AB556: Bill Text

LRB-3896/2

GMM/JK/PG/ML/PH/MD:cs:kjf

2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE

2001 Assembly BILL 556

October 10, 2001 - Introduced by Labor and Workforce Development. Referred to Committee on Labor and Workforce Development.

AB556,1,5 An Act to renumber 120.13 (17) (title); to renumber and amend 120.13 (17) and 343.10 (6); to amend 119.04 (1), 119.70 (5) and 343.10 (1) (a); and to create 36.11 (1) (cg), 38.14 (2) (e), 106.175, 106.18, 118.115 (2) and 343.10 (6) (b) of the statutes; relating to: special labor-related reports, public educational institution job training access policies, and occupational driver's license fees.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires various state agencies to prepare certain labor-related reports, requires public educational institutions to have job training access policies, and allows a person whose operating privilege was suspended solely for failing to pay a judgment for an ordinance violation unrelated to the operation of a motor vehicle to apply for an occupational driver's license. Specifically, the bill does all of the following:

1. Labor Day Report. Requires the department of workforce development (DWD), by September 1 of each year, to prepare a report on the labor supply in Wisconsin. The report must describe any critical labor shortage areas identified by DWD by occupation, region, gender, and race. The report must also recommend potential solutions for those critical labor shortages.

2. Department of Corrections Study. Requires the department of corrections, by March 15, 2003, to report on the availability and effectiveness of programs that provide drug and alcohol abuse treatment, instruction in basic skills such as reading and math, and job skills training to prisoners. The report must include an analysis of the enrollment in these programs by race compared with the racial composition of the prison population as a whole. The report must also include suggestions for new programs that would help prisoners enter the workforce and for how current programs could be improved.

3. Tax Study. Requires the department of revenue, in cooperation with DWD, by January 1, 2003, to study and report on current workforce development-related tax incentives and to make recommendations for changes in the state's tax laws to help attract, develop, and retain a highly skilled, highly trained workforce. In developing the report, groups representing employers, employees, taxpayers, and other appropriate groups must be consulted. The report must also analyze similar tax incentives in other states.

4. Student Loan Forgiveness Study. Requires the higher educational aids board, by January 1, 2003, to study and report on the cost, desirability, and effectiveness of creating a student loan forgiveness program to attract workers to the state.

5. Jobs Skills Training Program Report. Requires DWD to collect information concerning the availability of basic job skills training programs in the state and periodically prepare reports identifying those programs for distribution to local workforce development boards, job centers, and other appropriate organizations. To the extent practicable, the reports must identify available training programs by region.

6. Job Training Access Policies. Requires the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin system, each Wisconsin technical college system district board, and each school board in the state to have a policy regarding the use of classrooms and facilities by local organizations and businesses for the purpose of employment-related training. The policy may condition access on payment of a reasonable fee, the availability of space, and the appropriateness of the training and may limit access to activities that are consistent with the mission of the institution, college campus, technical college, or school district.

7. Occupational Driver's License Fee. Allows a person whose operating privilege was suspended solely for failing to pay a judgment for an ordinance violation unrelated to the operation of a motor vehicle to apply for an occupational driver's license upon payment of a $10 fee. This fee represents a reduction from the $40 application fee generally charged for an occupational license.

For further information see the state 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:

AB556, s. 1 Section 1. 36.11 (1) (cg) of the statutes is created to read:

AB556,3,4 36.11 (1) (cg) The board shall ensure that each institution and college campus establishes a written policy regarding the use of classrooms and facilities by local organizations and businesses for employment-related training. The policy may condition access on payment of a reasonable fee, the availability of space, and the appropriateness of the training. The policy may limit access to activities that are consistent with the mission of the institution or college campus.

AB556, s. 2 Section 2. 38.14 (2) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

AB556,3,11 38.14 (2) (e) Each district board shall establish a written policy regarding the use of classrooms and facilities by local organizations and businesses for employment-related training. The policy may condition access on payment of a reasonable fee, the availability of space, and the appropriateness of the training. The policy may limit access to activities that are consistent with the mission of the technical college.

AB556, s. 3 Section 3. 106.175 of the statutes is created to read:

AB556,3,20 106.175 Labor day report. By September 1 of each year the department shall prepare and submit to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) a report on the labor supply in this state. The report shall describe any critical labor shortage areas identified by the department by occupation, region, gender, and race. The report shall also recommend potential solutions for those critical labor shortages. The department shall also provide the report to the local workforce development boards established under 29 USC 2832 throughout the state and to the other appropriate organizations as determined by the department.

AB556, s. 4 Section 4. 106.18 of the statutes is created to read:

AB556,4,3 106.18 Job skills training reports. The department shall collect information concerning the availability of basic job skills training programs in the state and periodically prepare reports identifying those programs for distribution to local workforce development boards established under 29 USC 2832, job centers, and other appropriate organizations as determined by the department. To the extent practicable, the reports shall identify available training programs by region of the state.

AB556, s. 5 Section 5. 118.115 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB556,4,10 118.115 (2) Each school board shall establish a written policy regarding the use of classrooms and facilities by local organizations and businesses for employment-related training. The policy may condition access on payment of a reasonable fee, the availability of space, and the appropriateness of the training. The policy may limit access to activities that are consistent with the mission of the school district.

AB556, s. 6 Section 6. 119.04 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB556,4,19 119.04 (1) Subchapters IV, V and VII of ch. 115, ch. 121 and ss. 66.0235 (3) (c), 115.01 (1) and (2), 115.28, 115.31, 115.33, 115.34, 115.343, 115.345, 115.361, 115.38 (2), 115.45, 118.001 to 118.04, 118.045, 118.06, 118.07, 118.10, 118.115, 118.12, 118.125 to 118.14, 118.145 (4), 118.15, 118.153, 118.16, 118.162, 118.163, 118.164, 118.18, 118.19, 118.20, 118.24 (1), (2) (c) to (f), (6) and (8), 118.245, 118.255, 118.258, 118.291, 118.30 to 118.43, 118.51, 118.52, 118.55, 120.12 (5) and (15) to (26), 120.125, 120.13 (1), (2) (b) to (g), (3), (14), (17) to (18), (19), (26), (34), (35) and (37), 120.14 and 120.25 are applicable to a 1st class city school district and board.

AB556, s. 7 Section 7. 119.70 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB556,4,22 119.70 (5) Nothing in this section prohibits the board from granting the use of school property to religious organizations under s. 120.13 (17) 118.115.

AB556, s. 8 Section 8. 120.13 (17) (title) of the statutes is renumbered 118.115 (title).

AB556, s. 9 Section 9. 120.13 (17) of the statutes is renumbered 118.115 (1) and amended to read:

AB556,5,9 118.115 (1) Grant The school board may grant the temporary use of school grounds, buildings, facilities, or equipment, upon such conditions, including fees not to exceed actual costs, as determined by the school board, to any responsible person for any lawful nonschool purpose if such use does not interfere with use for school purposes or school-related functions. Fees received under this subsection shall be paid into the school district treasury and accounted for as prescribed under s. 115.28 (13). The user shall be primarily liable, and the school board secondarily liable, for any damage to property and for any expense incurred in consequence of any use of school grounds, buildings, facilities, or equipment under this subsection.

AB556, s. 10 Section 10. 343.10 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB556,5,23 343.10 (1) (a) If a person's license or operating privilege is revoked or suspended under this chapter or s. 767.303 or 961.50, or if the person's operating privilege was suspended for failing to pay a forfeiture imposed for violating an ordinance unrelated to the person's operation of a motor vehicle under s. 345.47 (1) (b), 1997 stats., 800.09 (1) (c), 1997 stats., 800.095 (4) (b) 4., 1997 stats., 938.17 (2) (d), 938.34 (8), or 938.343 (2), and if the person is engaged in an occupation, including homemaking or full-time or part-time study, or a trade making it essential that he or she operate a motor vehicle, the person, after payment of the fee provided in sub. (6), may file an application with the department setting forth in detail the need for operating a motor vehicle. No person may file more than one application with respect to each revocation or suspension of the person's license or operating privilege under this chapter or s. 767.303 or 961.50, except that this limitation does not apply to an application to amend an occupational license restriction.

AB556, s. 11 Section 11. 343.10 (6) of the statutes is renumbered 343.10 (6) (a) and amended to read:

AB556,6,3 343.10 (6) (a) No Except as provided in par. (b), no person may file an application for an occupational license under sub. (1) unless he or she first pays a fee of $40 to the department.

AB556, s. 12 Section 12. 343.10 (6) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB556,6,10 343.10 (6) (b) A person whose operating privilege was suspended solely for failing to pay a forfeiture imposed for violating an ordinance unrelated to the person's operation of a motor vehicle under s. 345.47 (1) (b), 1997 stats., 800.09 (1) (c), 1997 stats., 800.095 (4) (b) 4., 1997 stats., 938.17 (2) (d), 938.34 (8), or 938.343 (2) may not file an application for an occupational license under sub. (1) unless he or she first pays a fee of $10 to the department.

AB556, s. 13 Section 13. Nonstatutory provisions; corrections.

AB556,6,22 (1) Report on treatment programs for prisoners. By March 15, 2003, the department of corrections shall study and report on the availability and effectiveness of programs that provide prisoners with treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, instruction in basic skills such as reading and math, and training in job skills. The report shall include an analysis of the racial composition of the enrollment in those programs compared to the racial composition of the prison population as a whole. The report shall also include recommendations for establishing new programs that would better prepare prisoners to enter the workforce and suggestions about how current programs could be improved. The report shall be submitted to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided in section 13.172 (3) of the statutes, to the joint committee on finance, and to the governor.

AB556, s. 14 Section 14. Nonstatutory provisions; higher educational aids board.

AB556,7,5 (1) Report on student loan forgiveness to attract workers. By January 1, 2003, the higher educational aids board shall study and report to the legislature and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature, in the manner provided under section 13.172 (2) and (3) of the statutes, and to the governor on the cost, desirability, and effectiveness of creating a general program of student loan forgiveness for attracting workers to and retaining workers in this state. The report shall include legislative recommendations.

AB556, s. 15 Section 15. Nonstatutory provisions; revenue.

AB556,7,22 (1) Report on tax incentives. The department of revenue, in cooperation with the department of workforce development, shall by January 1, 2003, study and report on existing incentives in the income tax code in the form of credits and deductions available to employers for providing training to employees, for offering transportation and child care benefits to employees, for locating places of employment in areas of high unemployment and for employing ex-felons, recipients of public assistance, and minorities. The report shall include an analysis of the costs and effects of such credits and deductions, an analysis of such benefits offered by other states, and recommendations for improvements to the state's tax laws designed to help attract, develop, and retain a highly skilled, highly trained workforce while maintaining a sound, stable tax base. In developing recommendations, the department of revenue shall consult with groups representing the interests of employers, employees, taxpayers, and any other groups that the department of revenue considers appropriate. The report shall be submitted to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature, the joint committee on finance, and the governor.

AB556,7,23 (End)