LRB-2702/1
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2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
March 10, 2022 - Introduced by Representatives Subeck, Shelton, Anderson,
Andraca, Billings, Cabrera, Conley, Emerson, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein,
Hong, B. Meyers, Milroy, Moore Omokunde, S. Rodriguez, Shankland,
Sinicki, Snodgrass, Spreitzer, Stubbs and Drake, cosponsored by Senators
Smith, Johnson, Agard, Larson, Ringhand, Roys and L. Taylor. Referred to
Committee on Rules.
AB1145,2,7
1An Act to repeal 20.445 (1) (fc), 49.1635 (1), 49.1635 (2), 49.1635 (3), 49.1635 (4)
2and 106.15;
to renumber and amend 49.1635 (5) (a), 49.1635 (5) (b) and
349.1635 (5) (c);
to amend 16.306 (2) (a), 16.3085 (2) (b) 2., 20.866 (2) (td), 38.40
4(2), 46.56 (14) (a), 49.143 (2) (a) 4m. e., 49.155 (1m) (c) 1. (intro.), 49.163 (4)
5(intro.), 49.175 (1) (j), 49.175 (1) (k), 49.265 (1) (b), 49.265 (3) (b) 11., 49.265 (4)
6(a), 49.265 (4) (b), 49.265 (4) (c), 49.79 (9) (a) 1., 60.85 (7) (a), 60.85 (7) (b),
766.1103 (6m), 66.1105 (6c) (a), 66.1105 (6c) (b), 71.07 (2dx) (a) 5., 71.07 (5r) (b)
82., 71.28 (1dx) (a) 5., 71.28 (5r) (b) 2., 71.47 (1dx) (a) 5., 71.47 (5r) (b) 2., 76.636
9(1) (e) 12., 85.20 (4m) (a) 8. b., 106.11, 106.13 (2), 106.16 (2), 106.27 (1m), 109.07
10(1m) (a), 115.28 (24), 238.30 (4m) and 946.13 (10); and
to create 13.48 (26m),
1116.03 (2) (d), 16.19, 16.3065, 20.435 (5) (cg), 20.435 (5) (em), 20.437 (2) (cs),
1220.437 (2) (eg), 20.445 (1) (fc), 20.505 (7) (bq), 20.505 (7) (e), 20.505 (7) (fk), 36.25
13(56), 46.483, 46.538, 49.168, 49.175 (1) (x), 49.45 (31m), 49.675, 51.44 (5) (bm),
14106.115, 115.28 (66), 234.253 and 281.61 (8) (b) of the statutes;
relating to:
1housing and homelessness; rental assistance program; indigent civil legal
2services; workforce development; community action agencies; poverty reports;
3mental health; economic security; reimbursement for nonemergency medical
4transportation services; urban mass transit aid; lead exposure and abatement
5services; lead service line replacement; providing an exemption from
6emergency rule procedures; granting rule-making authority; and making an
7appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Housing, homelessness, and indigence
1. Grants to facilitate the independent living of homeless persons
Under current law, the Department of Administration provides housing grants
to counties, municipalities, community action agencies, and private organizations
for the purpose of providing housing and associated supportive services to homeless
individuals and families in order to facilitate the movement of homeless persons to
independent living. This bill provides an additional $5,000,000 in the 2021-23 fiscal
biennium to fund that grant program.
2. Rental assistance grants
The bill creates a rental assistance program under which DOA awards grants
to provide tenant-based rental assistance to individuals and families who have
suffered an economic hardship and whose annual household income does not exceed
80 percent of the median household income for the county in which the individual or
family resides. The bill appropriates $10,000,000 for the program in the 2021-23
fiscal biennium.
3. Grants to defray housing costs
The bill increases funding for DOA to award grants to persons or families of low
or moderate income to defray housing costs. The bill provides an additional $220,000
in each fiscal year of the 2021-23 fiscal biennium for that purpose.
4. Duties of the Interagency Council on Homelessness
The bill requires the Interagency Council on Homelessness to do all of the
following every two years:
1. Identify ways in which DOA and other state agencies specified in the bill and
the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority can increase access to
services for homeless individuals and families, including homeless children and
youths as defined under federal law.
2. Advise each of the state agencies specified in the bill and WHEDA to revise
any policy or practice that the council determines impedes homeless individuals and
families from obtaining services.
5. Report concerning homeless children and youth
The bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to annually issue a
report to the legislature on the number of homeless children and youths in the public
schools of this state. Under the bill, “homeless children and youths” is defined by
reference to federal law providing homeless assistance.
6. Report concerning households with worst case housing needs
The bill requires WHEDA to annually issue a report to the legislature on the
number of households with worst case housing needs in this state. “Households with
worst case housing needs” is defined in a manner consistent with that used by the
federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. The report must include
data and demographic information on these households, analysis of the impediments
to obtaining affordable housing, and recommendations on how to improve state and
local programs to assist these households with their housing needs.
7. Pilot program related to the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program
The bill creates a two-year pilot program that gives priority to homeless
children and their families, as defined under federal law, on the waiting list that
WHEDA, or a public housing agency that contracts with WHEDA, maintains under
the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program. Under the bill, WHEDA is required
to develop policies and procedures for the pilot program.
8. Civil legal services for the indigent
Under current law, the Department of Children and Families is directed to
allocate in each fiscal year specific amounts of money, including federal moneys
received under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, for
various public assistance programs. Under current law, DCF provides funding to the
Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc., (the foundation) to provide civil legal
services to TANF-eligible individuals in two ways:
1. DCF provides up to $100,000 in each fiscal year in matching funds to the
foundation for the provision of civil legal services to eligible individuals. This grant
does not specify what types of civil legal services may be provided.
2. DCF provides a $500,000 grant in each fiscal year to the foundation to
provide grants to programs, up to $75,000 each, that provide certain legal services
to eligible individuals. The legal services provided through this grant are limited to
legal services in civil matters related to domestic abuse or sexual abuse or to
restraining orders or injunctions for individuals at risk.
The bill removes the grant that requires matching funds and increases the
grant to provide certain legal services to eligible individuals to $1,000,000 per fiscal
year. Under the bill, the foundation may additionally use this funding to provide to
eligible individuals civil legal services related to eviction. The bill removes the
$75,000 cap on grants provided by the foundation to individual programs.
The bill also requires DOA to make annual payments to the foundation for the
purpose of providing civil legal services to indigent persons.
9. Internet assistance program
The bill requires DCF to establish an Internet assistance program under which
it makes payments to Internet service providers on behalf of low-income individuals
to assist with paying for Internet service. The bill requires that other assistance
program options be exhausted before assistance is provided under this program. The
bill allows DCF to contract for the administration of the program. The bill requires
DCF to promulgate rules to implement the program, which must include a
requirement that the family income of a recipient not exceed 200 percent of the
federal poverty line.
Workforce development and job and income supports
1. Job and Business Development Program
The bill increases funding by $799,400 in each fiscal year of the 2021-23 fiscal
biennium to supplement, on a one-to-one matching basis, federal employment
opportunity demonstration project funds and funds from other federal and private
foundation sources for job creation and development for individuals with low
incomes. The program funded by these funds is commonly referred to as the Job and
Business Development Program.
2. Child care subsidies
Under current law, the Wisconsin Shares program provides child care subsidies
as a part of Wisconsin Works (W-2), which provides work experience and benefits for
low-income custodial parents and is administered by DCF. Under current law, in
order to qualify for a Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy, the recipient must meet
certain financial and nonfinancial eligibility criteria. The bill increases the income
cap for initial qualification for a Wisconsin Shares subsidy from 185 percent of the
federal poverty line to 200 percent of the federal poverty line.
3. Skills enhancement services
Under current law, DCF must distribute grants to community action agencies
to provide skills enhancement services, including access to transportation, child
care, career counseling, job placement assistance, and financial support for
education and training. Under this program, a community action agency may
provide these services to individuals who work at least 20 hours per week and whose
earned income is at or below 150 percent of the poverty line. The bill increases the
earned income threshold for eligibility to 200 percent of the poverty line.
4. Transitional Jobs program
Under current law, DCF administers the Transitional Jobs program, which
provides wage subsidies to employers of certain low-income parents or primary
caregivers of a child and low-income young adults. The bill provides an additional
$1,000,000 per fiscal year to the Transitional Jobs program to provide these services
outside of Milwaukee County.
5. Job and employment services pilot program
The bill requires the Department of Workforce Development to establish a pilot
program that offers job and employment services for individuals receiving housing
vouchers or receiving services from state-funded homeless shelters. The bill
requires the pilot program to offer services similar to those offered under the existing
Transform Milwaukee Jobs and Transitional Jobs programs in current law. The bill
funds the pilot program with $500,000 in each fiscal year of the 2021-23 fiscal
biennium. Under the bill, the pilot program sunsets on June 30, 2023.
6. Council on Workforce Investment strategic plan
Under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA),
federal funds are allocated to the state and, in turn, to local workforce development
areas designated by the governor to provide employment and training activities for
job seekers and workers. The WIOA repealed a prior law known as the federal
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), which contained a number of similar
provisions. To receive funding under the WIOA, the governor must establish a
Council on Workforce Investment. The bill requires the council to identify certain
populations for services under its WIOA strategic plan. The populations to be
included are 1) homeless individuals from ages 18 to 24; 2) certain children placed
in out-of-home care; and 3) homeless adults.
7. Miscellaneous provisions
The bill repeals a provision concerning review and approval of certain matters
regarding assistance to dislocated workers that was administered as part of the WIA,
but that no longer exists. In addition, the bill updates references to the United States
Code sections regarding WIOA.
Community action agencies
Under current law, DCF must distribute grants to community action agencies
to provide skills enhancement services, including access to transportation, child
care, career counseling, job placement assistance, and financial support for
education and training. The bill provides an additional $500,000 in each fiscal year
of the 2021-23 fiscal biennium for that purpose.
The bill also provides a match from state funding to the federal community
services block grant, which funds the work of community action agencies. Under
current law, a community action agency is an entity that provides services such as
employment or housing assistance, financial planning, or educational services to
low-income individuals and that works to combat poverty in the community that it
serves. The bill increases the income cap for receiving services from a community
action agency from 125 percent of the federal poverty line to 200 percent of the federal
poverty line.
The bill also requires the Department of Health Services to establish a grant
program to provide grants to community action agencies to enable them to respond
to the needs of communities and low-income families and individuals in crisis
resulting from opioid addiction-related issues. Through the program, DHS is
required to endeavor to expand and support effective community efforts to identify
and respond to causes and consequences of opioid misuse and addiction experienced
by low-income individuals, families, and communities. Under the bill, DHS must
award grants of at least $25,000 and up to $250,000 per year. The bill sets out criteria
DHS must use in awarding grants as well as characteristics of applications to which
DHS must give preference. Grants under the bill may not be more than three years
in duration unless approved by the secretary of health services.
Lead exposure and abatement
1. Early intervention services for children with lead in their blood
Under current law, DHS implements a statewide program, referred to as the
Birth to 3 Program, that provides early intervention services for children aged three
and under who are developmentally delayed or are diagnosed as having a condition
that is likely to result in significantly delayed development. The bill ensures that
children with a concentration of lead in their blood of at least 5 micrograms per 100
milliliters of blood are eligible for services under the Birth to 3 Program.
2. Lead-Safe Homes Program
Under current law, DHS provides lead abatement services through the
Lead-Safe Homes Program. The Lead-Safe Homes Program provides repairs to
owner-occupied and rental properties to make them lead-safe. Currently, the
program is funded in part through federal funding. The bill increases state funding
for the program by $28,400,000 over the fiscal biennium.
3. Windows Plus lead exposure program
The bill authorizes one general purpose revenue position within DHS and
increases funding to resume the Windows Plus lead exposure program. The
Windows Plus lead exposure program was initiated in the 2019-21 fiscal biennium
with onetime funding to provide lead-safe renovations in homes built before 1950
that are inhabited or frequently visited by low-income families with children. The
program focuses renovations on high-risk components of housing, such as windows,
porches, floors, and siding.
4. Lead service line replacement
Under current law, DOA and the Department of Natural Resources administer
the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP), which provides financial
assistance to local governmental units and to the private owners of community water
systems that serve local governmental units for projects for the planning, designing,
construction, or modification of public water systems. DNR establishes a funding list
for SDWLP projects, and DOA allocates funding for those projects.
Under current law, the state may contract up to $74,950,000 in public debt for
the SDWLP. The bill increases the bonding authority for the program by $40,000,000
and requires DOA to allocate up to $40,000,000 of the authorized public debt to
projects involving forgivable loans to private users of public water systems to cover
not more than 50 percent of the cost to replace lead service lines.
Sober living and mental health
The bill requires DHS to encourage the development, expansion, and quality
control of networks of sober living residences and to allocate moneys to create a
revolving loan fund for establishing sober living residences or a network of sober
living residences or to award grants for purposes specified in the bill.
The bill requires DHS to award grants to entities or groups that meet its
qualifications to perform research projects on mental health issues and access to
mental health services in rural areas of the state.
Nonemergency medical transportation services
The bill requires DHS to determine and implement a reimbursement rate for
nonemergency medical transportation services for Medical Assistance recipients
who are nursing home residents that is the same as the prevalent brokerage
reimbursement rate applied to other nonemergency medical transportation services
for Medical Assistance recipients.
Transportation
1. Transportation grants
Under current law, the Department of Transportation may award grants to
public and private organizations for the development and implementation of
demand management, ride-sharing, and job access and employment transportation
assistance programs. The bill increases the amount of state monies appropriated for
the development and implementation of job access and employment transportation
assistance programs by $249,450 in each year of the 2021-23 fiscal biennium.
2. Urban mass transit aid
Under current law, DOT provides state aid payments to local public bodies in
urban areas served by mass transit systems to assist the local public bodies with the
expenses of operating those systems. The bill increases the total amount of state aid
payments for mass transit systems serving urban areas having a population of less
than 50,000 to $5,707,800 in calendar year 2021 and thereafter.
3. Specialized transportation services
Under current law, DOT administers specialized transportation programs to
provide financial assistance for transportation services for seniors and individuals
with disabilities. One program provides funding to counties based on each county's
proportion of the state's population of seniors and individuals with disabilities. The
other program provides funds to local public bodies and nonprofit organizations
through a competitive application process to supplement federal funding under the
Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities program. The bill
increases funding for both programs by 2 percent.
Higher education