LRB-4149/1
MPG:cjs
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
January 30, 2020 - Introduced by Representatives Steffen, Anderson, Crowley,
Dittrich, Edming, Macco, Tusler, Wittke and Skowronski, cosponsored by
Senator Kooyenga. Referred to Committee on Jobs and the Economy.
AB837,1,4 1An Act to amend 20.866 (1) (u); and to create 13.48 (46p), 20.866 (2) (zcv) and
220.867 (3) (cv) of the statutes; relating to: purchase and renovation of a center
3for the employment of blind and visually impaired individuals, sale of the
4existing center, granting bonding authority, and making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill amends the 2019-21 Authorized State Building Program to add a
grant to Wiscraft, Inc., doing business as Beyond Vision, to assist in the purchase and
renovation of a new facility in Milwaukee County for the employment of blind and
visually impaired individuals and the provision of related services to those
individuals. The project has a combined cost of $11,000,000 ($5,000,000 in general
fund supported borrowing authority and $6,000,000 in gifts, grants, and other
receipts). Under the bill, the Department of Administration is required to sell the
existing land and facilities occupied by Wiscraft, Inc., to the highest bidder and
deposit the proceeds of the sale in the budget stabilization fund.
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:
AB837,1 5Section 1 . 13.48 (46p) of the statutes is created to read:
AB837,2,10
113.48 (46p) Beyond Vision; new facility. (a) The legislature finds and
2determines that the employment of individuals who are blind or visually impaired,
3including statewide remote employment, and providing other related services to
4those individuals, improves those individuals' lives and increases the workforce and
5reduces unemployment in this state and is a statewide responsibility of statewide
6dimension. It is therefore in the public interest, and it is the public policy of this
7state, to assist Wiscraft, Inc., doing business as Beyond Vision, in the purchase and
8renovation of a new facility in Milwaukee County, to be known as the VisABILITY
9Center, for the employment of, and provision of other related services to, blind and
10visually impaired individuals.
AB837,2,1811 (b) The building commission may authorize up to $5,000,000 in general fund
12supported borrowing to assist Wiscraft, Inc., in the purchase and renovation of a new
13facility in Milwaukee County for the employment of, and provision of other related
14services to, blind and visually impaired individuals. The state funding commitment
15shall be in the form of a grant to Wiscraft, Inc. Before approving any state funding
16commitment for the purchase and renovation of the new facility, the building
17commission shall determine that Wiscraft, Inc., has secured additional funding for
18the project of at least $6,000,000 from nonstate revenue sources.
AB837,2,2319 (c) If the building commission authorizes a grant to Wiscraft, Inc., under par.
20(b) and if, for any reason, the space that is purchased and renovated with funds from
21the grant is not used for the employment of, and provision of other related services
22to, blind and visually impaired individuals, the state shall retain an ownership
23interest in the renovated space equal to the amount of the state's grant.
AB837,2 24Section 2. 20.866 (1) (u) of the statutes, as affected by 2019 Wisconsin Act 9,
25is amended to read:
AB837,3,14
120.866 (1) (u) Principal repayment and interest. A sum sufficient from moneys
2appropriated under sub. (2) (zp) and ss. 20.115 (2) (d) and (7) (b) and (s), 20.190 (1)
3(c), (d), (i), and (j), 20.225 (1) (c) and (i), 20.245 (1) (e) and (j), 20.250 (1) (c) and (e),
420.255 (1) (d), 20.285 (1) (d), (gj), and (je), 20.320 (1) (c) and (t) and (2) (c), 20.370 (7)
5(aa), (ad), (ag), (aq), (ar), (at), (au), (bq), (br), (cb), (cc), (cd), (cg), (cq), (cr), (cs), (ct), (ea),
6(eq), and (er), 20.395 (6) (af), (aq), (ar), and (au), 20.410 (1) (e), (ec), and (ko) and (3)
7(e) and (fm), 20.435 (2) (ee), 20.465 (1) (d), 20.485 (1) (f) and (go) and (4) (qm), 20.505
8(4) (es), (et), (ha), and (hb) and (5) (c), (g), and (kc), 20.855 (8) (a), and 20.867 (1) (a)
9and (b) and (3) (a), (b), (bb), (bc), (bd), (be), (bf), (bg), (bh), (bj), (bL), (bm), (bn), (bq),
10(br), (bt), (bu), (bv), (bw), (bx), (cb), (cd), (cf), (ch), (cj), (cq), (cr), (cs), (cv), (cw), (cx),
11(g), (h), (i), (kd), and (q) for the payment of principal, interest, premium due, if any,
12and payment due, if any, under an agreement or ancillary arrangement entered into
13under s. 18.06 (8) (a) relating to any public debt contracted under subchs. I and IV
14of ch. 18.
AB837,3 15Section 3 . 20.866 (2) (zcv) of the statutes is created to read:
AB837,3,2016 20.866 (2) (zcv) Beyond Vision; VisABILITY Center. From the capital
17improvement fund, a sum sufficient for the building commission to provide a grant
18to Wiscraft, Inc., for the purchase and renovation of the VisABILITY Center specified
19in s. 13.48 (46p). The state may contract public debt in an amount not to exceed
20$5,000,000 for this purpose.
AB837,4 21Section 4 . 20.867 (3) (cv) of the statutes is created to read:
AB837,4,322 20.867 (3) (cv) Principal repayment, interest, and rebates; Beyond Vision;
23VisABILITY Center.
A sum sufficient to reimburse s. 20.866 (1) (u) for the payment
24of principal and interest costs incurred in financing the purchase and renovation of
25the VisABILITY Center specified in s. 13.48 (46p), to make the payments determined

1by the building commission under s. 13.488 (1) (m) that are attributable to the
2proceeds of obligations incurred in financing the project, and to make payments
3under an agreement or ancillary arrangement entered into under s. 18.06 (8) (a).
AB837,5 4Section 5 . Nonstatutory provisions.
AB837,4,75 (1) In 2019 Wisconsin Act 9, section 9104 (1), the following new paragraph is
6created to add the following new project to the 2019-21 Authorized State Building
7Program and the appropriate totals are increased by the amount shown: - See PDF for table PDF
AB837,4,88 (2) Beyond Vision; VisABILITY Center.
AB837,5,69 (a) Notwithstanding s. 13.48 (46p) (b), the building commission may not make
10a grant to Wiscraft, Inc., for the purchase and renovation of the VisABILITY Center,

1as enumerated in sub. (1 ), under s. 13.48 (46p), unless the department of
2administration has reviewed and approved plans for the project. Notwithstanding
3ss. 16.85 (1) and 16.855 (1m), the department may not supervise any services or work
4or let any contract for the project. Section 16.87 does not apply to the project. Once
5the project is completed, the department shall offer for sale under s. 16.848 the
6existing state facilities occupied by Wiscraft, Inc.
AB837,5,127 (b) Notwithstanding ss. 13.48 (14) (am) and 16.848 (1), the department of
8administration shall solicit public bids for the purchase of the existing lands and
9facilities occupied by Wiscraft, Inc. No later than 6 months after Wiscraft, Inc.,
10vacates those existing lands and facilities, the department of administration shall
11sell those lands and facilities to the highest bidder. The secretary of administration
12shall deposit all proceeds of the sale in the budget stabilization fund.
AB837,5,1313 (End)
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