Amendment SSA1-SB592

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

The Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority

This substitute amendment creates an authority, which is a public body corporate and politic, to be known as the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority (WSLRA). The WSLRA is governed by a board that consists of four members of the legislature, three members who are students of an institution of higher learning, and two members with experience in making student loans. The five members of the board who are not members of the legislature are nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, to serve two- or three-year terms. The board appoints the chief executive officer of WSLRA and annually elects the chairperson of the board. The board is given all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out its duties, as well as specific powers to conduct its corporate business, including the power to issue bonds for any corporate purpose.

Under the substitute amendment, the board must develop and implement a loan program under which state residents may refinance student loans. Under the program, WSLRA provides a loan to an individual to pay off some or all of his or her outstanding student loan debt. To qualify for the program, an individual must satisfy similar eligibility requirements to the criteria a private lender uses to make an unsecured personal loan at market rates. Under the substitute amendment, WSLRA must provide loans under the program at the lowest possible interest rate that is still sufficient to cover the expenses of the program. A loan issued under the program is not dischargeable in a bankruptcy proceeding.

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

SB592-SSA1,1 Section 1. 13.172 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,2,7 13.172 (1) In this section, "agency" means an office, department, agency, institution of higher education, association, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, that is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, and any authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or in ch. 231, 233, 234, 238, 239, or 279.

SB592-SSA1,2 Section 2. 13.48 (13) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,3,8 13.48 (13) (a) Except as provided in par. (b) or (c), every building, structure or facility that is constructed for the benefit of or use of the state, any state agency, board, commission or department, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or any local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229 if the construction is undertaken by the department of administration on behalf of the district, shall be in compliance with all applicable state laws, rules, codes and regulations but the construction is not subject to the ordinances or regulations of the municipality in which the construction takes place except zoning, including without limitation because of enumeration ordinances or regulations relating to materials used, permits, supervision of construction or installation, payment of permit fees, or other restrictions.

SB592-SSA1,3 Section 3. 13.62 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,3,13 13.62 (2) "Agency" means any board, commission, department, office, society, institution of higher education, council, or committee in the state government, or any authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or in ch. 231, 232, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, or 279, except that the term does not include a council or committee of the legislature.

SB592-SSA1,4 Section 4. 13.94 (1) (dt) of the statutes is created to read:

SB592-SSA1,3,19 13.94 (1) (dt) Biennially, beginning in 2017, conduct a financial audit of the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority and a program evaluation audit of the programs administered by the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority under ch. 239. The legislative audit bureau shall file a copy of each audit report under this paragraph with the distributees specified in par. (b).

SB592-SSA1,5 Section 5. 13.94 (1s) (c) 9. of the statutes is created to read:

SB592-SSA1,3,22 13.94 (1s) (c) 9. The Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority for the cost of the audit required to be performed under sub. (1) (dt).

SB592-SSA1,6 Section 6. 13.94 (4) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,4,15 13.94 (4) (a) 1. Every state department, board, examining board, affiliated credentialing board, commission, independent agency, council or office in the executive branch of state government; all bodies created by the legislature in the legislative or judicial branch of state government; any public body corporate and politic created by the legislature including specifically the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, a professional baseball park district, a local professional football stadium district, a local cultural arts district, and a long-term care district under s. 46.2895; every Wisconsin works agency under subch. III of ch. 49; every provider of medical assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49; technical college district boards; every county department under s. 51.42 or 51.437; every nonprofit corporation or cooperative or unincorporated cooperative association to which moneys are specifically appropriated by state law; and every corporation, institution, association or other organization which receives more than 50% of its annual budget from appropriations made by state law, including subgrantee or subcontractor recipients of such funds.

SB592-SSA1,7 Section 7. 13.95 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,5,4 13.95 Legislative fiscal bureau. (intro.) There is created a bureau to be known as the "Legislative Fiscal Bureau" headed by a director. The fiscal bureau shall be strictly nonpartisan and shall at all times observe the confidential nature of the research requests received by it; however, with the prior approval of the requester in each instance, the bureau may duplicate the results of its research for distribution. Subject to s. 230.35 (4) (a) and (f), the director or the director's designated employees shall at all times, with or without notice, have access to all state agencies, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and the Fox River Navigational System Authority, and to any books, records, or other documents maintained by such agencies or authorities and relating to their expenditures, revenues, operations, and structure.

SB592-SSA1,8 Section 8. 16.002 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,5,10 16.002 (2) "Departments" means constitutional offices, departments, and independent agencies and includes all societies, associations, and other agencies of state government for which appropriations are made by law, but not including authorities created in subch. II of ch. 114 or in ch. 231, 232, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, or 279.

SB592-SSA1,9 Section 9. 16.004 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,5,17 16.004 (4) Freedom of access. The secretary and such employees of the department as the secretary designates may enter into the offices of state agencies and authorities created under subch. II of ch. 114 and under chs. 231, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, and 279, and may examine their books and accounts and any other matter that in the secretary's judgment should be examined and may interrogate the agency's employees publicly or privately relative thereto.

SB592-SSA1,10 Section 10. 16.004 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,5,22 16.004 (5) Agencies and employees to cooperate. All state agencies and authorities created under subch. II of ch. 114 and under chs. 231, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, and 279, and their officers and employees, shall cooperate with the secretary and shall comply with every request of the secretary relating to his or her functions.

SB592-SSA1,11 Section 11. 16.004 (12) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,6,6 16.004 (12) (a) In this subsection, "state agency" means an association, authority, board, department, commission, independent agency, institution, office, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, including the legislature, the office of the governor, and the courts, but excluding the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, and the Fox River Navigational System Authority.

SB592-SSA1,12 Section 12. 16.045 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,6,13 16.045 (1) (a) "Agency" means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, that is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or in ch. 231, 232, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, or 279.

SB592-SSA1,13 Section 13. 16.15 (1) (ab) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,6,18 16.15 (1) (ab) "Authority" has the meaning given under s. 16.70 (2), but excludes the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

SB592-SSA1,14 Section 14. 16.41 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,6,21 16.41 (4) In this section, "authority" means a body created under subch. II of ch. 114 or under ch. 231, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, or 279.

SB592-SSA1,15 Section 15 . 16.417 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,6,24 16.417 (1) (b) "Authority" means a body created under subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 232, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, or 279.

SB592-SSA1,16 Section 16. 16.52 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,7,10 16.52 (7) Petty cash account. With the approval of the secretary, each agency that is authorized to maintain a contingent fund under s. 20.920 may establish a petty cash account from its contingent fund. The procedure for operation and maintenance of petty cash accounts and the character of expenditures therefrom shall be prescribed by the secretary. In this subsection, "agency" means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, that is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or in ch. 231, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, or 279.

SB592-SSA1,17 Section 17. 16.528 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,7,17 16.528 (1) (a) "Agency" means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, that is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or in ch. 231, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, or 279.

SB592-SSA1,18 Section 18. 16.53 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,8,2 16.53 (2) Improper invoices. If an agency receives an improperly completed invoice, the agency shall notify the sender of the invoice within 10 working days after it receives the invoice of the reason it is improperly completed. In this subsection, "agency" means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, that is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or in ch. 231, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, or 279.

SB592-SSA1,19 Section 19. 16.54 (9) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,8,9 16.54 (9) (a) 1. "Agency" means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or in ch. 231, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, or 279.

SB592-SSA1,20 Section 20. 16.765 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,8,21 16.765 (1) Contracting agencies, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall include in all contracts executed by them a provision obligating the contractor not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, religion, color, handicap, sex, physical condition, developmental disability as defined in s. 51.01 (5), sexual orientation as defined in s. 111.32 (13m), or national origin and, except with respect to sexual orientation, obligating the contractor to take affirmative action to ensure equal employment opportunities.

SB592-SSA1,21 Section 21. 16.765 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,9,15 16.765 (2) Contracting agencies, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall include the following provision in every contract executed by them: "In connection with the performance of work under this contract, the contractor agrees not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, religion, color, handicap, sex, physical condition, developmental disability as defined in s. 51.01 (5), sexual orientation or national origin. This provision shall include, but not be limited to, the following: employment, upgrading, demotion or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship. Except with respect to sexual orientation, the contractor further agrees to take affirmative action to ensure equal employment opportunities. The contractor agrees to post in conspicuous places, available for employees and applicants for employment, notices to be provided by the contracting officer setting forth the provisions of the nondiscrimination clause".

SB592-SSA1,22 Section 22. 16.765 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,9,25 16.765 (5) The head of each contracting agency and the boards of directors of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall be primarily responsible for obtaining compliance by any contractor with the nondiscrimination and affirmative action provisions prescribed by this section, according to procedures recommended by the department. The department shall make recommendations to the contracting agencies and the boards of directors of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation for improving and making more effective the nondiscrimination and affirmative action provisions of contracts. The department shall promulgate such rules as may be necessary for the performance of its functions under this section.

SB592-SSA1,23 Section 23. 16.765 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,10,18 16.765 (6) The department may receive complaints of alleged violations of the nondiscrimination provisions of such contracts. The department shall investigate and determine whether a violation of this section has occurred. The department may delegate this authority to the contracting agency, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation for processing in accordance with the department's procedures.

SB592-SSA1,24 Section 24. 16.765 (7) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,11,5 16.765 (7) (intro.) When a violation of this section has been determined by the department, the contracting agency, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation, the contracting agency, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall:

SB592-SSA1,25 Section 25. 16.765 (7) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,11,13 16.765 (7) (d) Direct the violating party to take immediate steps to prevent further violations of this section and to report its corrective action to the contracting agency, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation.

SB592-SSA1,26 Section 26. 16.765 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,12,7 16.765 (8) If further violations of this section are committed during the term of the contract, the contracting agency, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation may permit the violating party to complete the contract, after complying with this section, but thereafter the contracting agency, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall request the department to place the name of the party on the ineligible list for state contracts, or the contracting agency, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Lower Fox River Remediation Authority, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation may terminate the contract without liability for the uncompleted portion or any materials or services purchased or paid for by the contracting party for use in completing the contract.

SB592-SSA1,27 Section 27. 16.85 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,12,18 16.85 (2) To furnish engineering, architectural, project management, and other building construction services whenever requisitions therefor are presented to the department by any agency. The department may deposit moneys received from the provision of these services in the account under s. 20.505 (1) (kc) or in the general fund as general purpose revenue — earned. In this subsection, "agency" means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or in ch. 231, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, or 279.

SB592-SSA1,28 Section 28. 16.865 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,13,9 16.865 (8) Annually in each fiscal year, allocate as a charge to each agency a proportionate share of the estimated costs attributable to programs administered by the agency to be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (2) (k). The department may charge premiums to agencies to finance costs under this subsection and pay the costs from the appropriation on an actual basis. The department shall deposit all collections under this subsection in the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (2) (k). Costs assessed under this subsection may include judgments, investigative and adjustment fees, data processing and staff support costs, program administration costs, litigation costs, and the cost of insurance contracts under sub. (5). In this subsection, "agency" means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, that is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or in ch. 231, 232, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, or 279.

SB592-SSA1,29 Section 29. 19.42 (10) (t) of the statutes is created to read:

SB592-SSA1,13,12 19.42 (10) (t) The chief executive officer and members of the board of directors of the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority.

SB592-SSA1,30 Section 30. 19.42 (13) (p) of the statutes is created to read:

SB592-SSA1,13,15 19.42 (13) (p) The chief executive officer and members of the board of directors of the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority.

SB592-SSA1,31 Section 31. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

SB592-SSA1,32 Section 32. 20.195 of the statutes is created to read:

SB592-SSA1,14,3 20.195 Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority. There is appropriated to the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority for the following programs:

SB592-SSA1,14,7 (1) Student loan refinancing program. (a) Initial funding. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule to fund the initial costs of operating the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority and to start the student loan refinancing program under ch. 239.

SB592-SSA1,33 Section 33. 40.02 (54) (n) of the statutes is created to read:

SB592-SSA1,14,9 40.02 (54) (n) The Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority.

SB592-SSA1,34 Section 34. 70.11 (38v) of the statutes is created to read:

SB592-SSA1,14,14 70.11 (38v) Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority. All property owned by the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, provided that use of the property is primarily related to the purposes of the Wisconsin Student loan Refinancing Authority.

SB592-SSA1,35 Section 35. 77.54 (9a) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,14,19 77.54 (9a) (a) This state or any agency thereof, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, and the Fox River Navigational System Authority.

SB592-SSA1,36 Section 36. 100.45 (1) (dm) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,15,5 100.45 (1) (dm) "State agency" means any office, department, agency, institution of higher education, association, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority, and the Fox River Navigational System Authority.

SB592-SSA1,37 Section 37. 230.03 (3) of the statutes, as affected by 2013 Wisconsin Act 20, is amended to read:

SB592-SSA1,15,17 230.03 (3) "Agency" means any board, commission, committee, council, or department in state government or a unit thereof created by the constitution or statutes if such board, commission, committee, council, department, unit, or the head thereof, is authorized to appoint subordinate staff by the constitution or statute, except the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, a legislative or judicial board, commission, committee, council, department, or unit thereof or an authority created under subch. II of ch. 114 or under ch. 231, 232, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239, or 279. "Agency" does not mean any local unit of government or body within one or more local units of government that is created by law or by action of one or more local units of government.

SB592-SSA1,38 Section 38. Chapter 239 of the statutes is created to read:

SB592-SSA1,15,19 Chapter 239

SB592-SSA1,15,21 Wisconsin Student Loan REFINANCING Authority

SB592-SSA1,15,22 239.01 Definitions. In this chapter:

SB592-SSA1,15,23 (1) "Authority" means the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority.

SB592-SSA1,15,24 (2) "Board" means the governing board of the authority.

SB592-SSA1,15,25 (3) "Qualified education loan" has the meaning given in 26 USC 221 (d).

SB592-SSA1,16,4 239.02 Creation and organization of authority. (1) (a) There is created an authority, which is a public body corporate and politic, to be known as the "Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority." The members of the board shall consist of all of the following:

SB592-SSA1,16,5 1. One member of the majority party in each house of the legislature.