1997 Wisconsin Act 236

April 1998 Special Session   Date of enactment: May 22, 1998
Assembly Bill 6   Date of publication*: June 8, 1998

* Section 991.11, Wisconsin Statutes 1995-96: Effective date of acts. “Every act and every portion of an act enacted by the legislature over the governor's partial veto which does not expressly prescribe the time when it takes effect shall take effect on the day after its date of publication as designated" by the secretary of state [the date of publication may not be more than 10 working days after the date of enactment].

1997 WISCONSIN ACT 236

An Act to amend 20.445 (3) (dz); and to create 49.124 (1) (df), 49.124 (8), 49.143 (2m) and 49.175 (1) (fs) of the statutes; relating to: food stamps for qualified aliens and making an appropriation.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

236,1 Section 1 . 20.445 (3) (dz) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, section 627, is amended to read:

20.445 (3) (dz) (title) Wisconsin works and other public assistance administration and benefits. The amounts in the schedule for administration and benefit payments under Wisconsin works under ss. 49.141 to 49.161, the job opportunities and basic skills program under s. 49.193, the learnfare program under s. 49.26, the work experience and job search program under s. 49.36, the food stamp employment and training program under s. 49.124 (1m) and the parental responsibility pilot program under s. 49.25; for payment distribution under s. 49.33 (8) for county administration of public assistance benefits and medical assistance eligibility determination and payments to American Indian tribes for administration of public assistance programs; to provide state aid for county administered public assistance programs for which reimbursement is provided under s. 49.33 (9); for child care costs under ss. 49.191 (1) and (2), 49.193 (8) and 49.26 (1) (e); for the new hope project under s. 49.37; for aid to 18-year-old students under s. 49.20; and for funeral expenses under s. 49.30. Payments may be made from this appropriation to counties for fraud investigation and error reduction under s. 49.197 (1m) and (4). Moneys appropriated under this paragraph may be used to match federal funds received under par. (md). Notwithstanding ss. 20.001 (3) (a) and 20.002 (1), the department may transfer funds between fiscal years under this paragraph. All funds allocated by the department but not encumbered by December 31 of each year lapse to the general fund on the next January 1 unless transferred to the next calendar year by the joint committee on finance.

236,2 Section 2 . 49.124 (1) (df) of the statutes is created to read:

49.124 (1) (df) “Qualified alien" has the meaning given in 8 USC 1641 (b).

236,3 Section 3 . 49.124 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

49.124 (8) Benefits for qualified aliens. Not later than June 15, 1998, the department shall submit a plan to the secretary of the federal department of agriculture to provide benefits under this section to a qualified alien who is ineligible for benefits under this section solely because of the application of 8 USC 1612 or 1613. If the secretary of the federal department of agriculture approves the plan, the department shall provide benefits under this section beginning on August 1, 1998, or on the day that the plan is approved, whichever is later, to a qualified alien who is otherwise eligible for benefits under this section. This subsection does not apply to the extent that federal food stamp benefits for qualified aliens are restored by the federal government.

236,3m Section 3m. 49.143 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

49.143 (2m) Nutrition outreach. A Wisconsin works agency may establish a a nutrition outreach program with the community steering committee established under sub. (2) (a). The Wisconsin works agency and community steering committee may coordinate with local food pantries and food banks and other interested parties to increase the supply of food available. Under the outreach program, the Wisconsin works agency may do anything that it determines would best effect the desired outcome of the program, including any of the following:

(a) Establish a local drop-off point for donated food.

(b) Establish a hotline for information about the availability of food and the types of food to donate.

(c) Coordinate with volunteer organizations for food collection activities.

(d) Seek ongoing periodic commitments of donations from individuals, businesses, religious associations and civic groups.

(e) Recruit mentor families.

(f) Establish a subcommittee of the community steering committee that includes qualified aliens and that may do any of the following:

1. Develop flyers identifying culture-specific foods and preferred packaging of donated food.

2. Plan meal-oriented social events for mentors and qualified aliens.

(g) Obtain culture-specific food from statewide food banks.

236,4 Section 4 . 49.175 (1) (fs) of the statutes is created to read:

49.175 (1) (fs) Food stamps for legal immigrants. For food stamp benefits provided under s. 49.124 (8) to qualified aliens, as defined in 8 USC1641 (b), $4,600,000 in fiscal year 1998-99. Notwithstanding sub. (2), the department may not use any funds allocated under this paragraph for any other purpose under this subsection. This paragraph does not apply to the extent that federally funded food stamp benefits for qualified aliens are restored by the federal government.