The Wisconsin Works (W-2) program under current law provides work
experience and benefits for low-income custodial parents who are at least 18 years
old, as well as job search assistance to noncustodial parents and child care subsidies
for certain parents who need child care services to participate in various educational
or work activities. W-2, which is administered by the Department of Children and
Families (DCF), which in turn contracts with W-2 agencies to administer W-2 on the
local level, is partially funded with federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF) block grant moneys. One of the work components under W-2 is the trial job
program (program), under which an individual receives at least minimum wage from
an employer for up to 40 hours of work per week and the W-2 agency pays the
employer a wage subsidy of up to $300 per month. Also under current law, DCF is
required to conduct a transitional jobs demonstration project (project) in six counties
under which DCF provides up to 2,500 transitional jobs for unemployed, low-income
adults who are not eligible for W-2.

This bill provides federal funding from the TANF Emergency Fund under the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for the project and for an
expansion of the program. Under both the project and the program, an individual
may participate for a maximum of 1,040 hours actually worked and is paid by the
employer at not less than minimum wage. Any employer is eligible to receive a
subsidy for employing a participating individual if the individual is employed for at
least 20 hours per week and at a location in this state. The employer receives a wage
subsidy that is equal to the wages the employer actually pays the individual, up to
40 hours per week at minimum wage.
As under current law for the program, the bill prohibits the employment of an
individual under the project from having the effect of filling a vacancy created by
terminating a regular employee's employment for the purpose of hiring an individual
under the project or of filling a position of a person who is on layoff or strike or
engaged in a labor dispute regarding the job. The bill expands the project so that it
is not limited to 2,500 transitional jobs nor to any specific geographic areas of the
state.
The bill requires DCF to evaluate the project and its effectiveness in the six
counties in which the project was initially going to be conducted and to submit a
report of its evaluation to the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) and to the
appropriate standing committees of the legislature by June 30, 2011. DCF is also
required to submit quarterly reports to JCF outlining its progress in implementing
the project and the expansion of the program and identifying the employers
participating in each. In addition, DCF must take any action necessary to obtain any
additional federal funding that becomes available for the program and the project.
Also under the bill, the Department of Workforce Development is required to
publicize and maintain information about the project and the program, and how to
participate in them, on its job center Web site. W-2 agencies are required to
collaborate with local workforce development boards to connect job seekers with
employment opportunities, including the project and 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:
AB898, s. 1 1Section 1. 49.143 (2r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB898,3,22 49.143 (2r) Expanded job programs. A Wisconsin Works agency shall
3collaborate with the local workforce development board to connect individuals
4seeking employment with employment opportunities, including the expanded trial
5job program under s. 49.147 (3) and, if operating in the geographical area in which

1the Wisconsin Works agency administers Wisconsin Works, the transitional jobs
2demonstration project under s. 49.162.
AB898, s. 2 3Section 2. 49.143 (2r) of the statutes, as created by 2009 Wisconsin Act .... (this
4act), is repealed.
AB898, s. 3 5Section 3. 49.147 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB898,3,256 49.147 (3) (a) Administration. A Wisconsin works Works agency shall
7administer a trial job program as part of its administration of the Wisconsin works
8Works program to improve the employability of individuals who are not otherwise
9able to obtain unsubsidized employment, as determined by the Wisconsin works
10Works agency, by providing work experience and training to assist them to move
11promptly into unsubsidized employment. In determining an appropriate placement
12for a participant, a Wisconsin works Works agency shall give priority to placement
13under this subsection over placements under subs. (4) and (5). The Wisconsin works
14Works agency shall pay a wage subsidy to an any employer that employs a
15participant under this subsection for a minimum of 20 hours per week at a location
16in this state
and that agrees to make a good faith effort to retain the participant as
17a permanent unsubsidized employee after the wage subsidy is terminated. The wage
18subsidy may not exceed $300 per month for full-time employment of a participant.
19For less than full-time employment of a participant during a month, the wage
20subsidy may not exceed a dollar amount determined by multiplying $300 by a
21fraction, the numerator of which is the number of hours worked by the participant
22in the month and the denominator of which is the number of hours which would be
23required for full-time employment in that month
shall equal the amount of wages
24that the employer actually pays the participant, up to 40 hours per week at minimum
25wage
.
AB898, s. 4
1Section 4. 49.147 (3) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act ....
2(this act), is amended to read:
AB898,4,213 49.147 (3) (a) Administration. A Wisconsin Works agency shall administer a
4trial job program as part of its administration of the Wisconsin Works program to
5improve the employability of individuals who are not otherwise able to obtain
6unsubsidized employment, as determined by the Wisconsin Works agency, by
7providing work experience and training to assist them to move promptly into
8unsubsidized employment. In determining an appropriate placement for a
9participant, a Wisconsin Works agency shall give priority to placement under this
10subsection over placements under subs. (4) and (5). The Wisconsin Works agency
11shall pay a wage subsidy to any an employer that employs a participant under this
12subsection for a minimum of 20 hours per week at a location in this state and that
13agrees to make a good faith effort to retain the participant as a permanent
14unsubsidized employee after the wage subsidy is terminated. The wage subsidy
15shall equal the amount of wages that the employer actually pays the participant, up
16to 40 hours per week at minimum wage
may not exceed $300 per month for full-time
17employment of a participant. For less than full-time employment of a participant
18during a month, the wage subsidy may not exceed a dollar amount determined by
19multiplying $300 by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of hours
20worked by the participant in the month and the denominator of which is the number
21of hours that would be required for full-time employment in that month
.
AB898, s. 5 22Section 5. 49.147 (3) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB898,4,2523 49.147 (3) (cm) Time-limited participation. A participant under this
24subsection may work in a trial job for a maximum of 1,040 hours, including education
25and training activities under par. (am).
AB898, s. 6
1Section 6. 49.147 (3) (cm) of the statutes, as created by 2009 Wisconsin Act ....
2this act, is repealed.
AB898, s. 7 3Section 7. 49.147 (3) (dm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB898,5,94 49.147 (3) (dm) Report on progress. Within 30 days after the end of each
5calendar quarter, the department shall submit a report to the joint committee on
6finance that outlines the department's progress in implementing the temporary
7expansion of the trial job program under this subsection and that identifies the
8employers participating in the program under this subsection. The report under this
9paragraph may be combined with the report under s. 49.162 (3) (d).
AB898, s. 8 10Section 8. 49.147 (3) (dm) of the statutes, as created by 2009 Wisconsin Act
11.... (this act), is repealed.
AB898, s. 9 12Section 9. 49.162 (3) (a) of the statutes, as created by 2009 Wisconsin Act 28,
13is amended to read:
AB898,5,1914 49.162 (3) (a) The department shall provide up to 2,500 transitional jobs under
15the demonstration project. The jobs shall be allocated among Milwaukee County,
16Dane County, Racine County, Kenosha County, Rock County, Brown County, and
17other regions of the state, as determined by the department, in the same proportion
18as the total number of Wisconsin Works participants are allocated among those
19counties and other regions as of June 30, 2009.
AB898, s. 10 20Section 10 . 49.162 (3) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act ....
21(this act), is amended to read:
AB898,6,222 49.162 (3) (a) The department shall provide up to 2,500 transitional jobs under
23the demonstration project. The jobs shall be allocated among Milwaukee County,
24Dane County, Racine County, Kenosha County, Rock County, Brown County, and
25other regions of the state, as determined by the department, in the same proportion

1as the total number of Wisconsin Works participants are allocated among those
2counties and other regions as of June 30, 2009.
AB898, s. 11 3Section 11. 49.162 (3) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB898,6,54 49.162 (3) (am) The demonstration project shall include all of the following
5features and requirements:
AB898,6,96 1. The department shall pay a wage subsidy to any employer that employs an
7individual under this section for a minimum of 20 hours per week at a location in this
8state. The wage subsidy shall equal the amount of wages that the employer actually
9pays the individual, up to 40 hours per week at minimum wage.
AB898,6,1210 2. An employer that employs an individual under this section shall pay the
11individual for hours actually worked, up to 40 hours per week, at not less than
12minimum wage.
AB898,6,1413 3. An individual may participate in the demonstration project for a maximum
14of 1,040 hours actually worked.
AB898,6,1615 4. The employment of an individual under this section may not do any of the
16following:
AB898,6,1917 a. Have the effect of filling a vacancy created by an employer terminating a
18regular employee or otherwise reducing its work force for the purpose of hiring an
19individual under this section.
AB898,6,2120 b. Fill a position when any other person is on layoff or strike from the same or
21a substantially equivalent job within the same organizational unit.
AB898,6,2322 c. Fill a position when any other person is engaged in a labor dispute regarding
23the same or a substantially equivalent job within the same organizational unit.
AB898, s. 12 24Section 12. 49.162 (3) (am) of the statutes, as created by 2009 Wisconsin Act
25.... (this act), is repealed.
AB898, s. 13
1Section 13. 49.162 (3) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB898,7,72 49.162 (3) (d) Within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, the
3department shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance that outlines the
4department's progress in implementing the demonstration project as described in
5par. (am) and that identifies the employers participating in the demonstration
6project. The report under this paragraph may be combined with the report under s.
749.147 (3) (dm).
AB898, s. 14 8Section 14. 49.162 (3) (d) of the statutes, as created by 2009 Wisconsin Act ....
9(this act), is repealed.
AB898, s. 15 10Section 15. 49.175 (1) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act 28,
11is amended to read:
AB898,7,1412 49.175 (1) (a) Wisconsin Works and other benefits. For Wisconsin Works
13benefits, $49,139,400 and benefits under s. 49.162, $109,139,400 in fiscal year
142009-10 and $51,229,600 $111,229,600 in fiscal year 2010-11.
AB898, s. 16 15Section 16. 106.14 of the statutes is renumbered 106.14 (1).
AB898, s. 17 16Section 17. 106.14 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act ....
17(this act), is renumbered 106.14.
AB898, s. 18 18Section 18. 106.14 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
AB898,7,2219 106.14 (2) The department shall publicize and maintain on its job center Web
20site information related to the job programs under ss. 49.147 (3) and 49.162 so that
21employers and individuals seeking employment may obtain information about the
22programs, including how to participate in them.
AB898, s. 19 23Section 19. 106.14 (2) of the statutes, as created by 2009 Wisconsin Act .... (this
24act), is repealed.
AB898, s. 20 25Section 20 . Nonstatutory provisions.
AB898,8,8
1(1) Determine whether payments are matching funds. The department of
2children and families shall determine whether any amounts paid by the state toward
3the earned income tax credit from the appropriation under section 20.835 (2) (f) of
4the statutes and for the weatherization and low-income energy assistance programs
5under sections 16.26 and 16.27 of the statutes from the appropriation under section
620.505 (3) (r) of the statutes qualify as state matching funds for federal moneys
7received from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Emergency Fund under
8the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
AB898,8,169 (2) Publish notice in the Wisconsin Administrative Register. If the
10department determines that federal moneys from the Temporary Assistance for
11Needy Families Emergency Fund under the American Recovery and Reinvestment
12Act of 2009 are no longer available to support an expansion of trial jobs under section
1349.147 (3) of the statutes, as affected by this act, and the project under section 49.162
14of the statutes, as affected by this act, the department shall publish a notice in the
15Wisconsin Administrative Register that states the date on which the federal moneys
16are depleted.
AB898,8,1817 (3) Required general fund balance. Section 20.003 (4) of the statutes does not
18apply to the action of the legislature in enacting this act.
AB898,9,219 (4) Evaluation of transitional jobs project. The department of children and
20families shall evaluate the demonstration project under section 49.162 of the
21statutes, as affected by this act, and its effectiveness in Milwaukee County, Dane
22County, Racine County, Kenosha County, Rock County, Brown County, and other
23regions of the state, as determined by the department, and no later than June 30,
242011, submit a report of its evaluation to the joint committee on finance and to the

1appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided under
2section 13.172 (3) of the statutes.
AB898,9,63 (5) Additional funding for programs. If any other federal funding becomes
4available for the programs under sections 49.147 (3) and 49.162 of the statutes, as
5affected by this act, the department of children and families shall take any actions
6that may be necessary to obtain the funding and use it for those programs.
AB898, s. 21 7Section 21. Fiscal changes.
AB898,9,188 (1) In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation
9to the department of children and families under section 20.437 (2) (md) of the
10statutes, as affected by the acts of 2009, the dollar amount is increased by
11$60,000,000 for the first fiscal year of the fiscal biennium in which this subsection
12takes effect to increase funding for the programs under sections 49.147 (3) and
1349.162 of the statutes, as affected by this act. In the schedule under section 20.005
14(3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of children and families
15under section 20.437 (2) (md) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2009, the dollar
16amount is increased by $60,000,000 for the second fiscal year of the fiscal biennium
17in which this subsection takes effect to increase funding for the programs under
18sections 49.147 (3) and 49.162 of the statutes, as affected by this act.
AB898, s. 22 19Section 22. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication,
20except as follows:
AB898,9,2321 (1) The repeal of sections 49.143 (2r), 49.147 (3) (cm) and (dm), 49.162 (3) (am)
22and (d), and 106.14 (2) of the statutes, the renumbering of section 106.14 (1) of the
23statutes, and the amendment of sections 49.147 (3) (a) (by Section 10) and 49.162

1(3) (a) (by Section 10 ) of the statutes take effect on the date stated in the notice
2published by the department of children and families under Section 20 (2) of this act.
AB898,10,33 (End)
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