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2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
October 14, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Nygren, Billings, Anderson,
Bowen, Edming, Hebl, Milroy, Murphy, Mursau, Ohnstad, Petryk, Pope,
Ramthun, Sinicki, Skowronski, Subeck, C. Taylor, Felzkowski, Rohrkaste,
Born, Zimmerman, Loudenbeck and Katsma, cosponsored by Senators Feyen,
Larson, Bernier, Olsen, Ringhand and Darling. Referred to Committee on
Colleges and Universities.
AB536,1,3 1An Act to create 20.235 (1) (fr), 20.235 (1) (fs) and 39.412 of the statutes;
2relating to: establishing a career advancement scholarship program and
3making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Higher Educational Aids Board to establish a career
advancement scholarship program for individuals who are at least 25 years old, do
not have a postsecondary credential, and are not enrolled, but intend to enroll, in an
eligible institution. The bill defines “eligible institution” as a technical college, a
University of Wisconsin System institution, an in-state tribal college, or a private
nonprofit institution of higher education that is headquartered in this state. To be
eligible for the program, an individual must have been a state resident for at least
one year before enrolling at an eligible institution. Also, an individual must complete
the federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid and be considered an
independent student for purposes of federal financial aid. In addition, the individual
must have an expected family contribution (EFC) that does not exceed the maximum
specified by the U.S. Department of Education for eligibility under the federal Pell
Grant Program. For federal financial aid, including Pell grants, an individual's EFC
is calculated under formulas specified under federal law for determining how much
an individual and his or her family is expected to contribute to educational costs.
The amount of a scholarship awarded under the program to an individual for
an academic year must equal the lesser of the following: 1) 50 percent of the total
tuition and fees that an eligible institution charges the individual for the academic

year; or 2) the individual's unmet need for the academic year. Unmet need is
determined by subtracting the total amount of nonloan financial aid provided to an
individual, including grants and other scholarships, from the total amount of tuition
and fees charged to the individual, except for room and board fees. An individual who
is awarded a scholarship may renew the scholarship in a subsequent academic year
if he or she is enrolled in a program leading to a postsecondary credential and has
made satisfactory academic progress in that program. In addition, he or she must
maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 and participate in an
eligible institution's academic and career advising program as certified by HEAB.
The bill requires HEAB to begin making the scholarships in fiscal year 2020-21
and appropriates $1,250,000 annually for the scholarships. The bill also requires
HEAB to contract with 60 Forward for a marketing campaign to encourage adults
without postsecondary credentials to earn postsecondary credentials. 60 Forward
is a collaboration among the Technical College System, the UW System, and the
Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities to increase the
number of adults in Wisconsin with a postsecondary credential. The marketing
campaign must include other information, including information on the scholarship
program required under the bill. HEAB must submit a plan for the marketing
campaign to the Joint Committee on Finance for passive review no later than
September 15, 2020.
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:
AB536,1 1Section 1 . 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
2the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table PDF
AB536,2 3Section 2. 20.235 (1) (fr) of the statutes is created to read:
AB536,3,2
120.235 (1) (fr) Career advancement scholarship program. The amounts in the
2schedule to award scholarships under s. 39.412.
AB536,3 3Section 3. 20.235 (1) (fs) of the statutes is created to read:
AB536,3,64 20.235 (1) (fs) Career advancement scholarship program; marketing. As a
5continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for the marketing campaign
6required under s. 39.412 (5) (b) 1.
AB536,4 7Section 4. 39.412 of the statutes is created to read:
AB536,3,9 839.412 Career advancement scholarship program. (1) Definitions. In
9this section:
AB536,3,1310 (a) “60 Forward” means the collaboration among the technical college system,
11the University of Wisconsin System, and the Wisconsin Association of Independent
12Colleges and Universities to increase the number of adults in Wisconsin with a
13postsecondary credential.
AB536,3,1614 (b) “Eligible institution” means a technical college, an institution of the
15University of Wisconsin System, a tribal college, or a private nonprofit institution of
16higher education headquartered in this state.
AB536,3,1717 (c) “Tribal college” has the meaning given in s. 39.382 (1) (d).
AB536,3,2218 (d) “Unmet need” means the difference between the total amount of tuition and
19fees an eligible institution charges an enrolled individual, except for room and board
20fees, and the total amount of financial aid, other than loans, provided to the
21individual, including grants, scholarships other than those awarded under this
22section, and other nonloan financial assistance.
AB536,3,25 23(2) Establishment; eligibility. The board shall establish a program for the
24board to award scholarships beginning in fiscal year 2020-21 to individuals who
25satisfy all of the following:
AB536,4,1
1(a) Are at least 25 years old.
AB536,4,22 (b) Do not have a postsecondary credential.
AB536,4,33 (c) Are not enrolled at any institution of higher education.
AB536,4,44 (d) Intend to enroll at an eligible institution.
AB536,4,65 (e) Have been state residents for at least one year prior to enrolling at an
6eligible institution.
AB536,4,87 (f) Complete the federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid, as described
8in 20 USC 1090 (a).
AB536,4,99 (g) Are considered independent students for purposes of federal financial aid.
AB536,4,1210 (h) Have an expected family contribution that does not exceed the maximum
11amount specified by the U.S. Department of Education for eligibility under the
12federal Pell Grant Program.
AB536,4,16 13(3) Scholarship amounts. The amount of a scholarship awarded under this
14section to an individual for an academic year shall equal 50 percent of the total
15tuition and fees an eligible institution charges the individual for the academic year
16or the individual's unmet need for the academic year, whichever is less.
AB536,4,19 17(4) Scholarship renewals. An individual who is awarded a scholarship under
18this section may renew the scholarship in any subsequent academic year if the
19individual satisfies all of the following:
AB536,4,2220 (a) Is enrolled at an eligible institution in a program leading to a postsecondary
21credential and, as determined by the eligible institution, has made satisfactory
22academic progress in that program.
AB536,4,2423 (b) Maintains a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4-point scale
24or the equivalent.
AB536,5,2
1(c) Participates in an academic and career advising program of the eligible
2institution.
AB536,5,6 3(5) Academic and career advising program; marketing campaign. (a) The
4board shall certify whether individuals awarded scholarships under this section are
5participating in academic and career advising programs as required under sub. (4)
6(c).
AB536,5,127 (b) 1. The board shall contract with 60 Forward for a marketing campaign to
8encourage adults without postsecondary credentials to earn postsecondary
9credentials. The marketing campaign shall include information on how scholarships
10are awarded under this section, how postsecondary credentials may be earned while
11working full-time, and how nontraditional students may overcome barriers to
12earning postsecondary credentials.
AB536,5,2213 2. No later than September 15, 2020, the board shall submit to the joint
14committee on finance a plan for the marketing campaign required under subd. 1. If
15the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance do not notify the board that the
16committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed plan
17within 14 working days after the date the board submits the plan, the board may
18implement the plan. If, within 14 working days after the date of the board's
19submittal, the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance notify the board that
20the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the plan, the
21board may implement that plan only as approved, or modified and approved, by the
22committee.
AB536,6,223 (c) In carrying out the duties under pars. (a) and (b), the board shall consult
24with the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, the technical

1college system board, and the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and
2Universities.
AB536,6,7 3(6) Annual reports. By August 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the board
4shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance evaluating the success of the
5program under this section. The report shall specify the number and amount of the
6scholarships awarded in the current fiscal year and the eligible institutions in which
7scholarship recipients are enrolled.
AB536,6,88 (End)
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