SB17: Bill Text

LRB-0206/1

JK:amn

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Senate BILL 17

January 29, 2019 - Introduced by Senators Feyen, Darling, Marklein and Cowles, cosponsored by Representatives Rohrkaste, Gundrum, Kulp, Murphy, Ramthun, Thiesfeldt, Wichgers, Zimmerman and Tusler. Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Commerce and Trade.

SB17,1,3 An Act to create 20.445 (1) (bb) and 106.27 (1k) of the statutes; relating to: workforce training grants for seminars in high-demand fields to teach new skills and provide micro-credentials and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill allows the Department of Workforce Development to award grants to nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education in high-demand fields for the purpose of upskilling unemployed and underemployed workers in this state and providing micro-credentials to such individuals. The bill defines “upskilling” as the process of teaching new skills and a “micro-credential” as a stand-alone education product that certifies the achievement of a set of skills and knowledge required by an industry or a professional association.

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:

SB17,1 Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

SB17,2 Section 2 . 20.445 (1) (bb) of the statutes is created to read:

SB17,2,6 20.445 (1) (bb) Workforce training program; new skills and micro-credentials. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for making the grants under s. 106.27 (1k). Notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (b), the unencumbered balance on June 30, 2021, shall be transferred to the appropriation account under s. 20.445 (1) (bg). No moneys may be encumbered from this appropriation after June 30, 2021.

SB17,3 Section 3. 106.27 (1k) of the statutes is created to read:

SB17,2,17 106.27 (1k) Workforce training program; new skills and micro-credentials. (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (bb), the department shall award grants to nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education, as defined in 20 USC 1001 (a) and (b), to create and administer seminars in high-demand fields, as determined by the department, for the purpose of upskilling unemployed and underemployed workers in this state and providing micro-credentials to such individuals. The total amount that a grant recipient charges individuals to attend seminars and obtain credentials as described in this paragraph may not exceed 10 percent of the actual cost to create and administer the seminars and provide the credentials.

SB17,2,18 (b) In this subsection:

SB17,3,3 1. “Micro-credential” means a stand-alone education product that certifies the achievement of a set of skills and knowledge required by an industry or a professional association.

SB17,3,4 2. “Upskilling” means the process of teaching new skills.

SB17,3,5 (End)