AB888: Bill Text

2017 Assembly BILL 888

January 30, 2018 - Introduced by Representatives Murphy, Petryk, Steffen, Rohrkaste, Quinn, Kitchens, R. Brooks, E. Brooks, Krug, Novak, Kulp and Tusler, cosponsored by Senators Testin and Feyen. Referred to Committee on Workforce Development.

AB888,1,4 An Act to create 20.445 (1) (c) and 106.45 of the statutes; relating to: grants for certain University of Wisconsin and technical college graduates who paid nonresident tuition; granting rule-making authority; and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Workforce Development to establish a ten-year program for making annual grants to individuals who were charged nonresident tuition by and completed an educational program, including an apprenticeship, at Wisconsin technical colleges or University of Wisconsin System universities or colleges. To be eligible for the grants, an individual must have continuously resided and been employed in Wisconsin for a period of at least two years after graduation. The bill allows an individual to receive annual grants for no more than five consecutive years in amounts equal to 10 percent of the difference between the total amount of nonresident tuition the educational institution charged the individual and the total amount of resident tuition the educational institution would have charged the individual if the individual had been a resident. If an individual who receives a grant ceases to reside or be employed in Wisconsin, the bill provides that the individual is not eligible for any additional grants. DWD must promulgate rules establishing requirements and procedures for applying for and making the grants. The bill includes a sunset date that provides that DWD may not award a grant approximately ten years after the bill's publication. No later than six months prior to that sunset date, the bill requires DWD to submit a report to the legislature evaluating the success of the program.

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:

AB888,1 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 - See PDF for table - See PDF for table - See PDF for table

AB888,2 Section 2 . 20.445 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB888,2,8 20.445 (1) (c) Tuition repayment incentive program. The amounts in the schedule for grants under s. 106.45 (2). No money may be expended from the appropriation under this paragraph after the first day of the 120th month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], except moneys encumbered before that date.

AB888,3 Section 3. 106.45 of the statutes is created to read:

AB888,2,10 106.45 Tuition repayment incentive program. (1) In this section:

AB888,2,11 (a) “Complete an educational program” means one of the following:

AB888,3,2 1. For an individual who attended a technical college, to obtain an associate degree or technical diploma from the technical college or successfully complete all the requirements of an apprenticeship program, as defined under s. 106.001 (4), that includes related instruction provided by the technical college.

AB888,3,4 2. For an individual who attended a University of Wisconsin institution, to obtain an associate or bachelor's degree at the institution.

AB888,3,6 (b) “Eligible institution” means a University of Wisconsin institution or a technical college within the technical college system.

AB888,3,8 (c) “University of Wisconsin institution” means a college campus, as defined in s. 36.05 (6m), or a university, as defined in s. 36.05 (13).

AB888,3,17 (2) The department shall establish a program for making annual grants in amounts specified in sub. (4) to individuals who were charged nonresident tuition by eligible institutions, completed educational programs at those institutions after July 1, 2017, and have continuously resided and been employed in this state for a period of at least 2 years after completion of those programs. An individual is eligible for an annual grant under this subsection for not more than 5 consecutive years. If an individual who receives an annual grant under this subsection ceases to reside or be employed in this state, the individual is not eligible for any additional grant under this subsection.

AB888,3,20 (3) Beginning in fiscal year 2019-20, from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (c), the department shall provide funding of up to $15,000,000 in each fiscal year for grants under sub. (2).

AB888,4,2 (4) The amount of an annual grant to an individual under sub. (2) is equal to 10 percent of the difference between the total amount of nonresident tuition an eligible institution charged the individual in connection with the individual completing an educational program and the total amount of resident tuition the eligible institution would have charged the individual if the individual had been a resident.

AB888,4,5 (5) The department shall promulgate rules establishing requirements and procedures for applying for and making grants under the program established under sub. (2).

AB888,4,10 (6) No later than the first day of the 114th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], the department shall submit to the standing committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over higher education and workforce development matters a report under s. 13.172 (3) that evaluates the success of the program established under sub. (2).

AB888,4,13 (7) The department may not award a grant under sub. (2) after the first day of the 120th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date].

AB888,4,14 (End)