AB56: Bill Text

AB56,60 Section 60. 16.643 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,129,4 16.643 (2) Eligibility for long-term care programs. A person who is determining eligibility for an individual for a long-term care program under s. 46.27, 46.275, or 46.277, the family care benefit under s. 46.286, the family care partnership program, the long-term care program defined in s. 46.2899 (1), or any other demonstration program or program operated under a waiver of federal medicaid law that provides long-term care benefits shall exclude from the determination any income from assets accumulated in an account that is part of a qualified ABLE program under section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code.

AB56,61 Section 61. 16.705 (1b) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,129,7 16.705 (1b) (f) The department of workforce development for the Project SEARCH program under s. 47.07.

AB56,62 Section 62. 16.75 (1p) of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,63 Section 63 . 16.84 (2m) of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,64 Section 64. 16.84 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,130,3 16.84 (5) (a) Have responsibility, subject to approval of the governor, for all functions relating to the leasing, acquisition, allocation, and utilization of all real property by the state, except where such responsibility is otherwise provided by the statutes. In exercising this responsibility, the department may not enter into, extend, or renew a lease involving an annual rent of more than $500,000 unless the secretary signs the lease, a copy of the proposed lease is submitted electronically to the chief clerk of each house for distribution, and the department notifies the joint committee on finance of the proposed lease and provides the committee with the any required information under par. (b) as well as a summary report of that information, including the terms of the lease and the lease rate per square foot of the proposed property and the comparable options. If the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance do not notify the secretary that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed lease within 14 working days after the date of the notification, the lease may be entered into, extended, or renewed. If, within 14 working days after the date of the notification, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the secretary that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed lease, the lease may be entered into, extended, or renewed only upon approval of the committee.

AB56,65 Section 65. 16.84 (5) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,130,10 16.84 (5) (b) (intro.) Before entering into, extending, or renewing a new lease, except for a lease with an annual cost that is less than $25,000 or except for a lease for a tower, a department of workforce development job center, a hangar, an easement, student housing, state public defender office space, a department of military affairs recruiting office, or a facility with a location required by law or designated for necessity or practical purposes, do all of the following:

AB56,66 Section 66. 16.84 (5) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,130,17 16.84 (5) (b) 2. Evaluate comparable lease options within a 10-mile radius of the property proposed in the lease, or if there are not sufficient comparable properties within a 10-mile radius to perform a meaningful comparison, a wider radius as needed, to ensure the lease rate per square foot does not exceed the lease rate per square foot on comparable properties or the market rate by more than 5 percent.

AB56,67 Section 67. 16.848 (2) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,130,20 16.848 (2) (g) Subsection (1) does not apply to property that is subject to sale by the department of veterans affairs under s. 45.32 (7), 2017 stats.

AB56,68 Section 68. 16.848 (4) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 16.848 (4) (ag) and amended to read:

AB56,132,7 16.848 (4) (ag) Except as provided in s. 13.48 (14) (e), if there is any outstanding public debt used to finance the acquisition, construction, or improvement of any property that is sold or leased under sub. (1), the department shall deposit a sufficient amount of the net proceeds from the sale or lease of the property in the bond security and redemption fund under s. 18.09 to repay the principal and pay the interest on the debt, and any premium due upon refunding redeeming any of the debt, except that the department may deposit some or all of the net proceeds, not to exceed the amount the department would have deposited in the bond security and redemption fund, in the capital improvement fund for use as a substitute source of funding under s. 20.924 (1) (em) for a project enumerated under the authorized state building program that is within the same statutory bond purpose as the property sold or leased under sub. (1). If there is any outstanding public debt used to finance the acquisition, construction, or improvement of any property that is sold or leased under sub. (1), the department shall then provide a sufficient amount of the net proceeds from the sale or lease of the property for the costs of maintaining federal tax law compliance applicable to the debt. If the property was acquired, constructed, or improved with federal financial assistance, the department shall pay to the federal government any of the net proceeds required by federal law. If the property was acquired by gift or grant or acquired with gift or grant funds, the department shall adhere to any restriction governing use of the proceeds. Except as required under ss. 13.48 (14) (e), 20.395 (9) (qd), and 51.06 (6), if there is no such debt outstanding, there are no moneys payable to the federal government, and there is no restriction governing use of the proceeds, and if the net proceeds exceed the amount required to be deposited, paid, or used for another purpose under this subsection, the department shall use the net proceeds or remaining net proceeds to pay principal and interest costs on outstanding public debt issued to finance the acquisition, construction, or improvement of property, except that the department may deposit some or all of the net proceeds in the capital improvement fund for use as a substitute source of funding under s. 20.924 (1) (em) for a project enumerated under the authorized state building program that is within the same statutory bond purpose as the property sold or leased under sub. (1). If any net proceeds remain thereafter, the department shall use the proceeds to pay principal and interest costs on other outstanding public debt, except that the department may deposit some or all of the net proceeds in the capital improvement fund for use as a substitute source of funding under s. 20.924 (1) (em) for any statutory bond purpose.

AB56,69 Section 69. 16.848 (4) (ab) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,132,10 16.848 (4) (ab) In this subsection, “statutory bond purpose” has the meaning given in s. 13.48 (14) (a) 2.

AB56,70 Section 70. 16.848 (4) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,132,17 16.848 (4) (am) If, under par. (ag), the department deposits an amount in the capital improvement fund for use as a substitute source of funding under s. 20.924 (1) (em), the amount of public debt that may be contracted under the statutory bond purpose for which the amount deposited under par. (ag) is used as a substitute source of funding shall be reduced by the amount used as a substitute source of funding for that statutory bond purpose.

AB56,71 Section 71. 16.848 (4) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,133,4 16.848 (4) (b) (intro.) For the purpose of paying principal and interest costs on other outstanding public debt under par. (a) (ag), the secretary may cause outstanding bonds to be called for redemption on or following their optional redemption date, establish one or more escrow accounts to redeem bonds at their optional redemption date, or purchase bonds in the open market. For the purpose of using an amount deposited under par. (ag) as a substitute source of funding under s. 20.924 (1) (em), the department shall determine which projects to fund and shall authorize expenditures for those projects. To the extent practical, the secretary shall consider all of the following in determining which public debt to redeem, whether to use any net proceeds as a substitute source of funding under s. 20.924 (1) (em), and which projects to fund:

AB56,72 Section 72. 16.848 (4) (b) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,133,8 16.848 (4) (b) 4. The fiscal benefit of redeeming outstanding debt with higher interest costs and the costs of establishing an escrow needed to redeem the outstanding debt.

AB56,73 Section 73. 16.848 (4) (b) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,133,12 16.848 (4) (b) 5. The costs of maintaining federal tax law compliance in the selection of general obligation debt to be redeemed or the project to be financed under s. 20.924 (1) (em).

AB56,74 Section 74. 16.848 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,134,14 16.848 (4) (c) If there are any outstanding revenue obligations, issued pursuant to subch. II of ch. 18, used to finance the acquisition, construction, or improvement of any property that is sold or leased under sub. (1), the department shall adhere to any restrictions in the authorizing resolution of the revenue obligations governing the use of the proceeds. To the extent the authorizing resolution does not restrict such use, the department shall deposit a sufficient amount of the net proceeds from the sale or lease of the property in the respective redemption fund provided under s. 18.561 (5) or 18.562 (3) to repay the principal and pay the interest on the revenue obligations, and any premium due upon refunding redeeming any of the revenue obligations, or shall deposit an amount in the appropriate fund under s. 18.57 or apply the amount for a purpose for which similar revenue obligations may be issued under s. 18.53 (3) or (4). If there are any outstanding revenue obligations, issued pursuant to subch. II of ch. 18, used to finance the acquisition, construction, or improvement of any property that is sold or leased under sub. (1), the department shall then provide a sufficient amount of the net proceeds from the sale or lease of the property for the costs of maintaining federal tax law compliance applicable to the revenue obligations. For the purpose of paying principal and interest costs on other outstanding revenue obligations, the secretary may cause outstanding revenue obligations to be called for redemption on or following their optional redemption date, establish one or more escrow accounts to redeem obligations at their optional redemption date, or purchase bonds on the open market. Except as required under ss. 13.48 (14) (e), 20.395 (9) (qd), and 51.06 (6), if the net proceeds exceed the amount required to be deposited, paid, or used for another purpose under this paragraph, the department shall use the net proceeds or remaining net proceeds to pay principal and interest costs on other similar revenue obligations or for a purpose for which similar revenue obligations may be issued under s. 18.53 (3) or (4).

AB56,75 Section 75. 16.848 (4) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,134,19 16.848 (4) (d) If under par. (c) the department deposits net proceeds into an appropriate fund provided in s. 18.57 or applies net proceeds for a purpose for which revenue obligations may be issued, the amount of revenue obligations authorized under s. 18.54 (2) shall be reduced by the amount deposited or applied.

AB56,76 Section 76. 16.855 (1p) of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,77 Section 77. 16.954 of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,134,23 16.954 Office of sustainability and clean energy. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB56,134,24 (a) “Office” means the office of sustainability and clean energy.

AB56,134,25 (b) “Public utility” has the meaning given in s. 196.01 (5).

AB56,135,2 (2) Initiatives. The office shall work on initiatives that have the following goals:

AB56,135,4 (a) Promoting the development and use of clean and renewable energy across this state.

AB56,135,7 (b) Advancing innovative sustainability solutions in ways that improve this state's economy and environment, including energy initiatives that reduce carbon emissions, accelerate economic growth, and lower customer energy costs.

AB56,135,10 (c) Diversifying the resources used to reliably meet the energy needs of consumers in this state and generate family-supporting jobs through the expansion of this state's clean energy economy.

AB56,135,11 (3) Other duties. The office shall do all of the following:

AB56,135,14 (b) Provide advice and support to state agencies in developing or retrofitting sustainable infrastructure to reduce energy use and lessen negative impacts on this state's air and water quality.

AB56,135,17 (c) Study and report on the status of existing clean and renewable energy efforts by the state, including economic development initiatives, and develop future energy policy opportunities for consideration by the governor and state agencies.

AB56,135,20 (d) Serve as a single point of contact to assist businesses, local units of government, and nongovernmental organizations that are pursuing clean energy opportunities.

AB56,135,22 (e) Identify and share information about clean energy funding opportunities for private, and state and local governmental entities.

AB56,135,24 (f) Perform duties necessary to maintain federal energy funding and any designations required for such funding.

AB56,136,3 (i) Take other steps necessary to facilitate the implementation of the initiatives and goals specified in sub. (2) and to identify and address barriers to the implementation of those initiatives.

AB56,136,6 (4) Clean energy grants. The office shall establish a program for making grants from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (4) (q) to fund research in support of clean energy production.

AB56,136,11 (5) Technical assistance. (a) The office may provide technical assistance to units of government other than the state to assist in the planning and implementation of energy efficiency and renewable resources and may charge for those services. The office may request technical and staff assistance from other state agencies in providing technical assistance to those units of government.

AB56,136,15 (b) The office may require a public utility to provide energy billing and use data regarding public schools, if the office determines that the data is necessary to provide technical assistance under par. (a) in public schools, including those with the highest energy costs.

AB56,136,17 (c) The office shall consult with the public service commission in implementing this subsection.

AB56,78 Section 78. 16.956 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,136,21 16.956 (2) Authority. Beginning on July 1, 2006, and ending on June 30, 2020, the The department may award a grant to an eligible applicant for the purchase and field testing of one or more idling reduction units as provided in subs. (3) and (4).

AB56,79 Section 79. 16.956 (4) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,137,2 16.956 (4) (cm) Subject to par. (d), the department may make grants under this section from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2020, of 50 percent of the eligible costs for an idling reduction unit installed on a truck tractor, unless the department has previously awarded a grant under this section for an idling reduction unit installed on the truck tractor.

AB56,80 Section 80. 16.956 (6) of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,81 Section 81. 16.969 (title) of the statutes is renumbered 196.492 (title).

AB56,82 Section 82. 16.969 (1) (intro.) and (b) of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 196.492 (1) and amended to read:

AB56,137,9 196.492 (1) In this section: (b) “High-voltage, “high-voltage transmission line" means a high-voltage transmission line, as defined in s. 196.491 (1) (f), that is designed for operation at a nominal voltage of 345 kilovolts or more.

AB56,83 Section 83. 16.969 (1) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,84 Section 84. 16.969 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 196.492 (2), and 196.492 (2) (intro.), as renumbered, is amended to read:

AB56,137,16 196.492 (2) (intro.) The department commission shall promulgate rules that require a person who is issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) for a high-voltage transmission line to pay the department commission the following fees:

AB56,85 Section 85. 16.969 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 196.492 (3), and 196.492 (3) (a) and (b) 1. and 2., as renumbered, are amended to read:

AB56,137,23 196.492 (3) (a) The department commission shall distribute the fees that are paid by a person under the rules promulgated under sub. (2) (a) to each town, village and city that is identified by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) (gm) in proportion to the amount of investment that is allocated by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) (gm) to each such town, village and city.

AB56,138,2 (b) 1. The department commission shall pay 50 percent of the fee to each county that is identified by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) (gm) in proportion to the amount of investment that is allocated by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) (gm) to each such county.

AB56,138,6 2. The department commission shall pay 50 percent of the fee to each town, village and city that is identified by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) (gm) in proportion to the amount of investment that is allocated by the commission under s. 196.491 (3) (gm) to each such town, village and city.

AB56,86 Section 86 . 16.969 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 196.492 (4).

AB56,87 Section 87 . 16.99 (3r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,138,10 16.99 (3r) “Rural territory” means any territory, population, and housing units located outside urbanized areas or urban clusters.

AB56,88 Section 88. 16.99 (6) of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,89 Section 89 . 16.9945 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,139,2 16.9945 (1) Competitive grants. (intro.) In fiscal years 2017-18 and, 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21, the department may annually award grants on a competitive basis to eligible school districts and to eligible public libraries for the purpose of improving information technology infrastructure. For purposes of awarding grants under this section, “improving information technology infrastructure” includes purchasing and installing on a bus a portable device that creates an area of wireless Internet coverage and purchasing for individuals to temporarily borrow from a school or for patrons to check out from a public library a portable device that creates an area of wireless Internet coverage. In awarding grants to eligible school districts under this section, the department shall give priority to applications for school districts in which the percentage of pupils who satisfy the income eligibility criteria under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1) for a free or reduced-price lunch is greater than in other applicant school districts. The department shall require an applicant for a grant under this section to provide all of the following:

AB56,90 Section 90 . 16.9945 (2) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 16.9945 (2) and amended to read:

AB56,139,8 16.9945 (2) A school district is eligible for a grant under this section in fiscal year 2017-18 if the school district's membership in the previous most recent school year for which finalized school year data is available divided by the school district's area in square miles is 16 or less.

AB56,91 Section 91 . 16.9945 (2) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,92 Section 92. 16.9945 (2m) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,93 Section 93. 16.9945 (2m) (a) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 16.99 (3c).

AB56,94 Section 94. 16.9945 (2m) (a) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 16.99 (5g).

AB56,95 Section 95. 16.9945 (2m) (a) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 16.99 (5r).

AB56,96 Section 96. 16.9945 (2m) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 16.9945 (2m) (b) and amended to read:

AB56,139,22 16.9945 (2m) (b) A public library, including the branch of a public library a library branch, is eligible for a grant under this section in fiscal year 2017-18 or in fiscal year 2018-19 or in both fiscal years if the population of the municipality within which the library or branch of the library library branch is located, as determined in the first year of the fiscal biennium, is 20,000 or less and if the public library or branch library branch is located in one of the following areas of the state: a rural territory.

AB56,97 Section 97 . 16.9945 (2m) (b) 1. to 3. of the statutes are repealed.

AB56,98 Section 98 . 16.9945 (2m) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,140,3 16.9945 (2m) (c) A consortium of public libraries is eligible for a grant under this section and a public library system is eligible for a grant under this section if all of the following apply:

AB56,140,4 1. Either of the following applies:

AB56,140,6 a. The consortium consists of 3 or more eligible public libraries or library branches.

AB56,140,8 b. The public library system contains 3 or more eligible public libraries or library branches.

AB56,140,10 2. The consortium or public library system applies for a grant under this section.