SB491: Bill Text

LRB-4538/1

MES&TKK:wlj/emw/kjf

2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

2017 Senate BILL 491

October 27, 2017 - Introduced by Senators Harsdorf, Olsen and Tiffany, cosponsored by Representatives Felzkowski, Swearingen, Horlacher, Kooyenga, Loudenbeck, Mursau, Novak, Ripp, Skowronski, Tranel and Tusler. Referred to Committee on Education.

SB491,1,8 An Act to amend 16.9945 (1) (intro.), 16.9945 (3) (intro.), 16.996 (title), 16.996 (1), 16.996 (3) (intro.), 16.996 (4) (b), 20.255 (1) (e), 20.255 (1) (ek) and 20.505 (4) (s); to repeal and recreate 20.505 (4) (s); and to create 16.9945 (2m), 16.9945 (3m), 16.996 (2m), 16.996 (3m) and 43.06 of the statutes; relating to: the collection and maintenance of certain public library data by the Division for Libraries and Technology, authorizing small, rural libraries to apply for information technology block grants and educational technology training grants, and making appropriations.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill authorizes the Division for Libraries and Technology in the Department of Public Instruction to collect and maintain public library–related data, including purchasing licenses for data collection software; training staff on the effective use of data; creating tools for libraries to use internally in analyzing, and to report to the public about, library use; and developing and implementing technology systems that allow for interoperable data exchange and automation of work processes.

This bill also makes certain public libraries located in census-defined rural areas and serving municipalities with a population of 20,000 or less eligible to receive grants under the Technology for Educational Achievement program, known as TEACH. Under the TEACH program, the Department of Administration awards information technology block grants to school districts to improve information technology infrastructure and educational technology teacher training grants to school districts to train teachers in the use of educational technology. Under the bill, DOA may award grants to eligible libraries to improve information technology infrastructure in rural libraries and train librarians in rural libraries in the use of educational technology.

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:

SB491,1 Section 1. 16.9945 (1) (intro.) of the statutes, as created by 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, is amended to read:

SB491,2,17 16.9945 Information technology block grants. (1) Competitive grants. (intro.) In fiscal years 2017-18 and 2018-19, the department may annually award grants on a competitive basis to eligible school districts and to eligible public libraries for the purpose of improving information technology infrastructure. For purposes of awarding grants under this section, “improving information technology infrastructure” includes purchasing and installing on a bus a portable device that creates an area of wireless Internet coverage and purchasing for individuals to temporarily borrow from a school or for patrons to check out from a public library a portable device that creates an area of wireless Internet coverage. In awarding grants to eligible school districts under this section, the department shall give priority to applications for school districts in which the percentage of pupils who satisfy the income eligibility criteria under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1) for a free or reduced-price lunch is greater than in other applicant school districts. The department shall require an applicant for a grant under this section to provide all of the following:

SB491,2 Section 2. 16.9945 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB491,3,2 16.9945 (2m) Eligible public libraries. (a) In this subsection:

SB491,3,5 1. “Library branch” means a fixed location where public library services, including a collection of library materials, are offered by paid library employees as part of a consolidated county public library, as described in s. 43.57 (1).

SB491,3,7 2. “Urban cluster” means an urban area, as defined by the U.S. bureau of the census, with a population of at least 2,500 but less than 50,000.

SB491,3,9 3. “Urbanized area” means an urban area, as defined by the U.S. bureau of the census, with a population of 50,000 or more.

SB491,3,14 (b) A public library, including the branch of a public library, is eligible for a grant under this section in fiscal year 2017-18 or in fiscal year 2018-19 or in both fiscal years if the population of the municipality within which the library or branch of the library is located is 20,000 or less and if the public library or branch is located in one of the following areas of the state:

SB491,3,16 1. A rural territory, as defined by the U.S. bureau of the census, that is one of the following:

SB491,3,17 a. Less than or equal to 5 miles from an urbanized area.

SB491,3,18 b. Less than or equal to 2.5 miles from an urban cluster.

SB491,3,20 2. A rural territory, as defined by the U.S. bureau of the census, that is one of the following:

SB491,3,21 a. More than 5 miles but less than or equal to 25 miles from an urbanized area.

SB491,3,22 b. More than 2.5 miles but less than or equal to 10 miles from an urban cluster.

SB491,3,25 3. A rural territory, as defined by the U.S. bureau of the census, that is more than 25 miles from an urbanized area and also more than 10 miles from an urban cluster.

SB491,3 Section 3. 16.9945 (3) (intro.) of the statutes, as created by 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, is amended to read:

SB491,4,5 16.9945 (3) Maximum awards to eligible school districts. (intro.) The total amount the department may award to an eligible school district under sub. (1) during a fiscal biennium may not exceed the following:

SB491,4 Section 4. 16.9945 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB491,4,9 16.9945 (3m) Maximum awards to eligible public libraries. The total amount the department may award to an eligible public library under sub. (1) during a fiscal biennium may not exceed the following:

SB491,4,11 (a) If the population of the municipality within which the eligible public library or branch is located is 2,000 or less, $5,000.

SB491,4,13 (b) If the population of the municipality within which the eligible public library or branch is located is at least 2,001 but less than 5,000, $7,500.

SB491,4,15 (c) If the population of the municipality within which the eligible public library or branch is located is at least 5,000 but less than 20,001, $10,000.

SB491,5 Section 5. 16.996 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB491,4,17 16.996 (title) Educational technology teacher training grants.

SB491,6 Section 6. 16.996 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB491,4,22 16.996 (1) Purpose. The department shall annually award grants to eligible consortia of school districts, to consortia of eligible public libraries, and to eligible public library systems for the costs of training teachers and librarians to use educational technology.

SB491,7 Section 7. 16.996 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB491,4,25 16.996 (2m) Eligible public libraries and public library systems. (a) In this subsection:

SB491,5,3 1. “Library branch” means a fixed location where public library services, including a collection of library materials, are offered by paid library employees as part of a consolidated county public library, as described in s. 43.57 (1).

SB491,5,5 2. “Urban cluster” means an urban area, as defined by the U.S. bureau of the census, with a population of at least 2,500 but less than 50,000.

SB491,5,7 3. “Urbanized area” means an urban area, as defined by the U.S. bureau of the census, with a population of 50,000 or more.

SB491,5,11 (b) A public library or branch of a public library is an eligible library under this section if the population of the municipality within which the library or branch is located is 20,000 or less and if the public library or branch is located in one of the following areas of the state:

SB491,5,13 1. A rural territory, as defined by the U.S. bureau of the census, that is one of the following:

SB491,5,14 a. Less than or equal to 5 miles from an urbanized area.

SB491,5,15 b. Less than or equal to 2.5 miles from an urban cluster.

SB491,5,17 2. A rural territory, as defined by the U.S. bureau of the census, that is one of the following:

SB491,5,18 a. More than 5 miles but less than or equal to 25 miles from an urbanized area.

SB491,5,19 b. More than 2.5 miles but less than or equal to 10 miles from an urban cluster.

SB491,5,22 3. A rural territory, as defined by the U.S. bureau of the census, that is more than 25 miles from an urbanized area and also more than 10 miles from an urban cluster.

SB491,5,25 (c) A consortium of public libraries is eligible for a grant under this section and a public library system is eligible for a grant under this section if all of the following apply:

SB491,6,1 1. Either of the following apply:

SB491,6,3 a. The consortium consists of 3 or more eligible public libraries or library branches.

SB491,6,5 b. The public library system contains 3 or more eligible public libraries or library branches.

SB491,6,7 2. The consortium or public library system applies for a grant under this section.

SB491,8 Section 8. 16.996 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB491,6,12 16.996 (3) Grant Grants to eligible consortia of school districts; amount. (intro.) In any year the department awards grants a grant to an eligible consortia of school districts under this section, subject to sub. (4), the department shall pay to each the eligible consortium the sum of the following amounts:

SB491,9 Section 9. 16.996 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB491,6,19 16.996 (3m) Grants to consortia of eligible public libraries and to eligible public library systems; amount. In any year the department awards a grant to a consortia of eligible public libraries or to an eligible public library system under this section, the department shall, subject to sub. (4), pay to the consortium of eligible public libraries or to the eligible public library system the sum of the following amounts:

SB491,6,21 (a) For each eligible public library or branch in the consortium or system located in a municipality the population of which is 2,000 or less, $500.

SB491,6,24 (b) For each eligible public library or branch in the consortium or system located in a municipality the population of which is at least 2,001 but less than 5,000, $750.

SB491,7,3 (c) For each eligible public library or branch in the consortium or system located in a municipality the population of which is at least 5,000 but less than 20,001, $1,000.

SB491,10 Section 10. 16.996 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB491,7,8 16.996 (4) (b) If, in any fiscal year, $1,500,000 is insufficient to pay the full amount under sub. (3), the department shall prorate the payments among the eligible consortia of school districts, consortia of eligible public libraries, and eligible public library systems.

SB491,11 Section 11. 20.255 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB491,7,13 20.255 (1) (e) Student information system, data collection and maintenance. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for the student information system under s. 115.383 and for the data collection and maintenance activities under s. 43.06 (1).

SB491,12 Section 12. 20.255 (1) (ek) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB491,7,19 20.255 (1) (ek) Longitudinal data system, data collection and maintenance. The amounts in the schedule to develop and maintain the longitudinal data system of student information under s. 115.297 and the tools necessary to access the data for research and analysis purposes, and for the data collection and maintenance activities under s. 43.06 (1).

SB491,13 Section 13. 20.505 (4) (s) of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, is amended to read:

SB491,8,9 20.505 (4) (s) Telecommunications access for educational agencies, infrastructure grants, and teacher training grants for teachers and librarians. Biennially, from the universal service fund, the amounts in the schedule to make payments to telecommunications providers under contracts under s. 16.971 (13), (14), and (15) to the extent that the amounts due are not paid from the appropriation under sub. (1) (is), to make payments to telecommunications providers under contracts under s. 16.971 (16) to the extent that the amounts due are not paid from the appropriation under sub. (1) (kL), to make grants to school district consortia under s. 16.997 (7), to make information technology infrastructure grants under s. 16.9945, and to make educational technology teacher training grants and librarian training grants under s. 16.996. Notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (b), the unencumbered balance on June 30 of each odd-numbered year shall be transferred to the appropriation account under s. 20.155 (3) (r).

SB491,14 Section 14 . 20.505 (4) (s) of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

SB491,8,23 20.505 (4) (s) Telecommunications access for educational agencies, infrastructure grants, and training grants for teachers and librarians . Biennially, from the universal service fund, the amounts in the schedule to make payments to telecommunications providers under contracts under s. 16.971 (13), (14), and (15) to the extent that the amounts due are not paid from the appropriation under sub. (1) (is), to make payments to telecommunications providers under contracts under s. 16.971 (16) to the extent that the amounts due are not paid from the appropriation under sub. (1) (kL), to make grants to school district consortia under s. 16.997 (7), and to make educational technology teacher training grants and librarian training grants under s. 16.996. Notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (b), the unencumbered balance on June 30 of each odd-numbered year shall be transferred to the appropriation account under s. 20.155 (3) (r).

SB491,15 Section 15. 43.06 of the statutes is created to read: