SB173: Bill Text

LRB-2406/1

GMM&MJL:jld:rs

2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE

2001 Senate BILL 173

May 3, 2001 - Introduced by Senators Risser, Grobschmidt, Burke, Roessler, Wirch, Schultz, George, Hansen and Erpenbach, cosponsored by Representatives Bock, Berceau, Young, Black, Pocan, Sykora, La Fave, Plouff, Jeskewitz, Riley, Seratti, Miller, Ott, Hoven and Townsend. Referred to Committee on Universities, Housing, and Government Operations.

SB173,1,4 An Act to create 20.235 (1) (cw) and 39.385 of the statutes; relating to: a child care worker loan repayment assistance program; a child care career education scholarship program, granting rule-making authority, and making appropriations.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill creates a child care worker loan repayment assistance program to be administered by the higher educational aids board (HEAB). Under the program, a child care worker is initially reimbursed by HEAB for 10% of the outstanding principal amount of educational loans of the child care worker or $1,000, whichever is less, if all of the following apply:

1. The child care worker has been continuously employed full time in this state as a child care worker for not less than 12 months.

2. The child care worker graduated on or after May 1, 2001, with a degree in an area relating to early childhood education.

3. The child care worker is currently repaying any educational loan and is not in default on repayment.

After initial reimbursement under the program, a child care worker is eligible for additional loan repayment assistance payments from HEAB, up to a maximum of four additional reimbursements, in the same manner as initial reimbursement under the program.

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:

SB173, s. 1 Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table - See PDF for table

SB173, s. 2 Section 2. 20.235 (1) (cw) of the statutes is created to read:

SB173,2,6 20.235 (1) (cw) Child care worker loan repayment assistance. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for the child care worker loan repayment assistance program under s. 39.385.

SB173, s. 3 Section 3. 39.385 of the statutes is created to read:

SB173,2,10 39.385 Child care worker loan repayment assistance program. (1) The board shall administer a loan repayment assistance program for resident child care workers who meet all of the following requirements:

SB173,2,14 (a) Have graduated on or after May 1, 2001, with a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education, as defined in s. 39.32 (1) (a), located in this state or a degree under an associate degree program, as defined in s. 38.01 (1), in an area relating to early childhood education.

SB173,3,2 (b) Are currently repaying a student loan and are not in default on that loan, as determined by the applicable lender.

SB173,3,4 (c) Have been continuously employed full time in this state for at least 12 months as a child care worker.

SB173,3,5 (2) The board shall:

SB173,3,13 (a) Reimburse a child care worker for 10% of the outstanding principal amount of any student loans of the child care worker or $1,000, whichever is less, for the 12-month period of eligibility under sub. (1). As a condition of eligibility for loan repayment assistance under this paragraph, the child care worker shall submit to the board, on a form prescribed by the board, a statement certified by the lender of an applicable student loan, within 30 days previous to the filing of the submission, certifying that the loan repayment status of the borrower is not in default and the outstanding principal amount of the applicable student loan.

SB173,3,16 (b) For each succeeding 12-month period of eligibility under sub. (1), reimburse the child care worker as determined under par. (a). No child care worker is eligible for more than 5 loan repayment assistance payments under this section.

SB173,3,18 (c) Make the loan repayment assistance payments under pars. (a) and (b) from the appropriation account under s. 20.235 (1) (cw), subject to the availability of funds.

SB173,3,24 (d) Promulgate rules to implement and administer this section, including rules establishing the criteria and procedures for loan repayment assistance and, after first consulting with the department of health and family services, defining "child care worker" for the purposes of this section. The definition of "child care worker" shall include any child care position specified in rules of the department of health and family services relating to day care and family day care centers for children.

SB173, s. 4 Section 4. Appropriation changes.

SB173,4,7 (1) Child care worker loan program. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the higher educational aids board under section 20.235 (2) (aa) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2001, the dollar amount is increased by $8,400 for fiscal year 2001-02 and the dollar amount is increased by $8,400 for fiscal year 2002-03 to increase the authorized FTE positions for the department by 0.5 position for the purpose of administering the child care worker loan repayment assistance program.

SB173,4,8 (End)