106.20 History
History: 1987 a. 399;
1989 a. 31,
336;
1991 a. 32,
39,
315;
1993 a. 16,
213,
243,
491;
1995 a. 27 s.
3720; Stats. 1995 s. 106.20.
106.21
106.21
Wisconsin service corps program. 106.21(1)(a)
(a) "Community services activity" means an activity that addresses a social, health or economic need of the community.
106.21(1)(b)
(b) "Corps member" means a person enrolled in the Wisconsin service corps program under this section.
106.21(1)(c)
(c) "Financial support" includes in-kind services and materials.
106.21(1)(d)
(d) "In-kind services and materials" includes services such as training, supervision, administration, transportation, insurance liability coverage and similar services and materials such as supplies, fuel, tools, equipment, safety equipment and other materials for a project.
106.21(1)(e)
(e) "Local unit of government" means the governing body of any city, town, village, county, county utility district, town sanitary district, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, metropolitan sewerage district or school district or the elected tribal governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band.
106.21 Note
NOTE: Par. (g) is shown as affected by three acts of the 1995 legislature and as merged by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2) (c).
106.21(1)(h)
(h) "State agency" has the meaning given in
s. 227.01 (1) but also includes the office of district attorney.
106.21(2)
(2) Objectives. The department shall develop guidelines for the Wisconsin service corps program designed to promote the objectives of:
106.21(2)(a)
(a)
Employment of young adults. Providing employment for young men and women in a county with a population of 500,000 or more.
106.21(2)(b)
(b)
Personal development. Encouraging and developing work skills, discipline, cooperation, meaningful work experiences and training and educational opportunities for corps members.
106.21(2)(c)
(c)
Community services. Addressing the social, health and economic needs of a community within a county that has a population of 500,000 or more.
106.21(3)
(3) Application for project approval. 106.21(3)(a)(a)
Eligible sponsors. A state agency, local unit of government or private organization that operates in a county that has a population of 500,000 or more may apply to the department for approval of a project consisting of community services activities.
106.21(3)(b)
(b)
Eligible projects. In order to qualify as an approved project, the project must provide employment opportunities, consist of community services activities and be located in a county that has a population of 500,000 or more. If the sponsor is a nonprofit organization, the project must serve a valid public purpose in order to qualify as an approved project.
106.21(3)(c)
(c)
Sponsor's application. In order to qualify as an approved project, the sponsor must submit in the application:
106.21(3)(c)1.
1. A summary of the extent and value of all financial support it will provide for the project.
106.21(3)(c)2.
2. A preliminary cost estimate including a summary of all anticipated costs resulting from implementation of the project.
106.21(3)(c)3.
3. A preliminary work plan specifying the nature, scope and duration of the project.
106.21(3)(d)
(d)
Local government sponsors. The department shall encourage local units of government to apply for the approval of projects and shall provide assistance and information to facilitate these applications.
106.21(3)(e)
(e)
Not to involve labor dispute or displace other employes. No project may be approved by the department if corps members will be used in any manner in connection with a work or labor dispute or if approval of the project would impair existing contracts or collective bargaining agreements with existing employes of the sponsor. No project may be approved by the department if corps members will be used to displace existing permanent employes of the sponsor, including any employes who have been temporarily laid-off by the sponsor.
106.21(4)
(4) Guidelines for project approval. The department shall establish guidelines to be used in selecting projects for approval. These guidelines shall include:
106.21(4)(a)
(a)
Employment opportunities. The extent to which the project will provide employment in meaningful labor intensive work activities for corps members.
106.21(4)(b)
(b)
Community services. The extent to which the project will address the social, health or economic needs of the community that is to be served by the project.
106.21(4)(c)
(c)
Implementation. The degree of difficulty in implementing the project and its compatibility with other projects in the area.
106.21(4)(d)
(d)
Extent of sponsor's responsibility. The value of financial support to be provided by the sponsor.
106.21(4)(e)
(e)
Public purpose and benefit. The extent to which the project will serve a valid public purpose and benefit a large segment of the public.
106.21(5)(a)(a)
Community services activities; appropriations. Moneys appropriated under
s. 20.445 (1) (cm),
(jr) and
(km) may be used for community services activities as authorized under those appropriations.
106.21(5)(b)
(b)
Other state agency appropriations. A state agency may use moneys from any appropriation for that agency to sponsor a project if implementation of the project is consistent with any purpose for which the moneys are appropriated.
106.21(6)
(6) Administration and matching funds. 106.21(6)(a)(a)
Administration. The department shall provide guidelines for administration of the Wisconsin service corps program and the program shall be administered according to those guidelines.
106.21(6)(b)
(b)
Requirements for matching funds. The department shall set requirements as to the amount of financial support that a sponsor must provide. The department may waive the requirements for a project sponsored by a local unit of government or a state agency and may reduce the amount of matching funds required for a project sponsored by a private organization.
106.21(7)
(7) Project approval and implementation; corps members supervision. 106.21(7)(a)(a)
Approval. Projects shall be selected and approved by the department based on guidelines established under
sub. (4) and the requirements established under
sub. (6) (b).
106.21(7)(b)
(b)
Responsibility agreement; detailed work plan. Before the approval of a project, the sponsor shall prepare and submit to the department a responsibility agreement that incorporates the complete project cost estimate and a detailed work plan and specifies in detail the responsibilities of the sponsor and of the department with respect to the project. The complete project cost estimate shall include a summary of all anticipated costs resulting from the implementation of the project. The detailed work plan shall specify the nature, scope and duration of the project; the number of corps members required for the project; training, supervisory, administrative and other service requirements; supply, fuel, tool, equipment, safety equipment and other material requirements; time schedules; and other details relating to the implementation of the project.
106.21(7)(c)
(c)
Signing of responsibility agreement. A project is not authorized and may not be implemented until the sponsor and the secretary sign the responsibility agreement.
106.21(7)(d)
(d)
Implementation; supervision. Except as provided in a responsibility agreement, the sponsor is responsible for the implementation of and the administrative services for an authorized project and the department is responsible for the recruitment, supervision, control and training of corps members for the project.
106.21(7)(e)
(e)
Number of corps members on project. The number of corps members serving on a project may not exceed 3.
106.21(8)
(8) Education and training. The department shall facilitate arrangements with local schools and institutions of higher education for academic study by corps members during nonworking hours to upgrade literacy skills, obtain equivalency diplomas or college degrees or enhance employment skills. The department shall encourage the development of training programs for corps members for use during periods when circumstances do not permit work on a project.
106.21(9)(a)(a)
Authorization. The department may employ corps members.
106.21(9)(b)
(b)
Outside civil service. All corps members shall be employed outside the civil service.
106.21(9)(c)
(c)
Wages. Corps members shall be paid at the prevailing federal minimum wage or the applicable state minimum wage established under
ch. 104, whichever is greater. Corps members shall receive their pay for the previous pay period on the last working day of the current pay period.
106.21(9)(d)
(d)
Unemployment compensation. A corps member is not eligible for unemployment compensation benefits by virtue of his or her employment in the Wisconsin service corps program. To the extent permitted by federal law, the Wisconsin service corps program shall be considered a work-relief and working-training program for the purpose of determining eligibility for benefits under
s. 108.02 (15) (g) 1.
106.21(9)(e)
(e)
Worker's compensation. A corps member is eligible for worker's compensation benefits as provided under
ch. 102.
106.21(9)(f)
(f)
Health care and other benefits. A corps member is not an eligible employe for health care benefits or other benefits under
ch. 40.
106.21(9)(g)1.1. A person who is employed as a corps member for the specified term of a project and who receives a satisfactory employment evaluation upon termination of employment is entitled to an education voucher that is worth at least $1,000 but not more than $1,800. The department may authorize a partial education voucher for a person who is employed as a corps member and who receives a satisfactory employment evaluation upon termination of employment if the person is employed as a corps member for less than the specified term of the project and if the department determines that employment was terminated because of special circumstances beyond the control of the corps member or was terminated in order to enable the corps member to attend an institution of higher education, technical college or other training program or to enable the corps member to obtain other employment.
106.21(9)(g)2.
2. The education voucher is valid for 3 years after the date of issuance for the payment of tuition and required program activity fees at any institution of higher education, as defined under
s. 39.32 (1) (a), that accepts the voucher and the department shall authorize payment to the institution of face value of the voucher upon presentment.
106.21(10)
(10) Qualifications and requirements for corps members. 106.21(10)(a)(a)
Age. In order to qualify for employment as a corps member, a person is required to have attained the age of 18 years but may not have attained the age of 26 years at the time he or she accepts employment.
106.21(10)(b)
(b)
Unemployed. In order to qualify for employment as a corps member, a person is required to be unemployed at the time he or she applies for employment. In order to establish that a person is unemployed at the time of application for employment, the department may require the person to be certified as unemployed by a local job service office.
106.21(10)(c)
(c)
Enrollment period. In order to qualify for employment as a corps member, a person is required to sign a statement of intention to serve in the Wisconsin service corps program for a 9-month period. This statement does not obligate the department to provide employment for the member for that period.
106.21(10)(d)
(d)
Training and skills. No training or skills are required in order to qualify for employment as a corps member.
106.21(10)(e)
(e)
Physical examination. No physical examination is required in order to apply for employment as a corps member but the department shall require a physical examination before employment. The department may accept evidence of a physical examination conducted within one year before employment if the examining physician signs a form containing the information required by the department.
106.21(11)(a)(a)
Standards. The department shall establish standards for the selection of corps members from among those persons who are qualified and who seek employment.
106.21(11)(am)
(am)
Employment of certain persons. The department shall attempt to hire at least 50% of its corps members from among those persons who are receiving public assistance at the time of application for employment, who have received public assistance within one year of the time of application for employment or who are likely to be eligible for public assistance if they do not obtain employment.
106.21(11)(b)
(b)
Affirmative action plan. The department shall adopt a statewide affirmative action plan and shall comply with the requirements under
s. 230.06 (1) (g) to
(k). The standards established under
par. (a) shall be consistent with this plan.
106.21(11)(c)
(c)
Hiring procedure. The department shall develop procedures for the hiring of corps members. The department shall use any appropriate local job service office in the area of a project to distribute applications, conduct interviews and evaluate applicants and make recommendations concerning the hiring of corps members. The department may use project sponsors who are sponsoring long-term projects to conduct interviews, evaluate applicants and make recommendations concerning the hiring of corps members.
106.21(12)
(12) Enrollment period; evaluation; discipline. 106.21(12)(a)(a) Enrollment period. The normal enrollment period for a corps member is from 6 to 9 months. The department may authorize the employment of a corps member beyond the end of the normal enrollment period for a limited time, not to exceed 3 months, under special circumstances where continued employment is required in order to complete a project in progress.
106.21(12)(b)
(b)
Evaluation; discipline. The department shall establish standards and procedures to evaluate the performance, for discipline and for termination of employment of corps members.
106.21(13)
(13) Guidelines. The department need not promulgate as rules the guidelines described under
subs. (2),
(4) and
(6).
106.21 History
History: 1991 a. 39;
1993 a. 399;
1995 a. 27 s.
3721; Stats. 1995 s. 106.21;
1995 a. 201,
289; s. 13.93 (2) (c).
106.215
106.215
Wisconsin conservation corps program. 106.215(1)(1)
Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, as used in this section:
106.215(1)(a)
(a) "Board" means the Wisconsin conservation corps board.
106.215(1)(b)
(b) "Conservation activity" means an activity which has a long-term beneficial impact on the land and waters of this state and enhances, promotes or preserves wildlife, fisheries, forest, agricultural, recreational, historical, cultural and commercial resources. This term also includes but is not limited to energy conservation projects, reclamation of lands and disaster assistance.
106.215(1)(c)
(c) "Corps enrollee" means a person enrolled in the Wisconsin conservation corps program.
106.215(1)(cg)
(cg) "Disability" means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of having such an impairment or being regarded as having such an impairment. "Disability" includes any physical disability or developmental disability, as defined in
s. 51.01 (5) (a). "Disability" does not include the current illegal use of a controlled substance, as defined in
s. 961.01 (4), or a controlled substance analog, as defined in
s. 961.01 (4m), unless the individual is participating in a supervised drug rehabilitation program.
106.215(1)(cm)
(cm) "Human services activity" means an activity which promotes the social well-being of children, the elderly, persons with disabilities or persons with low incomes.
106.215(1)(d)
(d) "In-kind services and materials" includes services such as training, supervision, administration, transportation, insurance liability coverage and similar services and materials such as supplies, fuel, tools, equipment, safety equipment and other materials for a project.
106.215(1)(e)
(e) "Local unit of government" means the governing body of any city, town, village, county, county utility district, town sanitary district, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, metropolitan sewerage district or school district, the Fox-Winnebago regional management commission or the elected tribal governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band.
106.215 Note
NOTE: Par. (fm) is shown as affected by three acts of the 1995 legislature and as merged by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2) (c).
106.215(1)(g)
(g) "State agency" has the meaning specified under
s. 227.01 (1) but also includes the office of district attorney.
106.215(2)
(2) Objectives. The board shall develop guidelines for the Wisconsin conservation corps program designed to promote the objectives of:
106.215(2)(a)
(a)
Employment of young adults. Providing employment for young men and women in all regions of the state.
106.215(2)(b)
(b)
Conservation. Conserving, developing, enhancing or maintaining the natural resources of this state through the implementation of projects which have a long-term beneficial impact on the environment.
106.215(2)(c)
(c)
Personal development. Encouraging and developing work skills, discipline, cooperation, meaningful work experiences and training and educational opportunities for corps enrollees.
106.215(2)(d)
(d)
Human services. Promoting the social well-being of children, the elderly, persons with disabilities and persons with low incomes through the implementation of projects that include human services activities.
106.215(3)
(3) Program responsibility and coordination. The board is the policy-making body responsible for the Wisconsin conservation corps program and shall establish guidelines for this program. The board may delegate responsibility for administration, implementation of projects, corps enrollee employment and supervision, project coordination and other details of the program to the executive secretary or other staff of the board. The department shall assist the board in payroll, accounting and related management functions.
