The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in
Wisconsin as FoodShare and formerly known as the food stamp program, provides
benefits to eligible low-income households for the purchase of food. FoodShare is
administered by the Department of Health Services (DHS), and the state and the
federal government share the cost of administration. Benefits, which are
electronically debited to a Quest card, are paid entirely with federal funds. Any
benefit amount that is not used in the month of receipt is carried over and may be
used by the recipient for up to one year. Eligibility criteria for FoodShare, which is

based on federal law, is not set out in the statutes. In Wisconsin, generally, an
individual or family is eligible if gross income does not exceed 200 percent of FPL and
assets are not considered. If a household has an elderly, blind, or disabled member,
there is no limit on gross income, but net income may not exceed 100 percent of FPL,
and such a household may not have more than $3,000 in countable assets if gross
income exceeds 200 percent of FPL.
Under the bill, to be eligible for FoodShare, an individual's or family's gross
income may not exceed 130 percent of FPL and net income may not exceed 100
percent of FPL; the household may not have countable assets that exceed $2,000 in
value, except that countable assets may not exceed $3,200 in value if the household
includes an individual who is at least 60 years old, blind, or disabled. In addition,
the bill requires that the gross and net incomes of a household be reduced by $15,000
each before determining whether the gross or net income exceeds 130 or 100 percent
of FPL, respectively, if the household includes a married couple.
The bill prohibits DHS from allowing or accepting online applications for
FoodShare and prohibits retail grocery stores from giving discounts on the cost of
food or other items for using food stamp benefits to purchase the food or other items.
The bill also provides that, to the extent permitted under federal law, DHS must
implement a food stamp benefit distribution system that allows a food stamp benefit
recipient to elect to receive a benefit amount that is less than the amount for which
the recipient's household is eligible and that recoups any food stamp benefits that are
not used up in the month in which they are received.
Public assistance
The bill defines "means-tested public assistance" as services, benefits, or other
assistance that are provided to individuals or families under the public assistance
provisions of the statutes and for which income or assets is a factor in determining
eligibility. Under the bill, when determining an individual's or family's eligibility for
means-tested public assistance, DHS or DCF must take into consideration the
income or assets, whichever is applicable for the program, of every individual who
resides in the household of the individual or family that is applying for the
means-tested public assistance. DHS or DCF must request a waiver of federal law
if it appears that a waiver would be necessary for implementing this requirement for
any particular program providing means-tested public assistance. The bill also
prohibits DHS or DCF from using radio or television to advertise the availability of,
or to provide any information concerning, means-tested public assistance.
Low-income energy assistance
Under current law, the Department of Administration (DOA) administers a
program that provides low-income energy assistance to eligible households,
including households with incomes of less than 60 percent of the statewide median
household income and households composed entirely of individuals receiving Aid to
Families with Dependent Children or Supplemental Security Income. This bill
provides that for purposes of determining eligibility for low-income energy
assistance, the income of a household that includes a married couple is reduced by
$10,000. This bill also makes ineligible for low-income energy assistance a
household with assets that exceed $2,000 in cash equity value or with a vehicle

having an equity value of $10,000 or greater, unless a member of the household is
disabled or aged 62 or older. Finally, under the bill, DOA may not notify a household
of the household's eligibility for low-income energy assistance more than twice in a
12-month period.
Department of Administration low-income housing assistance
Under current law, DOA may make grants or loans, directly or through agents
designated by DOA, to persons or families of low and moderate income to defray
housing costs, including utility costs, and may make grants to community-based
organizations, organizations operated for profit, or housing authorities to improve
the ability of these entities to provide housing opportunities for persons or families
of low and moderate income.
This bill requires DOA to impose limits on eligibility and housing for families
and persons of low and moderate income seeking housing assistance directly or
indirectly through DOA, unless the person is, or the family includes, a person who
is disabled or aged 62 or older. Under the requirement, persons or families of low and
moderate income who receive assistance with housing, housing costs, utility-related
costs, or grants or loans from any project or program administered by DOA as
described above, are subject to the following limitations:
1. A person or family of low or moderate income is restricted to housing in which
the square footage is less than 50 percent of the average square footage for a rental
unit of average rental value in the county in which the person or family resides. In
order to satisfy this requirement, DOA may require that more than two unrelated
persons or families of low or moderate income be housed in one housing unit.
2. With two exceptions, persons or families of low or moderate income with
assets that exceed $2,000 in cash equity value or with a vehicle having an equity
value of $10,000 or greater may not receive housing or assistance with housing costs
or utility-related costs from DOA.
3. For purposes of determining eligibility for low-income housing assistance,
the income of any individual who is not related to the applicant and who is living in
the applicant's home at the time of the application must be included in the applicant's
income.
If DOA determines that it may not implement the limitations and prohibitions
established under the bill without a waiver of federal law from the federal
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and that a waiver of federal
law is available, DOA must apply for and obtain a waiver from HUD before it may
implement the limitations.
Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority low-income
housing assistance
Under current law, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development
Authority (WHEDA) administers several programs that provide assistance to
persons and families of low and moderate income in obtaining housing. Eligibility
for the programs is determined under the Wisconsin statutes and under federal law,
including the Housing Choice Voucher Program administered by HUD. Funding for
these programs is provided from a number of sources, including bonds issued by
WHEDA under its statutory authority and from the federal government.

This bill requires WHEDA to impose the following limits on eligibility for
families and persons of low and moderate income seeking housing assistance directly
or indirectly through WHEDA:
1. No person may receive housing assistance from HUD through WHEDA
unless the person is disabled or aged 62 or older. The bill defines "disabled" to mean
blind as established under federal law or disabled as established under federal law.
2. Persons or families of low and moderate income who receive housing or
housing assistance directly or indirectly from WHEDA are subject to the following
limitations, unless the person is, or the family includes, a person who is disabled or
aged 62 or older:
a. A person or family of low or moderate income must be restricted to housing
in which the square footage is less than 50 percent of the average square footage for
a rental unit of average rental value in the county in which the person or family
resides. In order to satisfy this requirement, WHEDA may require that more than
two unrelated persons or families of low or moderate income be housed in one
housing unit.
b. With two exceptions, persons or families of low or moderate income with
assets that exceed $2,000 in cash equity value or with a vehicle having an equity
value of $10,000 or greater may not receive housing or housing assistance from
WHEDA.
c. For purposes of determining eligibility for housing or housing assistance
from WHEDA, the income of any individual who is not related to the applicant and
who is living in the applicant's home at the time of the application must be included
in the applicant's income.
If WHEDA determines that it may not implement the limitations and
prohibitions established under the bill without a waiver of federal law from HUD and
that a waiver of federal law is available, WHEDA must apply for and obtain a waiver
from HUD before it may implement the limitations.
Taxation
Under federal law, the earned income tax credit (EITC) is a refundable tax
credit for low-income workers. If the amount of the claim exceeds the worker's tax
liability, the claimant receives a check for the excess amount from the Internal
Revenue Service. The amount of the credit for which a claimant is eligible is based,
in part, on whether the claimant has no qualifying children, one qualifying child, or
more than one qualifying child.
Under current law, the refundable Wisconsin EITC may be claimed in an
amount equal to a certain percentage of the federal basic EITC. To be eligible for the
Wisconsin EITC, an individual must have one or more qualifying children. The
Wisconsin EITC is equal to 4 percent of the federal credit if the claimant has one
qualifying child, 11 percent of the federal credit if the claimant has two qualifying
children, and 34 percent of the federal credit if the claimant has three or more
qualifying children.
Under this bill, no new claims under the Wisconsin EITC may be filed for a
taxable year that begins after December 31, 2014.

Under current law, the homestead tax credit may be claimed by an individual
who is at least 18 years of age and who is not, in general, claimed as a dependent for
federal income tax purposes in the year to which the claim relates. Under this bill,
for claims filed for taxable years that begin after December 31, 2014, a claimant must
be at least 55 years old to claim the homestead tax credit.
Local housing authorities
Generally under current law, a local housing authority may acquire, lease, and
operate approved housing projects, and may provide for the construction,
reconstruction, improvement, alteration, or repair of any housing project. Under
this bill, after the effective date of the bill, a local housing authority may not provide
for the construction of low-income housing unless it is for individuals age 55 and
above. In addition, the bill prohibits a local housing authority from requesting more
money for low-income housing.
Parental choice program pupil eligibility
Under the parental choice programs, a pupil who is a member of a family that
has a total family income that does not exceed 3.0 times the poverty level may attend
a private school at state expense under certain conditions. When verifying a family's
income, the Department of Revenue must first deduct $7,000. This bill increases the
deduction to $30,000.
School lunch program
This bill prohibits a school board from providing to a pupil's parent or guardian
more than two notices describing eligibility criteria for the school lunch program in
any school year.
Higher education grants and scholarships
Under current law, the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) awards certain
grants based on financial need. Those grants include Wisconsin higher education
grants for students enrolled in public institutions of higher education or tribal
colleges in this state (WHEG grants), tuition grants for students enrolled in private
institutions of higher education in this state (tuition grants), Indian student
assistance grants to assist Indian students who are residents of this state (Indian
student assistance grants), and minority undergraduate retention grants to assist
minority students enrolled in private institutions of higher education or technical
colleges in this state (minority undergraduate retention grants).
This bill eliminates WHEG grants, tuition grants, Indian student assistance
grants, and minority undergraduate retention grants, transfers the unencumbered
balances in the appropriations for those grants to the Board of Regents of the
University of Wisconsin (UW) System (Board of Regents), and directs the Board of
Regents to use the amount so transferred to reduce the tuition charged to enroll in
educational programs in the UW System.
The bill also prohibits HEAB from awarding any state financial assistance, and
the Board of Regents from awarding any scholarship, that is based on financial need
to a student under 22 years of age who is a dependent of his or her parents unless
the calculation of the student's financial need includes consideration of the income
and assets of both of the student's parents. In addition, the bill requires state

financial assistance awarded by HEAB and scholarship moneys awarded by the
Board of Regents to be used only for tuition, fees, books, and educational supplies.
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:
SB676,1 1Section 1. 5.02 (6m) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB676,9,72 5.02 (6m) (f) An unexpired identification card issued by a university or college
3in this state that is accredited, as defined in s. 39.30 (1) (d), 2011 stats., that contains
4the date of issuance and signature of the individual to whom it is issued and that
5contains an expiration date indicating that the card expires no later than 2 years
6after the date of issuance if the individual establishes that he or she is enrolled as
7a student at the university or college on the date that the card is presented.
SB676,2 8Section 2. 16.27 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB676,9,159 16.27 (2) (a) The department shall administer low-income energy assistance
10as provided in this section to assist an eligible household to meet the costs of home
11energy with low-income home energy assistance benefits authorized under 42 USC
128621
to 8629. Neither the department nor any county department, local government
13agency, or private nonprofit organization with which the department contracts to
14administer assistance under this section may notify a household that the household
15is eligible for assistance under this section more than 2 times in a 12-month period.
SB676,3 16Section 3. 16.27 (5) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB676,9,1917 16.27 (5) Eligibility. (intro.) Subject to the requirements of subs. (4) (b) and
18(8), and except as provided in sub. (5m), the following shall receive low-income
19energy assistance under this section:
SB676,4
1Section 4. 16.27 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB676,10,52 16.27 (5) (b) A household with income which is not more than 60 percent of the
3statewide median household income. The income for a household that includes a
4married couple is reduced by $10,000 before the determination of eligibility is made
5under this paragraph.
SB676,5 6Section 5. 16.27 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB676,10,107 16.27 (5m) Limitations on eligibility. (a) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., a
8household with assets that exceed $2,000 in combined equity value or with a vehicle
9having an equity value of $10,000 or greater is not eligible for low-income energy
10assistance under this section.
SB676,10,1211 2. Subdivision 1. does not apply if any individual member of the household is
12disabled, as defined in s. 49.468 (1) (a) 1., or is aged 62 or older.
SB676,10,2013 (b) If the department determines it may not implement the limitation under
14par. (a) 1. without a waiver from the federal department of health and human
15services and that such a waiver may be requested under federal law, the department
16shall request a waiver from the secretary of the federal department of health and
17human services. If a waiver that is consistent with par. (a) 1. is granted and in effect,
18the department shall implement the limitation on eligibility under par. (a) 1. If a
19waiver is required, the department may not implement the limitation on eligibility
20under par. (a) 1. unless a waiver is granted and in effect.
SB676,6 21Section 6. 16.3025 of the statutes is created to read:
SB676,11,2 2216.3025 State housing programs; limitations. (1) Except as provided in
23sub. (2), the department shall ensure that all of the following requirements are
24satisfied in connection with housing, housing costs, utility-related costs, grants, or
25loans provided, directly or indirectly, under ss. 16.301 to 16.315 by the department

1or by a community-based organization, housing authority, or designated agent
2under s. 16.304 to persons and families of low and moderate income:
SB676,11,83 (a) Any housing provided to a person or family of low or moderate income is
4restricted to housing in which the square footage is less than 50 percent of the
5average square footage for a rental unit of average rental value in the county in which
6the person or family resides. To satisfy the requirements of this paragraph, the
7department may require that more than 2 unrelated persons or families of low or
8moderate income be housed in one housing unit.
SB676,11,139 (b) A person or family with assets that exceed $2,000 in combined equity value
10or with a vehicle having an equity value of $10,000 or greater is not eligible for
11assistance with housing, housing costs, or utility-related costs under this
12subchapter or eligible to benefit from any grants or loans made under this
13subchapter.
SB676,11,1714 (c) For purposes of determining eligibility for any assistance under this
15subchapter, an applicant's income includes the income of any person who spent at
16least 15 nights in the applicant's home during the 60-day period immediately before
17the date of the application.
SB676,11,20 18(2) The requirements in sub. (1) (a) to (c) do not apply to a person who is, or a
19family that includes, a person who is disabled, as defined in s. 49.468 (1) (a) 1., or is
20aged 62 or older.
SB676,12,3 21(3) If the department determines it may not implement the limitations on
22eligibility and housing under sub. (1) without a waiver from the federal department
23of housing and urban development and that such a waiver may be requested under
24federal law, the department shall request a waiver. If a waiver that is consistent with
25sub. (1) is granted and in effect, the department shall implement the limitations on

1eligibility and housing under sub. (1). The department may not implement any
2limitation under sub. (1) for which a waiver is required unless a waiver as to that
3limitation is granted and in effect.
SB676,7 4Section 7. 16.303 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB676,12,85 16.303 (1) (a) Subject to sub. (2) and the limitations on eligibility and housing
6under s. 16.3025
, make grants or loans, directly or through agents designated under
7s. 16.304, from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (7) (b) to persons or families of low
8or moderate income to defray housing costs of the person or family.
SB676,8 9Section 8. 16.305 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB676,12,1210 16.305 (2) (d) The department determines that the grant is consistent with and
11will not be used in violation of the limitations on eligibility and housing under s.
1216.3025.
SB676,9 13Section 9. 16.306 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB676,12,1914 16.306 (2) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (7) (fm), the department
15may award a grant to an eligible applicant for the purpose of providing transitional
16housing and associated supportive services to homeless individuals and families if
17the conditions under par. pars. (b) and (c) are satisfied. The department shall ensure
18that the funds for the grants are reasonably balanced among geographic areas of the
19state, consistent with the quality of applications submitted.
SB676,10 20Section 10. 16.306 (2) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
SB676,12,2321 16.306 (2) (c) A recipient of a grant under par. (a) shall agree to comply with
22the limitations on eligibility and housing for persons and families of low and
23moderate income under s. 16.3025.
SB676,11 24Section 11. 20.235 (1) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
SB676,12 25Section 12. 20.235 (1) (fd) of the statutes is repealed.
SB676,13
1Section 13. 20.235 (1) (fe) of the statutes, as affected by 2013 Wisconsin Act
220
, is repealed.
SB676,14 3Section 14. 20.235 (1) (ff) of the statutes is repealed.
SB676,15 4Section 15. 20.235 (1) (fg) of the statutes is repealed.
SB676,16 5Section 16. 20.235 (1) (fj) of the statutes is repealed.
SB676,17 6Section 17. 20.235 (1) (gm) of the statutes is repealed.
SB676,18 7Section 18. 20.235 (1) (k) of the statutes is repealed.
SB676,19 8Section 19. 20.235 (1) (ke) of the statutes, as created by 2013 Wisconsin Act
920
, is repealed.
SB676,20 10Section 20. 20.235 (1) (km) of the statutes is repealed.
SB676,21 11Section 21. 20.285 (1) (gb) of the statutes, as affected by 2013 Wisconsin Act
1220
, section 250h, is amended to read:
SB676,13,1913 20.285 (1) (gb) General program operations. All moneys received from the
14operation of educational programs and related programs to carry out the purposes
15for which received, including the transfer of funds to par. (gj). In each fiscal year, the
16Board of Regents shall transfer no more than $20,338,500 from this appropriation
17account to the medical assistance trust fund. In fiscal year 2013-14, the amount in
18the schedule under s. 20.235 (1) (ke) shall be transferred from this appropriation
19account to the appropriation account under s. 20.235 (1) (ke).
SB676,22 20Section 22. 20.505 (8) (hm) 4i. of the statutes is repealed.
SB676,23 21Section 23. 20.505 (8) (hm) 10. of the statutes is repealed.
SB676,24 22Section 24. 36.11 (6) (c) of the statutes is repealed.
SB676,25 23Section 25. 36.11 (59) of the statutes is created to read:
SB676,14,424 36.11 (59) Scholarships based on financial need. The board may not award
25a scholarship that is based in whole or in part on financial need to any student under

1the age of 22 who is a dependent of his or her parents unless the board's calculation
2of financial need includes consideration of the income and assets of both of the
3student's parents. Scholarship moneys awarded by the board may be used only for
4tuition, fees, books, and educational supplies.
SB676,26 5Section 26. 36.25 (49) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB676,14,196 36.25 (49) Academic fee increase grants. The board may make grants to
7resident undergraduate students who do not receive grants under s. 39.435 that are
8payable from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (fe),
whose annual family income
9is less than $60,000, and who have unmet financial need. Beginning in fiscal year
102011-12, the board may make a grant under this subsection only to those students
11enrolled in the system during fiscal year 2010-11 who maintain continuous
12enrollment. A grant to a student under this subsection shall be in an amount
13determined by the board that corresponds to any increase, or any portion of an
14increase, in academic fees charged to the student, but may not exceed the amount of
15the student's unmet need. The board may not make a grant under this subsection
16to a student whose name appears on the statewide support lien docket under s.
1749.854 (2) (b), unless the student provides to the board a payment agreement that
18has been approved by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and that is
19consistent with rules promulgated under s. 49.858 (2) (a).
SB676,27 20Section 27. 38.04 (7m) of the statutes is repealed.
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