PJK:jld:jf
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
October 4, 2013 - Introduced by Senators Darling,
Gudex, C. Larson, Lassa,
Lazich, Lehman, Olsen, Schultz, Shilling and Wirch, cosponsored by
Representatives Weatherston, Mason, Ballweg, Bies, Brooks, Czaja,
Endsley, Jagler, Kerkman, Kleefisch, Kolste, Krug, LeMahieu, Marklein,
Nygren, Ohnstad, A. Ott, Petryk, Stone and Tittl. Referred to Committee
on Economic Development and Local Government.
SB333,1,4
1An Act to renumber 49.163 (1) (a);
to amend 49.155 (1m) (a) 3r., 49.163 (title),
249.163 (2) (a) (intro.), 49.163 (2) (b), 49.163 (3) (a) 3. c., 49.163 (5) (a) and 49.175
3(1) (k); and
to create 49.163 (1) (am) of the statutes;
relating to: a Transitional
4Jobs program.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law requires the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to
establish a Transform Milwaukee Jobs program (TMJ program) in Milwaukee
County under which DCF pays to an employer, or a person with which DCF contracts
to administer the program (contractor), that employs a program participant a wage
subsidy that is equal to the wage the employer or contractor pays the participant, up
to 40 hours per week at minimum wage. The employer or contractor must employ
the participant at least 20 hours per week at a location in this state and pay at least
minimum wage, although the employer, or contractor with the approval of DCF, may
pay the participant more than the wage subsidy. An individual may participate in
the program for a maximum of 1,040 hours, which is equivalent to 26 40-hour weeks.
In addition to paying the wage subsidy, DCF may reimburse an employer or
contractor for certain taxes, unemployment insurance contributions or taxes, and
worker's compensation insurance premiums that are attributable to employment of
the participant.
To be eligible to participate in the TMJ program, an individual must be at least
18 years old, and, if over 24 years old, must be the parent or primary relative
caregiver of a child under the age of 18. The individual must have household income
below 150 percent of the poverty line, be unemployed for at least four weeks, be
ineligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits, and not be participating in
a Wisconsin Works (W-2) employment position. A program participant may be
eligible for a child care subsidy under Wisconsin Shares, which generally provides
child care subsidies for participants in W-2, if the program participant needs child
care services in order to participate in the program.
DCF may administer the TMJ program or contract with any person, including
a W-2 agency, county department, local workforce development board, or community
action agency, to perform administrative functions, including determining eligibility,
providing or identifying employers to provide jobs for eligible individuals, providing
job orientation and employment services, and maintaining participant demographic,
eligibility, and employment records. DCF may recover an overpayment from a
participant that results from a misrepresentation about his or her eligibility, and
must recover an overpayment from a contractor that results from a failure to comply
with the contract or to meet performance standards established by DCF.
This bill authorizes DCF to establish a Transitional Jobs program if funding is
available, with the same provisions as the TMJ program, in one or more geographic
areas of the state that are not in Milwaukee County, to the extent of available funds.
In selecting the geographic area or areas in which to conduct the Transitional Jobs
program, DCF must give priority to those areas with relatively high rates of
unemployment and childhood poverty.
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:
SB333,2,43
49.155
(1m) (a) 3r. Participate in the Transform Milwaukee Jobs program
, or
4the Transitional Jobs program, under s. 49.163.
SB333,2,8
749.163 (title)
Transform Milwaukee Jobs program and Transitional
8Jobs program.
SB333,4
1Section
4. 49.163 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
SB333,3,32
49.163
(1) (am) "Program" means the Transform Milwaukee Jobs program, or
3the Transitional Jobs program, under this section.
SB333,3,136
49.163
(2) (a) (intro.) The department shall establish a Transform Milwaukee
7Jobs program in Milwaukee County
and, if funding is available, may establish a
8Transitional Jobs program outside of Milwaukee County. To the extent of available
9funds, the department shall conduct the Transitional Jobs program, if established,
10in one or more geographic areas in the state that are not in Milwaukee County. In
11selecting the geographic area or areas in which to conduct the Transitional Jobs
12program, the department shall give priority to those areas with relatively high rates
13of unemployment and childhood poverty.
SB333,3,15
14(am) To be eligible to participate in the program, an individual must satisfy all
15of the following criteria:
SB333,3,2118
49.163
(2) (b) For purposes of par.
(a) (am) 3., the household income of an
19individual transitioning from foster care to independent living shall be based on the
20individual's own income over a period determined by the department and shall not
21include the household income of the individual's foster parents.
SB333,3,2524
49.163
(3) (a) 3. c. State and federal unemployment
insurance contributions or
25taxes, if any.
SB333,4,63
49.163
(5) (a) The department may recover from any individual participating,
4or who has participated, in the program under this section any overpayment
5resulting from a misrepresentation by the individual as to any criterion for eligibility
6under sub. (2)
(a) (am).
SB333,4,129
49.175
(1) (k)
Transform Milwaukee and Transitional Jobs program
programs. 10For contract costs under the Transform Milwaukee Jobs program
and the
11Transitional Jobs program under s. 49.163, $3,750,000 in fiscal year 2013-14 and
12$5,000,000 in fiscal year 2014-15.