AB83: Bill Text

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill creates an Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council. The council consists of legislators, members from several state agencies and educational institutions, and members representing businesses related to agriculture, natural resources, and related areas such as food processing. The secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection appoints the members representing businesses. The bill requires the council to advise state agencies on matters related to agricultural education and workforce development in order to increase the hiring and retention of well-qualified employees in industries related to agriculture, food, and natural resources. The bill appropriates state funds for the council, but the council may not expend state funding in any fiscal year in an amount greater than the amount of private contributions that it receives in that fiscal year.

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:

AB83, s. 1 Section 1. 15.09 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB83,2,12 15.09 (6) Reimbursement for expenses. Members of a council shall not be compensated for their services, but, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, members of councils created by statute shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, such reimbursement in the case of an elective or appointive officer or employee of this state who represents an agency as a member of a council to be paid by the agency which pays his or her salary. Members of the loan originator council under s. 15.187 (1) may not be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Members of the agricultural education and workforce development council may not be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

AB83, s. 2 Section 2. 15.137 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB83,2,17 15.137 (2) Agricultural education and workforce development council. (a) There is created in the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection an agricultural education and workforce development council consisting of the following members:

AB83,2,19 1. The secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection or his or her designee.

AB83,2,20 2. The state superintendent of public instruction or his or her designee.

AB83,2,21 3. The secretary of workforce development or his or her designee.

AB83,2,22 3m. The secretary of commerce or his or her designee.

AB83,2,23 4. The secretary of natural resources or his or her designee.

AB83,2,24 5. The president of the University of Wisconsin System or his or her designee.

AB83,2,25 6. The director of the technical college system or his or her designee.

AB83,3,1 7. The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

AB83,3,9 8. A member chosen by the dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the dean of the College of Business, Industry, Life Science, and Agriculture of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, the dean of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and the dean of the College of Natural Resources of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to represent the colleges and school.

AB83,3,12 9. The chairpersons of one senate standing committee and one assembly standing committee concerned with education, appointed as are members of standing committees.

AB83,3,15 10. The chairpersons of one senate standing committee and one assembly standing committee concerned with agriculture, appointed as are members of standing committees.

AB83,3,16 11. A representative of the Wisconsin Association of Agricultural Educators.

AB83,3,17 12. Two representatives of general agriculture.

AB83,3,18 13. Two representatives of agribusiness.

AB83,3,19 14. A representative of environmental stewardship interests.

AB83,3,20 15. A representative of businesses related to natural resources.

AB83,3,21 16. A representative of businesses related to plant agriculture.

AB83,3,23 17. A representative of landscaping, golf course, greenhouse, floral, and related businesses.

AB83,3,24 18. A representative of food product and food processing businesses.

AB83,3,25 19. A representative of businesses related to animal agriculture.

AB83,4,1 20. A representative of businesses related to renewable energy.

AB83,4,2 21. A representative of agricultural communication interests.

AB83,4,4 22. A representative of businesses providing engineering, mechanical, electronic, and power services relating to agriculture.

AB83,4,5 23. A representative of the board of agriculture, trade and consumer protection.

AB83,4,10 (b) A person who is authorized under par. (a) 1. to 6. to appoint a designee may only appoint a designee who is an employee or appointive officer of the person's department or educational institution and who has sufficient authority to deploy department or system resources and directly influence department or educational institution decision making.

AB83,4,13 (c) The secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall appoint members of the council under par. (a) 11. to 23. to serve for 3-year terms. A member under par. (a) 11. to 23. may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms on the council.

AB83,4,15 (d) The council shall meet at least once each year and may meet at other times on the call of at least 6 of its members.

AB83, 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

AB83, s. 4 Section 4. 20.115 (8) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB83,5,3 20.115 (8) (b) Agricultural education and workforce development council. The amounts in the schedule for the activities of the agricultural education and workforce development council, subject to s. 93.33 (6).

AB83, s. 5 Section 5. 20.115 (8) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB83,5,6 20.115 (8) (g) Gifts and grants. All Except as provided in par. (ge), all moneys received from gifts and grants to carry out the purposes for which made.

AB83, s. 6 Section 6. 20.115 (8) (ge) of the statutes is created to read:

AB83,5,11 20.115 (8) (ge) Agricultural education and workforce development council, gifts and grants. All moneys received as gifts and grants for the activities of the agricultural education and workforce development council to carry out the activities of the council.

AB83, s. 7 Section 7. 93.33 of the statutes is created to read:

AB83,5,15 93.33 Agricultural education and workforce development council. (1) Definition. In this section, "council" means the agricultural education and workforce development council.

AB83,5,16 (2) Functions. (a) The council shall seek to do all of the following:

AB83,5,18 1. Increase the hiring and retention of well-qualified employees in industries related to agriculture, food, and natural resources.

AB83,5,21 2. Promote the coordination of educational systems and curricula to develop, train, and retrain employees for current and future careers related to agriculture, food, and natural resources.

AB83,5,23 3. Develop support for employment in fields related to agriculture, food, and natural resources.

AB83,5,25 4. Recommend policies and other changes to improve the efficiency of the development and provision of agricultural education.

AB83,6,3 (b) The council shall seek to accomplish the purposes under par. (a) by advising state agencies on matters related to agricultural education and workforce development, including all of the following:

AB83,6,4 1. The coordination of programs.

AB83,6,5 2. The exchange of information related to educational needs.

AB83,6,6 3. The monitoring and evaluation of programs.

AB83,6,9 (c) The council shall identify criteria for evaluating the success of its activities, shall evaluate the success of its activities using those criteria, and shall annually report the results of the evaluation in the report under sub. (5).

AB83,6,12 (3) Committees. (a) The council shall create an executive committee to provide guidance to the council and to staff that support the functions of the council. The executive committee shall meet between meetings of the council.

AB83,6,20 (b) The council may create other committees to assist in its work. The committee members may include members of the council, employees of the agencies and educational institutions with members on the council, employees of other state agencies, representatives of organizations, and others. The council shall consider the need for committees on the subjects within the scope of its functions under sub. (2) and other subjects determined to be appropriate by the council. A committee shall annually provide a written summary of its meetings and activities to the executive committee for review and inclusion in the report under sub. (5).

AB83,7,5 (4) Assistance. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, the department of public instruction, the department of workforce development, the department of natural resources, the technical college system, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the College of Business, Industry, Life Science, and Agriculture of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and the College of Natural Resources of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point may assist the council in performing its functions.

AB83,7,8 (4m) Meetings. The council shall meet at least annually and may meet at other times on the call of at least 6 members or on the call of the executive committee. Section 15.09 (3) does not apply to the council.

AB83,7,20 (5) Annual report. In September of each year, the council shall submit a report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature as determined by the speaker of the assembly and the president of the senate, under s. 13.172 (3), the governor, the secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, the state superintendent of public instruction, the secretary of workforce development, the secretary of natural resources, the secretary of commerce, the president of the University of Wisconsin System, the director of the technical college system, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Extension, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The council shall include all of the following in the report:

AB83,7,22 (a) A summary of the activities of the council during the fiscal year ending on the preceding June 30.

AB83,7,23 (b) An assessment of agricultural education programs.

AB83,7,24 (c) A list of current and anticipated problems related to agricultural education.

AB83,8,2 (d) Recommendations of the council, including any recommendations related to the structure of the council or the termination of the council.

AB83,8,4 (e) Dissents of any council member related to the activities and recommendations of the council.

AB83,8,7 (6) Funding. In any fiscal year, the department may not encumber from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (8) (b) an amount that exceeds the amount of private contributions received for the purposes of the council in that fiscal year.

AB83, s. 8 Section 8. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB83,8,18 (1) Initial terms. Notwithstanding the length of terms specified in section 15.137 (2) (c) of the statutes, as created by this act, the secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall appoint 5 of the initial members of the agricultural education and workforce development council under section 15.137 (2) (a) 11. to 23. of the statutes, as created by this act, for terms ending on July 1, 2009, 5 of the initial members of the agricultural education and workforce development council under section 15.137 (2) (a) 11. to 23. of the statutes, as created by this act, for terms ending on July 1, 2010, and 5 of the initial members of the agricultural education and workforce development council under section 15.137 (2) (a) 11. to 23. of the statutes, as created by this act, for terms ending on July 1, 2011.

AB83,8,19 (2) Position authorization.

AB83,8,24 (a) The authorized FTE positions for the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection are increased by 0.5 GPR position to be funded from the appropriation under section 20.115 (8) (b) of the statutes, as created by this act, for an executive director for the agricultural education and workforce development council.

AB83,9,5 (b) The authorized FTE positions for the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection are increased by 0.5 PR position to be funded from the appropriation under section 20.115 (8) (ge) of the statutes, as created by this act, for an executive director for the agricultural education and workforce development council.

AB83, s. 9 Section 9. Effective date.

AB83,9,8 (1) This act takes effect on July 1, 2007, or the day after publication of the 2007-09 biennial budget act, whichever is later.

AB83,9,9 (End)