AB647: Bill Text

LRB-4180/1

MDK:ahe

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Assembly BILL 647

January 7, 2016 - Introduced by Representatives VanderMeer, Petryk, Kulp, Tranel, Ohnstad, Edming, Horlacher and E. Brooks, cosponsored by Senators Gudex, Olsen, Vinehout and Ringhand. Referred to Committee on Energy and Utilities.

AB647,1,2 An Act to amend 196.504 (2) (a) of the statutes; relating to: funding for broadband expansion grants and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill allows the Public Service Commission to make a total of $6,000,000 in broadband expansion grants in any fiscal year until that total is depleted. Under current law, the PSC makes the grants to eligible applicants for the purpose of constructing broadband infrastructure in underserved areas. Current law provides $6,000,000 in funding for the grants, but prohibits the PSC from making more than $1,500,000 in grants in a fiscal year. This bill eliminates that prohibition and allows the PSC to make the grants in any fiscal year until the $6,000,000 in funding is depleted.

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:

AB647,1 Section 1. 196.504 (2) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is amended to read:

AB647,2,3 196.504 (2) (a) To make broadband expansion grants to eligible applicants for the purpose of constructing broadband infrastructure in underserved areas designated under par. (d). Grants awarded under this section shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.155 (3) (r). In each fiscal year, the total amount of the grants may not exceed $1,500,000.

AB647,2 Section 2. Fiscal changes.

AB647,2,10 (1) Broadband expansion grants. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the public service commission under section 20.155 (3) (r) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2015, the dollar amount for fiscal year 2015-16 is increased by $4,500,000 and the dollar amount for fiscal year 2016-17 is decreased by $1,500,000 for the purpose for which the appropriation is made.

AB647,2,11 (End)