LRB-0808/P1
EVM&MPG:amn
2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Ziegler, BB0272 - Intermodal freight & Incourage grant remedial legislation
For 2021-2023 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
state government
General state government
Incourage Community Foundation grant
Under current law, the Building Commission may authorize up to $25,000,000 in general fund supported borrowing to assist construction of projects having a public purpose. This bill authorizes the Building Commission to use that borrowing authority to award a grant of up to $3,000,000 to the Incourage Community Foundation to assist in the construction of an economic and community hub in the city of Wisconsin Rapids.
transportation
General transportation
Intermodal freight assistance program
Current law authorizes DOT to make grants to public or private applicants for intermodal freight facilities that the department determines have a public purpose. This bill provides that DOT may not make such a grant unless the grantee agrees to provide adequate intermodal freight services at the facility funded by the grant, subject to remedial transfer of the facility to DOT. The bill also states that the program has a public purpose.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section
1. 13.48 (20m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
13.48 (20m) (c) The building commission may authorize up to $25,000,000 in general fund supported borrowing under par. (b), including up to $3,000,000 for the project described in par. (d).
Section 2
. 13.48 (20m) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
13.48 (20m) (d) 1. The legislature finds and determines that supporting entrepreneurs and innovators, providing facilities for job training, and promoting dynamic community revitalization and development are of vital importance in creating jobs and contributing to economic development and tourism in this state and are statewide responsibilities of statewide dimension. It is therefore in the public interest, and it is the public policy of this state, to assist the Incourage Community Foundation, Inc., in redeveloping the former Daily Tribune building in the city of Wisconsin Rapids into an economic and community hub.
2. The building commission may under this subsection assist the Incourage Community Foundation, Inc., in redeveloping the former Daily Tribune building in the city of Wisconsin Rapids into an economic and community hub. The state funding commitment shall be in the form of a grant to the Incourage Community Foundation, Inc. Before approving any state funding commitment for redeveloping the former Daily Tribune building, the building commission shall determine that the Incourage Community Foundation, Inc., has secured additional funding for the project from nonstate revenue sources at least equal to the state's grant.
3. If the building commission authorizes a grant to the Incourage Community Foundation, Inc., under subd. 2., and if, for any reason, the facility that is redeveloped with funds from the grant is not used for an economic and community hub, the state shall retain an ownership interest in the facility equal to the amount of the state's grant.
Section 3
. 85.093 of the statutes is renumbered 85.093 (2) and amended to read:
85.093 (2) The Subject to sub. (3), the department may make grants to public or private applicants for intermodal freight facilities that the department determines have a public purpose.
(4) In the 2019-21 fiscal biennium, a grant made under this section shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (2) (bu). After July 1, 2021, a grant made under this section shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (uw).
(5) For the 2019-21 fiscal biennium, grants under this section cannot exceed $1,500,000.
Section 4
. 85.093 (1) of the statutes is created to read:
85.093 (1) The legislature finds and determines that intermodal freight facilities provide a vital connection between the freight rail industry and harbors and the commercial trucking industry in this state by allowing for the efficient movement of goods and supplies. The legislature further finds and determines that these facilities boost economic development and connect citizens of the state with products from across the world, and that supporting these facilities and thereby preserving and improving the development of freight rail service in the state are statewide responsibilities of statewide dimension. The legislature further finds that private capital and local government financial and technical resources are unable to fully meet the transportation and infrastructure needs of the state. It is therefore in the public interest, and it is the public policy of this state, to support the development of intermodal freight facilities through grants awarded under sub. (2).
Section 5
. 85.093 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
85.093 (3) The department may not make a grant under this section unless the grantee agrees to provide adequate intermodal freight services at the facility funded by the grant, subject to remedial transfer of the facility to the department. If, without the approval of the department, intermodal freight service is discontinued or inadequate at the facility or the grantee disposes of any portion of the facility, the intermodal freight facility for which financial assistance was provided under this section shall transfer to the ownership and control of the department. The department may elect to accept repayment from the grantee of the full amount of all grants received from the department for the facility in lieu of transfer under this subsection.
(End)
