Amendment ASA1-AB336

This bill eliminates the current law method by which the Department of Children and Families may modify payments to child care providers under Wisconsin Shares based on a child care provider's rating under the quality rating system known as Young Star. The bill instead authorizes DCF to establish a program for making monthly payments and monthly per-child payments to certified child care providers, licensed child care centers, and child care programs established or contracted for by a school board. The bill allows DCF to promulgate rules to implement the program, including establishing eligibility requirements and payment amounts and setting requirements for how recipients may use the payments. The bill funds the program through a new appropriation and by allocating federal moneys, including child care development funds and moneys received under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant program.

Wisconsin Shares is a part of the Wisconsin Works program under current law, which DCF administers and which provides work experience and benefits for low-income custodial parents who are at least 18 years old. Under current law, an individual who is the parent of a child under the age of 13 or, if the child is disabled, under the age of 19, who needs child care services to participate in various education or work activities, and who satisfies other eligibility criteria may receive a child care subsidy for child care services under Wisconsin Shares.

Under current law, DCF sets the maximum payment rates for child care providers who provide services under Wisconsin Shares and may modify an individual child care provider's payment rate in the following manner on the basis of the child care provider's quality rating under the Young Star system: a provider who receives a one-star rating may be denied payment; a provider who receives a two-star rating may have the maximum payment rate reduced by up to 5 percent; a provider who receives a three-star rating may receive up to the maximum payment rate; a provider who receives a four-star rating may have the maximum payment rate increased by up to 15 percent; and a provider who receives a five-star rating may have the maximum payment rate increased by up to 30 percent.

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

AB336-ASA1,1 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

AB336-ASA1,2 Section 2 . 20.437 (2) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB336-ASA1,4,3 20.437 (2) (c) Child care quality improvement program. The amounts in the schedule for the program under s. 49.133.

AB336-ASA1,3 Section 3 . 20.445 (1) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB336-ASA1,4,12 20.445 (1) (bm) Workforce training; administration. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for the administration of the local youth apprenticeship grant program under s. 106.13 (3m), the youth summer jobs program under s. 106.18, the employment transit assistance grant program under s. 106.26, the workforce training program programs under s. 106.27, the teacher development program grants under s. 106.272, the career and technical education incentive grant program under s. 106.273, the technical education equipment grant program under s. 106.275, and the apprentice programs under subch. I of ch. 106.

AB336-ASA1,4 Section 4 . 20.445 (1) (bp) of the statutes is created to read:

AB336-ASA1,5,3 20.445 (1) (bp) Green jobs training program; grants. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for green jobs training program grants under s. 106.27 (1p).

AB336-ASA1,5 Section 5 . 20.445 (1) (bq) of the statutes is created to read:

AB336-ASA1,5,7 20.445 (1) (bq) Pandemic workforce training program; grants. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for pandemic workforce training program grants under s. 106.27 (1q).

AB336-ASA1,6 Section 6 . 20.445 (1) (bv) of the statutes is created to read:

AB336-ASA1,5,10 20.445 (1) (bv) Health care recruitment initiative. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for the health care recruitment initiative under s. 106.28.

AB336-ASA1,7 Section 7 . 20.445 (1) (bw) of the statutes is created to read:

AB336-ASA1,5,13 20.445 (1) (bw) Pandemic recovery grants. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for pandemic recovery grants under s. 106.29.

AB336-ASA1,8 Section 8 . 20.445 (1) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB336-ASA1,5,17 20.445 (1) (cm) Worker connection program. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for worker connection program administration, grants, and contracts under s. 106.274.

AB336-ASA1,9 Section 9 . 49.133 of the statutes is created to read:

AB336-ASA1,6,2 49.133 Child care quality improvement program. (1) The department may establish a program under which it may, from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (c) and under s. 49.175 (1) (qm), make monthly payments and monthly per-child payments to child care providers certified under s. 48.651, child care centers licensed under s. 48.65, and child care programs established or contracted for by a school board under s. 120.13 (14). Of the amounts from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (c), the department may award 10 percent to child care providers, child care centers, and child care programs located in child care deserts, as defined by the department.

AB336-ASA1,6,5 (2) The department may promulgate rules to implement the program under this section, including establishing eligibility requirements and payment amounts and setting requirements for how recipients may use the payments.

AB336-ASA1,10 Section 10 . 49.155 (6) (e) of the statutes is repealed.

AB336-ASA1,11 Section 11. 49.175 (1) (qm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB336-ASA1,6,11 49.175 (1) (qm) Quality care for quality kids. For the child care quality improvement activities specified in ss. 49.133, 49.155 (1g), and 49.257, $16,532,900 $33,847,900 in fiscal year 2019-20 2021-22 and $16,683,700 $34,484,700 in fiscal year 2020-21 2022-23.

AB336-ASA1,12 Section 12 . 106.27 (1p) of the statutes is created to read:

AB336-ASA1,6,15 106.27 (1p) Green jobs training program. (a) In this subsection, “green jobs” means jobs that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources.

AB336-ASA1,6,20 (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (bp), the department shall award grants to public or private organizations for the development and implementation of green jobs training programs. As a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, the department may require a public or private organization to provide matching funds at a percentage to be determined by the department.

AB336-ASA1,13 Section 13 . 106.27 (1q) of the statutes is created to read:

AB336-ASA1,7,6 106.27 (1q) Pandemic workforce training program. From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (bq), the department shall award grants to public or private organizations for the development and implementation of pandemic workforce training programs that emphasize training, skill development, and economic recovery for individuals and businesses. The grants may be used for virtual and in-person job training, employment navigators or coaches, skill assessment, transportation, soft skill development, career or talent search services, and other programs to return employees to the labor market. As a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, the department may require a public or private organization to provide matching funds at a percentage to be determined by the department.

AB336-ASA1,14 Section 14 . 106.27 (2g) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB336-ASA1,7,10 106.27 (2g) (a) 1. Promulgate rules prescribing procedures and criteria for awarding grants under sub subs. (1), (1p), and (1q) and the information with respect to those grants that must be contained in the reports required under subd. 3.

AB336-ASA1,15 Section 15 . 106.27 (2g) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB336-ASA1,7,15 106.27 (2g) (a) 2. Receive and review applications for grants under subs. (1), (1g), and (1j) (am), (1p), and (1q) 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), (1p) or (1q).

AB336-ASA1,16 Section 16 . 106.27 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB336-ASA1,8,14 106.27 (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), (bp), and (bq) 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), (1p), or (1q); 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 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).

AB336-ASA1,17 Section 17 . 106.274 of the statutes is created to read:

AB336-ASA1,8,21 106.274 Worker connection program. (1) Worker connection program. The department shall, from the appropriation under 20.445 (1) (cm), establish and administer a worker connection program that helps participants prepare for and enter jobs in high-growth employment sectors by pairing participants with achievement coaches who guide participants through the workforce system and partner with employers in high-growth employment sectors.

AB336-ASA1,8,23 (2) Implementation. The department shall promulgate rules to administer this section.

AB336-ASA1,18 Section 18 . 106.28 of the statutes is created to read:

AB336-ASA1,9,2 106.28 Health care recruitment initiative. (1) In this section, “nurse aide” has the meaning given in s. 146.40 (1) (d).

AB336-ASA1,9,5 (2) The department shall, from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (bv) and in coordination with local workforce development boards established under 29 USC 3122, do all of the following:

AB336-ASA1,9,9 (a) Undertake a statewide recruitment initiative to promote and connect individuals with instructional programs for nurse aides approved by the department of health services under s. 146.40 and nurse aide employment opportunities and to promote other health care provider employment opportunities.

AB336-ASA1,9,11 (b) Create a free, 4-hour course that individuals may take to explore career opportunities within the field of human services or health care delivery.

AB336-ASA1,19 Section 19 . 106.29 of the statutes is created to read:

AB336-ASA1,9,14 106.29 Pandemic recovery grants. (1) In this section, “pandemic” means the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic.

AB336-ASA1,9,22 (2) The department shall, from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (bw), establish and operate a program to provide grants to local workforce development boards established under 29 USC 3122 to fund pandemic recovery efforts. The grants shall emphasize training, skill development, and economic recovery for individuals and businesses. The grants may be used for virtual and in-person job training, employment navigators or coaches, skill assessment, transportation, soft skill development, career or talent search services, and other programs to return employees to the labor market.

AB336-ASA1,20 Section 20. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB336-ASA1,9,25 (1) Child care quality improvement program. Using the procedure under s. 227.24, the department of children and families may promulgate the rules authorized under s. 49.133 (2) as emergency rules. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department of children and families is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB336-ASA1,10,15 (2) Worker connection pilot program. The authorized FTE positions for the department of workforce development are increased by 25.0 GPR 2-year project positions in the 2021-22 fiscal year, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (cm), for the purpose of administering the worker connection pilot program for the period beginning on July 1, 2021, and ending on June 30, 2024. The authorized FTE positions for the department of workforce development are increased by 23.0 GPR 2-year project positions in the 2022-23 fiscal year, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (cm), for the purpose of administering the worker connection pilot program for the period beginning July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2025.

AB336-ASA1,21 Section 21. Effective date.

AB336-ASA1,10,18 (1) This act takes effect on the day after publication, or on the 2nd day after publication of the 2021 biennial budget act, whichever is later.

AB336-ASA1,10,19 (End)