AB1054: Bill Text

LRB-5633/1

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2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

2017 Assembly BILL 1054

March 22, 2018 - Introduced by Representatives Pope, Bowen, Genrich, Considine, Hebl, Vruwink, C. Taylor, Kolste, Zepnick, Subeck, Zamarripa, Hesselbein, Brostoff, Ohnstad, Fields, Doyle, Riemer, Crowley, Goyke, Meyers, Sinicki, Stuck, Berceau, Billings, Shankland, Hintz, Sargent, Spreitzer and Anderson, cosponsored by Senators Bewley, Larson, Johnson, Erpenbach, Miller, Vinehout, Hansen, L. Taylor, Schachtner, Carpenter and Shilling. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB1054,1,3 An Act to amend 115.364 (1) (a), (am) and (b), 115.364 (2) (a) 1., 2. and 3. and 115.364 (2) (b) 2. a.; and to create 115.364 (1) (c) of the statutes; relating to: aid for school mental health programs and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, beginning in the 2018-19 school year, the Department of Public Instruction must make payments to school districts, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program that increased the amount the school district, independent charter school, or private school spent to employ, hire, or retain social workers over the amount spent by the school district, independent charter school, or private school to employ, hire, or retain social workers in the immediately preceding school year. Under the bill, DPI must make these payments to school districts, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program that increase spending on school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, and school nurses. The bill also increases the funding for this categorical aid by $17,000,000 in the 2018-19 school year.

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:

AB1054,1 Section 1. 115.364 (1) (a), (am) and (b) of the statutes, as created by 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, are amended to read:

AB1054,2,8 115.364 (1) (a) “Eligible independent charter school” is a school under contract with one of the entities under s. 118.40 (2r) (b) 1. or with the director under s. 118.40 (2x) that increased the amount it expended in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services personnel over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services personnel.

AB1054,2,14 (am) “Eligible private school” means a private school participating in a parental choice program under s. 118.60 or 119.23 that increased the amount it expended in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services personnel over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services personnel.

AB1054,2,19 (b) “Eligible school district” is a school district that increased the amount it expended in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services personnel over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services personnel.

AB1054,2 Section 2. 115.364 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1054,2,22 115.364 (1) (c) “Pupil services personnel" means school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, and school nurses.

AB1054,3 Section 3. 115.364 (2) (a) 1., 2. and 3. of the statutes, as created by 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, are amended to read:

AB1054,3,6 115.364 (2) (a) 1. Subject to par. (b), from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (da), pay to an eligible school district an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount by which the school district increased its expenditures in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services personnel over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services personnel.

AB1054,3,12 2. Subject to par. (b), from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (da), pay to an eligible independent charter school an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount by which the independent charter school increased its expenditures in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services personnel over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services personnel.

AB1054,3,18 3. Subject to par. (b), from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (da), pay to an eligible private school an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount by which the private school increased it expenditures in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services personnel over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services personnel.

AB1054,4 Section 4. 115.364 (2) (b) 2. a. of the statutes, as created by 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, is amended to read:

AB1054,4,3 115.364 (2) (b) 2. a. Subject to subd. 2. b., if, after making the payments required under par. (a), moneys remain in the appropriation account under s. 20.255 (2) (da), the state superintendent shall reimburse eligible school districts, private schools, and independent charter schools for an amount equal to expenditures made by the school district, private school, or independent charter school in the preceding school year to employ, hire, or retain social workers pupil services personnel less the amount of increased expenditures for which the school district, private school, or independent charter school was reimbursed under par. (a).

AB1054,5 Section 5. Fiscal changes.

AB1054,4,8 (1) In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of public instruction under section 20.255 (2) (da) of the statutes, the dollar amount for fiscal year 2018-19 is increased by $17,000,000 for the purpose for which the appropriation is made.

AB1054,4,9 (End)