AB174: Bill Text

To be eligible for the grants, an individual must have continuously resided and been employed in Wisconsin for a period of at least two years after graduation. In addition, he or she must have a gross monthly income of at least $3,333 and, if he or she has federal student loans, the National Student Loan Data System administered by the U.S. Department of Education must show that the federal loans are in good standing. The bill requires the Department of Workforce Development or the Department of Revenue, upon request by HEAB, to provide information relevant to an individual's eligibility for the grants.

The bill allows an individual to receive annual grants for no more than five consecutive years in amounts equal to 10 percent of the difference between the total amount of nonresident tuition the educational institution charged the individual and the total amount of resident tuition the educational institution would have charged the individual if the individual had been a resident. If an individual who receives a grant ceases to reside or be employed in Wisconsin, or has an annual gross income of less than $40,000, the bill provides that the individual is not eligible for any additional grants.

The bill requires HEAB to promulgate rules establishing requirements and procedures for applying for and making the grants. The bill includes a sunset date that provides that HEAB may not award a grant ten years after the program begins. No later than eight years after the program begins, the bill requires HEAB to submit a report to the legislature evaluating the success of the program. The bill allows HEAB to obtain nonresident tuition amounts for graduates specified by HEAB from technical colleges and UW institutions.

Finally, the bill imposes duties on DWD. DWD must develop a logo for businesses to publicize on their websites that they have employed individuals who are eligible for grants under the program established under the bill. DWD must also establish requirements for allowing businesses to display the logo on their websites. In addition, DWD must publicize and maintain on its job center website information about the program and job openings submitted by businesses that are available for individuals who are eligible for grants under the program.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB174,1 Section 1 . 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table - See PDF for table

AB174,2 Section 2 . 20.235 (1) (fr) of the statutes is created to read:

AB174,3,2 20.235 (1) (fr) Tuition repayment incentive program. The amounts in the schedule for administering and making grants under the program established under s. 39.52 (2) (a). No moneys may be expended from the appropriation under this paragraph after the first day of the 120th month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], except moneys encumbered before that date.

AB174,3 Section 3. 39.52 of the statutes is created to read:

AB174,3,4 39.52 Tuition repayment incentive program. (1) In this section:

AB174,3,5 (a) “Complete an educational program” means one of the following:

AB174,3,9 1. For an individual who attended a technical college, to obtain an associate degree or technical diploma from the technical college or successfully complete all the requirements of an apprenticeship program, as defined in s. 106.001 (4), that includes related instruction provided by the technical college.

AB174,3,11 2. For an individual who attended a University of Wisconsin institution, to obtain an associate or bachelor's degree at the institution.

AB174,3,13 (b) “Eligible institution” means a University of Wisconsin institution or a technical college within the technical college system.

AB174,3,15 (c) “Federal system” means the National Student Loan Data System administered by the U.S. Department of Education or its successor.

AB174,3,17 (d) “Graduate” means an individual who has completed an educational program.

AB174,3,19 (e) “University of Wisconsin institution” means a college campus, as defined in s. 36.05 (6m), or a university, as defined in s. 36.05 (13).

AB174,3,23 (2) (a) The board shall establish a program for making annual grants in amounts specified in sub. (3) to an individual who was charged nonresident tuition by an eligible institution and completed an educational program at the institution after July 1, 2019, if he or she satisfies all of the following:

AB174,3,25 1. The individual has continuously resided and been employed in this state for a period of at least 2 years after completion of the educational program.

AB174,4,1 2. The individual has a gross monthly income of at least $3,333.

AB174,4,3 3. All federal loans to the individual that are included in the federal system are shown by the federal system to be in good standing.

AB174,4,8 (b) An individual is eligible for an annual grant under the program established under par. (a) for not more than 5 consecutive years. If an individual who receives an annual grant under the program ceases to reside or be employed in this state, or has a gross annual income of less than $40,000, the individual is not eligible for any additional grant under the program.

AB174,4,14 (c) If the board submits to the department of revenue or the department of workforce development a request for data regarding an applicant for a grant under the program established under par. (a), the department to which the request is submitted shall provide the board with any information in the department's possession related to the applicant's employment, income, or residency that may assist the board in determining the applicant's eligibility for the program.

AB174,4,20 (3) The amount of an annual grant to an individual under the program established under sub. (2) (a) is equal to 10 percent of the difference between the total amount of nonresident tuition an eligible institution charged the individual in connection with the individual completing an educational program and the total amount of resident tuition the eligible institution would have charged the individual if the individual had been a resident.

AB174,4,23 (4) The board shall promulgate rules establishing requirements and procedures for applying for and making grants under the program established under sub. (2) (a).

AB174,5,3 (5) Upon request by the board, for graduates specified by the board, an eligible institution shall report to the board the total nonresident tuition paid in excess of the resident tuition rate.

AB174,5,8 (6) No later than the first day of the 96th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], the board shall submit to the standing committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over higher education and workforce development matters a report under s. 13.172 (3) that evaluates the success of the program established under sub. (2) (a).

AB174,5,11 (7) The board may not award a grant under sub. (2) (a) after the first day of the 120th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date].

AB174,4 Section 4 . 103.005 (22) of the statutes is created to read:

AB174,5,17 103.005 (22) The department shall develop a logo for businesses to publicize on their websites that they have employed individuals who are eligible for grants under the tuition repayment incentive program established by the higher educational aids board under s. 39.52 (2) (a). The department shall establish requirements for allowing businesses to display the logo on their websites.

AB174,5 Section 5 . 106.14 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

AB174,5,20 106.14 (3) The department shall publicize and maintain on its job center website all of the following:

AB174,5,22 (a) Information about the tuition repayment incentive program established by the higher educational aids board under s. 39.52 (2).

AB174,5,24 (b) Job openings submitted by businesses that are available for individuals who are eligible for grants under the program specified under par. (a).

AB174,6 Section 6 . Nonstatutory provisions.

AB174,6,4 (1) Position authorization. The authorized FTE positions for the higher educational aids board are increased by 1.0 GPR position on the effective date of this subsection, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (fr), for the purpose of administering the program established under s. 39.52 (2) (a).

AB174,7 Section 7 . Effective date.

AB174,6,7 (1) This act takes effect on July 1, 2019, or on the 2nd day after publication of the 2019-21 biennial budget act, whichever is later.

AB174,6,8 (End)