Chapter 49

49.163(3)(a)3.a. a. A wage subsidy that is equal to an amount negotiated between the department and the employer or contractor, that is paid for each hour the individual actually worked, not to exceed 40 hours per week, and that is not more than the federal or state minimum wage that applies to the individual.

49.163(3)(a)3.b. b. Federal social security and Medicare taxes.

49.163(3)(a)3.c. c. State and federal unemployment insurance contributions or taxes, if any.

49.163(3)(a)3.d. d. Worker’s compensation insurance premiums, if any.

49.163(3)(a)4. 4. An employer, or, subject to the approval of the department, a contractor under sub. (4), that employs an individual participating in the program may pay the individual an amount that exceeds any wage subsidy paid to the employer or contractor by the department under subd. 3. a., except that the employer or contractor must pay the individual at least minimum wage.

49.163(3)(a)5. 5. The employment of an individual under this section may not do any of the following:

49.163(3)(a)5.a. a. Have the effect of filling a vacancy created by an employer terminating a regular employee or otherwise reducing its work force for the purpose of hiring an individual under this section.

49.163(3)(a)5.b. b. Fill a position when any other person is on layoff or strike from the same or a substantially equivalent job within the same organizational unit.

49.163(3)(a)5.c. c. Fill a position when any other person is engaged in a labor dispute regarding the same or a substantially equivalent job within the same organizational unit.

49.163(3)(b) (b) The department may set priorities for the program consistent with its mission and available funding.

49.163(4) (4) Contract for administration. The department may contract with any person to administer the program under this section, including a Wisconsin Works agency; county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23; local workforce development board established under 29 USC 2832; or community action agency under s. 49.265. The department, or the agency or agencies with which the department contracts under this subsection, shall do all of the following:

49.163(4)(a) (a) Determine the eligibility of applicants for the program.

49.163(4)(b) (b) Provide, or identify employers to provide, jobs for individuals transitioning to unsubsidized employment from unemployment, underemployment, limited work history, foster care, or other circumstances identified by the department.

49.163(4)(c) (c) Conduct job orientation activities.

49.163(4)(d) (d) Provide employment services, as specified by the department, for program participants.

49.163(4)(e) (e) Maintain and update participant demographic, eligibility, and employment records in the manner required by the department.

49.163(5) (5) Recovery of overpayments.

49.163(5)(a) (a) The department may recover from any individual participating, or who has participated, in the program under this section any overpayment resulting from a misrepresentation by the individual as to any criterion for eligibility under sub. (2) (am).

49.163(5)(b) (b) The department shall recover from a contractor under sub. (4) any overpayment resulting from the failure of the contractor to comply with the terms of the contract or to meet performance standards established by the department.

49.163(6) (6) Rules not required. Notwithstanding s. 227.10 (1), the department need not promulgate regulations, standards, or policies related to implementing or administering the program under this section as rules under ch. 227.

49.163 History History: 2013 a. 20, 113; 2013 a. 151 s. 27; 2015 a. 55; 2019 a. 9.

49.1635 49.1635 Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation.

49.1635(1) (1) To the extent permitted under federal law and subject to sub. (2), from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (md) the department may distribute funds to the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation in an amount up to the amount received by the foundation from private donations, but not to exceed $100,000 in a fiscal year. Except as provided in sub. (4), funds distributed under this subsection may be used only for the provision of legal services to individuals who are eligible for temporary assistance for needy families under 42 USC 601 et seq. and whose incomes are at or below 200 percent of the poverty line.

49.1635(2) (2) The department may not distribute funds under sub. (1) until the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation reports to the department the amount received by the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation in private donations.

49.1635(3) (3) If the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation receives funds under sub. (1), it shall do all of the following:

49.1635(3)(a) (a) Develop a separate account for the funds distributed under sub. (1).

49.1635(3)(b) (b) Require each organization to which the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation distributes funds received under sub. (1) to match 100 percent of the amount distributed to that organization that is attributable to the funds received by the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation under sub. (1).

49.1635(3)(c) (c) Annually, prepare a report for distribution to the joint committee on finance that specifies the organizations that received funding under this section.

49.1635(4) (4) Not more than 10 percent of the total funds received by the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation under sub. (1) may be used for administration.

49.1635(5) (5) 

49.1635(5)(a) (a) From the allocation under s. 49.175 (1) (j), the department shall make a grant of $500,000 in each fiscal year to Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc., for distribution of annual awards of not more than $75,000 per year per program to programs that provide legal services to persons who are eligible under par. (b) 2. if all of the following apply:

49.1635(5)(a)1. 1. Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc., submits a plan to the department detailing the proposed use of the grant; the proposed use of the grant conforms to the requirements under par. (b); and the secretary of the department, or his or her designee, approves the plan.

49.1635(5)(a)2. 2. Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc., enters into an agreement with the department that specifies the conditions for the use of the grant proceeds, and the conditions conform to the requirements under par. (b) and include training, reporting, and auditing requirements.

49.1635(5)(a)3. 3. Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc., agrees in writing to submit to the department the reports required under par. (c) by the times required under par. (c).

49.1635(5)(b) (b)

49.1635(5)(b)1. 1. Subject to subd. 3., the grant may be used only to provide legal services in civil matters related to domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or restraining orders or injunctions for individuals at risk under s. 813.123.

49.1635(5)(b)2. 2. The recipients of the legal services under a grant under this subsection shall be individuals who are eligible for temporary assistance for needy families under 42 USC 601 et seq. and whose gross incomes are at or below 200 percent of the poverty line. For purposes of this subdivision, gross income shall be determined in the same way as gross income is determined for purposes of eligibility for a Wisconsin Works employment position, as defined in s. 49.141 (1) (r), including the exclusion of any payments or benefits made under any federal law that exempts those payments or benefits from consideration in determining eligibility for any federal means-tested program.

49.1635(5)(b)3. 3. The legal services provided by a grant under this subsection shall be provided only in matters for which federal temporary assistance for needy families block grant funds under 42 USC 601 et seq. may be used.

49.1635(5)(b)4. 4. The grant proceeds may not be used for legal services for litigation against the state.

49.1635(5)(c) (c) For each fiscal year in which the department makes a grant under this subsection, Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc., shall submit to the department, within 3 months after spending the full amount of that grant, a report detailing how the grant proceeds were used. The department may not make a grant in a subsequent fiscal year unless Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc., submits the report under this paragraph within the time required and the department determines that the grant proceeds were used in accordance with the approved plan under par. (a) 1., the agreement under par. (a) 2., and the requirements under par. (b).

49.1635 History History: 1999 a. 9; 2003 a. 33; 2007 a. 20; 2017 a. 59.

49.165 49.165 Domestic abuse grants.

49.165(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

49.165(1)(a) (a) “Domestic abuse” means physical abuse, including a violation of s. 940.225 (1), (2) or (3), or any threat of physical abuse between adult family or adult household members, by a minor family or minor household member against an adult family or adult household member, by an adult against his or her adult former spouse or by an adult against an adult with whom the person has a child in common.

49.165(1)(b) (b) “Family member” means a spouse, a parent, a child or a person related by blood or adoption to another person.

49.165(1)(c) (c) “Household member” means a person currently or formerly residing in a place of abode with another person.

49.165(1)(d) (d) “Organization” means a nonprofit corporation or a public agency that provides or proposes to provide any of the following domestic abuse services:

49.165(1)(d)1. 1. Shelter facilities or private home shelter care.

49.165(1)(d)2. 2. Advocacy and counseling for victims.

49.165(1)(d)3. 3. A 24-hour telephone service.

49.165(1)(d)4. 4. Community education.

49.165(2) (2) Distribution of funds.

49.165(2)(a) (a) The secretary shall make grants from the appropriation accounts under s. 20.437 (1) (cd) and (hh) to organizations for the provision of any of the services specified in sub. (1) (d). Grants may be made to organizations which have provided those domestic abuse services in the past or to organizations which propose to provide those services in the future. No grant may be made to fund services for child or unborn child abuse or abuse of elderly persons.

49.165(2)(b) (b) In reviewing applications for grants, the department shall consider:

49.165(2)(b)1. 1. The need for domestic abuse services in the specific community in which the applicant provides services or proposes to provide services.

49.165(2)(b)2. 2. Coordination of the organization’s services with other resources in the community and the state.

49.165(2)(b)3. 3. The need for domestic abuse services in the areas of the state served by each health systems agency, as defined in s. 140.83 (1), 1985 stats.

49.165(2)(b)4. 4. The needs of both urban and rural communities.

49.165(2)(b)5. 5. Maintenance of effort, by a city, village, town or county.

49.165(2)(c) (c) No grant may be made to an organization which provides or will provide shelter facilities unless the department of safety and professional services determines that the physical plant of the facility will not be dangerous to the health or safety of the residents when the facility is in operation. No grant may be given to an organization which provides or will provide shelter facilities or private home shelter care unless the organization ensures that the following services will be provided either by that organization or by another organization, person or agency:

49.165(2)(c)1. 1. A 24-hour telephone service.

49.165(2)(c)2. 2. Temporary housing and food.

49.165(2)(c)3. 3. Advocacy and counseling for victims.

49.165(2)(c)4. 4. Referral and follow-up services.

49.165(2)(c)5. 5. Arrangements for education of school-age children.

49.165(2)(c)6. 6. Emergency transportation to the shelter.

49.165(2)(c)7. 7. Community education.

49.165(2)(d) (d) An organization that receives a grant under this section shall provide matching funds or in-kind contributions that are equal to 25 percent of the amount of the grant. The department shall establish guidelines regarding which contributions qualify as in-kind contributions.

49.165(2)(e) (e) In funding new domestic abuse services, the department shall give preference to services in areas of the state where these services are not otherwise available.

49.165(2)(f) (f) From the appropriations under s. 20.437 (1) (cd) and (hh), the department shall do all of the following:

49.165(2)(f)1. 1. Award $545,000 in grants in fiscal year 1997-98 and $995,000 in grants in each fiscal year thereafter to organizations for domestic abuse services that are targeted to children. In awarding the grants, the department shall use a competitive request-for-proposals process and, to the extent possible, shall ensure that the grants are equally distributed on a statewide basis.

49.165(2)(f)5. 5. Expend $20,700 each fiscal year to contract with a nonstate agency to do all of the following:

49.165(2)(f)5.a. a. Act as liaison among local, state, federal and private housing agencies.

49.165(2)(f)5.b. b. Identify capital resources for housing initiatives.

49.165(2)(f)5.c. c. Coordinate and disseminate information on job training programs.

49.165(2)(f)5.d. d. Circulate information on successful transitional living programs.

49.165(2)(f)6. 6. Expend $69,700 each fiscal year to provide ongoing training and technical assistance to do all of the following:

49.165(2)(f)6.a. a. Educate organizations and advocates for victims of domestic abuse about the judicial system.

49.165(2)(f)6.b. b. Organize pro bono legal services on a regional basis.

49.165(2)(f)7. 7. Award grants in each fiscal year to organizations to enhance support services. Funding may be used for such purposes as case management; children’s programming; assisting victims of domestic abuse to find employment; and training in and activities promoting self-sufficiency.

49.165(2)(f)8. 8. Award grants in each fiscal year to organizations for domestic abuse services for individuals who are members of underserved populations, including racial minority group members and individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities.

49.165(2)(f)9. 9. Award a grant in each fiscal year to the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence toward the cost of a staff person to provide assistance in obtaining legal services to domestic abuse victims.

49.165(2)(f)10. 10. Award a grant of $563,500 in each fiscal year to the Refugee Family Strengthening Project for providing domestic abuse services to the refugee population. Funding may be used to hire bilingual staff persons, especially those who speak Hmong.

49.165(2m) (2m) Reporting requirements. Any organization that receives a grant under this section shall report all of the following information to the department by February 15 annually:

49.165(2m)(a) (a) The total expenditures that the organization made on domestic abuse services in the period for which the grant was provided.

49.165(2m)(b) (b) The expenditures specified in par. (a) by general category of domestic abuse services provided.

49.165(2m)(c) (c) The number of persons served in the period for which the grant was provided by general type of domestic abuse service.

49.165(2m)(d) (d) The number of persons who were in need of domestic abuse services in the period for which the grant was provided but who did not receive the domestic abuse services that they needed.

49.165(3) (3) Council on domestic abuse. The council on domestic abuse shall: