560.20(2)(b)3. 3. The extent to which the expansion or creation of the for-profit business is expected to create employment opportunities for persons with severe disabilities, particularly persons with severe disabilities who are minority group members.
560.20(2)(b)4. 4. The type of technical assistance needed.
560.20(2)(c) (c) The amount of each grant awarded under par. (a) may not exceed $15,000. As a condition of receiving a grant, the individual, small business or nonprofit organization shall provide matching funds in an amount equal to at least 25% of the amount of the grant. The department may allow the individual, small business or nonprofit organization to satisfy the matching fund requirement by contributing, or having another person contribute on its behalf, services toward the technical assistance that have a value, as determined by the department, equal to at least 25% of the amount of the grant.
560.20(2)(d) (d) The department shall do all of the following:
560.20(2)(d)1. 1. Develop an application form to be used by individuals, small businesses and nonprofit organizations seeking technical assistance and grants under par. (a) and furnish the application upon request.
560.20(2)(d)2. 2. Award grants under par. (a) on a competitive basis after evaluating applications received by the department for technical assistance and grants under par. (a).
560.20(3) (3)Management assistance; loans and grants.
560.20(3)(a)(a) The department may award funds appropriated under s. 20.143 (1) (en) and (in) to an individual, small business or nonprofit organization for use in connection with the start-up or expansion of a for-profit business if all of the following apply:
560.20(3)(a)1. 1. The department provided technical assistance or a grant for technical assistance under sub. (2) for developing and planning the start-up or expansion of the for-profit business.
560.20(3)(a)2. 2. The for-profit business is or will be at least 51% owned by a handicapped person, as defined in s. 47.01 (3), or by a nonprofit organization that provides services to handicapped persons, as defined in s. 47.01 (3).
560.20(3)(b) (b) If the department awards funds under this subsection to an individual, small business or nonprofit organization, up to 20% of the award, or $5,000, whichever is less, may be a grant and the balance shall be a loan.
560.20(3)(c) (c) An individual, small business or nonprofit organization that receives an award of funds under this subsection may use loan proceeds only for working capital or fixed-asset financing, and may use grant proceeds, if any, only for management assistance.
560.20(3)(d) (d) The department may not award under this subsection funds that exceed $30,000 in a fiscal biennium to any single individual, small business or nonprofit organization. As a condition of receiving an award under this subsection, an individual, small business or nonprofit organization shall provide matching funds that are at least equal to the amount of the award.
560.20(3)(e) (e) In deciding whether to make an award under this subsection, the department shall consider all of the following:
560.20(3)(e)1. 1. The likelihood that the for-profit business will actually be profitable.
560.20(3)(e)2. 2. The extent to which the expansion or creation of the for-profit business will increase employment in this state.
560.20(3)(e)3. 3. The extent to which the expansion or creation of the for-profit business is expected to create employment opportunities for persons with severe disabilities, particularly persons with severe disabilities who are minority group members.
560.20(3)(e)4. 4. The extent to which the award is necessary for the successful completion of the start-up or expansion of the for-profit business because funding is unavailable in traditional capital markets, or because credit has been offered on terms that would preclude the success of the for-profit business.
560.20(3)(f) (f) The department shall do all of the following:
560.20(3)(f)1. 1. Develop an application form to be used by individuals, small businesses and nonprofit organizations seeking an award under this subsection and furnish the application upon request.
560.20(3)(f)2. 2. Before awarding a loan under this subsection, determine the terms for repayment of the principal amount of the loan.
560.20(3)(f)3. 3. Before awarding the loan, establish all other terms and conditions of the loan after considering the circumstances of the individual, small business or nonprofit organization.
560.20(3)(f)4. 4. Deposit in the appropriation account under s. 20.143 (1) (in) all interest and principal received in repayment of loans under this subsection, any proceeds from equity investments made by the community development finance company under s. 234.965, 1991 stats., that are received by the department or the community development finance company and any unencumbered grant funds returned to the department under 1993 Wisconsin Act 437, section 9115 (1t).
560.20(3)(g) (g) The department, in agreement with the for-profit business, may convert any equity investments made by the community development finance company in a for-profit business under s. 234.965, 1991 stats., to a grant or a loan under this subsection without regard to the requirements under par. (b).
560.20(3)(h) (h) The community development finance company shall transfer to the department any proceeds that the company receives from equity investments made by the community development finance company under s. 234.965, 1991 stats.
560.20 History History: 1989 a. 342; 1989 a. 359 s. 382; 1993 a. 437.
subch. III of ch. 560 SUBCHAPTER III
PERMIT INFORMATION AND REGULATORY ASSISTANCE BUREAU
560.41 560.41 Definitions. In this subchapter:
560.41(1) (1) "Bureau" means the permit information and regulatory assistance bureau in the department.
560.41(2) (2) "Permit" means any approval of a regulatory agency required as a condition of operating a business in this state.
560.41(3) (3) "Regulatory agency" means any state agency responsible for granting a permit.
560.41 History History: 1983 a. 91; 1995 a. 27.
560.42 560.42 Responsibilities.
560.42(1)(1)Permit expediting.
560.42(1)(a)(a) The bureau shall expedite the process of applying for permits, of reviewing and making determinations on permit applications and of issuing permits as follows:
560.42(1)(a)1. 1. The bureau shall discharge its responsibilities under sub. (2) in a manner designed to expedite the process.
560.42(1)(a)2. 2. Upon request by a person applying for a permit and to the extent possible, the bureau shall resolve misunderstandings between the person and the appropriate regulatory agency and shall prevent or mitigate delays in the process.
560.42(1)(a)3. 3. If the bureau determines that it is unable to resolve misunderstandings or prevent or mitigate delays under subd. 2., the bureau shall request the assistance of the secretary and the head of the appropriate regulatory agency.
560.42(1)(a)4. 4. If the bureau determines that the secretary and head of the appropriate regulatory agency are unable to resolve misunderstandings or prevent or mitigate delays under subd. 3., the bureau shall request the assistance of the governor.
560.42(1)(b) (b) The bureau shall give priority to businesses new to this state and to businesses expanding within this state in providing assistance under par. (a).
560.42(1)(c) (c) The bureau shall maintain records identifying each person requesting assistance under par. (a) and setting forth assistance rendered and results achieved.
560.42(2) (2)Permit information.
560.42(2)(a)(a) The bureau shall assist any person requesting information on which permits are required for a particular business activity or on the application process, including criteria applied in making a determination on a permit application and the time period within which a determination will be made. This assistance may include any of the following:
560.42(2)(a)1. 1. Arranging a meeting between the person and the staff of the appropriate regulatory agency to enable the person to obtain information from the agency.
560.42(2)(a)2. 2. Obtaining information and permit applications from the regulatory agency and providing the information and appropriate permit applications to the person.
560.42(2)(b) (b) If a person receives assistance under this subsection and applies for a permit and if the person requests, the bureau shall monitor the status of the permit application and periodically report the status to the person.
560.42(2m) (2m)Advocacy. The bureau shall provide advocacy services before regulatory agencies on behalf of permit applicants. These services shall include all of the following:
560.42(2m)(a) (a) Monitoring the application approval process to ensure that permits are granted in the shortest amount of time possible consistent with the substantive requirements established by rule or law.
560.42(2m)(b) (b) Advocating legislative changes to improve and expedite the issuance of permits.
560.42(2r) (2r)Mediation and dispute resolution services. The bureau may provide mediation or other dispute resolution services to facilitate the resolution of a dispute between a regulatory agency and a person applying for a permit. The provision of mediation or other dispute resolution services under this subsection does not affect any right that the person may have to a contested hearing under ch. 227.
560.42(3) (3)Assistance by bureau.
560.42(3)(a)(a) The bureau may not charge any person for services provided under this subchapter.
560.42(3)(b) (b) The bureau may refer to the appropriate regulatory agency, without giving further assistance, any person seeking information or assistance on a permit under chs. 186, 215, 217, 220 to 224, 440 to 480 and 600 to 646.
560.42(3)(c) (c) Advice, assistance, mediation or other dispute resolution services or information rendered by the bureau under this subchapter does not relieve any person from the obligation to secure a required permit or satisfy a regulatory requirement.
560.42(3)(d) (d) The bureau shall not be liable for any consequences resulting from the failure of a regulatory agency to issue, or the failure of a person to seek, a permit.
560.42(4) (4)Promotion of assistance.
560.42(4)(a)(a) The bureau shall maintain and publicize the availability of a toll-free telephone line available to in-state and out-of-state callers to the bureau.
560.42(4)(b) (b) The bureau shall seek to explain, promote and publicize its services to the public and shall provide information on its services for inclusion in any public informational material on permits provided by regulatory agencies.
560.42(4)(c) (c) The bureau shall, in its efforts under pars. (a) and (b), clearly represent that its services are advisory, informational and facilitative only.
560.42(5) (5)Annual report.
560.42(5)(a)(a) Report. Annually, on or before April 1, the bureau shall submit a report containing the information required under pars. (am) and (b) to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3).
560.42(5)(am) (am) Permit simplification. Based on the experience of the bureau in assisting persons and discussions with regulatory agencies, the bureau shall periodically submit a report containing recommendations for the legislature, governor, public records board and regulatory agencies concerning all of the following:
560.42(5)(am)1. 1. Improving permit application forms.
560.42(5)(am)2. 2. Eliminating unnecessary or duplicative permit requirements.
560.42(5)(am)3. 3. Simplifying the process of applying for permits, of reviewing and making determinations on permit applications and of issuing permits.
560.42(5)(b) (b) Record of assistance. Based on the experiences of the bureau in assisting persons and on reports received under s. 227.116 (4), the bureau shall periodically prepare information for the legislature, governor, public records board and regulatory agencies which shall include all of the following:
560.42(5)(b)1. 1. The number of persons assisted.
560.42(5)(b)2. 2. The kinds of assistance provided.
560.42(5)(b)3. 3. The number of occasions when regulatory agencies exceeded the time period specified by rule or law for reviewing and making determinations on permit applications.
560.42(5)(b)4. 4. An evaluation of why the regulatory agencies exceeded the time periods on the occasions specified in subd. 3. and an explanation of how the agencies intend to avoid exceeding the time periods in the future.
560.42(6) (6)Permit consolidation. In its annual reports submitted under sub. (5) (a), the bureau shall include its recommendations concerning the feasibility and desirability of providing consolidated or multiple permit application forms or consolidated hearings on consolidated or multiple permit application forms.
560.43 560.43 Responsibilities of regulatory agencies.
560.43(1)(1)Interagency cooperation. Each regulatory agency shall:
560.43(1)(a) (a) Designate a staff person to coordinate regulatory agency cooperation with bureau staff, provide information to bureau staff on the permit process and direct bureau staff to appropriate staff within the regulatory agency.
560.43(1)(b) (b) Cooperate with bureau staff and respond promptly to requests for assistance in expediting and requests for information on the permit process under s. 560.42.
560.43(1)(c) (c) Include material provided by the bureau under s. 560.42 (4) in any public informational material on permits that it provides.
560.43(1)(d) (d) Maintain responsibility for interpreting the requirements of and granting or denying its permits.
560.43(1)(e) (e) In reviewing a submitted application for a permit, notify the applicant of all reasons the application is incomplete or incorrectly submitted at the first time the agency returns the application to the applicant.
560.43(1)(f) (f) Periodically review and, if appropriate, revise its administrative rules and its permit applications to simplify and expedite the processing of permit applications.
560.43(2) (2)Preapplication meetings. Each regulatory agency shall provide an opportunity for a preapplication meeting with its staff to any person interested in applying for a permit upon request by the person or the bureau, and shall comply with the following requirements:
560.43(2)(a) (a) The regulatory agency shall conduct preapplication meetings in an informal manner.
560.43(2)(b) (b) In any preapplication meeting, the regulatory agency shall identify all permits required by the regulating agency for a business activity, describe the steps and identify the time period for each step in the permit process and identify potential problems in the process.
560.43(2)(d) (d) The regulatory agency shall invite participation by bureau staff in preapplication meetings when appropriate.
560.43(2)(e) (e) The regulatory agency shall publicize the availability of preapplication meetings to persons contacting them about permits.
560.43 History History: 1983 a. 91; 1995 a. 27.
subch. IV of ch. 560 SUBCHAPTER IV
ENTREPRENEURIAL ASSISTANCE NETWORKS
Loading...
Loading...
This is an archival version of the Wis. Stats. database for 1995. See Are the Statutes on this Website Official?