AB56: Bill Text

AB56,1115,25 (1) Broadband report.

AB56,1116,1 (a) In this subsection:

AB56,1116,2 1. “Underserved” has the meaning given in s. 196.504 (1) (b).

AB56,1116,3 2. “Unserved” has the meaning given in s. 196.504 (1) (c).

AB56,1116,7 (b) No later than June 30, 2020, the public service commission and the department of administration shall jointly submit a report to the legislature in the manner provided under s. 13.172 (3) and to the governor that provides all of the following:

AB56,1116,9 1. Updates on emerging broadband technologies and how they can be used to provide broadband service to state residents.

AB56,1116,11 2. Recommendations on how to provide incentives to broadband providers to serve underserved or unserved areas of the state.

AB56,1116,14 3. Proposals on how existing state agency technology, resources, or a combination of technology and resources can be leveraged to serve underserved or unserved areas of the state.

AB56,1116,15 (2) Office of energy innovation.

AB56,1116,16 (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

AB56,1116,17 1. “Commission" means the public service commission.

AB56,1116,18 2. “Department" means the department of administration.

AB56,1116,20 3. “Focus on energy programs” means the statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource programs established under s. 196.374 (2) (a) 1.

AB56,1116,21 4. “Office" means the office of energy innovation in the commission.

AB56,1116,25 (b) Assets and liabilities. On the effective date of this paragraph, the assets and liabilities of the commission primarily relating to the office, except for assets and liabilities primarily relating to focus on energy programs, as determined by the secretary of administration, become the assets and liabilities of the department.

AB56,1117,5 (c) Employee transfers. On the effective date of this paragraph, 5.0 FTE FED positions, and the incumbent employees holding those positions, in the commission who perform duties primarily related to the office, except for duties primarily relating to focus on energy programs, as determined by the secretary of administration, are transferred to the department.

AB56,1117,10 (d) Employee status. Employees transferred under par. (c ) have all the rights and the same status under ch. 230 in the department that they enjoyed in the commission immediately before the transfer. Notwithstanding s. 230.28 (4), no employee so transferred who has attained permanent status in class is required to serve a probationary period.

AB56,1117,15 (e) Tangible personal property. On the effective date of this paragraph, all tangible personal property, including records, of the commission primarily relating to the office, except for property primarily relating to focus on energy programs, as determined by the secretary of administration, becomes the personal property of the department.

AB56,1117,21 (f) Pending matters. Any matter pending with the commission primarily relating to the office, except for matters primarily relating to focus on energy programs, as determined by the secretary of administration, on the effective date of this paragraph is transferred to the department. All materials submitted to or actions taken by the commission are considered as having been submitted to or taken by the department.

AB56,1118,2 (g) Contracts. All contracts entered into by the commission primarily relating to the office, except for contracts primarily relating to focus on energy programs, as determined by the secretary of administration, in effect on the effective date of this paragraph remain in effect and are transferred to the department. The department shall carry out any obligations under those contracts unless modified or rescinded to the extent allowed under the contract.

AB56,1118,8 (h) Rules and orders. All rules promulgated by the commission under s. 196.025 (7), 2017 stats., in effect on the effective date of this paragraph remain in effect until their specified expiration dates or until amended or repealed by the department. All orders issued by the commission under s. 196.025 (7), 2017 stats., in effect on the effective date of this paragraph remain in effect until their specified expiration dates or until modified or rescinded by the department.

AB56,9137 Section 9137. Nonstatutory provisions; Revenue.

AB56,1118,18 (1) Inventory tax imposed on vapor products. On the effective date of this subsection, an inventory tax is imposed upon vapor products, as defined under s. 139.75 (14), that are held in inventory for sale or resale in the possession of distributors or retailers. Any person who is in possession of any vapor products shall pay the tax at the rate of 71 percent of the manufacturer's list price, as defined under s. 139.75 (5b). Any person liable for this tax shall determine the number of vapor products in the person's possession on the effective date of this subsection, and shall file a return, and pay the tax due, no later than the 30th day after the effective date of this subsection.

AB56,9138 Section 9138. Nonstatutory provisions; Safety and Professional Services.

AB56,1118,21 (1) Dental therapist licensure.

AB56,1118,25 (a) When the first individual becomes licensed as a dental therapist in this state under s. 447.04 (1m), the dentistry examining board shall send a notice to the legislative reference bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register.

AB56,1119,9 (b) 1 . The dentistry examining board shall promulgate emergency rules under s. 227.24 that are necessary to implement the licensure of dental therapist under this act. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subdivision remain in effect for 2 years, or until the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the board is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subdivision as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subdivision.

AB56,1119,16 2. The dentistry examining board shall present a statement of scope for permanent and emergency rules required to implement the licensure of dental therapist under this act to the department of administration under s. 227.135 (2) no later than the 30th day after the effective date of this subdivision. Notwithstanding s. 227.135 (2), if the governor does not disapprove the statement of scope by the 30th day after the statement is presented to the department of administration, the statement is considered to be approved by the governor.

AB56,1119,23 3. The dentistry examining board shall submit a proposed emergency rule required to implement the licensure of dental therapist under this act to the governor for approval under s. 227.24 (1) (e) 1g. no later than the 150th day after the effective date of this subdivision. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (e) 1g., if the governor does not reject the proposed emergency rule by the 14th day after the rule is submitted to the governor in final draft form, the rule is considered to be approved by the governor.

AB56,1120,4 4. The dentistry examining board shall submit a proposed permanent rule required to implement the licensure of dental therapist under this act to the governor for approval under s. 227.185 no later than the 365th day after the effective date of this subdivision. Notwithstanding s. 227.185, if the governor does not reject that proposed permanent rule by the 30th day after the rule is submitted to the governor in final draft form, the rule is considered to be approved by the governor.

AB56,9139 Section 9139. Nonstatutory provisions; Secretary of State.

AB56,9140 Section 9140. Nonstatutory provisions; State Fair Park Board.

AB56,9141 Section 9141. Nonstatutory provisions; Supreme Court.

AB56,9142 Section 9142. Nonstatutory provisions; Technical College System.

AB56,9143 Section 9143. Nonstatutory provisions; Tourism.

AB56,9144 Section 9144. Nonstatutory provisions; Transportation.

AB56,1120,15 (1) Initial sharing of registration information. Notwithstanding ss. 85.61 (1), 110.09 (2), 342.06 (1) (eg), and 343.14 (2j), the department of transportation shall enter into and begin transferring information under a revised agreement with the elections commission administrator pursuant to s. 85.61 (1), no later than the first day of the 4th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection.

AB56,1120,21 (2) Harbor assistance grants priority. In the 2019-21 fiscal biennium, when making grant awards from the appropriations under ss. 20.395 (2) (cq) and 20.866 (2) (uv) for the harbor assistance program under s. 85.095, notwithstanding the eligibility criteria under s. 85.095, the department of transportation shall give priority to municipalities in which a shipbuilder in this state is conducting operations.

AB56,1121,4 (3) Statewide public safety interoperable communications system. No later than June 30, 2020, the department of transportation shall issue a request for proposals for a statewide public safety interoperable communications system to be deployed on existing tower sites. Notwithstanding s. 16.75 (1) and (2m), from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (5) (dq), the department of transportation may expend not more than $500,000 to enter into a contract with an organization to provide professional consulting services related to development of bidder qualifications and technical requirements for the request for proposals issued under this subsection.

AB56,9145 Section 9145. Nonstatutory provisions; Treasurer.

AB56,9146 Section 9146. Nonstatutory provisions; University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; Medical College of Wisconsin.

AB56,9147 Section 9147. Nonstatutory provisions; University of Wisconsin System.

AB56,1121,15 (1) Resident undergraduate tuition. Notwithstanding s. 36.27 (1) (a), the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System may not charge resident undergraduates enrolled in an institution or college campus in the 2019-20 or 2020-21 academic year more in academic fees than it charged resident undergraduates enrolled in that institution or college campus in the 2018-19 academic year.

AB56,1121,16 (2) Supplemental pay plans.

AB56,1121,18 (a) Definition. In this subsection, “board” means the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

AB56,1121,22 (b) University of Wisconsin System. During the 2019-21 fiscal biennium, the board may provide supplemental pay plans for all of its employees, other than employees assigned to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The supplemental pay plans shall be in addition to any pay plan approved under s. 230.12 (3) (e) 1.

AB56,1122,3 (c) University of Wisconsin–Madison. During the 2019-21 fiscal biennium, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison may provide supplemental pay plans for all employees assigned to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The supplemental pay plans shall be in addition to any pay plan approved under s. 230.12 (3) (e) 1. The chancellor shall submit the plans allowed under this paragraph to the board and may implement the plans only with the approval of the board.

AB56,1122,7 (d) Prohibitions. The board may not request supplemental funding under s. 20.928 to pay the costs of the plans allowed under pars. (b) and (c ), and the board, under s. 16.42, may not request any funding of increases in salary and fringe benefit costs provided in these plans.

AB56,1122,14 (e) Funding. In each fiscal year of the 2019-21 fiscal biennium, notwithstanding s. 36.112 (4), instead of allocating $26,250,000 of the amount appropriated under s. 20.285 (1) (a) as specified in s. 36.112 (4), the board may allocate all or a portion of that amount to fund the supplemental pay plans allowed under pars. (b) and (c). If the board allocates a portion of that amount for supplemental pay plans, the board shall allocate the remainder to distribute to institutions under the formula under s. 36.112 (3) (b).

AB56,1122,18 (3) Student success and attainment. From the appropriation under s. 20.285 (1) (a), the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System shall allocate $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2019-20 and $25,000,000 in fiscal year 2020-21 to advance student success and attainment.

AB56,9148 Section 9148. Nonstatutory provisions; Veterans Affairs.

AB56,1122,22 (1) Elimination of the veterans mortgage loan repayment fund. On the effective date of this subsection, the assets and liabilities of the veterans mortgage loan repayment fund become the assets and liabilities of the veterans trust fund.

AB56,9149 Section 9149. Nonstatutory provisions; Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

AB56,9150 Section 9150. Nonstatutory provisions; Workforce Development.

AB56,1123,1 (1) Transfer of worker's compensation adjudicatory functions.

AB56,1123,6 (a) Assets and liabilities. On the effective date of this paragraph, the assets and liabilities of the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration that are primarily related to worker's compensation matters, as determined by the secretary of administration, shall become the assets and liabilities of the department of workforce development.

AB56,1123,12 (b) Positions and employees. On the effective date of this paragraph, all positions and all incumbent employees holding those positions in the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration performing duties that are primarily related to worker's compensation matters, as determined by the secretary of administration, are transferred to the department of workforce development.

AB56,1123,18 (c) Employee status. Employees transferred under par. (b ) have all the rights and the same status under ch. 230 in the department of workforce development that they enjoyed in the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration immediately before the transfer. Notwithstanding s. 230.28 (4), no employee so transferred who has attained permanent status in class is required to serve a probationary period.

AB56,1123,23 (d) Tangible personal property. On the effective date of this paragraph, all tangible personal property, including records, of the the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration that is primarily related to worker's compensation matters, as determined by the secretary of administration, is transferred to the department of workforce development.

AB56,1124,5 (e) Pending matters. Any worker's compensation matter pending with the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration on the effective date of this paragraph, as determined by the secretary of administration, is transferred to the department of workforce development. All materials submitted to or actions taken by the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration with respect to the pending matter are considered as having been submitted to or taken by the department of workforce development.

AB56,1124,12 (f) Contracts. All contracts entered into by the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration in effect on the effective date of this paragraph that are primarily related to worker's compensation matters, as determined by the secretary of administration, remain in effect and are transferred to the department of workforce development. The department of workforce development shall carry out any obligations under those contracts unless modified or rescinded by the department of workforce development to the extent allowed under the contract.

AB56,1124,22 (g) Rules and orders. All rules promulgated by the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration in effect on the effective date of this paragraph that are primarily related to worker's compensation matters, as determined by the secretary of administration, remain in effect until their specified expiration dates or until amended or repealed by the department of workforce development. All orders issued by the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration in effect on the effective date of this paragraph that are primarily related to worker's compensation matters, as determined by the secretary of administration, remain in effect until their specified expiration dates or until modified or rescinded by the department of workforce development.

AB56,1124,23 (2) Minimum wage study committee.

AB56,1124,25 (a) The secretary of workforce development shall establish a minimum wage study committee under s. 15.04 (1) (c). The committee shall consist of the following:

AB56,1125,1 1. Five members appointed by the governor.

AB56,1125,2 2. One member appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

AB56,1125,3 3. One member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.

AB56,1125,4 4. One member appointed by the majority leader of the senate.

AB56,1125,5 5. One member appointed by the minority leader of the senate.

AB56,1125,8 (b) The committee created under par. (a) shall study options to achieve a $15 per hour minimum wage and other options to increase compensation for workers in this state.

AB56,1125,13 (c) No later than October 1, 2020, the committee created under par. (a) shall submit to the governor and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided under s. 13.172 (3) a report that includes recommendations regarding the options for achieving a $15 per hour minimum wage and other means of increasing worker compensation in this state.

AB56,1125,15 (d) The minimum wage study committee terminates upon submission of the report under par. (c).

AB56,1125,20 (3) Unemployment insurance; work search and registration waivers. The department of workforce development shall submit a notice to the legislative reference bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register when the department determines that the department has rules in place under s. 108.14 (27) to define suitable work.

AB56,1126,2 (4) Unemployment insurance; work search and registration waivers. The department of workforce development shall submit a notice to the legislative reference bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register when the department determines that the department has any rules in place under s. 108.04 (2) (b) that are necessary to provide waivers from the registration for work requirement under s. 108.04 (2) (a) 2. and the work search requirement under s. 108.04 (2) (a) 3.

AB56,9151 Section 9151. Nonstatutory provisions; Other.

AB56,1126,4 (1) Student loan refinancing study committee.

AB56,1126,8 (a) There is created the student loan refinancing study committee to study the creation and administration of a bonding authority for the refinancing of student loans in this state in order to ease the burden of student loan debt for this state's residents.

AB56,1126,10 (b) The student loan refinancing study committee shall consist of the following members:

AB56,1126,11 1. The secretary of financial institutions.

AB56,1126,12 2. The state treasurer.

AB56,1126,13 3. The executive secretary of the higher educational aids board.

AB56,1126,17 (c) No later than October 1, 2020, the student loan refinancing study committee shall submit to the governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3), a report that includes all of the following:

AB56,1126,19 1. Recommendations regarding the corporate and legal structure of the refinancing entity, including governance.

AB56,1126,23 2. A profile of the loan portfolio, projected start-up and operational costs, estimated staffing needs, underwriting requirements, and other information pertinent to the creation of a refinancing entity that can offer interest rate savings to this state's student loan debtors.

AB56,1127,3 3. An assessment of the feasibility of and options for offering protections to borrowers refinancing student debt through the refinancing entity that are similar to the protections under federal student loan programs.

AB56,1127,6 (d) The department of financial institutions shall pay the administrative expenses of the student loan refinancing study committee, not exceeding a total of $50,000, from the appropriation account under s. 20.144 (1) (g).

AB56,1127,8 (e) The student loan refinancing study committee terminates upon the submission of the report under par. (c ).

AB56,9201 Section 9201. Fiscal changes; Administration.

AB56,1127,12 (1) Federal e-rate transfers. There is transferred from the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (4) (mp) to the universal service fund $6,900,000 in fiscal year 2019-20 and $17,300,000 in fiscal year 2020-21.