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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
February 4, 2022
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist149871I am vetoing Senate Bill 332 in its entirety. This bill would expand the starting and ending times in a day a minor under age 16 is allowed to work for employers not covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards act.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to creating two separate systems of work requirements for employers, which would increase the amount of administrative work for businesses when determining the permissible hours and days they are allowed to employ minors. By creating two legal frameworks on this topic, one for employers subject to the Federal Labor Standards Act and a different one for those that are not, the bill will increase complexity for employers, and could result in unintended consequences.
At a time when our state has the lowest unemployment rate in Wisconsin state history at 2.8 percent and the fewest number of people unemployed in our state ever, we must find meaningful, sustainable, and long-term solutions to the workforce challenges that have long plagued our state. For example, I allocated $130 million in innovative, community-based solutions to address Wisconsin’s longstanding workforce challenges. This includes $100 million for a Workforce Innovation Grant program to encourage regions and communities to develop leading-edge, long-term solutions to the workforce challenges the state faces in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic; $20 million toward the Worker Advancement Initiative, which will offer subsidized employment and skills training opportunities with local employers to unemployed individuals; and $10 million for a Worker Connection Program which will provide workforce career coaches who will connect with individuals attempting to reengage in the workforce post-pandemic.
I also recently proposed putting some of our state’s unprecedented projected revenue surplus toward reducing barriers to employment by decreasing the costs for childcare and caregiving. My plan expanded the newly created Child and Dependent Care Credit from 50 percent of the federal credit to 100 percent, providing nearly $30 million in tax relief to the 107,000 Wisconsinites who claim the credit. I also proposed providing more than $100 million to create a new income tax credit for qualified expenses incurred by a family caregiver.
By injecting funding into innovative solutions and providing economic relief to those struggling with the cost of childcare and caregiving, we can truly begin to address our workforce challenges, support working families, and get more people back into the workforce. This bill does not further those goals, and I hope the Legislature will join me in addressing this issue with real, meaningful solutions.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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Legislative Reference Bureau Corrections
Corrections In:
2021 SENATE BILL 520
Prepared by the Legislative Reference Bureau
(February 7, 2022)
22.
Page 2, line 1: after “purpose.” Insert “The state may contact additional public debt in an amount up to $4,000,000 for this purpose.”. 2021 SENATE BILL 836
Prepared by the Legislative Reference Bureau
(February 7, 2022)
hist1499211. Page 3, line 11: delete “(3)” and substitute “(4)”. _____________
Referrals and Receipt of Committee Reports Concerning Proposed Administrative Rules
The committee on Education reported and recommended:
Relating to educator preparation program and licensing flexibilities.
hist149862Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, February 7, 2022. Relating to general updates to open enrollment procedures.
hist149864Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, February 7, 2022. ALBERTA DARLING
Chairperson
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The committee on Natural Resources and Energy reported and recommended:
Relating to regulation of wastewater discharges from dental offices to sanitary sewers and affecting small business.
hist149942Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, February 7, 2022. Relating to allowing for third party administration of operator certification examinations and affecting small business.
hist149940Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, February 7, 2022. ROBERT COWLES
Chairperson
