AB68: Bill Text

AB68,1311,17 196.504 (2) (c) To establish criteria for evaluating applications and awarding grants under this section subsection. The criteria shall prohibit grants that have the effect of subsidizing the expenses of a provider of telecommunications service, as defined in s. 182.017 (1g) (cq), or the monthly bills of customers of those providers. The criteria shall give priority to projects that include matching funds, that involve public-private partnerships, that affect unserved areas, that are scalable, that promote economic development, that will not result in delaying the provision of broadband service to areas neighboring areas to be served by the proposed project, or that affect a large geographic area or a large number of underserved individuals or communities. When evaluating grant applications under this section subsection, the commission shall consider the degree to which the proposed projects would duplicate existing broadband infrastructure, information about the presence of which is provided to the commission by the applicant or another person within a time period designated by the commission; the impacts of the proposed projects on the ability of individuals to access health care services from home and the cost of those services; and the impacts of the proposed projects on the ability of students to access educational opportunities from home.

AB68,2424 Section 2424. 196.504 (2g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1311,20 196.504 (2g) The commission shall administer the broadband connector program and shall have the following powers:

AB68,1312,3 (a) To make broadband planning grants to political subdivisions, school districts, tribal governments, regional planning commissions, nonprofit organizations, and local economic development organizations for broadband planning, feasibility engineering related to broadband infrastructure construction, broadband adoption planning, and digital inclusion activities. The amount of a broadband planning grant under this subsection may not exceed $50,000. Grants awarded under this subsection shall be paid from the appropriations under s. 20.155 (1) (c).

AB68,1312,5 (b) To provide training, technical assistance, and information on broadband infrastructure construction, broadband adoption, and digital inclusion.

AB68,2425 Section 2425. 196.504 (2r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1312,8 196.504 (2r) The commission shall administer the line extension assistance program and shall have the following powers:

AB68,1312,14 (a) To make financial assistance grants to residents of properties that are not served by a broadband service provider to assist in paying the customer costs associated with line extension necessary to connect broadband service to the properties. The amount of a financial assistance grant under this subsection may not exceed $4,000. Grants awarded under this subsection shall be paid from the appropriations under s. 20.155 (1) (c).

AB68,1312,17 (b) To establish criteria for evaluating applications and awarding financial assistance grants under this subsection. The criteria shall give priority to properties that serve as a primary residence.

AB68,2426 Section 2426. 196.504 (3) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1312,23 196.504 (3) (d) 1. Require each Internet service provider to disclose to the commission by April 1 of each year the properties it serves, the average minimum download and upload speeds at which it provides residential and business Internet service to those properties, and a description of its existing service area in a format determined by the commission.

AB68,1313,3 2. Use the information disclosed under subd. 1. to conduct broadband mapping and facilitate the deployment of broadband infrastructure and access to broadband service.

AB68,1313,8 3. Notwithstanding s. 19.35, the commission shall withhold from public inspection any information disclosed to the commission under subd. 1. that would aid a competitor of an Internet service provider in competing with the Internet service provider if the commission determines that public disclosure is not necessary to accomplish the purposes under subd. 2.

AB68,2427 Section 2427. 196.5048 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1313,11 196.5048 Internet service provider registration. No person may provide Internet service in this state unless the person registers with the commission.

AB68,2428 Section 2428. 196.745 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1313,19 196.745 (2) (a) Any person violating sub. (1) (a), or any order or rule issued under sub. (1) (a), shall forfeit an amount not exceeding $25,000 $200,000. Each day of violation is a separate violation of sub. (1) (a). No person may forfeit an amount exceeding $500,000 $2,000,000 for a single persisting violation of sub. (1) (a) or any order or any rule issued under sub. (1) (a). The commission shall remit all forfeitures paid under this paragraph to the secretary of administration for deposit in the school fund.

AB68,2429 Section 2429. 198.06 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1313,24 198.06 (5) (a) The board of canvassers shall cause a certified copy of the order declaring the result of the election to be filed in the office of the secretary of state administration. A certified copy of the order shall also be filed with the clerk of each municipality included in the district, with the county clerk, and with the commission.

AB68,2430 Section 2430. 198.06 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1314,10 198.06 (5) (b) If the district as finally constituted comprises a smaller area than originally proposed because of the failure of one or more municipalities to approve the district at the election, the commission shall, within 10 days following the filing of the order under par. (a) with the commission, file its approval or disapproval of the district as created by the election with the secretary of state administration, the clerk of each municipality included in the district and the county clerk. If the commission approves, upon the filing of the approval the creation and incorporation of the district shall be considered complete. If the commission disapproves, the district shall be considered dissolved. Except as provided in par. (c), the approval or disapproval of the commission shall be final.

AB68,2431 Section 2431. 198.06 (5) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1314,15 198.06 (5) (d) If a district has been approved by all of the municipalities within the district as proposed, the creation and incorporation of the district shall be considered complete upon the filing of the result of the election with the secretary of state administration by the board of canvassers.

AB68,2432 Section 2432. 198.06 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1314,24 198.06 (7) Informalities disregarded, limitation of action to test validity of district. No informality in any proceeding or in the conduct of the election, not substantially affecting adversely the legal rights of any citizen, shall be held to invalidate the creation of any district, and any proceedings wherein the validity of the creation is denied shall be commenced within 3 months from the date of filing the order of the board of canvassers with the secretary of state administration, otherwise the creation and the legal existence of the district shall be held to be valid and in every respect legal and incontestable.

AB68,2433 Section 2433. 198.08 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1315,7 198.08 (3) Appointment, vote by municipal executive officers. In the selection of a director for a subdistrict each chief executive shall have one vote for each 1,000 voters within that chief executive's municipality, or the part of the municipality that is located in the subdistrict. A three-fourths vote shall be necessary for the selection of a director. The result of the selection of the director shall be certified to by the chairperson and clerk of the meeting and immediately filed with the secretary of state administration and the clerk of each municipality in the district.

AB68,2434 Section 2434. 198.20 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1315,16 198.20 (2) The election, and all matters pertaining to the election not otherwise provided for in this section, shall be held and conducted and the result ascertained and declared in accordance with s. 198.06 (3) and (4). The ordinance and the result of the referendum shall be certified to the secretary of state administration. After certification, the consolidation shall be considered complete. Consolidation shall not affect the preexisting rights or liabilities of any power districts and actions on those rights and liabilities may be commenced or completed as though no consolidation had been effected.

AB68,2435 Section 2435. 198.22 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1316,2 198.22 (7) Boundaries. Immediately upon the organization of the board of directors the clerk shall cause to be recorded in the office of the register of deeds of each county in which any part of said district is located, and shall file with the secretary of state administration, the department of natural resources, the governor and the clerk of each town, city or village, wholly or partly within the district, a certified copy of the boundaries of the district as set forth in the notice of election pursuant to sub. (3) or as thereafter amended. Thereafter, in any proceeding wherein the boundaries of the district are concerned, it shall be sufficient in describing said boundaries to refer to such record of such description.

AB68,2436 Section 2436. 200.25 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1316,7 200.25 (5) Oath of office. Before assuming the duties of the office, each commissioner shall take and subscribe the oath of office required under s. 19.01 and file the oath with the secretary of state administration, duly certified by the official administering the oath.

AB68,2437 Section 2437. 200.35 (14) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1316,10 200.35 (14) (title) Shore protection projects and dredged material management facility.

AB68,2438 Section 2438. 200.35 (14) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1316,12 200.35 (14) (a) 2. “Project" means a any of the following:

AB68,1316,16 a. A shore protection or erosion control project which consists, in whole or in part, of waste rock produced by construction projects undertaken by the commission and which has been requested, by resolution, by a political subdivision with territory in the district's service area.

AB68,2439 Section 2439. 200.35 (14) (a) 2. b. of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1316,18 200.35 (14) (a) 2. b. A dredged material management facility.

AB68,2440 Section 2440. 200.35 (14) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1316,23 200.35 (14) (b) The commission may construct a project under this subsection and may finance and construct a project that is a dredged material management facility. This paragraph does not apply to the construction of any project on or after January 1, 1992 2032.

AB68,2441 Section 2441. 200.35 (14) (d) 3m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1317,4 200.35 (14) (d) 3m. Notwithstanding any requirements to the contrary in subds. 1. to 3., for a dredged material management facility constructed by the commission, the commission shall pay for all costs of the project through its capital budget and shall finance the project over a period of 35 years.

AB68,2442 Section 2442. 200.35 (14) (h) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1317,8 200.35 (14) (h) For a dredged material management facility constructed by the commission, the commission may reserve space in the dredged material management facility for the disposal of sediment from flood management projects.

AB68,2443 Section 2443. 200.57 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,1317,13 200.57 (title) Minority financial advisers and investment firms and, disabled veteran-owned businesses, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender-owned, and disability-owned financial advisers and investment firms.

AB68,2444 Section 2444. 200.57 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 200.57 (1) (ah).

AB68,2445 Section 2445. 200.57 (1) (ae) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1317,18 200.57 (1) (ae) “Disability-owned financial adviser" and “disability-owned investment firm" mean a financial adviser and investment firm, respectively, certified by the department of administration under s. 16.289 (3).

AB68,2446 Section 2446. 200.57 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1317,23 200.57 (1) (c) “Lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender-owned financial adviser" and “Lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender-owned investment firm" mean a financial adviser and investment firm, respectively, certified by the department of administration under s. 16.288 (3).

AB68,2447 Section 2447. 200.57 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1318,5 200.57 (4) The commission shall make efforts to ensure that at least 1 percent of the total funds expended for financial and investment analysis and for common stock and convertible bond brokerage commissions in each fiscal year is expended for the services of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender-owned financial advisers or lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender-owned investment firms.

AB68,2448 Section 2448. 200.57 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1318,11 200.57 (5) The commission shall make efforts to ensure that at least 1 percent of the total funds expended for financial and investment analysis and for common stock and convertible bond brokerage commissions in each fiscal year is expended for the services of disability-owned financial advisers or disability-owned investment firms.

AB68,2449 Section 2449 . Subchapter V of chapter 224 [precedes 224.101] of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1318,14 Chapter 224

AB68,1318,16 Subchapter V STUDENT LOANS

AB68,1318,17 224.101 Definitions. In this subchapter:

AB68,1318,18 (1) “Board” means the higher educational aids board.

AB68,1318,20 (2) “Exempt organization” means the board or a state-regulated financial service provider.

AB68,1318,21 (3) “Licensee” means a person holding a license issued under this subchapter.

AB68,1318,22 (4) “Office” means the office of the student loan ombudsman in the department.

AB68,1318,23 (5) “Servicing" means doing all of the following:

AB68,1318,25 (a) Receiving scheduled periodic payments from a student loan borrower pursuant to the terms of a student education loan.

AB68,1319,3 (b) Applying the payments of principal and interest and any other payments with respect to the amounts received from a student loan borrower as may be required pursuant to the terms of a student education loan.

AB68,1319,5 (c) Performing other administrative services with respect to a student education loan.

AB68,1319,6 (6) “State-regulated financial service provider” means any of the following:

AB68,1319,7 (a) A bank organized under ch. 221.

AB68,1319,8 (b) A savings bank organized under ch. 214.

AB68,1319,9 (c) A savings and loan association organized under ch. 215.

AB68,1319,10 (d) A credit union organized under ch. 186.

AB68,1319,11 (e) A consumer lender licensed under s. 138.09.

AB68,1319,14 (7) “Student education loan" means a loan that is extended to a student loan borrower expressly for postsecondary education expenses or related expenses and does not include open-end credit or any loan that is secured by real property.

AB68,1319,15 (8) “Student loan borrower" means any of the following:

AB68,1319,17 (a) A resident of this state who has received or agreed to pay a student education loan.

AB68,1319,19 (b) A person who shares legal responsibility with a resident under par. (a) for repaying the student education loan.

AB68,1319,22 (9) “Student loan servicer" means a person, wherever located, responsible for the servicing of a student education loan, but does not include the board or any state-regulated financial service provider.

AB68,1319,23 224.102 Ombudsman services. The office shall do all of the following:

AB68,1319,24 (1) Provide timely assistance to student loan borrowers.

AB68,1319,25 (2) Receive, review, and attempt to resolve complaints from all of the following:

AB68,1320,1 (a) Student loan borrowers.

AB68,1320,4 (b) In collaboration with institutions of higher education, student loan servicers and any other participants in student education loan lending, including originators servicing their own student education loans.

AB68,1320,6 (3) Compile and analyze data on student loan borrower complaints as described in sub. (2) and as resolved under s. 224.104.

AB68,1320,8 (4) Assist student loan borrowers in understanding their rights and responsibilities under the terms of student education loans.

AB68,1320,11 (5) Provide information to the public, agencies, the legislature, and others regarding the problems and concerns of student loan borrowers and make recommendations for resolving those problems and concerns.

AB68,1320,14 (6) Analyze and monitor the development and implementation of federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, regulations, rules, and policies relating to student loan borrowers and recommend any necessary changes.