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;
1997 a. 35,
39.
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(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.
106.215(3m)
(3m) Reporting requirement for donations. The board shall submit an annual report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under
s. 13.172 (2) that identifies, for each gift, grant or bequest credited under
s. 20.445 (6) (jb), the name of the individual or organization making it and the amount of and the manner in which it is utilized.
106.215(4)(a)(a)
Executive secretary. The governor shall nominate, and with the advice and consent of the senate appoint, an executive secretary of the board outside the classified service to serve at the pleasure of the governor.
106.215(4)(b)
(b)
Staff. The board shall employ staff within the classified service which is necessary to administer the Wisconsin conservation corps program, including staff to coordinate, supervise and implement projects, to recruit and train corps enrollees and to provide administrative, typing and clerical services. The department shall provide staff within the classified service which is necessary to provide for payroll, accounting and related management functions associated with the Wisconsin conservation corps program.
106.215(5)(a)(a)
Eligible sponsors. The federal government, a state agency, local unit of government or nonprofit organization may apply to the board for approval of a project.
106.215(5)(b)
(b)
Eligible projects. In order to qualify as an approved project, the project is required to provide employment opportunities and to consist of conservation activities or human services activities or both. If the sponsor is a nonprofit organization, the project is required to serve a valid public purpose in order to qualify as an approved project.
106.215(5)(c)
(c)
Sponsor's application. In order to qualify as an approved project, the sponsor is required to submit in the application:
106.215(5)(c)1.
1. A summary of the extent and value of all in-kind services and materials it will provide for the project as well as any other costs associated with the project which it agrees to pay.
106.215(5)(c)2.
2. A preliminary cost estimate including a summary of all anticipated costs resulting from implementation of the project.
106.215(5)(c)3.
3. A preliminary work plan specifying the nature, scope and duration of the project.
106.215(5)(d)
(d)
Local government sponsors. The board and department shall encourage local units of government to apply for the approval of projects and shall provide assistance and information to facilitate these applications.
106.215(5)(e)
(e)
Not to involve labor dispute or displace other employees. No project may be approved by the board if corps enrollees 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 employees of the sponsor. No project may be approved by the board if corps enrollees will be used to displace existing permanent employees of the sponsor, including any employees who have been temporarily laid-off by the sponsor.
106.215(6)
(6) Guidelines for project approval. The board shall establish guidelines to be used in selecting projects for approval. These guidelines shall include:
106.215(6)(a)
(a)
Employment opportunities. The extent to which the project will provide employment in meaningful labor intensive work activities for corps enrollees.
106.215(6)(b)
(b)
Conservation. The extent to which the project will promote the long-term beneficial conservation of resources. The guidelines shall assign a high priority to projects required under a shoreland management ordinance under
s. 92.17.
106.215(6)(bm)
(bm)
Human services. The extent to which the project will promote the social well-being of children, the elderly, persons with disabilities and persons with low incomes. The guidelines shall give priority to projects providing services to children and the elderly.
106.215(6)(c)
(c)
Implementation. The degree of difficulty in implementing the project and its compatibility with other projects in the area.
106.215(6)(d)
(d)
Extent of sponsor's responsibility. The share of the total cost of the project, including the value of in-kind services and materials, to be paid or provided by the sponsor.
106.215(6)(dm)
(dm)
Benefits to enrollees. The extent to which the sponsor will provide to the corps enrollees on the project additional wages or other additional benefits.
106.215(6)(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.
106.215(7)(a)(a) Conservation activities; appropriations. Moneys appropriated under
s. 20.445 (6) (j),
(m) and
(u) may be utilized for conservation activities as authorized under those appropriations.
106.215(7)(am)
(am)
Human services activities; appropriations. Moneys appropriated under
s. 20.445 (6) (b),
(j) and
(m) may be utilized for human services activities as authorized under those appropriations.
106.215(7)(b)
(b)
Other state agency appropriations. A state agency may utilize 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.
106.215(7)(c)
(c)
Conservation fund appropriation. Notwithstanding
par. (a), moneys appropriated under
s. 20.445 (6) (u) that are not derived from the forestation state tax under
s. 70.58 may be utilized for any project approved by the board regardless of whether the project consists in whole or in part of conservation activities.
106.215(8)
(8) Administration; project approval; work plans; implementation; enrollee supervision. 106.215(8)(a)(a)
Guidelines for administration. The board shall provide guidelines for administration of the Wisconsin conservation corps program.
106.215(8)(b)
(b)
Administration. The Wisconsin conservation corps program shall be administered according to guidelines provided by the board.
106.215(8)(c)
(c) Administrative expenses; appropriations; reallocation. Moneys appropriated under
s. 20.445 (6) (ja),
(n) or
(y) may be utilized for the payment of administrative expenses related to the Wisconsin conservation corps program as authorized under those appropriations. If the board determines that these appropriations are not sufficient, it may request the joint committee on finance to take action under
s. 13.101 (4) to transfer moneys from the appropriation under
s. 20.445 (6) (j),
(m) or
(u) to the appropriation under
s. 20.445 (6) (ja),
(n) or
(y).
106.215(8)(d)
(d) Approval. Except as provided in
sub. (8g), projects shall be selected and approved by the board based on guidelines established under
sub. (6).
106.215(8)(e)
(e)
Complete project cost estimate. Prior to approval of a project, the executive secretary shall prepare and submit to the board a complete project cost estimate. This estimate shall include a summary of all anticipated costs resulting from the implementation of the project.
106.215(8)(f)
(f)
Detailed work plan. Prior to approval of a project, the executive secretary shall prepare and submit to the board a detailed work plan specifying the nature, scope and duration of the project; the number of corps enrollees; 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.
106.215(8)(g)
(g)
Responsibility agreement. Prior to approval of a project, the executive secretary shall prepare and submit to the board a responsibility agreement which incorporates the complete project cost estimate and detailed work plan and specifies in detail the responsibilities of the sponsor and the board with respect to the project.
106.215(8)(i)
(i)
Signing of responsibility agreement. A project is not authorized and may not be implemented until the sponsor and the board sign the responsibility agreement.
106.215(8)(j)
(j)
Implementation. Except as provided in a responsibility agreement, the board is responsible for the implementation of an authorized project. The board may delegate to a sponsor responsibility for implementing various aspects of a project in the responsibility agreement.
106.215(8)(k)1.1. The board is responsible for the overall supervision and control of corps enrollees.
106.215(8)(k)2.
2. The board may delegate to a sponsor responsibility for enrollee recruitment, training and supervision and for administrative services to be provided for a project in the responsibility agreement.
106.215(8)(L)
(L)
Project coordination. The board is responsible for the coordination of work activities related to various projects in the same area.
106.215(8g)(a)(a) If a sponsor pays for the total cost of a project, the board may select and approve a project without using the guidelines established under
sub. (6).
106.215(8g)(b)
(b) If the department of corrections is a sponsor of a project that is approved under this subsection, the corps members on the project shall be prisoners in state prison, probationers, parolees or persons on extended supervision and the members of the project shall receive applicable alcohol or other drug abuse treatment and educational programming services for a portion of each work week, but not to exceed 8 hours per work week.
106.215(8m)
(8m) Administrative project. In addition to the projects authorized under this section, the board may approve one project that provides employment for corps enrollees in an administrative work or training project sponsored by the Wisconsin conservation corps.
Subsections (5) (a) to
(d),
(6) and
(8) (d),
(g) to
(j) and
(k) 1. do not apply to a project approved under this subsection.
106.215(9)(a)(a)
Work camps. If necessary for the implementation of a conservation project, the board may establish or utilize residential facilities but the board may not use moneys appropriated under
s. 20.445 (6) (u) or
(y) for the establishment of new residential facilities.
106.215(9)(b)
(b)
Education and training. The board shall facilitate arrangements with local schools and institutions of higher education for academic study by corps enrollees to upgrade literacy skills, obtain equivalency diplomas or college degrees or enhance employment skills. The board shall encourage the development of training programs for corps enrollees for use during time periods when circumstances do not permit work on a project.
106.215(10)(a)(a)
Authorization; classification. The board may employ corps enrollees. The board shall classify these enrollees as corps members, assistant crew leaders, crew leaders or regional crew leaders.
106.215(10)(b)
(b)
Outside civil service. All corps enrollees shall be employed outside the civil service.
106.215(10)(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. Assistant crew leaders, crew leaders and regional crew leaders may be paid more than the prevailing federal minimum wage or applicable state minimum wage. Corps enrollees shall receive their pay for the previous pay period on the last working day of the current pay period.
106.215(10)(e)
(e)
Worker's compensation. A corps enrollee is eligible for worker's compensation benefits as provided under
ch. 102.
