AB375: Bill Text

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Workforce Development to establish a family navigator program to provide services to certain individuals who receive federal supplemental security income. Under the bill, DWD must employ family navigators in each local workforce development area of the state. The bill also authorizes new positions.

Under a federal demonstration project that ended in 2018, DVR administered a family navigator service using a federal grant under the Wisconsin PROMISE Project.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

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

AB375,1 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

AB375,2 Section 2. 20.445 (5) (cu) of the statutes is created to read:

AB375,2,3 20.445 (5) (cu) Family navigator program. The amounts in the schedule for the family navigator program under s. 47.09.

AB375,3 Section 3. 47.09 of the statutes is created to read:

AB375,2,5 47.09 Family navigator program. (1) As used in this section:

AB375,2,7 (a) “Eligible individual” means an individual identified under sub. (3) who is between the ages of 14 and 21.

AB375,2,8 (b) “Family” has the meaning given for “household” in 42 CFR 435.603 (f).

AB375,2,10 (c) “Family income” has the meaning given for “household income” in 42 CFR 435.603 (d).

AB375,2,20 (2) The department shall establish a family navigator program for eligible individuals and their families. The program shall provide direct services to eligible individuals and their families in each local workforce development area determined under 29 USC 3121. The department shall prioritize providing services to eligible individuals who receive supplemental security income under 42 USC 1381 to 1383c, and whose family income does not exceed 150 percent of the federal nonfarm poverty line as established under 42 USC 9902 (2). Direct services must be provided using a delivery model that accommodates the needs of eligible individuals and their families in a culturally competent manner to achieve the following outcomes for eligible individuals and their families:

AB375,3,1 (a) Graduation from high school.

AB375,3,2 (b) Entering post-secondary education or job training.

AB375,3,3 (c) Obtaining competitive integrated employment as defined in 29 USC 705 (5).

AB375,3,4 (d) Increasing economic self-sufficiency.

AB375,3,8 (3) The department shall coordinate with the department of children and families, the department of corrections, the department of health services, and the department of public instruction to identify individuals and families who may be eligible for services under this section.

AB375,3,9 (4) Direct services under sub. (2) may include any of the following:

AB375,3,14 (a) Outreach, support, and assistance accessing programs and resources available to eligible individuals and their families, including, but not limited to, services provided by a county, medical assistance, vocational rehabilitation services, employment training, coordinated services, Wisconsin Works, Wisconsin Shares, heating assistance, and housing assistance.

AB375,3,16 (b) Training to increase self-service and self-sufficiency of eligible individuals and their families.

AB375,3,17 (c) Referrals to programs and resources.

AB375,3,23 (5) (a) The department shall employ a family navigator for each local workforce development area, except Milwaukee, where the department shall employ 2 family navigators. The department shall allow each family navigator to have an alternative work schedule that meets the needs of eligible individuals and their families in each local workforce development area. Each family navigator must have all of the following qualifications:

AB375,3,25 1. Personal experience as a person with a disability or severe disability or with a family member who is a person with a disability or severe disability.

AB375,4,3 2. Knowledge regarding the challenges and barriers that affect the ability of eligible individuals to attain educational goals, employability, and economic self-sufficiency.

AB375,4,5 3. Knowledge of the communities in the local workforce development area to which he or she is assigned.

AB375,4,6 4. Demonstrated cultural competency.

AB375,4,10 5. Knowledge of programs and resources that may be available to individuals in this state, including services provided by a county, medical assistance, vocational rehabilitation services, employment training, coordinated services, Wisconsin Works, Wisconsin Shares, heating assistance, and housing assistance.

AB375,4,12 (b) The department shall employ one project coordinator to provide support to the local family navigators.

AB375,4,18 (6) Annually, the department shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance and to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3). The report shall include outcomes of the program described in sub. (2) for the preceding fiscal year, including the number of individuals and families who participated in the program in each local workforce development area, the nature of the services provided, and quantifiable results.

AB375,4 Section 4. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB375,4,23 (1) Family navigator program. The authorized FTE positions for the department of workforce development are increased by 13.0 GPR positions, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (5) (cu), for the purpose of administering the family navigator program under s. 47.09.

AB375,5 Section 5. Effective date.

AB375,5,2 (1) This act takes effect on the day after publication, or on the 2nd day after publication of the 2019 biennial budget act, whichever is later.

AB375,5,3 (End)