SB44: Bill Text

SB44, s. 965 Section 965. 39.395 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,485,5 39.395 (1) The board shall establish a loan program to defray the cost of tuition for persons enrolled in a teacher education program offered by the Milwaukee Teacher Education Center, a nonstock, nonprofit corporation organized under ch. 181. Loans shall be made from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) 20.285 (7) (cu).

SB44, s. 966 Section 966. 39.395 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,485,8 39.395 (2) (b) The board shall promulgate rules establish policies to administer this section.

SB44, s. 967 Section 967. 39.398 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,485,17 39.398 (1) (a) The board shall establish a loan program to defray the cost of tuition, fees, and expenses for residents of this state enrolled in a program that prepares persons to be licensed as teachers of visually impaired pupils or as orientation and mobility instructors, as defined by the board by rule, at an accredited institution of higher education in this state or in a physically adjacent state, as defined in s. 175.46 (1) (d). To the extent possible, the board shall give preference, to persons who are likely to return to this state to work with visually impaired persons.

SB44, s. 968 Section 968. 39.398 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,485,24 39.398 (1) (b) The board shall make loans under this section from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) 20.285 (7) (cx). The maximum amount of a loan for a person during any fiscal year is $10,000. The maximum amount that a person may receive under this section is $40,000. The terms of the loan shall provide that a loan recipient is not required to repay the loan while the loan recipient is enrolled in the preparatory program described in par. (a).

SB44, s. 969 Section 969. 39.398 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,486,2 39.398 (2) (b) The board shall promulgate rules establish policies to administer this section.

SB44, s. 970 Section 970. 39.40 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,486,7 39.40 (3) Loans under sub. (2) shall be made from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) 20.285 (7) (cr). The board shall forgive 25% of the loan and 25% of the interest on the loan for each school year the recipient teaches in a school district described under sub. (2) (d).

SB44, s. 971 Section 971. 39.41 (1) (ae) of the statutes is repealed.

SB44, s. 972 Section 972. 39.41 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,486,14 39.41 (1m) (b) By February 15 of each school year, the school board of each school district operating one or more high schools and the governing body of each private high school may, for each high school with an enrollment of less than 80 pupils, nominate the senior with the highest grade point average in all subjects who may be designated as a scholar by the executive secretary board under par. (c) 3.

SB44, s. 973 Section 973. 39.41 (1m) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,486,16 39.41 (1m) (c) (intro.) The executive secretary board shall:

SB44, s. 974 Section 974. 39.41 (1m) (c) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,486,22 39.41 (1m) (c) 5. For each public or private high school with an enrollment of less than 80 pupils, notify the school board of the school district operating the public high school or the governing body of the private high school that the school board or governing body may nominate a senior under par. (b) who may be designated as a scholar by the executive secretary board.

SB44, s. 975 Section 975. 39.41 (1m) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,486,25 39.41 (1m) (cm) The executive secretary board may grant waivers under par. (m).

SB44, s. 976 Section 976. 39.41 (1m) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,487,15 39.41 (1m) (e) Except as provided under par. (em), if 2 or more seniors from the same high school of less than 80 pupils have the same grade point average and, except for the limitation of one nominated senior, are otherwise eligible for nomination under par. (b), the faculty of the high school shall select the senior who may be nominated by the school board of the school district operating the public high school or the governing body of the private high school for designation under par. (b) as a scholar by the executive secretary board. If that senior is designated as a scholar by the executive secretary board and does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a), faculty of the high school shall select one or more of the remaining seniors with the same grade point average for certification as a scholar and the school board of the school district operating the high school or the governing body of the private high school shall certify to the board one or more of these seniors as eligible for a higher education scholarship as a scholar under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the board.

SB44, s. 977 Section 977. 39.41 (1m) (em) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,488,2 39.41 (1m) (em) If the high school weights different courses differently to determine a pupil's grade point average, and the senior designated as a scholar by the executive secretary board under par. (e) does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a), the faculty of the high school shall select one senior with the same grade point average for certification as a scholar, or, if there is no senior with the same grade point average, one senior with the next highest grade point average for certification as a scholar, and the school board of the school district operating the high school or the governing body of the private high school shall certify to the board the selected senior as eligible for a higher education scholarship as a scholar under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the board.

SB44, s. 978 Section 978. 39.41 (1m) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,488,13 39.41 (1m) (f) If 2 or more seniors from the school operated by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired have the same grade point average and, except for the limitation of one designated senior, are otherwise eligible for designation under par. (c) 1., the executive secretary board shall make the designation under par. (c) 1. of the senior who may be eligible for a higher education scholarship as a scholar and, if that senior does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a), shall designate one or more of the remaining seniors with the same grade point average as eligible for a higher education scholarship as a scholar under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the board.

SB44, s. 979 Section 979. 39.41 (1m) (fm) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,488,24 39.41 (1m) (fm) If 2 or more seniors from the school operated by the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing have the same grade point average and, except for the limitation of one designated senior, are otherwise eligible for designation under par. (c) 2., the executive secretary board shall make the designation under par. (c) 2. of the senior who may be eligible for a higher education scholarship as a scholar and, if that senior does not qualify for a higher education scholarship under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a), shall designate one or more of the remaining seniors with the same grade point average as eligible for a higher education scholarship as a scholar under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (a) until the scholarship may be awarded by the board.

SB44, s. 980 Section 980. 39.41 (1m) (m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,489,6 39.41 (1m) (m) Notwithstanding pars. (a), (b) and (d), if a high school ranks its seniors on the basis of grades in academic subjects, the school board of the school district operating the high school or the governing body of the private high school or, for purposes of par. (d), the faculty of the high school may request a waiver from the executive secretary board in order to fulfill its the requirements under par. (a), (b) or (d) on the basis of grade point averages in academic subjects.

SB44, s. 981 Section 981. 39.41 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,489,9 39.41 (4) (b) The board shall make the payments under subs. (2) (c) and (3) from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) 20.285 (7) (fy).

SB44, s. 982 Section 982. 39.41 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,489,12 39.41 (8) The executive secretary board shall promulgate rules enact policies establishing criteria for the designation of scholars under sub. (1m) (c) 3.

SB44, s. 983 Section 983. 39.435 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,489,21 39.435 (2) The board shall award talent incentive grants to uniquely needy students enrolled at least half-time as first-time freshmen at public and private nonprofit institutions located in this state and to sophomores, juniors , and seniors who received such grants as freshmen. No grant under this subsection may exceed $1,800 for any academic year. The board may not award a grant to the same student for more than 10 consecutive semesters or their equivalent. The board shall promulgate rules enact policies establishing eligibility criteria for grants under this subsection.

SB44, s. 984 Section 984. 39.435 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,490,3 39.435 (3) Grants under sub. (1) shall not be less than $250 during any one academic year, unless the joint committee on finance approves an adjustment in the amount of the minimum grant. Grants under sub. (1) shall not exceed $1,800 during any one academic year. The board shall, by rule, establish a reporting system to periodically provide student economic data and shall promulgate other rules the board deems necessary to assure uniform administration of the program.

SB44, s. 985 Section 985 . 39.435 (3) of the statutes, as affected by 2003 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

SB44,490,11 39.435 (3) Grants under sub. (1) shall not be less than $250 during any one academic year, unless the joint committee on finance approves an adjustment in the amount of the minimum grant. The board shall, by rule, establish enact policies establishing a reporting system to periodically provide student economic data and shall promulgate other rules enact other policies that the board deems considers necessary to assure uniform administration of the program.

SB44, s. 986 Section 986. 39.435 (7) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,490,16 39.435 (7) (a) 1. For purposes of determining the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) 20.285 (7) (fe) for fiscal year 2003-04, "base amount" means the amount shown in the schedule under s. 20.005 for that the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (fe), 2001 stats., for fiscal year 2002-03.

SB44, s. 987 Section 987. 39.435 (7) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,490,21 39.435 (7) (a) 2. For purposes of determining the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) 20.285 (7) (fe) for each fiscal year after fiscal year 2003-04, "base amount" means the maximum appropriation amount determined under par. (b) for the previous fiscal year.

SB44, s. 988 Section 988. 39.435 (7) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,490,24 39.435 (7) (b) (intro.) Annually, by February 1, the board shall determine the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) 20.285 (7) (fe) for the next fiscal year as follows:

SB44, s. 989 Section 989. 39.435 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

SB44,491,2 39.435 (8) The board shall award grants under this section to University of Wisconsin System students from the appropriations under s. 20.235 (1) (fe) and (ke).

SB44, s. 990 Section 990. 39.435 (8) of the statutes, as created by 2003 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

SB44,491,7 39.435 (8) The board shall award grants under this section to University of Wisconsin System students from the appropriations under s. 20.235 (1) 20.285 (7) (fe) and (ke).

SB44, s. 991 Section 991. 39.44 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,491,12 39.44 (2) Funds for the grants under this section shall be distributed from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) 20.285 (7) (fg), with 50% distributed to the eligible private institutions and 50% distributed to the eligible technical colleges. The board shall audit the enrollment statistics annually.

SB44, s. 992 Section 992. 39.45 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,491,17 39.45 (6) From the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) 20.285 (7) (fc), the board shall use available funds to make grant awards under this section, but no award may be made before March 1 for the fall semester or session of the upcoming academic year.

SB44, s. 993 Section 993. 39.45 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,491,25 39.45 (7) The board shall promulgate rules establish policies to administer this section, including policies establishing criteria and procedures for repayment of grants awarded under this section, including interest, by certain grant recipients who no longer reside in this state or do not successfully complete requirements for a degree. The board shall deposit in the general fund as general purpose revenue-earned all repayments of grants awarded under this section and the interest on the grants.

SB44, s. 994 Section 994. 39.46 (2) (f) of the statutes is repealed.

SB44, s. 995 Section 995. 40.02 (17) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,492,17 40.02 (17) (intro.) "Creditable service" means the creditable current and prior service, expressed in years and fractions of a year to the nearest one-hundredth, for which a participating employee receives or is considered to receive earnings under sub. (22) (e) or (em) and for which contributions have been made as required by s. 40.05 (1) and (2) and creditable military service, service credited under s. 40.25 (7) 40.285 (2) (b) and service credited under s. 40.29, expressed in years and fractions of years to the nearest one-hundredth. How much service in any annual earnings period is the full-time equivalent of one year of creditable service shall be determined by rule by the department and the rules may provide for differing equivalents for different types of employment. Except as provided under pars. (i) and (k) s. 40.285 (2) (e) and (f), the amount of creditable service for periods prior to January 1, 1982, shall be the amount for which the participant was eligible under the applicable laws and rules in effect prior to January 1, 1982. No more than one year of creditable service shall be granted for any annual earnings period. Creditable service is determined in the following manner for the following persons:

SB44, s. 996 Section 996. 40.02 (17) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 40.285 (2) (d) and amended to read:

SB44,493,6 40.285 (2) (d) Qualifying service. Each participating employee in the Wisconsin retirement system whose creditable service terminates on or after January 1, 1982, who was previously a participant in the Wisconsin retirement fund and who has not received a separation benefit may receive creditable service equal to the period of service during any qualifying period under s. 41.02 (6) (c), 1969 stats., s. 66.901 (4) (d), 1967 stats., or under any predecessor statute, but not to exceed 6 months. The additional creditable service shall be granted upon application by the employee if the applicant pays to the department a lump sum payment equal to 5% of one-twelfth of the employee's highest earnings in a single annual earnings period multiplied by the number of months of creditable service granted under this paragraph. That amount shall be credited and treated as an employee required contribution for all purposes of the Wisconsin retirement system.

SB44, s. 997 Section 997. 40.02 (17) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 40.285 (2) (c) and amended to read:

SB44,493,22 40.285 (2) (c) Uncredited elected official and executive participating employee service. Each executive participating employee whose creditable service terminates on or after May 3, 1988, and each participating employee who is a present or former elected official or an appointee of a present or former elected official and who did not receive creditable service under s. 40.02 (17) (e), 1987 stats., or s. 40.02 (17) (e), 1989 stats., and whose creditable service terminates on or after August 15, 1991, who was previously in the position of the president of the University of Wisconsin System or in a position designated under s. 20.923 (4), (8), or (9), but did not receive creditable service because of age restrictions, may receive creditable service equal to the period of executive service not credited if the participant pays to the department a lump sum payment equal to 5.5% of one-twelfth of the employee's highest earnings in a single annual earnings period multiplied by the number of months of creditable service granted under this paragraph. That amount shall be credited and treated as an employee required contribution for all purposes of the Wisconsin retirement system.

SB44, s. 998 Section 998. 40.02 (17) (i) of the statutes is renumbered 40.285 (2) (e), and 40.285 (2) (e) (intro.) and 3., as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB44,494,8 40.285 (2) (e) Teacher improvement leave. (intro.) Each participating employee in the Wisconsin retirement system whose creditable service terminates on or after April 25, 1990, and whose earnings include compensation for teacher improvement leave granted by the board of regents of the Wisconsin state colleges State Colleges during the period beginning on January 1, 1964, and ending on August 31, 1967, in a written and satisfied contract, may receive creditable service for the period for which those earnings were received in an amount not to exceed one year if all of the following apply:

SB44,494,13 3. The participant pays to the department a lump sum equal to 5% of one-twelfth of the employee's highest earnings in a single annual earnings period multiplied by the number of months of creditable service that is granted under this paragraph. That amount shall be credited and treated as employee required contributions for all purposes of the Wisconsin retirement system. No

SB44,494,15 4. The employer may does not pay any amount payable under this subdivision paragraph on behalf of any participating employee.

SB44, s. 999 Section 999. 40.02 (17) (k) of the statutes is renumbered 40.285 (2) (f) and amended to read:

SB44,494,24 40.285 (2) (f) Uncredited junior teaching service. Each participating employee whose creditable service terminates on or after May 11, 1990, and who submits to the department proof that the participant performed service in this state as a junior teacher, as defined in s. 42.20 (6), 1955 stats., that was not credited under s. 42.40, 1955 stats., shall receive creditable service for the period for which that service was performed, even if the participant did not become a member of the state teachers retirement system after performing that service, if all of the following occur:

SB44,495,5 1. The participant pays to the department a lump sum equal to 5% of one-twelfth of the employee's highest earnings in a single annual earnings period multiplied by the number of months of creditable service that is granted under this paragraph. That amount shall be credited and treated as employee required contributions for all purposes of the Wisconsin retirement system. No

SB44,495,7 2. The employer may does not pay any amount payable under this paragraph on behalf of any participating employee.

SB44, s. 1000 Section 1000. 40.02 (25) (b) 2m. of the statutes is repealed.

SB44, s. 1001 Section 1001. 40.02 (25) (b) 6e. of the statutes is created to read:

SB44,495,12 40.02 (25) (b) 6e. A state employee who terminates creditable service after attaining 20 years of creditable service, remains a participant, and is not eligible for an immediate annuity.

SB44, s. 1002 Section 1002. 40.03 (6) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,495,24 40.03 (6) (c) Shall not enter into any agreements to modify or expand group insurance coverage in a manner which conflicts with this chapter or rules of the department or materially affects the level of premiums required to be paid by the state or its employees, or the level of benefits to be provided, under any group insurance coverage. This restriction shall not be construed to prevent modifications required by law, prohibit the group insurance board from modifying the standard plan to establish a more cost effective benefit plan design or providing optional insurance coverages as alternatives to the standard insurance coverage when any excess of required premium over the premium for the standard coverage is paid by the employee or prohibit the group insurance board from providing other plans as authorized under par. (b).

SB44, s. 1003 Section 1003. 40.04 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,496,5 40.04 (3) (c) The department shall advise the investment board and the state treasurer secretary of administration as to the limitations on the amounts of cash to be invested from investment trusts under this subsection in order to maintain the cash balances deemed advisable to meet current annuity, benefit and expense requirements.

SB44, s. 1004 Section 1004. 40.05 (1) (a) 7. of the statutes is repealed.

SB44, s. 1005 Section 1005. 40.05 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,497,9 40.05 (1) (b) In lieu of employee payment, the employer may pay all or part of the contributions required by par. (a), but all the payments shall be available for benefit purposes to the same extent as required contributions deducted from earnings of the participating employees. Action to assume employee contributions as provided under this paragraph shall be taken at the time and in the form determined by the governing body of the participating employer. The state shall pay under this paragraph for employees who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement under subch. V of ch. 111 and for employees whose fringe benefits are determined under s. 230.12 an amount equal to 4% of the earnings paid by the state unless otherwise provided in a collective bargaining agreement under subch. V of ch. 111 or unless otherwise determined under s. 230.12. The University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority shall pay under this paragraph for employees who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement under subch. I of ch. 111 and for employees whose fringe benefits are determined under s. 233.10 an amount equal to 4% of the earnings paid by the authority unless otherwise provided in a collective bargaining agreement under subch. I of ch. 111 or unless otherwise determined under s. 233.10. The state shall pay under this paragraph for employees who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement under subch. V of ch. 111 and for employees whose fringe benefits are not determined under s. 230.12 an amount equal to 4% of the earnings paid by the state unless a different amount is recommended by the secretary of employment relations administration and approved by the joint committee on employment relations in the manner provided for approval of changes in the compensation plan under s. 230.12 (3). The University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority shall pay under this paragraph for its employees who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement under subch. I of ch. 111 an amount equal to 4% of the earnings paid by the authority unless a different amount is established by the board of directors of the authority under s. 233.10.

SB44, s. 1006 Section 1006. 40.05 (2) (bw) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,497,15 40.05 (2) (bw) The employer contribution rate determined under par. (b) for the University of Wisconsin System shall be adjusted to reflect the cost of granting creditable service under s. 40.02 (17) (i) 40.285 (2) (e) and that rate shall be sufficient to amortize the unfunded prior service liability of the employers over the remainder of the 40-year amortization period under par. (b).

SB44, s. 1007 Section 1007. 40.05 (2) (g) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB44,497,24 40.05 (2) (g) 1. A participating employer may make contributions as provided in its compensation agreements for any participating employee in addition to the employer contributions required by this subsection. The additional employer contributions made under this paragraph shall be available for all benefit purposes and shall be administered and invested on the same basis as employee additional contributions made under sub. (1) (a) 5., except that ss. 40.24 (1) (f) and, 40.25 (4), and (6) (a) 3. 40.285 (2) (a) 1. c. do not apply to additional employer contributions made under this paragraph.

SB44, s. 1008 Section 1008. 40.05 (4) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read: