AB64: Bill Text

AB64,1695 Section 1695 . 196.504 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 196.504 (1) (ac).

AB64,1696 Section 1696 . 196.504 (1) (ab) of the statutes is created to read:

AB64,757,2 196.504 (1) (ab) “A-CAM support” means support for the deployment of voice and broadband-capable networks from the federal Connect America Fund that is made to telecommunications utilities regulated as rate-of-return carriers by the federal communications commission and that is based on the federal communications commission's Alternative Connect America Cost Model.

AB64,1697 Section 1697 . 196.504 (1) (ad) of the statutes is created to read:

AB64,757,7 196.504 (1) (ad) “Phase II support” means the federal communications commission's 2nd phase of support for rural broadband deployment from the federal Connect America Fund that is made to telecommunications utilities regulated as price cap carriers by the federal communications commission.

AB64,1698 Section 1698. 196.504 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB64,757,13 196.504 (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 appropriations under s. 20.155 (1) (q) and (3) (r). In each fiscal year, the total amount of the grants may not exceed $1,500,000.

AB64,1699 Section 1699 . 196.504 (2) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

AB64,757,20 196.504 (2) (e) During fiscal year 2017-18, to allocate a portion of the amount appropriated under s. 20.155 (3) (r), in an amount determined by the commission, for making broadband expansion grants under this section to telecommunications utilities receiving A-CAM or phase II support. Notwithstanding the priorities specified in par. (c), the commission may evaluate applications and award broadband expansion grants under this paragraph on an expedited basis.

AB64,1700 Section 1700. 196.857 of the statutes is repealed.

AB64,1701 Section 1701. 196.858 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB64,757,25 196.858 (1) The commission shall annually assess against local exchange and interexchange telecommunications utilities the total, not to exceed $5,000,000, of the amounts appropriated under s. 20.505 (1) (ir) 20.155 (1) (i).

AB64,1702 Section 1702. 196.858 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB64,758,12 196.858 (2) The commission shall assess a sum equal to the annual total amount under sub. (1) to local exchange and interexchange telecommunications utilities in proportion to their gross operating revenues during the last calendar year. If total expenditures for telephone telecommunications relay service exceeded the payment made under this section in the prior year, the commission shall charge the remainder to assessed telecommunications utilities in proportion to their gross operating revenues during the last calendar year. A telecommunications utility shall pay the assessment within 30 days after the bill has been mailed to the assessed telecommunication utility. The bill constitutes notice of the assessment and demand of payment. Payments shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (1) (ir) 20.155 (1) (i).

AB64,1703 Section 1703. 202.051 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB64,758,15 202.051 (3) (c) Pays the charge for an unpaid draft established by the depository selection board under s. 20.905 (2).

AB64,1704 Section 1704. 224.48 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB64,758,17 224.48 (1) (am) “Department” means the department of financial institutions.

AB64,1705 Section 1705. 224.50 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB64,758,19 224.50 (1) (c) “Department” means the department of financial institutions.

AB64,1706 Section 1706. 224.51 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB64,758,22 224.51 (1g) In this section, “department” means the department of financial institutions.

AB64,1707 Section 1707 . 227.01 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB64,759,2 227.01 (3m) (a) “Guidance document" means, except as provided in par. (b), any formal or official document or communication issued by an agency, including a manual, handbook, directive, or informational bulletin, that does any of the following:

AB64,759,5 1. Explains the agency's implementation of a statute or rule enforced or administered by the agency, including the current or proposed operating procedure of the agency.

AB64,759,8 2. Provides guidance or advice with respect to how the agency is likely to apply a statute or rule enforced or administered by the agency, if that guidance or advice is likely to apply to a class of persons similarly affected.

AB64,759,9 (b) “Guidance document" does not include any of the following:

AB64,759,11 1. A rule or any document or communication that imposes any binding or enforceable legal requirement.

AB64,759,15 2. A standard adopted, or a statement of policy or interpretation made, whether preliminary or final, in the decision of a contested case, in a private letter ruling under s. 73.035, or in an agency decision upon or disposition of a particular matter as applied to a specific set of facts.

AB64,759,19 3. Any document or activity described in sub. (13) (a) to (zz), except that “guidance document" includes a pamphlet or other explanatory material described under sub. (13) (r) that otherwise satisfies the definition of “guidance document" under par. (a).

AB64,759,21 4. Any document that any statute specifically provides is not required to be promulgated as a rule.

AB64,759,22 5. A declaratory ruling issued under s. 227.41.

AB64,759,24 6. A formal or informal opinion of the attorney general, including an opinion issued under s. 165.015 (1).

AB64,760,2 7. A formal or informal advisory opinion issued by the elections commission under s. 5.05 (6a) or by the ethics commission under s. 19.46 (2).

AB64,760,4 8. Any document or communication for which a procedure for public input, other than that provided under s. 227.112 (1), is provided by law.

AB64,760,6 9. Any document or communication that is not subject to the right of inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1).

AB64,1708 Section 1708 . 227.01 (13) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB64,760,15 227.01 (13) (intro.) “Rule" means a regulation, standard, statement of policy, or general order of general application which that has the effect force of law and which that is issued by an agency to implement, interpret, or make specific legislation enforced or administered by the agency or to govern the organization or procedure of the agency. “Rule" includes a modification of a rule under s. 227.265. “Rule" does not include, and s. 227.10 does not apply to, any action or inaction of an agency, whether it would otherwise meet the definition under this subsection, which that:

AB64,1709 Section 1709. 227.01 (13) (Lr) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB64,760,18 227.01 (13) (Lr) Determines what constitutes high-demand fields for purposes of s. 38.28 (2) (be) 1. b. (2m) (b) 2.

AB64,1710 Section 1710 . Subchapter II (title) of chapter 227 [precedes 227.10] of the statutes is amended to read:

AB64,760,21 Chapter 227

AB64,760,22 Subchapter II

AB64,760,24 ADMINISTRATIVE RULES and GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS

AB64,1711 Section 1711 . 227.111 of the statutes is created to read:

AB64,761,5 227.111 Rule-making authority of certain agencies. (1) In this section, “restricted agency” means an affiliated credentialing board, as defined in s. 15.01 (1g), a board, as defined in s. 15.01 (1r), a commission, as defined in s. 15.01 (2), or an examining board, as defined in s. 15.01 (7), that has not taken any action under this subchapter with respect to the promulgation of a rule in 10 years or more.

AB64,761,9 (2) Notwithstanding ss. 227.10 and 227.11 and any other provision authorizing or requiring a restricted agency to promulgate rules, a restricted agency may not take any action with respect to the promulgation of a rule unless a subsequent law specifically authorizes such action.

AB64,1712 Section 1712 . 227.112 of the statutes is created to read:

AB64,761,19 227.112 Guidance documents. (1) (a) Except as provided in par. (c), no less than 21 days before adopting a guidance document, an agency shall post the proposed guidance document on the agency's Internet site and, on the same date, submit a notice of the public comment period on the proposed guidance document under par. (b), including a copy of the proposed guidance document and the Web address of the agency's Internet site at which comments may be submitted, to the legislative reference bureau, in a format approved by the legislative reference bureau, for publication in the register. The notice need not be published in the register on the same day the agency posts the proposed guidance document on its Internet site.

AB64,761,25 (b) The agency shall provide for a period for public comment on a proposed guidance document posted under par. (a), during which any person may submit written comments to the agency with respect to the proposed guidance document. Except as provided in par. (c), the period for public comment shall end no sooner than the 21st day after the date on which the proposed guidance document is posted on the agency's Internet site.

AB64,762,3 (c) An agency may post a proposed guidance document less than 21 days before adopting the proposed guidance document and with a public comment period shorter than 21 days with the approval of the governor.

AB64,762,7 (d) An agency shall retain all written comments submitted during the public comment period under par. (b) and shall consider those comments in determining whether to adopt the guidance document as originally proposed, modify the proposed guidance document, or take any other action.

AB64,762,9 (e) This subsection does not apply to guidance documents adopted before the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].

AB64,762,16 (2) An agency shall post each guidance document that the agency has adopted on the agency's Internet site and shall permit continuing public comment on the guidance document. The agency shall ensure that each guidance document that the agency has adopted remains on the agency's Internet site as provided in this subsection until the guidance document is no longer in effect, is no longer valid, or is superseded or until the agency otherwise rescinds its adoption of the guidance document.

AB64,763,2 (3) A guidance document does not have the force of law and does not provide the authority for implementing or enforcing a standard, requirement, or threshold, including as a term or condition of any license. A guidance document that imposes a regulatory obligation or consequence is invalid, and the regulatory obligation or consequence may not be administered or enforced unless the agency promulgates it as a rule. An agency that proposes to rely on a guidance document to the detriment of a person in any administrative proceeding shall afford the person an adequate opportunity to contest the legality or wisdom of a position taken in the guidance document. An agency may not use a guidance document to foreclose consideration of any issue raised in the guidance document.

AB64,763,8 (4) If an agency proposes to act in an administrative proceeding at variance with a position expressed in a guidance document, it shall provide a reasonable explanation for the variance. If an affected person in an administrative proceeding may have relied reasonably on the agency's position, the explanation must include a reasonable justification for the agency's conclusion that the need for the variance outweighs the affected person's reliance interest.

AB64,763,11 (5) Persons that qualify under s. 227.12 to petition an agency to promulgate a rule may, as provided in s. 227.12, petition an agency to promulgate a rule in place of a guidance document.

AB64,1713 Section 1713. 227.12 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB64,764,8 227.12 (4) If a petition to the department of revenue establishes that the department has established a standard by which it is construing a state tax statute, but has not promulgated a rule to adopt the standard or published the standard in a manner that is available to the public, the department shall, as provided under s. 227.135, submit a statement of the scope of the proposed rule to the governor no later than 90 days after receiving the petition. No later than 270 days after the statement is approved by the governor, the department shall submit the proposed rule in final draft form to the governor for the governor's approval, as provided under s. 227.185 (1). At the department's request, the governor may, at any time prior to the expiration of any deadline specified in this subsection, extend the time for submitting the statement or proposed rule in draft form for any period not to exceed 60 days. The governor may grant more than one extension under this subsection, but the total period for all such extensions may not exceed 120 days. The rule need not adhere to the standard established by the department, but shall address the same circumstances as the standard addresses. If the department fails to comply with this subsection, any of the petitioners may commence an action in circuit court to compel the department's compliance. If an action is commenced under this subsection, the court may compel the department to provide information to the court related to the degree to which the department is enforcing the standard, except that the information provided by the department shall not disclose the identity of any person who is not a party to the action.

AB64,1714 Section 1714 . 227.132 of the statutes is created to read:

AB64,764,11 227.132 Duties of department of administration. The department of administration shall do all of the following:

AB64,764,14 (1) Provide training to agencies on appropriate data collection and methods of analysis for purposes of preparing economic impact analyses of proposed rules under s. 227.137 (3).

AB64,764,19 (2) Attend hearings of the joint committee for review of administrative rules and present testimony on proposed rules that the department determines will have an economic impact on specific businesses, business sectors, public utility ratepayers, local governmental units, regulated individuals and entities, or the state's economy as a whole.

AB64,764,21 (3) Review and approve economic impact analyses as provided under s. 227.137 (3m).

AB64,764,23 (4) Request independent economic impact analyses under s. 227.137 (4m) when appropriate.

AB64,1715 Section 1715 . 227.135 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB64,765,4 227.135 (1) (intro.) An agency shall prepare a statement of the scope of any rule that it plans to promulgate, which shall be approved by the individual or body with policy-making powers over the subject matter of the proposed rule. The statement shall include all of the following:

AB64,1716 Section 1716 . 227.135 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB64,765,20 227.135 (2) An agency that has prepared a statement of the scope of the proposed rule shall present the statement to the governor and to the individual or body with policy-making powers over the subject matter of the proposed rule for approval who, in his or her discretion, may approve or reject the statement of scope. The agency may not send the statement to the legislative reference bureau for publication under sub. (3) until the governor issues a written notice of approval of the statement. The individual or body with policy-making powers may not approve the statement until at least 10 days after publication of the statement under sub. (3). No state employee or official may perform any activity in connection with the drafting of a proposed rule, except for an activity necessary to prepare the statement of the scope of the proposed rule, until the governor and the individual or body with policy-making powers over the subject matter of the proposed rule approve approves the statement. This subsection does not prohibit an agency from performing an activity necessary to prepare a petition and proposed rule for submission under s. 227.26 (4).

AB64,1717 Section 1717. 227.135 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB64,766,9 227.135 (3) If the governor approves a statement of the scope of a proposed rule under sub. (2), the agency shall send an electronic copy of the statement to the legislative reference bureau, in a format approved by the legislative reference bureau, for publication in the register. On the same day that the agency sends the statement to the legislative reference bureau, the agency shall send a copy of the statement to the secretary of administration and to the chief clerks of each house of the legislature, who shall distribute the statement to the cochairpersons of the joint committee for review of administrative rules. The agency shall include with any statement of scope sent to the legislative reference bureau the date of the governor's approval of the statement of scope. The legislative reference bureau shall assign a discrete identifying number to each statement of scope and shall include that number and the date of the governor's approval in the publication of the statement of scope in the register.

AB64,1718 Section 1718. 227.136 of the statutes is created to read:

AB64,766,16 227.136 Preliminary public hearing and comment period. (1) Within 10 days after publication of a statement of the scope of a proposed rule under s. 227.135 (3), either cochairperson of the joint committee for the review of administrative rules may submit a written directive to the agency that prepared the statement for the agency to hold a preliminary public hearing and comment period on the statement of scope as provided in this section.

AB64,767,3 (2) If the agency is directed to hold a preliminary public hearing and comment period on a statement of scope as provided in sub. (1) or if the agency otherwise opts to do so on its own initiative, the agency shall take no further action with respect to any permanent rule based upon that statement of scope until otherwise permitted under sub. (6) and shall submit to the legislative reference bureau, in a format approved by the legislative reference bureau, a notice of a preliminary public hearing and comment period to allow for public comment and feedback on the statement of scope. The agency may also take any other action it considers necessary to provide notice of the preliminary public hearing and comment period to other interested persons. The notice shall be approved by the individual or body with policy-making powers over the subject matter of the proposed rule and shall include all of the following:

AB64,767,4 (a) A statement of the date, time, and place of the preliminary public hearing.

AB64,767,6 (b) The place where comments on the statement of scope should be submitted and the deadline for submitting those comments.

AB64,767,9 (3) The agency shall hold the preliminary public hearing and comment period in accordance with the notice required under sub. (2), but may not hold the hearing sooner than the 3rd day after publication of the notice in the register.

AB64,767,11 (4) The agency shall conduct a hearing under this section in accordance with s. 227.18.

AB64,767,15 (5) The agency shall report all public comments and feedback on the statement of scope of the proposed rule that the agency receives at the preliminary public hearing and comment period to the individual or body with policy-making powers over the subject matter of the proposed rule.

AB64,767,17 (6) The agency may resume work on a permanent rule upon the conclusion of a preliminary hearing and comment period held under this section.

AB64,767,20 (7) Failure of any person to receive notice of a preliminary public hearing as provided in this section is not grounds for invalidating any resulting rule if notice of the hearing was published in the register in accordance with s. 35.93 (2) (b) 3. bm.

AB64,1719 Section 1719 . 227.137 (3) (intro.) and (a) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB64,768,9 227.137 (3) (intro.) An economic impact analysis of a proposed rule shall contain information on the economic effect of the proposed rule on specific businesses, business sectors, public utility ratepayers, local governmental units, regulated individuals and entities, and the state's economy as a whole. When The agency or vendor preparing the analysis, the agency shall solicit information and advice from businesses, associations representing businesses, local governmental units, and individuals that may be affected by the proposed rule. The agency or vendor shall prepare the economic impact analysis in coordination with local governmental units that may be affected by the proposed rule. The agency or vendor may also request information that is reasonably necessary for the preparation of an economic impact analysis from other businesses, associations, local governmental units, and individuals and from other agencies. The economic impact analysis shall include all of the following:

AB64,768,16 (a) An analysis and quantification of the policy problem that the proposed rule is intending to address, including comparisons with the approaches used by the federal government and by Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota to address that policy problem and, if. If the approach chosen by the agency to address that policy problem is different from those approaches, an economic impact analysis prepared by an agency shall include a statement as to why the agency chose a different approach.

AB64,1720 Section 1720. 227.137 (3) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 227.137 (3) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB64,768,23 227.137 (3) (b) (intro.) An analysis and detailed quantification of the economic impact of the proposed rule, including the implementation and compliance costs that are reasonably expected to be incurred by or passed along to the businesses, local governmental units, and individuals that may be affected by the proposed rule., specifically including all of the following:

AB64,1721 Section 1721. 227.137 (3) (b) 1. and 2. of the statutes are created to read:

AB64,769,7 227.137 (3) (b) 1. An estimate of the total implementation and compliance costs that are reasonably expected to be incurred by or passed along to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals as a result of the proposed rule, expressed as a single dollar figure. With respect to an independent economic impact analysis prepared under sub. (4m) or s. 227.19 (5) (b) 3., the vendor preparing the analysis shall provide a detailed explanation of any variance from the agency's estimate under this subdivision.

AB64,769,12 2. A determination, for purposes of the requirement under s. 227.139, as to whether $10,000,000 or more in implementation and compliance costs are reasonably expected to be incurred by or passed along to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals over any 2-year period as a result of the proposed rule.