AB641: Bill Text

LRB-3436/1

PJK&JK:med:ph

2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE

2011 Assembly BILL 641

February 28, 2012 - Introduced by Representatives Pasch, Grigsby, Molepske Jr, Roys, Fields, Mason, Sinicki, Berceau, Hebl, Toles, Turner, Bewley, Pocan, Pope-Roberts, C. Taylor, Clark, Steinbrink and E. Coggs, cosponsored by Senators Taylor, C. Larson and Risser. Referred to Joint Committee on Finance.

AB641,1,5 An Act to repeal and recreate 49.143 (2r) and 106.14 (2); to create 20.437 (2) (et) and 49.162 of the statutes; and to affect 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, section 9408 (3f); relating to: making the transitional jobs program permanent, increasing audit and compliance positions in the Department of Revenue, and making appropriations.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law requires the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to conduct a transitional jobs demonstration project to the extent that DCF obtains federal funds for the cost of operating the project. The transitional jobs demonstration project may provide up to 2,500 transitional jobs to low-income adults who have been unemployed for at least four weeks, are ineligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits, are ineligible for the Wisconsin Works program (W-2), and have annual household incomes below 150 percent of the poverty level. The biennial budget act eliminates this demonstration project on July 1, 2013.

Under this bill, instead of being eliminated, the transitional jobs demonstration project is converted into a permanent program, effective July 1, 2012. The bill appropriates $9,300,000 general purpose revenue for the program in fiscal year 2012-13, removes the limit on the number of transitional jobs that DCF may provide, specifies that the jobs must be provided on a statewide basis, and specifies that DCF must use the allocation of W-2 participants as a factor when determining how to allocate the transitional jobs throughout the state.

The bill also increases full-time equivalent positions for auditors, audit supervisors, and agents in the Department of Revenue related to the administration of all state taxes and to county sales and use taxes.

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:

AB641, s. 1 Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

AB641, s. 2 Section 2. 20.437 (2) (et) of the statutes is created to read:

AB641,2,5 20.437 (2) (et) Transitional jobs program. The amounts in the schedule for the transitional jobs program under s. 49.162.

AB641, s. 3 Section 3. 49.143 (2r) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, is repealed and recreated to read:

AB641,2,12 49.143 (2r) Job programs. A Wisconsin Works agency shall collaborate with the local workforce development board to connect individuals seeking employment with employment opportunities, including the trial job program under s. 49.147 (3) and, if operating in the geographical area in which the Wisconsin Works agency administers Wisconsin Works, the transitional jobs program under s. 49.162.

AB641, s. 4 Section 4. 49.162 of the statutes is created to read:

AB641,2,15 49.162 Transitional jobs program. (1) In this section, "Wisconsin Works" has the meaning given in s. 49.141 (1) (p).

AB641,3,4 (2) From the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (et), the department shall administer a program that offers transitional jobs to low-income adults. To be eligible to participate in the program, an individual must satisfy all of the following criteria:

AB641,3,5 (a) Be at least 21 but not more than 64 years of age.

AB641,3,6 (b) Be ineligible for Wisconsin Works.

AB641,3,8 (c) Have an annual household income that is below 150 percent of the poverty line.

AB641,3,9 (d) Be unemployed for at least 4 weeks.

AB641,3,10 (e) Be ineligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits.

AB641,3,14 (3) (a) The department shall provide the transitional jobs on a statewide basis. When determining how to allocate the transitional jobs throughout the state, the department shall use as a factor how Wisconsin Works participants are allocated throughout the state.

AB641,3,16 (b) The department shall promulgate rules for the operation of the program under this section.

AB641, s. 5 Section 5. 106.14 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, is repealed and recreated to read:

AB641,3,22 106.14 (2) The department shall publicize and maintain on its job center Web site information related to the job programs under ss. 49.147 (3) and 49.162 so that employers and individuals seeking employment may obtain information about the programs, including how to participate in them.

AB641, s. 6 Section 6. 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, section 9408 (3f) is amended to read:

AB641,4,2 [2011 Wisconsin Act 32] Section 9408 (3f) Transitional jobs demonstration project. The treatment of sections 49.143 (2r) and 106.14 (2) of the statutes, the repeal of section 49.162 of the statutes, and Sections 3568, 3569, and 3570 of this act take effect on July 1, 2013 2012.

AB641, s. 7 Section 7. Fiscal changes.

AB641,4,12 (1) Audit and compliance positions. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of revenue under section 20.566 (1) (a) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2011, the dollar amount is increased by $661,100 for fiscal year 2012-13 to increase the authorized FTE audit supervisor position by 2.0 GPR positions, to increase the authorized FTE field auditor position by 2.0 GPR positions, to increase the authorized FTE auditor position by 1.0 GPR position, to increase the authorized FTE field agent position by 3.0 GPR positions, and to increase the authorized FTE agent position by 3.0 GPR positions.

AB641,4,17 (2) County sales tax administration positions. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of revenue under section 20.566 (1) (g) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2011, the dollar amount is increased by $98,600 for fiscal year 2012-13 to increase the authorized FTE agent position by 2.0 PR positions.

AB641,4,23 (3) Motor vehicle fuel tax administration positions. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of revenue under section 20.566 (1) (u) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2011, the dollar amount is increased by $129,000 for fiscal year 2012-13 to increase the authorized FTE field agent position by 1.0 SEG position and to increase the authorized FTE field auditor position by 1.0 SEG position.

AB641, s. 8 Section 8. Effective date.

AB641,5,1 (1) This act takes effect on July 1, 2012.

AB641,5,2 (End)