This bill creates a Wisconsin conservation corps (WCC) program that seeks to
protect, enhance, and provide access to Wisconsin's natural heritage and encourage
and enable young people to learn the value of work in a natural setting by providing
employment training and career pathways. The bill also creates a WCC Board,
which is the policy-making body of the WCC and is attached to the Department of
Administration (DOA). The WCC Board consists of the secretary of natural
resources or his or her designee; the executive secretary of the Board of
Commissioners of Public Lands; two representatives to the assembly, appointed as
are members of assembly standing committees; two senators, appointed as are
members of senate standing committees; one member of a nongovernmental
organization that has expertise in conservation matters or that represents

employees who work in conservation activities, for a three-year term; two members
of the faculty employed by a technical college district board, appointed by the state
Technical College System Board, for three-year terms; one member representing the
University of Wisconsin-Extension, for a three-year term; and one member of a
nongovernmental organization that has expertise in youth training programs, for a
three-year term.
Under the bill, DOA provides staff services to the board. The bill directs the
board to enter into an agreement with a nonprofit corporation that has demonstrated
experience in natural resource conservation and youth training to manage and
administer the WCC program. The manager then engages, trains, and supervises
work crews to carry out each project. The manager also identifies, reviews, and
recommends proposed projects for the approval of the board. The bill requires the
board to ensure that projects are equally distributed across technical college districts
to the greatest extent possible, and to ensure that at least one project is located in
each technical college district in each year.
To finance the operation of the WCC Board and program, the bill permits the
secretary of administration to transfer any amount of money appropriated from a
sum certain appropriation to an executive branch agency to the board during the
period beginning on the day the bill becomes law and ending on the date of
publication of the 2011-13 biennial budget act, subject to certain limitations. The
secretary is prohibited from making any transfer of moneys derived from federal
revenues and is also prohibited from making a transfer if the transfer would violate
the state or federal constitution, state or federal law, or a requirement imposed by
the federal government as a condition to receipt of aids by this state. In addition, the
secretary is prohibited from transferring certain moneys appropriated to the
Department of Transportation. Any proposed transfer must first be reported by the
secretary to the cochairpersons of the Joint Committee on Finance and is subject to
review, approval, or modification by the committee, but the committee may waive its
right to review a proposed transfer.
The bill provides that a WCC project must be designed to carry out a specific
goal within a defined period of time, must be focused on the conservation or
enjoyment of natural resources and must have a specific, beneficial, physical effect.
Projects may include new trail construction, trail rehabilitation, invasive species
management, bridge and boardwalk construction, reforestation, timber stand
improvement, stream bank stabilization, erosion control, rain garden installation,
prairie restoration, historical site preservation, recreation site maintenance, wild
land fire hazard reduction and fuels management, lake and stream restoration,
boundary marking, fencing, landscaping, carpentry, and data collection for scientific
research. A project may be sited only on public land in this state or land in which
the public has an ownership interest, except that incidental work may be performed
on other land if the work is directly related to accomplishing work performed on
public land or land is which the public has an ownership interest. The bill permits
local governments or nonprofit corporations to submit applications to sponsor
projects. A project application must identify the proposed project and the sponsor of
the project and provide a detailed plan for the work on the project. In addition, the

application must contain an enumeration of the number of work crews that will work
on the project an affirmation as to whether the work crew members would be eligible
to participate in a youth corps program administered by the National and
Community Service Board (NCSB), as well as a plan for training the work crew
members, providing transportation to the project work sites, making available
individualized educational opportunities for work crew members suited to the
qualifications, experience, and needs of the members while they are working on the
projects, for assisting work crew members in making full use of all benefits provided
under such a youth corps program if the project qualifies as a youth corps program,
and for visiting postsecondary institutions such as a technical college or University
of Wisconsin (UW) two-year college, to familiarize the crew members with
application and enrollment procedures, programs, and course offerings.
The bill provides that each work crew member on a WCC project must be
between the ages of 18 and 25, and at least 50 percent of the work crew members on
each project must have no postsecondary education and have a family income of not
more than 200 percent of the federal poverty line on the date of their initial
engagement.
The bill provides that, if the board determines that an application is an
appropriate WCC project and that work crew members would be eligible under the
program, the manager must jointly submit the application with the sponsor to NCSB
for funding. If funding is provided by NCSB, the manager must use the funding to
assist the sponsor in training the work crews.
The bill requires each sponsor of a WCC project to do both of the following: upon
completion of the project, erect a permanent plaque at each work site identifying the
site as a WCC project; and submit a report to the board identifying the number of
work crew members who enrolled at a technical college, a UW college, or another
postsecondary institution upon completion of the project and their status on the first
anniversary of completion of the project.
The bill exempts services performed by WCC work crews from compliance with
requirements for state and local public works projects to adhere to current prevailing
wage scales. The bill permits the board to retain its manager and other state
agencies to engage a WCC crew on a project without complying with state
procurement laws, including requirements for public notice to and competitive
solicitation of contractors and limitations on the circumstances when contractual
services may be obtained.
Finally, the bill requires the board to submit an annual report to the legislature
identifying the projects completed in each year or that are in the process of
completion as of the end of that year.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB690, s. 1 1Section 1. 15.105 (32) of the statutes is created to read:
SB690,4,3
115.105 (32) Wisconsin conservation corps board. There is created a Wisconsin
2conservation corps board that is attached to the department of administration under
3s. 15.03, consisting of the following:
SB690,4,44 (a) The secretary of natural resources or his or her designee.
SB690,4,55 (b) The executive secretary of the board of commissioners of public lands.
SB690,4,76 (c) Two representatives to the assembly, appointed as are members of assembly
7standing committees.
SB690,4,88 (d) Two senators, appointed as are members of senate standing committees.
SB690,4,119 (e) One member of a nongovernmental organization that has expertise in
10conservation matters or that represents employees who work in conservation
11activities, for a 3-year term.
SB690,4,1312 (f) Two members of the faculty employed by a technical college district board,
13appointed by the technical college system board, for 3-year terms.
SB690,4,1514 (g) One member representing the University of Wisconsin-Extension, for a
153-year term.
SB690,4,1716 (h) One member of a nongovernmental organization that has expertise in youth
17training programs, for a 3-year term.
SB690, s. 2 18Section 2. 16.24 of the statutes is created to read:
SB690,4,23 1916.24 Wisconsin conservation corps. (1) Establishment of program.
20There is established the Wisconsin conservation corps program. The purpose of the
21program is to seek to protect, enhance, and provide access to Wisconsin's natural
22heritage and encourage and enable young people to learn the value of work in a
23natural setting by providing employment training and career pathways.
SB690,4,24 24(2) Definitions. In this section:
SB690,4,2525 (a) "Board" means the Wisconsin conservation corps board.
SB690,5,1
1(b) "College campus" has the meaning given under s. 36.05 (6m).
SB690,5,32 (c) "Local government" has the meaning given for "local governmental unit" in
3s. 16.97 (7).
SB690,5,64 (d) "Nonprofit corporation" means a nonstock, nonprofit corporation described
5under section 501 (c) (3) or (4) of the federal Internal Revenue Code that is exempt
6from the federal income tax under section 501 (a) of that code.
SB690,5,107 (e) "Project" means a planned undertaking of the Wisconsin conservation corps
8for a sponsor to carry out a specific goal within a defined period of time that is focused
9on the conservation or enjoyment of natural resources and that will have a specific,
10beneficial, physical effect.
SB690,5,1211 (f) "Sponsor" means a local government or a nonprofit corporation that proposes
12to undertake a project.
SB690,5,1313 (g) "Youth corps program" has the meaning given in s. 16.22 (1) (dm).
SB690,5,16 14(3) Wisconsin conservation corps board. The board is the policy-making body
15of the Wisconsin conservation corps program. The board shall promulgate rules
16consistent with this section for the operation of the program.
SB690,6,2 17(4) Management and services. (a) The board shall contract with a nonprofit
18corporation that has demonstrated experience in natural resources conservation and
19youth training or employment to administer and manage the Wisconsin conservation
20corps program. The manager shall retain all work crew members under sub. (8),
21except that the manager shall enroll any work crew members who are participants
22in a youth corps program. The manager shall also train and supervise all work crews,
23provide educational programming for work crews, and provide outreach and other
24communications services in accordance with this section and the rules and directives
25of the board. The manager shall also identify and review potential projects, assist

1with project proposal development, and recommend to the board proposed projects
2for its review and approval.
SB690,6,73 (b) The board shall not authorize or require, and the manager shall not engage,
4the services of any employee or contractor to perform services under the Wisconsin
5conservation corps program if those services displace the services of any individual
6who is employed by this state in a position, as defined in s. 230.03 (11), or who is
7employed by a local government in a permanent position.
SB690,6,12 8(5) Project application; approval. (a) Each project is subject to review and
9approval by the board prior to commencement of work on the project. The manager
10may submit an application to the board for approval of a proposed project. An
11application shall be in the form prescribed by the board and shall include all of the
12following:
SB690,6,1413 1. An identification of the project and the sponsor of the project, together with
14a detailed plan for the work to be performed on the project.
SB690,6,1815 2. An enumeration of the number of work crews that will work on the project,
16an affirmation as to whether work crew members would be eligible to participate in
17a youth corps program and an affirmation that the work crew members will satisfy
18the requirements under sub. (8).
SB690,6,2419 3. A plan for training the work crew members, providing transportation to each
20project work site, making available individualized educational opportunities for
21work crew members suited to the qualifications, experience, and needs of the
22members while they are working on the project, and for assisting work crew members
23who are participating in a youth corps program in making full use of all benefits
24provided under the program.
SB690,7,5
14. A plan for the crew members to visit postsecondary institutions, such as a
2technical college or a college campus of the University of Wisconsin System, at least
3once every 3 months while they are employed or enrolled to work on a project in order
4to familiarize them with application and enrollment procedures, programs, and
5course offerings.
SB690,7,96 (b) The board shall approve applications for projects that are located in at least
7one of each of the technical college districts in each year. To the greatest extent
8practicable, the board shall ensure that projects are equally distributed across
9technical college districts.
SB690,7,11 10(6) Staff support. The department shall provide all staff support necessary for
11the operation of the board.
SB690,7,18 12(7) Scope of projects. (a) Projects may include new trail construction, trail
13rehabilitation, invasive species management, bridge and boardwalk construction,
14reforestation, timber stand improvement, stream bank stabilization, erosion control,
15rain garden installation, prairie restoration, historical site preservation, recreation
16site maintenance, wild land fire hazard reduction and fuels management, lake and
17stream restoration, boundary marking, fencing, landscaping, carpentry, and data
18collection for scientific research.
SB690,7,2119 (b) 1. Except as authorized in subd. 2., no project may be sited on land that is
20not located in this state and owned by the federal or state government or a local
21government, or land in which one of those entities has an ownership interest.
SB690,7,2422 2. A project may include incidental work to be performed on land not described
23in subd. 1. if the work to be performed on that land is directly related to
24accomplishing work on a project that is sited on land described in subd. 1.
SB690,8,7
1(8) Work crews. The work crew members on a project shall constitute the
2Wisconsin conservation corps. Each work crew shall have a crew leader. The board
3shall determine the size of work crews. Each work crew member on a project shall
4be between the ages of 18 and 25. At least 50 percent of the work crew members on
5each project shall have no postsecondary education and shall have a family income
6of not more than 200 percent of the poverty line, as defined in s. 49.001 (5), on the
7date of initial employment or enrollment.
SB690,8,13 8(9) Funding of projects. (a) If the manager determines that a project proposed
9in an application submitted under sub. (4) is an appropriate project and that work
10crew members on the project would be eligible to participate in a youth corps program
11and satisfy the requirements under sub. (8), the manager shall submit the
12application to the national and community service board for a grant under s. 16.22
13(2) (h).
SB690,8,1614 (b) If an application for a grant is approved by the national and community
15service board under s. 16.22 (2) (h), the manager shall accept the grant for the board
16and shall use the grant to assist the sponsor in training the work crews.
SB690,8,2017 (c) If the manager determines that funding for a proposed project would not be
18available under s. 16.22 (2) (h), the manager shall work with the sponsor to identify
19funding sources and shall apply for and accept funding for projects from available
20sources.
SB690,9,2 21(10) Intergovernmental cooperation. The department may, on behalf of the
22board, the manager, or a sponsor, enter into a cooperative purchasing agreement
23under s. 16.73 (1). The board may, on behalf of itself, the manager, or a sponsor, enter
24into such an agreement. The board may request cooperative assistance from other
25state agencies in carrying out is program responsibilities as provided in s. 20.901 (1)

1(a). The board may enter into an intergovernmental service agreement under s.
266.0301 on behalf of itself, the manager, or a sponsor.
SB690,9,4 3(11) Responsibilities of sponsor. Each sponsor of a Wisconsin conservation
4corps project approved under this section shall do all of the following:
SB690,9,65 (a) Upon completion of the project, erect a permanent plaque at each project
6work site identifying the site as a Wisconsin conservation corps project.
SB690,9,147 (b) Submit a report to the board identifying the number of work crew members
8who enrolled at a technical college, a college campus of the University of Wisconsin
9System, or any other postsecondary educational institution upon completion of a
10project in which they were engaged and the status of each such work crew member
11as of the first anniversary after completion of each project, including whether the
12crew member was graduated from high school, has received a declaration of
13equivalency of high school graduation, or is employed and if employed, in what
14capacity.
SB690,9,19 15(12) Annual report. Annually no later than March 31, the board shall submit
16a report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the
17legislature under s. 13.172 (2), identifying Wisconsin conservation corps projects
18completed in the preceding year or that are in the process of completion at the end
19of that year.
SB690, s. 3 20Section 3. 16.705 (1L) of the statutes is created to read:
SB690,9,2221 16.705 (1L) Subsection (1) does not apply to the agreement for the management
22of the Wisconsin conservation corps program under s. 16.24 (4).
SB690, s. 4 23Section 4. 16.705 (9) of the statutes is created to read:
SB690,10,3
116.705 (9) Subsections (2) to (8) do not apply to procurements by an agency for
2contractual services to be performed by crew members as a part of a Wisconsin
3conservation corps project.
SB690, s. 5 4Section 5. 16.71 (5s) of the statutes is created to read:
SB690,10,85 16.71 (5s) The department shall delegate authority to the Wisconsin
6conservation corps board to enter into cooperative purchasing agreements under s.
716.73 (1) on behalf of itself, the manager of the Wisconsin conservation corps
8program, or a sponsor of a Wisconsin conservation corps project.
SB690, s. 6 9Section 6. 16.75 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB690,10,1810 16.75 (1) (a) 1. All orders awarded or contracts made by the department for all
11materials, supplies, equipment, and contractual services to be provided to any
12agency, except as otherwise provided in par. (c) and subs. (2), (2g), (2m), (3m), (3t),
13(6), (7), (8), (9), (10e), and (10m) and (13) and ss. 16.73 (4) (a), 16.751, 16.754, 16.964
14(8), 50.05 (7) (f), 153.05 (2m) (a), and 287.15 (7), shall be awarded to the lowest
15responsible bidder, taking into consideration life cycle cost estimates under sub.
16(1m), when appropriate, the location of the agency, the quantities of the articles to
17be supplied, their conformity with the specifications, and the purposes for which they
18are required and the date of delivery.
SB690, s. 7 19Section 7. 16.75 (13) of the statutes is created to read:
SB690,10,2220 16.75 (13) Subsection (1) does not apply to procurements by an agency for
21contractual services to be performed by crew members as a part of a Wisconsin
22conservation corps project.
SB690, s. 8 23Section 8. 20.505 (4) (kc) of the statutes is created to read:
SB690,11,224 20.505 (4) (kc) Wisconsin conservation corps board; interagency transfers. All
25moneys transferred to the Wisconsin conservation corps board from other state

1agencies and all moneys transferred under 2009 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section
212 (3 ), to be used for the general program operations of the board under s. 16.24.
SB690, s. 9 3Section 9. 66.0903 (5) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB690,11,54 66.0903 (5) (d) Work performed by crew members on a Wisconsin conservation
5corps project.
SB690, s. 10 6Section 10. 66.0904 (5) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB690,11,87 66.0904 (5) (d) Work performed by crew members on a Wisconsin conservation
8corps project.
SB690, s. 11 9Section 11. 103.49 (3g) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB690,11,1110 103.49 (3g) (d) Work performed by crew members on a Wisconsin conservation
11corps project.
SB690, s. 12 12Section 12 . Nonstatutory provisions.
SB690,11,2313 (1) Emergency rules for operation of Wisconsin conservation corps
14program.
The Wisconsin conservation corps board may promulgate all rules
15necessary for the operation of the Wisconsin conservation corps program under
16section 16.24 of the statutes as emergency rules under section 227.24 of the statutes.
17Notwithstanding section 227.24 (1) (c) of the statutes, emergency rules promulgated
18under this subsection may remain in effect for not more than one year and may be
19extended under section 227.24 (2) of the statutes. Notwithstanding section 227.24
20(1) (a) and (3) of the statutes, the board is not required to provide evidence that
21promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the
22preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide
23a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.
SB690,11,2524 (2) Initial terms of appointed members of the Wisconsin conservation corps
25board.
SB690,12,4
1(a) Notwithstanding the length of term specified for the member of the
2Wisconsin conservation corps board specified in section 15.105 (32) (e) of the statutes,
3as created by this act, the initial term for the member appointed under section 15.105
4(32) (e) of the statutes, as created by this act, shall expire on May 1, 2014.
SB690,12,105 (b) Notwithstanding the length of term specified for members of the Wisconsin
6conservation corps board specified in section 15.105 (32) (f) of the statutes, as created
7by this act, the initial term for one of the members appointed under section 15.105
8(32) (f) of the statutes, as created by this act, shall expire on May 1, 2013, and the
9initial term for the other member appointed under section 15.105 (32) (f) of the
10statutes, as created by this act, shall expire on May 1, 2012.
SB690,12,1511 (c) Notwithstanding the length of term specified for the member of the
12Wisconsin conservation corps board specified in section 15.105 (32) (g) of the
13statutes, as created by this act, the initial term for the member appointed under
14section 15.105 (32) (g) of the statutes, as created by this act, shall expire on May 1,
152013.
SB690,12,1916 (d) Notwithstanding the length of term specified for the member of the
17Wisconsin conservation corps board specified in section 15.105 (32) (h) of the statues,
18as created by this act, the initial term for the member appointed under section 15.105
19(32) (h) of the statutes, as created by this act, shall expire on May 1, 2014.
SB690,12,2020 (3) Transfer of moneys to Wisconsin conservation corps board.
SB690,12,2221 (a) In this subsection, "executive branch agency" has the meaning given under
22section 16.70 (4) of the statutes.
SB690,13,223 (b) Notwithstanding sections 20.115 to 20.875 and 25.40 (3) of the statutes, but
24subject to paragraphs (c) to (e), the secretary of administration may transfer any
25amount of money appropriated under one or more of those sections of the statutes

1from a sum certain appropriation to an executive branch agency to the appropriation
2under section 20.505 (4) (kc) of the statutes, as created by this act.
SB690,13,73 (c) No moneys may be transferred under paragraph (b ) from an appropriation
4derived from federal revenues. No moneys may be transferred under paragraph (b)
5if the transfer would violate the state or federal constitution, any state or federal law
6not specified in paragraph (b), or a requirement imposed by the federal government
7as a condition to receipt of aids by this state.
SB690,13,118 (d) The secretary of administration shall not transfer moneys under paragraph
9(b) from an appropriation to the department of transportation under section 20.395
10(3) (bq), (cq), or (cr) of the statutes, other than moneys for department operations and
11services engaged under section 84.01 (13) of the statutes.
SB690,13,2312 (e) Prior to making any transfer under paragraph (b ), the secretary of
13administration shall notify the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance in
14writing of the proposed transfer. If the cochairpersons do not notify the secretary
15that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the
16proposed transfer within 14 working days after the date of the secretary's
17notification, the secretary may make the proposed transfer. If, within 14 working
18days after the date of the secretary's notification, the cochairpersons notify the
19secretary that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing
20the proposed transfer, the secretary shall not make the proposed transfer unless the
21committee approves the proposed transfer or modifies and approves the proposed
22transfer. If the committee modifies and approves the proposed transfer, the secretary
23may make the proposed transfer only as modified by the committee.
SB690,14,2
1(f) Paragraphs (a) to (e ) do not apply after the date of publication of the 2011-13
2biennial budget act.
SB690,14,33 (End)
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