SB218: Bill Text

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Senate BILL 218

May 15, 2019 - Introduced by Senators Cowles, L. Taylor and Wirch, cosponsored by Representatives Kuglitsch, Neylon, Kitchens, Krug, Kulp, Milroy, Mursau, Petryk and Tusler. Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Commerce and Trade.

SB218,1,4 An Act to amend 20.445 (1) (b), 106.27 (2g) (a) 2. and 106.27 (3); and to create 106.27 (1y) of the statutes; relating to: reimbursement grants to employers for payment of costs for certification programs in solar energy and wind energy systems.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Workforce Development to allocate $1,000,000 biennially for grants to train and certify individuals in solar energy and wind energy systems.

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:

SB218,1 Section 1 . 20.445 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB218,1,8 20.445 (1) (b) Workforce training; programs, grants, and services. The amounts in the schedule for the workforce training programs, grants, and services under s. 106.27 (1), (1g), (1j), and (1r), and (1y).

SB218,2 Section 2. 106.27 (1y) of the statutes is created to read:

SB218,2,4 106.27 (1y) Solar and wind energy systems employers; certification completion grants. (a) In this subsection, “applicant” means a single employer or a consortium of employers.

SB218,2,12 (b) Of the amounts appropriated under s. 20.445 (1) (b), the department shall allocate $1,000,000 in each fiscal biennium for grants to partially reimburse applicants for costs that they incur for individuals to participate in certification programs in the installation, repair, or maintenance of solar energy systems or wind energy systems. The department shall give preference to consortiums of employers when awarding grants. The maximum cumulative amount an applicant may be awarded in all years under this subsection is $250,000. An applicant shall provide matching funds equal to the amount of the grant awarded.

SB218,2,14 (c) The department shall ensure that a certification program for which an applicant receives a grant under this section does all of the following:

SB218,2,15 1. Enrolls at least 25 individuals.

SB218,2,18 2. Provides an individual who successfully completes the program with a certificate or other credential in the installation, repair, or maintenance of solar energy systems or wind energy systems.

SB218,3 Section 3. 106.27 (2g) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB218,2,23 106.27 (2g) (a) 2. Receive and review applications for grants under subs. (1), (1g), and (1j) (am), and (1y), and prescribe the form, nature, and extent of the information that must be contained in an application for a grant under sub. (1), (1g), or (1j) (am), or (1y).

SB218,4 Section 4. 106.27 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB218,4,2 106.27 (3) Annual report. Annually, by December 31, the department shall submit a report to the governor and the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance providing an account of the department's activities and expenditures under this section during the preceding fiscal year and detailing the amounts allocated to and expended for each of the programs, grants, and services specified in s. 20.445 (1) (b) and (bm) for that fiscal year. The report shall include information on the number of unemployed and underemployed workers and incumbent employees who participate in training programs under sub. (1) or (1j); the number of unemployed workers who obtain gainful employment, underemployed workers who obtain new employment, and incumbent employees who receive increased compensation after participating in such a training program; and the wages earned by those workers and employees both before and after participating in such a training program. The report shall also include information on the extent to which waiting lists for enrollment in courses and programs provided by technical colleges in high-demand fields are reduced as a result of grants under sub. (1g) (a), on the number of students who participate in certification or training programs under sub. (1) (a) or (e) or (1g) (b), on the building modifications funded under sub. (1) (f) and the effect of those building modifications on the school districts' technical education programs, and on the number of persons with disabilities who participate in employment enhancement activities under sub. (1g) (c). In addition, the The report shall provide information on the number of student interns who are placed with employers as a result of the coordination activities conducted under sub. (1r) or the grants awarded under sub. (1) (d). In addition, the report shall include the number of individuals who participated in a certification program described in sub. (1y) (b), the cost of each individual's participation, the number of individuals who received a certificate or other credential upon completion of a certification program, and, of the individuals for whom each applicant received a grant, the number that the applicant hired.

SB218,4,3 (End)