AB682: Bill Text

AB682,6,25 1. Promulgate rules to implement par. (b) 1. a. The rules shall not apply to an employer that certifies on a per-contract basis as provided in par. (b) 1. b.

AB682,7,1 2. Promulgate rules to determine all of the following:

AB682,7,5 a. Penalties for a failure to comply with the certification requirement under par. (b) 1. The rules shall, except as provided in subd. 2. b., provide for a warning for a first violation of the certification requirement under par. (b) 1. and may provide penalties only for repeated violations.

AB682,7,9 b. Penalties for a failure to comply with the certification requirement under par. (b) 1. if an accident that results in a reportable injury or illness under 29 CFR 1904 or reportable property damage occurs while the employer was not so certified. A penalty under this subd. 2. b. may not exceed $25,000.

AB682,7,12 3. Send an annual notice by mail to any business that has performed work on a transportation project or public utility project and to any other contractor likely to bid on such projects describing the certification requirements under this subsection.

AB682,7,14 4. Maintain a list of all employers certified under par. (b) 1. a. that is easily accessible by the public.

AB682,7,18 (d) An employer that is subject to the certification requirement under par. (b) and that has not complied with that requirement may not commence work on a project for which the employer's contract is subject to par. (a) until the employer is in compliance.

AB682,7,20 (7) Penalties. In addition to any other penalties provided under this chapter, the department shall do all of the following:

AB682,7,22 (a) Assess a penalty for repeat violations of the certification requirement under sub. (6) (b), in accordance with the rules promulgated under sub. (6) (c) 2. a.

AB682,8,2 (b) Assess a penalty against an employer that has failed to comply with the certification requirement under sub. (6) (b), in accordance with the rules promulgated under sub. (6) (c) 2. b., when the department determines that an accident that resulted in a reportable injury or illness under 29 CFR 1904 or reportable property damage occurred while the employer was not so certified.

AB682,14 Section 14 . Nonstatutory provisions.

AB682,8,4 (1) Definitions.

AB682,8,5 (a) “Corporation” means the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

AB682,8,7 (b) “Park Falls Mill” means the Park Falls Pulp and Paper Mill located at 200 1st Avenue North in the city of Park Falls.

AB682,8,9 (c) “Verso Mill” means the Verso Paper Mill located at 600 4th Avenue North in the city of Wisconsin Rapids.

AB682,8,11 (2) Administration of programs. The corporation shall administer the economic development programs under this section.

AB682,8,12 (3) Grant related to the Verso Mill.

AB682,8,18 (a) Grant. Subject to par. (b), from the appropriation under s. 20.192 (1) (r), of the moneys transferred to the economic development fund under par. (c), the corporation may award a grant of up to $1,000,000 to an eligible recipient for the purpose of maintaining operations at the Verso Mill. The grant shall be upon the terms and conditions determined by the corporation, as approved or modified under par. (b).

AB682,8,23 (b) Approval of proposed grant. No later than 30 days after the effective date of this paragraph, the corporation shall submit the terms and conditions for a proposed grant under par. (a) to the joint committee on finance. The committee may approve, modify, or deny the proposal. The corporation may not award a grant under par. (a) except as approved or modified by the committee.

AB682,8,24 (c) Fund transfers.

AB682,9,6 1. There is transferred from the general fund to the economic development fund $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2021-22. The moneys transferred under this subdivision shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.192 (1) (r), may not be considered expended for purposes of s. 20.192 (1) (a), shall be considered encumbered for purposes of s. 20.192 (1) (a), and may not be expended other than as provided under this subsection.

AB682,9,9 2. If the joint committee on finance denies the proposed grant under par. (b ), no later than 30 days after the date of the denial, the secretary of administration shall transfer $1,000,000 from the economic development fund to the general fund.

AB682,9,13 3. If the joint committee on finance approves or modifies a proposed grant under par. (b), and the corporation does not award the grant before June 30, 2023, the secretary of administration shall transfer $1,000,000 from the economic development fund to the general fund on that date.

AB682,9,14 (4) Loan guarantee related to the Park Falls Mill.

AB682,9,21 (a) Loan guarantee. Subject to par. (b ), from the appropriation under s. 20.192 (1) (r), of the moneys transferred to the economic development fund under par. (c), the corporation may issue a loan guarantee of up to $15,000,000 to an eligible borrower to secure financing that is not otherwise readily available for the purpose of purchasing or making infrastructure improvements to the Park Falls Mill, or both. The loan guarantee shall be upon the terms and conditions determined by the corporation, as approved or modified under par. (b ).

AB682,9,24 (b) Approval of loan guarantee. No later than 30 days after the effective date of this paragraph, the corporation shall submit the terms and conditions for a loan guarantee under par. (a) to the joint committee on finance. The committee may approve, modify, or deny the proposal. The corporation may not issue a loan guarantee under par. (a) except as approved or modified by the committee.

AB682,10,3 (c) Fund transfers.

AB682,10,9 1. There is transferred from the general fund to the economic development fund $15,000,000 in fiscal year 2021-22. The moneys transferred under this subdivision shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.192 (1) (r), may not be considered expended for purposes of s. 20.192 (1) (a), shall be considered encumbered for purposes of s. 20.192 (1) (a), and may not be expended other than as provided under this subsection.

AB682,10,13 2. If the joint committee on finance denies the proposed loan guarantee under par. (b), no later than 30 days after the date of the denial, the secretary of administration shall transfer $15,000,000 from the economic development fund to the general fund.

AB682,10,17 3. If the joint committee on finance approves or modifies a proposed loan guarantee under par. (b), and the corporation does not issue the loan guarantee before June 30, 2023, the secretary of administration shall transfer $15,000,000 from the economic development fund to the general fund on that date.

AB682,10,23 4. If the joint committee on finance approves or modifies a proposed loan guarantee under par. (b), and the eligible borrower does not draw upon the full amount of the loan guarantee before the end date of the term of the loan guarantee, as approved by the committee, no later than 30 days after that end date, the secretary of administration shall transfer $15,000,000 less the amount drawn upon from the economic development fund to the general fund.

AB682,15 Section 15 . Effective dates. This act takes effect on the 90th day after publication, except as follows:

AB682,11,1 (1) Section 14 of this act takes effect on the day after publication.

AB682,11,2 (End)