) (a) of the statutes, as created by 2013 Wisconsin Act 20, is amended to read:

SB333,4,6 49.163 (5) (a) The department may recover from any individual participating, or who has participated, in the program under this section any overpayment resulting from a misrepresentation by the individual as to any criterion for eligibility under sub. (2) (a) (am).

SB333,9 Section 9. 49.175 (1) (k) of the statutes, as created by 2013 Wisconsin Act 20, is amended to read:

SB333,4,12 49.175 (1) (k) Transform Milwaukee and Transitional Jobs program programs. For contract costs under the Transform Milwaukee Jobs program and the Transitional Jobs program under s. 49.163, $3,750,000 in fiscal year 2013-14 and $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2014-15.

SB333,4,13 (End)