OC7 SB1: Bill Text

SB1, s. 1401 Section 1401. 49.13 (2) (bm) of the statutes is renumbered 49.79 (9) (a) 3. and amended to read:

SB1,646,9 49.79 (9) (a) 3. The department may not require an individual who is a recipient under the food stamp program to participate in any employment and training program under par. (a) this subsection if that individual is enrolled at least half time in a school, as defined in s. 49.26 (1) (a) 2., a training program , or an institution of higher education.

SB1, s. 1402 Section 1402. 49.13 (2) (cm) of the statutes is renumbered 49.79 (9) (a) 4.

SB1, s. 1403 Section 1403. 49.13 (2) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 49.79 (9) (a) 5. and amended to read:

SB1,646,22 49.79 (9) (a) 5. A participant in an employment and training program under this section subsection administered by the department is an employee of the department for purposes of worker's compensation coverage, except to the extent that the person for whom the participant is performing work provides worker's compensation coverage. A participant in an employment and training program under this section subsection administered by a Wisconsin works Works agency or another provider is an employee of the Wisconsin works Works agency or other provider for purposes of worker's compensation coverage, except to the extent that the person for whom the participant is performing work provides worker's compensation coverage.

SB1, s. 1404 Section 1404. 49.13 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 49.79 (9) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB1,647,3 49.79 (9) (b) (intro.) An individual who fails to comply with the work requirements under sub. (2) par. (a) without good cause is ineligible to participate in the food stamp program under s. 49.79 as follows:

SB1, s. 1405 Section 1405. 49.13 (3) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 49.79 (9) (b) 1. and amended to read:

SB1,647,8 49.79 (9) (b) 1. For the first occurrence of noncompliance, one month, or until the person complies with the work requirements under sub. (2) par. (a), whichever is later.

SB1, s. 1406 Section 1406. 49.13 (3) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 49.79 (9) (b) 2. and amended to read:

SB1,647,13 49.79 (9) (b) 2. For the 2nd occurrence of noncompliance, 3 months, or until the person complies with the work requirements under sub. (2) par. (a), whichever is later.

SB1, s. 1407 Section 1407. 49.13 (3) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 49.79 (9) (b) 3. and amended to read:

SB1,647,18 49.79 (9) (b) 3. For the 3rd and subsequent occurrences of noncompliance, 6 months, or until the person complies with the work requirements under sub. (2) par. (a), whichever is later.

SB1, s. 1407c Section 1407c. 49.134 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB1,647,23 49.134 (2) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g) (d), the department shall make grants to local agencies to fund child care resource and referral services provided by those local agencies. The department shall provide an allocation formula to determine the amount of a grant awarded under this section.

SB1, s. 1407e Section 1407e. 49.136 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB1,648,2 49.136 (2) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g) (d), the department may award grants for the start-up or expansion of child care services.

SB1, s. 1407g Section 1407g. 49.137 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB1,648,10 49.137 (2) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g) (d), the department may award grants to child care providers that meet the quality of care standards established under s. 49.155 (1d) (b) to improve the retention of skilled and experienced child care staff. In awarding grants under this subsection, the department shall consider the applying child care provider's total enrollment of children and average enrollment of children who receive or are eligible for publicly funded care from the child care provider.

SB1, s. 1407h Section 1407h. 49.137 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB1,648,14 49.137 (3) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g) (d), the department may award grants to child care providers for assistance in meeting the quality of care standards established under s. 49.155 (1d) (b).

SB1, s. 1407i Section 1407i. 49.137 (4) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB1,648,20 49.137 (4) Training and technical assistance contracts. (intro.) From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g) (d), the department may contract with one or more agencies for the provision of training and technical assistance to improve the quality of child care provided in this state. The training and technical assistance activities contracted for under this subsection may include any of the following activities:

SB1, s. 1407j Section 1407j. 49.137 (4m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB1,649,2 49.137 (4m) Local pass-through grant program. From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g) (d), the department shall award grants to local governments and tribal governing bodies for programs to improve the quality of child care. The department shall promulgate rules to administer the grant program, including rules that specify the eligibility criteria and procedures for awarding the grants.

SB1, s. 1408 Section 1408. 49.138 (1m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB1,649,17 49.138 (1m) (intro.) The department shall implement a program of emergency assistance to needy persons in cases of fire, flood, natural disaster, homelessness or impending homelessness, or energy crisis. The department shall establish the maximum amount of aid to be granted, except for cases of energy crisis, per family member based on the funding available under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (dz) and (md). The department need not establish the maximum amount by rule under ch. 227. The department shall publish the maximum amount and annual changes to it in the Wisconsin administrative register. Emergency assistance provided to needy persons under this section may only be provided to a needy person once in a 12-month period. Emergency assistance provided to needy persons under this section in cases of homelessness or impending homelessness may be used only to obtain or retain a permanent living accommodation. For the purposes of this section, a family is considered to be homeless, or to be facing impending homelessness, if any of the following applies:

SB1, s. 1409 Section 1409. 49.143 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB1,650,5 49.143 (2) (b) Establish a children's services network. The children's services network shall provide information about community resources available to the dependent children in a Wisconsin works group, including charitable food and clothing centers; subsidized and low-income housing; transportation subsidies; the state supplemental food program for women, infants and children under s. 253.06 49.17; and child care programs. In a county having a population of 500,000 or more, a children's services network shall, in addition, provide a forum for those persons who are interested in the delivery of child welfare services and other services to children and families in the geographical area under sub. (6) served by that children's services network to communicate with and make recommendations to the providers of those services in that geographical area with respect to the delivery of those services in that area.

SB1, s. 1409j Section 1409j. 49.147 (2) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 49.147 (2) (a) 3. and amended to read:

SB1,650,12 49.147 (2) (a) 3. Job search assistance. A Wisconsin works Works agency shall assist a participant in his or her search for unsubsidized employment. In determining an appropriate placement for a participant, a Wisconsin works agency shall give priority to placement in unsubsidized employment over placements under subs. (3) to (5).

SB1, s. 1409m Section 1409m. 49.147 (2) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB1,650,18 49.147 (2) (bm) Case management services. 1. In lieu of placing the individual in a Wisconsin Works employment position under subs. (3) to (5), the department may provide case management services, which may include those services specified in s. 49.1475, to an individual who applies for a Wisconsin Works employment position if the department determines all of the following:

SB1,650,19 a. The individual meets the eligibility requirements under s. 49.145 (2) and (3).

SB1,650,20 b. The individual is willing to work and has no barriers to employment.

SB1,650,22 c. The individual is job-ready, based on the individual's employment history or education.

SB1,650,24 d. The most appropriate placement for the individual is in unsubsidized employment.

SB1,651,3 2. In determining an appropriate placement for an applicant, a Wisconsin Works agency shall give priority to placement in unsubsidized employment and providing case management services over placements under subs. (3) to (5).

SB1, s. 1410 Section 1410. 49.147 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB1,651,8 49.147 (3m) Real work, real pay pilot project. (a) Administration and evaluation. Except as provided in par. (d), the department shall conduct and evaluate a real work, real pay pilot project from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2009.

SB1,651,13 (b) Eligibility and project limits. 1. Except as specifically provided in this subsection, all general and nonfinancial eligibility requirements under s. 49.145 apply to participants under this subsection, and all requirements under sub. (3), as they apply to Wisconsin Works agencies, employers, and participants, apply to Wisconsin Works agencies, employers, and participants under this subsection.

SB1,651,17 2. The project shall be limited to 100 individuals and shall be conducted in at least one of the geographical areas established by the department under s. 49.143 (6) that is in Milwaukee County and in at least 2 of those geographical areas that are not in Milwaukee County.

SB1,652,2 (c) Employer subsidies and reimbursements. The Wisconsin Works agency shall pay an employer that employs a participant under this subsection a monthly wage subsidy that does not exceed the federal minimum wage for no more than 30 hours of work per week. Worksite training activities prescribed by the employer that are consistent with training provided to other employees at the worksite are considered work for purposes of calculating the wage subsidy under this paragraph. In addition to the wage subsidy, the Wisconsin Works agency shall reimburse the employer for up to 100 percent of all of the following costs that are attributable to employment of the participant:

SB1,652,3 1. Federal social security taxes.

SB1,652,4 2. State and federal unemployment contributions or taxes, if any.

SB1,652,5 3. Worker's compensation insurance premiums, if any.

SB1,652,12 (d) Time-limited participation and payment extension. An individual may participate in the project under this subsection for a maximum of 6 months, with an opportunity for an extension of up to 3 months. Notwithstanding the ending date for the project, payments under par. (c) for any participant who is accepted into the project before December 31, 2009, shall be made until the participant completes his or her 6-month participation period or any extension to it already commenced before that date.

SB1,652,16 (e) Mentors and stipends. The Wisconsin Works agency and employer of a participant under this subsection shall work together to find a mentor for the participant at the participant's work site. The Wisconsin Works agency shall pay each mentor a monthly stipend of $50.

SB1,652,25 (f) Employer effort to retain, refer, or evaluate participant. An employer that employs a participant under this subsection and receives a wage subsidy shall agree to make a good faith effort to retain the participant as a permanent unsubsidized employee after the wage subsidy ends if the participant successfully completes participation in the project under this subsection. An employer shall also agree that, if the employer does not retain a participant as a permanent unsubsidized employee, the employer will serve as an employment reference for the participant or provide to the Wisconsin Works agency a written performance evaluation of the participant, including recommendations for improvements.

SB1, s. 1411 Section 1411. 49.147 (6) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB1,653,5 49.147 (6) (c) Distribution and administration. From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (jL), the department shall distribute funds for job access loans to a Wisconsin Works agency, which shall administer the loans in accordance with rules promulgated by the department.

SB1, s. 1412 Section 1412. 49.147 (6) (cm) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB1,653,14 49.147 (6) (cm) 1. The department of workforce development may, in the manner provided in s. 49.85, collect job access loan repayments that are delinquent under the terms of a repayment agreement. The department of workforce development shall credit all delinquent repayments collected by the department of revenue as a setoff under s. 71.93 to the appropriation account under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (jL). Use of the process under s. 49.85 does not preclude the department of workforce development from collecting delinquent repayments through other legal means.

SB1, s. 1413c Section 1413c. 49.148 (1m) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB1,653,16 49.148 (1m) (title) Custodial parent of infant; unmarried, pregnant woman.

SB1, s. 1414c Section 1414c. 49.148 (1m) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

SB1,653,19 49.148 (1m) (a) (intro.) Any of the following may receive a monthly grant of $673:

SB1, s. 1415c Section 1415c. 49.148 (1m) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 49.148 (1m) (a) 1. and amended to read:

SB1,654,3 49.148 (1m) (a) 1. A An individual who meets the eligibility requirements under s. 49.145 (2) and (3) and who is a custodial parent of a child who is 12 weeks old or less and who meets the eligibility requirements under s. 49.145 (2) and (3) may receive a monthly grant of $673, unless another adult member of the custodial parent's Wisconsin works Works group is participating in, or is eligible to participate in, a Wisconsin works Works employment position or is employed in unsubsidized employment, as defined in s. 49.147 (1) (c).

SB1,654,5 (bm) A Wisconsin works Works agency may not require a participant under this subsection to participate in any employment positions.

SB1,654,11 (c) 1. Receipt of a grant under this subsection by a participant under par. (a) 1. does not constitute participation in a Wisconsin works Works employment position for purposes of the time limits under s. 49.145 (2) (n) or 49.147 (3) (c), (4) (b) or (5) (b) 2. if the child is born to the participant not more than 10 months after the date that the participant was first determined to be eligible for assistance under s. 49.19 or for a Wisconsin works Works employment position.

SB1, s. 1416c Section 1416c. 49.148 (1m) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

SB1,654,17 49.148 (1m) (a) 2. An unmarried woman who would be eligible under s. 49.145 except that she is not a custodial parent of a dependent child and who is in the 3rd trimester of a pregnancy that is medically verified and that is shown by medical documentation to be at risk and to render the woman unable to participate in the workforce.

SB1, s. 1417c Section 1417c. 49.148 (1m) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 49.148 (1m) (c) 2. and amended to read:

SB1,655,4 49.148 (1m) (c) 2. Receipt of a grant under this subsection by a participant under par. (a) 1. constitutes participation in a Wisconsin works Works employment position for purposes of the time limits under ss. 49.145 (2) (n) and 49.147 (3) (c), (4) (b) or (5) (b) 2. if the child is born to the participant more than 10 months after the date that the participant was first determined to be eligible for assistance under s. 49.19 or for a Wisconsin works Works employment position unless the child was conceived as a result of a sexual assault in violation of s. 940.225 (1), (2), or (3) in which the mother did not indicate a freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse or of incest in violation of s. 944.06 or 948.06 and that incest or sexual assault has been reported to a physician and to law enforcement authorities.

SB1, s. 1418c Section 1418c. 49.148 (1m) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

SB1,655,7 49.148 (1m) (c) (intro.) For purposes of the time limits under ss. 49.145 (2) (n) and 49.147 (3) (c), (4) (b), and (5) (b) 2., all of the following apply:

SB1, s. 1419c Section 1419c. 49.148 (1m) (c) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

SB1,655,11 49.148 (1m) (c) 3. Receipt of a grant under this subsection by a participant under par. (a) 2. does not constitute participation in a Wisconsin Works employment position.

SB1, s. 1419g Section 1419g. 49.152 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB1,655,23 49.152 (1) Petition for review. Any individual whose application for any component of Wisconsin works Works is not acted upon by the Wisconsin works Works agency with reasonable promptness after the filing of the application, as defined by the department by rule, or is denied in whole or in part, whose benefit is modified or canceled, or who believes that the benefit was calculated incorrectly or that the employment position in which the individual was placed or providing case management services under s. 49.147 (2) (bm) in lieu of placement in a Wisconsin Works employment position is inappropriate, may petition the Wisconsin works Works agency for a review of such action. Review is unavailable if the action by the Wisconsin works Works agency occurred more than 45 days prior to submission of the petition for review.

SB1, s. 1419k Section 1419k. 49.152 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB1,656,12 49.152 (3) (a) If, following review under sub. (2), the Wisconsin works Works agency or the department determines that an individual, whose application for a Wisconsin works Works employment position was denied based on eligibility, was in fact eligible, or that the individual was placed in an inappropriate Wisconsin works Works employment position or inappropriately provided case management services under s. 49.147 (2) (bm) in lieu of placement in a Wisconsin Works employment position, the Wisconsin works Works agency shall place the individual in the first available Wisconsin works Works employment position that is appropriate for that individual, as determined by the Wisconsin works Works agency or the department. An individual who is placed in a Wisconsin works Works employment position under this paragraph is eligible for the benefit for that position under s. 49.148 beginning on the date on which the individual begins participation under s. 49.147.

SB1, s. 1420f Section 1420f. 49.155 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB1,656,14 49.155 (1) Definitions. (intro.) In this section, except as otherwise provided:

SB1, s. 1420m Section 1420m. 49.155 (1g) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

SB1,656,18 49.155 (1g) Distribution of funds. Within the limits of the availability of the federal child care and development block grant funds received under 42 USC 9858, the department shall do all of the following:

SB1,656,23 (a) Subject to sub. (1j), spend no more than the minimum amount required under 42 USC 9858 on programs to improve the quality and availability of child care. From the appropriations under s. 20.445 (3) (cm), (kx), (mc), and (md), the department shall allocate and distribute funding in each fiscal year for all of the following:

SB1,656,25 1. A child care scholarship and bonus program, in the amount of at least $3,475,000 per fiscal year.

SB1,657,2 2. Grants under s. 49.134 (2) for child day care resource and referral services, in the amount of at least $1,225,000 per fiscal year.

SB1,657,4 3. A transfer to the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (3) (kx) for child care licensing activities, in the amount of at least $4,800,600 per fiscal year.

SB1,657,5 4. Grants under s. 49.137 (4m).

SB1,657,6 5. Contracts under s. 49.137 (4) for training and technical assistance.

SB1,657,9 6. The department's share of the costs for the Child Care Information Center operated by the division for libraries, technology, and community learning in the department of public instruction.

SB1,657,12 (b) Subject to sub. (1j), from the appropriations under s. 20.445 (3) (cm), (kx), and (mc), distribute $1,765,600 in fiscal year 2007-08 and $1,600,300 in fiscal year 2008-09 for administration of the department's office of child care.

SB1, s. 1420n Section 1420n. 49.155 (1g) (a) (intro.) and 3. and (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), are amended to read:

SB1,657,19 49.155 (1g) (a) (intro.) Subject to sub. (1j), spend no more than the minimum amount required under 42 USC 9858 on programs to improve the quality and availability of child care. From the appropriations under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (cm), (kx), (mc), and (md), the department shall allocate and distribute funding in each fiscal year for all of the following:

SB1,657,21 3. A transfer to the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (3) 20.437 (1) (kx) for child care licensing activities, in the amount of at least $4,800,600 per fiscal year.

SB1,657,24 (b) Subject to sub. (1j), from the appropriations under s. 20.445 (3) 20.437 (2) (cm), (kx), and (mc), distribute $1,765,600 in fiscal year 2007-08 and $1,600,300 in fiscal year 2008-09 for administration of the department's office of child care.