Chapter 36

36.25(29m)(b) (b) Assist the department of public instruction to periodically assess the environmental literacy of this state’s teachers and students.

36.25(29m)(c) (c) Develop, offer and evaluate environmental education courses for teachers.

36.25(29m)(d) (d) Select and train natural resource and environmental education specialists with teaching experience to assist in providing environmental education courses and programs to teachers in this state.

36.25(29m)(e) (e) Assist the department of public instruction and cooperative educational service agencies to assist school districts in conducting environmental education needs assessments.

36.25(29m)(f) (f) Provide environmental education workshops and consulting services to teacher educators from teacher training institutions located in this state.

36.25(29m)(g) (g) Establish an environmental education curriculum and materials center for use by school teachers, faculty of teacher training institutions located in this state and others in educational programs who need such materials.

36.25(29m)(h) (h) Assist the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources in providing opportunities for teachers to complete advanced training in environmental education through the college’s master’s degree program.

36.25(29r) (29r) Study on the reintroduction of elk.

36.25(29r)(a) (a) The board shall direct the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of reintroducing elk into the northern part of the state and to formulate a management plan for the reintroduction of elk if the conclusions of the study demonstrate that the reintroduction is feasible.

36.25(29r)(b) (b) The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point shall conduct the study by monitoring the behavior of an experimental herd that the university shall bring into the state. The university shall also assess the herd’s compatibility with other resources in the area where the study is conducted.

36.25(30) (30) Pollution prevention. The board shall maintain in the extension a solid and hazardous waste education center to promote pollution prevention, as defined in s. 299.13 (1) (dm). In cooperation with the department of natural resources, the center shall conduct an education and technical assistance program to promote pollution prevention in this state.

36.25(30g) (30g) Recycling market development program. The board shall establish in the extension a program of education and technical assistance related to recycling market development. The program shall serve waste generators; solid waste scrap brokers, dealers and processors; business entities that use or could use recovered materials or that produce or could produce products from recovered materials and persons who provide support services to those business entities; and the general public.

36.25(30m) (30m) Agricultural technology and family farm programs. The board may establish agricultural technology and family farm programs in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

36.25(31) (31) Biotechnology education; consumers. The board shall establish extension programs to educate consumers about biotechnology processes and products and risk assessment techniques.

36.25(32) (32) Agricultural Safety and Health Center.

36.25(32)(a) (a) The board shall establish an Agricultural Safety and Health Center in the extension. The center shall do all of the following:

36.25(32)(a)1. 1. Develop curriculum and materials for a tractor and machine operation safety training course for persons who are at least 12 years of age but under 18 years of age that is equivalent to the requirements, other than age, specified under 29 CFR 570.70 to 570.72.

36.25(32)(a)2. 2. Perform instructor training and coordination necessary to provide a statewide program of tractor and machinery operation safety training to persons who are at least 12 years of age but under 18 years of age and certification of persons successfully completing such training.

36.25(32)(a)3. 3. Develop and disseminate educational and informational materials and present programs on farm safety and health topics.

36.25(32)(b) (b) The board shall award grants totaling not more than $500 annually per county to sponsors of farm safety education, training or information programs. To be eligible for a grant, a sponsor shall:

36.25(32)(b)1. 1. Secure or provide equal matching funds from private or public sources.

36.25(32)(b)2. 2. Demonstrate the need for the program.

36.25(32)(b)3. 3. Demonstrate that the program for which a grant is sought was developed in consultation with extension personnel, public health personnel, vocational agriculture instructors or other persons with expertise or interest in farm safety topics.

36.25(33) (33) Quality improvement awards. The board annually may award up to $500 each to no more than 10 system employees who make suggestions that result in significant quality improvements for the system relating to supplies and expenses. The board shall appoint a council under s. 15.04 (1) (c) to nominate recipients for the awards. The board shall not make more than one award to an employee in the same fiscal year. An award is not part of an employee’s base pay.

36.25(34) (34) Center for urban land economics research. The board shall establish a center for urban land economics research in the School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to conduct research and undertake educational, public outreach and grant activities related to real estate and urban land economics.

36.25(35m) (35m) Herbarium. The board shall maintain an herbarium at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to be known as the “Wisconsin State Herbarium”.

36.25(36) (36) Higher education location program. The board shall maintain in the extension a higher education location program to provide information on undergraduate admission requirements, degree programs, enrollment, student financial aid, student housing and admission forms.

36.25(37) (37) Area Health Education Center. The board shall maintain at the University of Wisconsin-Madison an area health education center to support community-based primary care training programs.

36.25(38) (38) Educational technology projects.

36.25(38)(a) (a) In this subsection, “educational technology” has the meaning given in s. 16.99 (3).

36.25(38)(b) (b) The board shall provide for projects that have the following purposes:

36.25(38)(b)1. 1. The student information system.

36.25(38)(b)2. 2. The development of system technology infrastructure.

36.25(38)(b)3. 3. The development of curricula to train students enrolled in the schools of education in the use of educational technology in primary and secondary schools.

36.25(38)(b)4. 4. To provide professional development in the use of educational technology for primary and secondary school teachers.

36.25(38)(b)5. 5. To provide faculty with educational technology and to train faculty in its use.

36.25(38)(b)6. 6. To pay the department of administration for telecommunications services provided under s. 16.972 (1).

36.25(39) (39) Institute for Excellence in Urban Education. There is established an Institute for Excellence in Urban Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The institute shall engage in research, public service and educational activities pertaining to issues in urban public education.

36.25(42) (42) Distinguished chair of military history. The board shall establish a distinguished chair of military history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

36.25(44) (44) International business development. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee shall collaborate with other institutions to develop and implement programs and training for Wisconsin businesses and University of Wisconsin System faculty in the area of international business development.

36.25(46) (46) Meningococcal disease and hepatitis B.

36.25(46)(a) (a) The board shall do all of the following:

36.25(46)(a)1. 1. Annually, provide detailed information on the risks associated with meningococcal disease and hepatitis B and the availability and effectiveness of vaccines against the diseases to each enrolled student, if he or she is at least 18 years old, or to the student’s parent or guardian, if the student is a minor.

36.25(46)(a)2. 2. Require a student who resides in a dormitory or residence hall, or the student’s parent or guardian if the student is a minor, to affirm that the student received the information under subd. 1.

36.25(46)(a)3. 3. Require a student who resides in a dormitory or residence hall to affirm whether he or she has received the vaccination against meningococcal disease and to provide the date of the vaccination, if any.

36.25(46)(a)4. 4. Require a student who resides in a dormitory or residence hall to affirm whether he or she has received the vaccination against hepatitis B and to provide the date of the vaccination, if any.

36.25(46)(a)5. 5. Maintain a confidential record of the affirmations and the dates of the vaccinations of each student under subds. 3. and 4.

36.25(46)(b) (b) Nothing in this subsection requires the board to provide or pay for vaccinations against meningococcal disease or hepatitis B.

36.25(47) (47) Discovery farm grants.

36.25(47)(a) (a) In this subsection, “discovery farm” means an operating commercial farm that conducts on-farm research under the Wisconsin agricultural stewardship initiative.

36.25(47)(b) (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.285 (1) (qr), the board shall make grants through the extension to operators of discovery farms for research and outreach activities under the Wisconsin agricultural stewardship initiative.

36.25(48) (48) Lumber grading training program.

36.25(48)(a) (a) In this subsection:

36.25(48)(a)1. 1. “Department” means the department of natural resources.

36.25(48)(a)2. 2. “Department employee” means an employee of the department who is knowledgeable in the marketing of forest products and who is selected by the secretary to act under this subsection.

36.25(48)(b) (b) The forest products outreach program at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, in cooperation with the department, shall establish a basic lumber grading training program for individuals and establish the general requirements for successfully completing the training program, including requirements for initial certification and recertification. The training program shall be offered in the extension on an annual basis. The faculty at the forestry outreach program, in cooperation with the department employee, shall develop and establish the content of the training program and shall determine the certification requirements for instructors teaching the training program. Instructors shall be certified by the department.

36.25(48)(c) (c) The department, in cooperation with the board, shall establish a procedure under which the department determines successful completion of the training program and issues certifications of accomplishment to the individuals who are certified or recertified as having successfully completed the training program. Under the procedure, the department employee may delegate to the program instructors the process of determining successful completion and issuing certificates of accomplishment.

36.25(48)(d) (d) An individual holding an initial certificate of accomplishment shall be recertified under the training program every 5 years.

36.25(48)(e) (e) The department employee may exempt from the training program an individual who has any of the following:

36.25(48)(e)1. 1. A bachelor’s or postgraduate degree in forest products or wood science and technology.

36.25(48)(e)2. 2. A degree that is equivalent to a degree specified in subd. 1.

36.25(48)(e)3. 3. A level of experience or background in understanding wood properties, construction, and design that the department employee determines to be equivalent to the level of understanding held by an individual who successfully completes the training program.

36.25(48)(f) (f) The department employee shall issue a certificate of accomplishment to each individual who meets the requirement under par. (e). A certificate of accomplishment issued under this subdivision applies only to the initial certification requirement and an individual receiving such a certificate must be recertified as required under par. (d).

36.25(49) (49) Academic fee increase grants. The board may make grants to resident undergraduate students who do not receive grants under s. 39.435 that are payable from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (fe), whose annual family income is less than $60,000, and who have unmet financial need. Beginning in fiscal year 2011-12, the board may make a grant under this subsection only to those students enrolled in the system during fiscal year 2010-11 who maintain continuous enrollment. A grant to a student under this subsection shall be in an amount determined by the board that corresponds to any increase, or any portion of an increase, in academic fees charged to the student, but may not exceed the amount of the student’s unmet need. The board may not make a grant under this subsection to a student whose name appears on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), unless the student provides to the board 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).

36.25(49m) (49m) Career conversations program.

36.25(49m)(a) (a) In this subsection:

36.25(49m)(a)1. 1. “Center” means the Center on Education and Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

36.25(49m)(a)2. 2. “Pilot period” means the period beginning on the date that the program is established and ending on May 15, 2011.

36.25(49m)(a)3. 3. “Program” means the program established under par. (b).

36.25(49m)(b) (b) The center shall establish a program for students enrolled in grades 7 to 12 to engage in webcam conversations about careers with individuals in this state who have careers in math, science, agricultural education, technology education, or information technology. The center shall develop criteria for choosing the classrooms that may participate in the program during the pilot period. The program shall satisfy all of the following:

36.25(49m)(b)1. 1. The program shall select individuals for conversations who have careers that the center determines are in the greatest demand in this state.

36.25(49m)(b)2. 2. The program shall use student discussion guides developed by the center to facilitate the conversations.

36.25(49m)(b)3. 3. The program shall allow for recording the conversations for future viewing, at schools or over the Internet, by interested parties, including parents of students.

36.25(49m)(b)4. 4. The program shall include requirements for promoting participation in the conversations among students, parents, and the business community; measuring student participation in the conversations; notifying parents and the business community after conversations take place; and tracking the study plans of students who participate in the conversations.

36.25(49m)(c) (c) The center shall evaluate the effectiveness of the program during the pilot period in promoting careers in math, science, agricultural education, technology education, and information technology. If, based on the results of the evaluation, the center determines that the program has been effective in promoting such careers, the center may continue the program after the pilot period and may expand the program by allowing participation by additional classrooms. The center shall prepare a report regarding the evaluation and describing whether the center has continued or expanded the program, and submit the report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3), the department of public instruction, and the department of workforce development.

36.25(50) (50) School of public health. The board may create a school of public health at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

36.25(51) (51) School of freshwater sciences. The board may create a school of freshwater sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

36.25(52) (52) Incentive grants.

36.25(52)(a) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.285 (1) (gb), the board shall allocate $11,250,000 in fiscal year 2013-14 and $11,250,000 in fiscal year 2014-15 to award grants to institutions and the extension to provide funding for the following programs:

36.25(52)(a)1. 1. Economic development programs, as defined in s. 36.11 (29r) (a).

36.25(52)(a)2. 2. Programs that have as their objective the development of an educated and skilled workforce, such as the following:

36.25(52)(a)2.a. a. Increasing the number of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees awarded in fields for which occupational demand is high or in fields that the board and the department of workforce development jointly determine to be high-demand fields.

36.25(52)(a)2.b. b. Increasing the number of opportunities available to students to gain work experience in their fields through internships or cooperative work experiences.

36.25(52)(a)2.c. c. Increasing or enhancing research and development.

36.25(52)(a)3. 3. Programs to improve the affordability of postsecondary education for resident undergraduates, including reducing the time required to obtain a degree, increasing the opportunities available for high school pupils to earn credit toward a postsecondary degree, and improving the transfer of credit between institutions of higher education.

36.25(52)(b) (b) The board may award grants under par. (a) for the creation or expansion of programs, courses, or services for a period of up to 3 years.

36.25(53) (53) Business plan competition. The board shall support a business plan competition program existing on May 25, 2010, at institutions and college campuses other than the University of Wisconsin-Madison that makes entrepreneurial expertise available to students and that has ties to campus-based business plan contests and national organizations that foster student entrepreneurism. The board shall provide financial support of no more than $125,000 annually if the board receives matching funds for the same purpose from private contributions.

36.25(54) (54) School of engineering at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The board may create a school of engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

36.25(55) (55) Graduate psychiatric nursing education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.