SB491: Bill Text

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Senate BILL 491

March 10, 1998 - Introduced by Senators Panzer, Wirch, Rosenzweig, Drzewiecki and Roessler, cosponsored by Representatives Plale, M. Lehman and L. Young. Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations.

SB491,1,3 An Act to repeal 16.22 (2) (kL) and 20.505 (4) (fm); and to create 16.22 (2) (kL) and 20.505 (4) (fm) of the statutes; relating to: a Wisconsin promise challenge grant program and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the national and community service board (board) administers in this state the federal national and community service program under which programs are provided to address unmet human, educational, environmental or public safety needs (national service programs). Current law assigns to the board various duties relating to the administration of the national and community service program, including the duty to award grants to persons providing national service programs and to provide technical assistance to persons providing national service programs.

This bill appropriates $424,000 in general purpose revenue in fiscal year 1998-99 and directs the board to award grants (Wisconsin promise challenge grants), from those moneys appropriated, to combinations of individuals, public agencies, nonprofit organizations and other persons who have agreed to participate in a joint effort to coordinate and document progress within their county toward providing resources intended to mentor, nurture, protect, teach and serve (the 5 fundamental resources) persons under 26 years of age who could benefit from, but who are not receiving, a majority of the 5 fundamental resources (underserved youth) within that county (county-wide consortium).

The amount of a Wisconsin promise challenge grant ranges from $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the number of underserved youth who are to receive the 5 fundamental resources as a result of the county-wide consortium's efforts under the grant, with the grant recipient required to match the grant, in cash, in an amount that is not less than twice the amount of the grant money received.

Under the bill, a Wisconsin promise challenge grant recipient must use the grant moneys awarded and the matching funds committed to accomplish all of the following:

1. Identify, to the best of the recipient's ability, persons who are providing at least one of the 5 fundamental resources in the recipient's county on the date on which the grant money is received.

2. Identify, to the best of the recipient's ability, persons who are providing at least one of the 5 fundamental resources in the recipient's county between the date on which the grant money is received and January 1, 2000.

3. Decide upon a coordinated plan to provide, by January 1, 2000, the 5 fundamental resources to not less than the number of underserved youth targeted by the recipient in its grant application.

4. Identify, to the best of the recipient's ability, persons in the recipient's county who want to receive training or technical assistance in involving underserved youth in meaningful ways in the recipient's efforts to provide the 5 fundamental resources to those underserved youth; recruiting and coordinating volunteers; and developing ideas on how to provide the 5 fundamental resources to underserved youth.

5. Coordinate the training and technical assistance described in item 4.

6. Document the number of underserved youth who receive any of the 5 fundamental resources as a result of the recipient's efforts, which of the 5 fundamental resources are being provided as a result of those efforts and, to the best of the recipient's ability, the positive outcomes as a result of those efforts.

The bill also requires a county-wide consortium to identify a fiscal agent who is responsible for receiving, managing and accounting for the grant moneys received and the matching funds committed and for providing to the board semiannual, annual and final reports detailing the progress of the county-wide consortium in accomplishing the tasks required under the grant.

Finally, the bill permits the board to expend any moneys appropriated for, but not awarded as, Wisconsin promise challenge grants to build the capacity of persons to provide the 5 fundamental resources to underserved youth by contracting for the provision of the training and technical assistance specified in item 4., above.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

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

SB491, s. 1 Section 1. 16.22 (2) (kL) of the statutes is created to read:

SB491,3,3 16.22 (2) (kL) From the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (4) (fm), award Wisconsin promise challenge grants and provide training and technical assistance under 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 6 (1) (b ) and (h).

SB491, s. 2 Section 2. 16.22 (2) (kL) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.

SB491, s. 3 Section 3. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

SB491, s. 4 Section 4. 20.505 (4) (fm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB491,3,14 20.505 (4) (fm) National and community service board; Wisconsin promise challenge grants. The amounts in the schedule for grants, training and technical assistance under 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 6 (1 ) (b) and (h ). Notwithstanding ss. 20.001 (3) (a) and 20.002 (1), the department of administration may transfer moneys under this paragraph between fiscal year 1998-99 and fiscal year 1999-2000.

SB491, s. 5 Section 5. 20.505 (4) (fm) of the statutes, as created by 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.

SB491, s. 6 Section 6 . Nonstatutory provisions.

SB491,4,1 (1) Wisconsin promise challenge grants.

SB491,4,2 (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

SB491,4,7 1. "Countywide consortium" means a combination of individuals, public agencies, nonprofit organizations and other persons who have agreed to participate in a joint effort to coordinate and document progress within the county in which those individuals, public agencies, nonprofit organizations and other persons operate toward providing the 5 fundamental resources to underserved youth in that county.

SB491,4,9 2. "Five fundamental resources" means resources intended to mentor, nurture, protect, teach and serve.

SB491,4,13 3. "Nonprofit organization" means a nonprofit corporation that is organized under chapter 181, or an organization described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

SB491,4,16 4. "Public agency" means a county, city, village, town, school district or technical college district or an agency of this state or of a county, city, village, town, school district or technical college district.

SB491,4,18 5. "Underserved youth" means a person under 26 years of age who could benefit from, but who is not receiving, a majority of the 5 fundamental resources.

SB491,4,24 (b) Purpose of grants. From the appropriation account under section 20.505 (4) (fm) of the statutes, as created by this act, the national and community service board shall award grants, in the amounts specified in paragraph (c), to countywide consortiums to assist those countywide consortiums in coordinating and documenting progress within their counties toward reaching the goal of providing the 5 fundamental resources to underserved youth.

SB491,5,6 (c) Amount of grants. The national and community service board shall determine the amount of a grant awarded under paragraph (b) based on the number of underserved youth who are to receive the 5 fundamental resources as a result of the countywide consortium's efforts under paragraph (f ). The national and community service board shall award the following amounts based on the following numbers of underserved youth targeted by a countywide consortium:

SB491,5,8 1. Three thousand dollars, if the number of underserved youth targeted by the countywide consortium is 100 or less.

SB491,5,10 2. Four thousand dollars, if the number of underserved youth targeted by the countywide consortium is greater than 100, but less than 251.

SB491,5,12 3. Five thousand dollars, if the number of underserved youth targeted by the countywide consortium is greater than 250, but less than 501.

SB491,5,14 4. Six thousand dollars, if the number of underserved youth targeted by the countywide consortium is greater than 500, but less than 1,001.

SB491,5,16 5. Eight thousand dollars, if the number of underserved youth targeted by the countywide consortium is greater than 1,000, but less than 2,001.

SB491,5,18 6. Ten thousand dollars, if the number of underserved youth targeted by the countywide consortium is greater than 2,000, but less than 4,001.

SB491,5,20 7. Twelve thousand dollars, if the number of underserved youth targeted by the countywide consortium is greater than 4,000, but less than 8,001.

SB491,5,22 8. Fifteen thousand dollars, if the number of underserved youth targeted by the countywide consortium is greater than 8,000.

SB491,6,2 (d) Matching requirement. 1 . The national and community service board may award a grant under paragraph (b) only to a countywide consortium that agrees to match the grant, in cash, in an amount this is not less than 200% of the grant amount received.

SB491,6,4 2. Each grant application shall include proof of the ability of the countywide consortium to comply with subdivision 1 .

SB491,6,12 (e) Grant application; information required. Each countywide consortium that applies for a grant under paragraph (b ) shall include in its grant application the number of underserved youth who are to receive the 5 fundamental resources as a result of the countywide consortium's efforts under paragraph (f). A grant application shall also include the identity of each individual, public agency, nonprofit organization and other person who is a participant in the countywide consortium, a plan to accomplish all of the tasks specified in paragraph (f) and the identity of the fiscal agent under paragraph (g).

SB491,6,16 (f) Use of grant moneys and matching funds. A countywide consortium that is awarded a grant under paragraph (b) shall use the grant moneys awarded under paragraph (b) and the matching funds committed under paragraph (d ) 1. to accomplish all of the following tasks:

SB491,6,20 1. Identify, to the best of the countywide consortium's ability, all individuals, public agencies, nonprofit organizations and other persons who are providing at least one of the 5 fundamental resources in the county of the countywide consortium on the date on which the grant money is received.

SB491,6,24 2. Identify, to the best of the countywide consortium's ability, all individuals, public agencies, nonprofit organizations and other persons who are providing at least one of the 5 fundamental resources in the county of the countywide consortium between the date on which the grant money is received and January 1, 2000.

SB491,7,3 3. Decide upon a coordinated plan to provide, by January 1, 2000, the 5 fundamental resources to not less than the number of underserved youth targeted by the countywide consortium in its grant application.

SB491,7,7 4. Identify, to the best of the countywide consortium's ability, all individuals, public agencies, nonprofit organizations and other persons in the county of the countywide consortium who want to receive training or technical assistance in any of the following areas:

SB491,7,10 a. Involving underserved youth in meaningful ways in the countywide consortium's efforts to provide the 5 fundamental resources to those underserved youth.

SB491,7,11 b. Recruiting and coordinating volunteers.

SB491,7,13 c. Developing ideas on how to provide the 5 fundamental resources to underserved youth.

SB491,7,16 5. Coordinate the training and technical assistance specified in subdivision 4 . and to ensure that the training and technical assistance is provided by competent volunteers or professionals.

SB491,7,21 6. Document the number of underserved youth who receive any of the 5 fundamental resources as a result of the countywide consortium's efforts, which of the 5 fundamental resources are being provided to those underserved youth as a result of those efforts and, to the best of the countywide consortium's ability, the positive outcomes for those underserved youth that are the result of those efforts.

SB491,8,2 (g) Fiscal agent; reporting. Each countywide consortium that applies for a grant under paragraph (b) shall identify a fiscal agent who shall receive, manage and account for the grant moneys awarded under paragraph (b ) and the matching funds committed under paragraph (d) 1. and who shall provide to the national and community service board the following reports detailing the progress of the countywide consortium in accomplishing the tasks specified in paragraph (f):

SB491,8,4 1. A semiannual report that is due by the first day of the 6th month beginning after the date on which the grant money is received.

SB491,8,6 2. An annual report that is due by the first day of the 12th month beginning after the date on which the grant money is received.

SB491,8,7 3. A final report that is due by January 1, 2000.

SB491,8,14 (h) Capacity building. The national and community service board may expend any moneys in the appropriation account under section 20.505 (4) (fm) of the statutes, as created by this act, that are not awarded as grants under paragraph (b) to build the capacity of individuals, public agencies, nonprofit organizations and other persons to provide the 5 fundamental resources to underserved youth by contracting for the provision of the training and technical assistance specified in paragraph (f) 4.

SB491,8,15 (i) Sunset. This subsection does not apply after December 31, 1999.

SB491, s. 7 Section 7. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

SB491,8,19 (1) The repeal of sections 16.22 (2) (kL) and 20.505 (4) (fm) of the statutes takes effect on January 1, 2000.

SB491,8,20 (End)