AB43: Bill Text

AB43,1274,22 139.976 Theft of tax moneys. All marijuana tax moneys received by a permittee for the sale of marijuana or usable marijuana on which the tax under this subchapter has become due and has not been paid are trust funds in the permittee's possession and are the property of this state. Any permittee who fraudulently withholds, appropriates, or otherwise uses marijuana tax moneys that are the property of this state is guilty of theft under s. 943.20 (1), whether or not the permittee has or claims to have an interest in those moneys.

AB43,1275,3 139.977 Seizure and confiscation. (1) All marijuana and usable marijuana produced, processed, made, kept, stored, sold, distributed, or transported in violation of this subchapter, and all tangible personal property used in connection with the marijuana or usable marijuana, is unlawful property and subject to seizure by the department or a law enforcement officer. Except as provided in sub. (2), all marijuana and usable marijuana seized under this subsection shall be destroyed.

AB43,1275,9 (2) If marijuana or usable marijuana on which the tax has not been paid is seized as provided under sub. (1), it may be given to law enforcement officers to use in criminal investigations or sold to qualified buyers by the department, without notice. If the department finds that the marijuana or usable marijuana may deteriorate or become unfit for use in criminal investigations or for sale, or that those uses would otherwise be impractical, the department may order it destroyed.

AB43,1275,16 (3) If marijuana or usable marijuana on which the tax has been paid is seized as provided under sub. (1), it shall be returned to the true owner if ownership can be ascertained and the owner or the owner's agent is not involved in the violation resulting in the seizure. If the ownership cannot be ascertained or if the owner or the owner's agent was guilty of the violation that resulted in the seizure of the marijuana or usable marijuana, it may be sold or otherwise disposed of as provided in sub. (2).

AB43,1276,10 (4) If tangible personal property other than marijuana or usable marijuana is seized as provided under sub. (1), the department shall advertise the tangible personal property for sale by publication of a class 2 notice under ch. 985. If no person claiming a lien on, or ownership of, the property has notified the department of the person's claim within 10 days after last insertion of the notice, the department shall sell the property. If a sale is not practical the department may destroy the property. If a person claiming a lien on, or ownership of, the property notifies the department within the time prescribed in this subsection, the department may apply to the circuit court in the county where the property was seized for an order directing disposition of the property or the proceeds from the sale of the property. If the court orders the property to be sold, all liens, if any, may be transferred from the property to the sale proceeds. Neither the property seized nor the proceeds from the sale shall be turned over to any claimant of lien or ownership unless the claimant first establishes that the property was not used in connection with any violation under this subchapter or that, if so used, it was done without the claimant's knowledge or consent and without the claimant's knowledge of facts that should have given the claimant reason to believe it would be put to such use. If no claim of lien or ownership is established as provided under this subsection the property may be ordered destroyed.

AB43,1276,15 139.978 Interest and penalties. (1) Any person who makes or signs any false or fraudulent report under this subchapter or who attempts to evade the tax imposed by s. 139.971, or who aids in or abets the evasion or attempted evasion of that tax, may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.

AB43,1276,18 (2) Any permittee who fails to keep the records required by s. 139.974 (1) and (2) shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.

AB43,1276,23 (3) Any person who refuses to permit the examination or inspection authorized under s. 139.975 (3) may be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both. The department shall immediately suspend or revoke the permit of any person who refuses to permit the examination or inspection authorized under s. 139.975 (3).

AB43,1277,3 (4) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this subchapter for which no other penalty is prescribed shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 or imprisoned not less than 10 days nor more than 90 days or both.

AB43,1277,6 (5) Any person who violates any of the rules promulgated in accordance with this subchapter shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.

AB43,1277,10 (6) In addition to the penalties imposed for violating the provisions of this subchapter or any of the department's rules, the department shall revoke the permit of any person convicted of such a violation and not issue another permit to that person for a period of 2 years following the revocation.

AB43,1277,14 (7) Unpaid taxes bear interest at the rate of 12 percent per year from the due date of the return until paid or deposited with the department, and all refunded taxes bear interest at the rate of 3 percent per year from the due date of the return to the date on which the refund is certified on the refund rolls.

AB43,1277,16 (8) All nondelinquent payments of additional amounts owed shall be applied in the following order: penalties, interest, tax principal.

AB43,1277,19 (9) Delinquent marijuana taxes bear interest at the rate of 1.5 percent per month until paid. The taxes imposed by this subchapter shall become delinquent if not paid:

AB43,1277,21 (a) In the case of a timely filed return, no return filed or a late return, on or before the due date of the return.

AB43,1277,23 (b) In the case of a deficiency determination of taxes, within 2 months after the date of demand.

AB43,1278,2 (10) If due to neglect an incorrect return is filed, the entire tax finally determined is subject to a penalty of 25 percent of the tax exclusive of interest or other penalty. A person filing an incorrect return has the burden of proving that the error or errors were due to good cause and not due to neglect.

AB43,1278,8 139.979 Personal use. An individual who possesses no more than 6 marijuana plants that have reached the flowering stage at any one time is not subject to the tax imposed under s. 139.971. An individual who possesses more than 6 marijuana plants that have reached the flowering stage at any one time shall apply for the appropriate permit under s. 139.972 and pay the appropriate tax imposed under s. 139.971.

AB43,1278,13 139.980 Agreement with tribes. The department may enter into an agreement with a federally recognized American Indian tribe in this state for the administration and enforcement of this subchapter and to provide refunds of the tax imposed under s. 139.971 on marijuana sold on tribal land by or to enrolled members of the tribe residing on the tribal land.

AB43,2295 Section 2295. 145.02 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,1278,22 145.02 (4) (a) The department shall prescribe rules as to the qualifications, examination and licensing of master and journeyman plumbers and restricted plumber licensees, for the licensing of utility contractors, for the registration of plumbing apprentices and pipe layers and for the registration and training of registered learners. The department may approve, in whole or in part, an examination prepared, administered, and graded by a test service provider. The plumbers council, created under s. 15.407 (16), shall advise the department in formulating the rules.

AB43,2296 Section 2296. 145.07 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB43,1279,3 145.07 (2) Application for a master or journeyman plumber's examination, temporary permit or license shall be made to the department with fees. Unless the applicant is entitled to a renewal of license, a license shall be issued only after the applicant passes a satisfactory examination showing fitness. No such license or permit shall be transferable.

AB43,2297 Section 2297. 145.20 (5) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, is amended to read:

AB43,1279,19 145.20 (5) (a) The department shall establish a maintenance program to be administered by governmental units responsible for the regulation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems. The department shall determine the private on-site wastewater treatment systems to which the maintenance program applies. At a minimum the maintenance program is applicable to all new or replacement private on-site wastewater treatment systems constructed in a governmental unit after the date on which the governmental unit adopts this program. The department may apply the maintenance program by rule to private on-site wastewater treatment systems constructed in a governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems on or before the date on which the governmental unit adopts the program. The department shall determine the private on-site wastewater treatment systems to which the maintenance program applies in governmental units that do not meet the conditions for eligibility under s. 145.246 (8).

AB43,2298 Section 2298. 145.20 (5) (am) of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, is amended to read:

AB43,1280,4 145.20 (5) (am) Each governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems shall adopt and begin the administration of the program established under par. (a) before October 1, 2019. As part of adopting and administering the program, the governmental unit shall conduct and maintain an inventory of all the private on-site wastewater treatment systems located in the governmental unit and shall complete the initial inventory before October 1, 2017. In order to be eligible for grant funding under s. 145.246, a governmental unit must comply with these deadlines.

AB43,2299 Section 2299. 145.246 of the statutes is created to read:

AB43,1280,7 145.246 Private on-site wastewater treatment system replacement or rehabilitation. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB43,1280,8 (a) “Determination of failure" means any of the following:

AB43,1280,13 1. A determination that a private on-site wastewater treatment system is failing, according to the criteria under s. 145.01 (4m), based on an inspection of the private on-site wastewater treatment system by an employee of the state or a governmental unit who is certified to inspect private on-site wastewater treatment systems by the department.

AB43,1280,15 2. A written enforcement order issued under s. 145.02 (3) (f), 145.20 (2) (f), or 281.19 (2).

AB43,1280,17 3. A written enforcement order issued under s. 254.59 (1) by a governmental unit.

AB43,1280,20 (b) “Governmental unit" means a governmental unit responsible for the regulation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems. “Governmental unit" also includes a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band.

AB43,1280,24 (c) “Indian lands" means lands owned by the United States and held for the use or benefit of Indian tribes or bands or individual Indians and lands within the boundaries of a federally recognized reservation that are owned by Indian tribes or bands or individual Indians.

AB43,1281,3 (d) “Participating governmental unit" means a governmental unit which applies to the department for financial assistance under sub. (7) and which meets the conditions specified under sub. (8).

AB43,1281,5 (e) “Principal residence" means a residence which is occupied at least 51 percent of the year by the owner.

AB43,1281,8 (f) “Sewage" means the water-carried wastes created in and to be conducted away from residences, industrial establishments, and public buildings, as defined in s. 101.01 (12), with such surface water or groundwater as may be present.

AB43,1281,11 (g) “Small commercial establishment" means a commercial establishment or business place with a maximum daily waste water flow rate of less than 5,000 gallons per day.

AB43,1281,15 (2) Categories of failing private on-site wastewater treatment systems. For the purposes of this section, the department shall establish the category of each failing private on-site wastewater treatment system for which a grant application is submitted, as follows:

AB43,1281,17 (a) Category 1: failing private on-site wastewater treatment systems described in s. 145.01 (4m) (a) to (c).

AB43,1281,19 (b) Category 2: failing private on-site wastewater treatment systems described in s. 145.01 (4m) (d).

AB43,1281,21 (c) Category 3: failing private on-site wastewater treatment systems described in s. 145.01 (4m) (e).

AB43,1282,5 (3) Eligibility. (a) 1. A person is eligible for grant funds under this section if he or she owns a principal residence which is served by a category 1 or 2 failing private on-site wastewater treatment system, if the private on-site wastewater treatment system was installed at least 33 years before the person submits a grant application, if the family income of the person does not exceed the income limitations under par. (c), if the amount of the grant determined under sub. (6) is at least $100, if the residence is not located in an area served by a sewer, and if determination of failure is made prior to the rehabilitation or replacement of the failing private on-site wastewater treatment system.

AB43,1282,13 2. A business is eligible for grant funds under this section if it owns a small commercial establishment which is served by a category 1 or 2 failing private on-site wastewater treatment system, if the private on-site wastewater treatment system was installed at least 33 years before the business submits a grant application, if the gross revenue of the business does not exceed the limitation under par. (d), if the small commercial establishment is not located in an area served by a sewer, and if a determination of failure is made prior to the rehabilitation or replacement of the private on-site wastewater treatment system.

AB43,1282,19 3. A person who owns a principal residence or small commercial establishment which is served by a category 1 or 2 failing private on-site wastewater treatment system may submit an application for grant funds during the 3-year period after the determination of failure is made. Grant funds may be awarded after work is completed if rehabilitation or replacement of the system meets all requirements of this section and rules promulgated under this section.

AB43,1282,21 (b) Each principal residence or small commercial establishment may receive only one grant under this section.

AB43,1283,5 (c) 1. In order to be eligible for grant funds under this section, the annual family income of the person who owns the principal residence may not exceed $45,000. Beginning July 1, 2024, and annually on July 1 thereafter, the department shall adjust the dollar amount specified in this subdivision by an amount equal to that dollar amount multiplied by the percentage change in the U.S. consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, U.S. city average, for the prior year, rounded to the nearest dollar. The department shall publish the dollar amounts on its website. Notwithstanding s. 227.10, the adjusted dollar amounts need not be promulgated as rules under ch. 227.

AB43,1283,9 2. Except as provided under subd. 4., annual family income shall be based upon the federal adjusted gross income of the owner and the owner's spouse, if any, as computed for the taxable year prior to the year in which the determination of failure is made.

AB43,1283,13 3. In order to be eligible for grant funds under this section, a person shall submit a copy of the federal income tax returns upon which the determination of federal adjusted gross income under subd. 2. was made together with any application required by the governmental unit.

AB43,1283,20 4. A governmental unit may disregard the federal income tax return that is submitted under subd. 3. and may determine annual family income based upon satisfactory evidence of federal adjusted gross income or projected federal adjusted gross income of the owner and the owner's spouse in the current year. The department shall promulgate rules establishing criteria for determining what constitutes satisfactory evidence of federal adjusted gross income or projected federal adjusted gross income in a current year.

AB43,1283,23 (d) 1. In order to be eligible for grant funds under this section, the annual gross revenue of the business that owns the small commercial establishment may not exceed $362,500.

AB43,1284,3 2. Except as provided in subd. 4., annual gross revenue shall be based upon the gross revenue of the business for the taxable year prior to the year in which the determination of failure is made. The department shall promulgate rules establishing criteria for determining what constitutes satisfactory evidence of gross revenue in a prior taxable year.

AB43,1284,6 3. In order to be eligible for grant funds under this section, a business shall submit documentation required by the department under subd. 2. together with any application required by the governmental unit.

AB43,1284,12 4. A governmental unit may disregard the documentation of gross revenue for the taxable year prior to the year in which the determination of failure is made and may determine annual gross revenue based upon satisfactory evidence of gross revenue of the business in the current year. The department shall promulgate rules establishing criteria for determining what constitutes satisfactory evidence of gross revenue in a current year.

AB43,1284,14 (e) The department of revenue shall, upon request by the department, verify the income information submitted by an applicant or grant recipient.

AB43,1284,20 (4) Denial of application. (a) The department or a governmental unit shall deny a grant application under this section if the applicant or a person who would be directly benefited by the grant intentionally caused the conditions which resulted in a category 1 or 2 failing private on-site wastewater treatment system. The department or governmental unit shall notify the applicant in writing of a denial, including the reason for the denial.

AB43,1285,4 (b) The department shall notify a governmental unit if an individual's name appears on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b). The department or a governmental unit shall deny an application under this section if the name of the applicant or an individual who would be directly benefited by the grant appears on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), unless the applicant or individual who would be benefited by the grant provides to the department or governmental unit a payment agreement that has been approved by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and that is consistent with rules promulgated under s. 49.858 (2) (a).

AB43,1285,10 (5) Use of funds. (a) Except for grants under par. (b), funds available under a grant under this section shall be applied to the rehabilitation or replacement of the private on-site wastewater treatment system. An existing private on-site wastewater treatment system may be replaced by an alternative private on-site wastewater treatment system or by a system serving more than one principal residence.

AB43,1285,13 (b) Funds available under a grant under this section for experimental private on-site wastewater treatment systems shall be applied to the installation and monitoring of the experimental private on-site wastewater treatment systems.

AB43,1285,18 (6) Allowable costs; state share. (a) Except as provided in par. (e), costs allowable in determining grant funding under this section may not exceed the costs of rehabilitating or replacing a private on-site wastewater treatment system that would be necessary to allow the rehabilitated system or new system to meet the minimum requirements of the state plumbing code promulgated under s. 145.02.

AB43,1285,24 (b) Except as provided in par. (e), costs allowable in determining grant funding under this section may not exceed the costs of rehabilitating or replacing a private on-site wastewater treatment system by the least costly methods, except that a holding tank may not be used as the measure of the least costly method for rehabilitating or replacing a private on-site wastewater treatment system other than a holding tank.

AB43,1286,18 (c) Except as provided in pars. (d) and (e), the state grant share under this section is limited to $7,000 for each principal residence or small commercial establishment to be served by the private on-site wastewater treatment system or to the amount determined by the department based upon private on-site wastewater treatment system grant funding tables, whichever is less. The department shall prepare and publish private on-site wastewater treatment system grant funding tables which specify the maximum state share limitation for various components and costs involved in the rehabilitation or replacement of a private on-site wastewater treatment system based upon minimum size and other requirements specified in the state plumbing code promulgated under s. 145.02. The maximum state share limitations shall be designed to pay approximately 60 percent of the average allowable cost of private on-site wastewater treatment system rehabilitation or replacement based upon estimated or actual costs of that rehabilitation or replacement. The department shall revise the grant funding tables when it determines that 60 percent of current costs of private on-site wastewater treatment system rehabilitation or replacement exceed the amounts in the grant funding tables by more than 10 percent, except that the department may not revise the grant funding tables more often than once every 2 years.

AB43,1286,23 (d) Except as provided in par. (e), if the income of a person who owns a principal residence that is served by a category 1 or 2 failing private on-site wastewater treatment system is greater than $32,000, the amount of the grant under this section is limited to the amount determined under par. (c) less 30 percent of the amount by which the person's income exceeds $32,000.

AB43,1287,4 (e) Costs allowable for experimental private on-site wastewater treatment systems shall include the costs of installing and monitoring experimental private on-site wastewater treatment systems installed under s. 145.02 (3) (b) and this section. The department shall promulgate rules that specify how the department will select, monitor, and allocate the state share for experimental private on-site wastewater treatment systems that the department funds under this section.

AB43,1287,12 (7) Application. (a) In order to be eligible for a grant under this section, a governmental unit shall make an application for replacement or rehabilitation of private on-site wastewater treatment systems of principal residences or small commercial establishments and shall submit an application for participation to the department. The application shall be in the form and include the information the department prescribes. In order to be eligible for funds available in a fiscal year, an application is required to be received by the department prior to February 1 of the previous fiscal year.

AB43,1287,14 (b) An American Indian tribe or band may submit an application for participation for any Indian lands under its jurisdiction.

AB43,1287,16 (8) Conditions; governmental units. As a condition for obtaining grant funding under this section, a governmental unit shall do all of the following:

AB43,1287,18 (a) Adopt and administer the maintenance program established under s. 145.20 (5).

AB43,1287,23 (b) Certify that grants will be used for private on-site wastewater treatment system replacement or rehabilitation for a principal residence or small commercial establishment owned by a person who meets the eligibility requirements under sub. (3), that the funds will be used as provided under sub. (5) and that allowable costs will not exceed the amount permitted under sub. (6).

AB43,1287,25 (c) Certify that grants will be used for private on-site wastewater treatment systems which will be properly installed and maintained.

AB43,1288,2 (d) Certify that grants provided to the governmental unit will be disbursed to eligible owners.

AB43,1288,4 (e) Establish a process for regulation and inspection of private on-site wastewater treatment systems.

AB43,1288,8 (f) Establish a system of user charges and cost recovery if the governmental unit considers this system to be appropriate. User charges and cost recovery may include the cost of the grant application fee and the cost of supervising installation and maintenance.

AB43,1288,13 (g) Establish a system which provides for the distribution of grant funds received among eligible applicants based on the amount requested in the application as approved by the department. If the amount received by a county is insufficient to fully fund all grants, the county shall prorate grant funds on the same basis as sub. (12).

AB43,1288,17 (9) Assistance. The department shall make its staff available to provide technical assistance to each governmental unit. The department shall prepare and distribute to each participating governmental unit a manual of procedures for the grant program under this section.

AB43,1288,21 (10) Distribution of literature. The department shall prepare literature that describes the eligibility for receiving a grant under this section for a principal residence. The department shall supply the literature to counties, and counties shall distribute the literature to recipients of public benefits.

AB43,1289,2 (11) Allocation of funds. (a) Determination of eligible applications. At the beginning of each fiscal year the department shall determine the state grant share for applications from eligible owners received by participating governmental units. The department may revise this determination if a governmental unit does not meet the conditions specified under sub. (8) or if it determines that individuals do not meet eligibility requirements under sub. (3).

AB43,1289,5 (b) Allocation. The department shall allocate available funds for grants to each participating governmental unit according to the total amount of the state grant share for all eligible applications received by that governmental unit.

AB43,1289,8 (c) Limitation; commercial establishments. The department may not allocate more than 10 percent of the funds available under this subsection each fiscal year for grants for small commercial establishments.

AB43,1289,12 (d) Limitation; experimental private on-site wastewater treatment systems. The department may not allocate more than 10 percent of the funds available under this subsection each fiscal year for grants for the installation and monitoring of experimental private on-site wastewater treatment systems.

AB43,1289,15 (12) Prorating. (a) Except as provided in par. (d), the department shall prorate available funds under this subsection if funds are not sufficient to fully fund all applications. A prorated payment shall be deemed full payment of the grant.

AB43,1289,19 (b) Except as provided in par. (d), if funds are sufficient to fully fund all category 1 but not all category 2 failing private on-site wastewater treatment systems, the department shall fully fund all category 1 systems and prorate the funds for category 2 systems on a proportional basis.

AB43,1289,23 (c) Except as provided in par. (d), if funds are not sufficient to fully fund all category 1 failing private on-site wastewater treatment systems, the department shall fund the category 1 systems on a proportional basis and deny the grant applications for all category 2 systems.

AB43,1290,3 (d) The department is not required to prorate available funds for grants for the installation and monitoring of experimental private on-site wastewater treatment systems.

AB43,1290,7 (13) Determination of eligibility; disbursement of grants. (a) The department shall review applications for participation in the state program submitted under sub. (7). The department shall determine if a governmental unit submitting an application meets the conditions specified under sub. (8).

AB43,1290,9 (b) The department shall promulgate rules which shall define payment mechanisms to be used to disburse grants to a governmental unit.

AB43,1290,14 (14) Inspection. Agents of the department or the governmental unit may enter premises where private on-site wastewater treatment systems are located pursuant to a special inspection warrant as required under s. 66.0119 to collect samples, records, and information and to ascertain compliance with the rules and orders of the department or the governmental unit.

AB43,1290,17 (15) Enforcement. (a) If the department has reason to believe that a violation of this section or any rule promulgated under this section has occurred, it may do any of the following: