AB444: Bill Text

AB444,31,15 (b) “Municipality” means a city, village, town, county, utility district, lake protection district, sewerage district, or municipal airport.

AB444,31,16 (c) “PFAS” means a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance.

AB444,31,20 (2) Financial assistance. The department shall administer a program to provide grants from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (6) (ed) to municipalities that meet the requirements under sub. (3) for the purpose of conducting any of the eligible activities under sub. (4).

AB444,31,22 (3) Eligibility prerequisites. A grant may be awarded under sub. (2) only if one of the following has occurred:

AB444,32,2 (a) The municipality tested or trained with a class B fire fighting foam that contained intentionally added PFAS in accordance with applicable state and federal law, or a 3rd party tested or trained with a class B fire fighting foam that contained intentionally added PFAS within the boundaries of the municipality.

AB444,32,4 (b) The municipality applied biosolids to land under a permit issued by DNR under s. 283.31.

AB444,32,7 (c) PFAS are impacting the municipality's drinking water supply or surface water or groundwater within the municipality and the responsible party is unknown or is unwilling or unable to take the necessary response actions.

AB444,32,9 (4) Eligible activities. The department may award a grant under sub. (2) for any of the following activities:

AB444,32,11 (a) Investigating potential PFAS impacts to the air, land, or water at a site or facility for the purpose of reducing or eliminating environmental contamination.

AB444,32,13 (b) Treating or disposing of PFAS-containing fire fighting foam containers from a municipal site or facility.

AB444,32,15 (c) Sampling a private water supply within 3 miles of a site or facility known to contain PFAS or to have caused a PFAS discharge.

AB444,32,17 (d) Providing a temporary emergency water supply, a water treatment system, or bulk water to replace water contaminated with PFAS.

AB444,32,19 (e) Conducting emergency, interim, or remedial actions to mitigate, treat, dispose of, or remove PFAS contamination to the air, land, or waters of the state.

AB444,32,24 (f) Removing or treating PFAS in a public water system using the most cost-effective method to provide safe drinking water in areas where PFAS levels exceed the maximum contaminant level for PFAS under ch. 281 or an enforcement standard for PFAS under ch. 160 or where the state has issued a health advisory for PFAS.

AB444,33,4 (5) Application. A municipality shall apply for a grant on a form prescribed by the department and shall include any information that the department finds necessary to determine the eligibility of the project, identify the funding requested, determine the priority of the project, and calculate the amount of a grant.

AB444,33,6 (6) Evaluation criteria. The department, in awarding grants under this section, shall consider all of the following criteria:

AB444,33,9 (a) The municipality's demonstrated commitment to performing and completing eligible activities, including the municipality's financial commitment and ability to successfully administer grants.

AB444,33,11 (b) The degree to which the project will have a positive impact on public health and the environment.

AB444,33,13 (c) Other criteria that the department finds necessary to prioritize the funds available for awarding grants.

AB444,33,17 (7) Matching funds. The department may not distribute a grant under this section unless the applicant contributes matching funds equal to at least 20 percent of the amount of the grant. Matching funds may be in the form of cash, in-kind contributions, or both.

AB444,54 Section 54 . 2017 Wisconsin Act 59, sections 202e, 202g, 1646t to 1646y, 1655g to 1655j, 1806f and 9439 (4t) are repealed.

AB444,9101 Section 9101. Nonstatutory provisions; Administration.

AB444,33,23 (1) Miscellaneous projects. From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (am), the department of administration shall award grants to eligible recipients, as determined by the department, in the following amounts for the following projects:

AB444,33,25 (a) Green Bay visitor center. $2,000,000 for a visitor center in the city of Green Bay.

AB444,34,1 (b) Hmong cultural center. $2,000,000 for a Hmong cultural center.

AB444,34,3 (c) Potawatomi observation tower. $5,000,000 for historic renovation and accessible access to the Potawatomi State Park observation tower in Door County.

AB444,34,5 (d) Food + Farm Exploration Center. $5,000,000 for a Food + Farm Exploration Center in Portage County.

AB444,34,7 (e) State Laboratory of Hygiene. $30,000,000 for a genomic sequencing wing at the State Laboratory of Hygiene.

AB444,34,8 (f) Blood Research Institute. $15,000,000 for the Blood Research Institute.

AB444,34,10 (g) Western Wisconsin Forensic Center. $4,000,000 for a western Wisconsin forensic center.

AB444,34,12 (h) Children's Research Institute. $400,000 for new laboratory equipment for the Children's Research Institute.

AB444,34,14 (i) Reedsburg community center. $220,000 for improvements to the city of Reedsburg community center.

AB444,34,17 (j) Green Bay coal piles. $5,000,000 for the relocation of coal piles currently located near the mouth of the Fox River in the city of Green Bay and for the revitalization of the neighborhood from which the coal piles are to be relocated.

AB444,34,19 (k) Wisconsin cranberry research station. $400,000 to construct a machine shed and shop at the Wisconsin Cranberry Research Station.

AB444,34,21 (l) Water supply control system. $530,000 for a new water supply control system in the city of Waukesha.

AB444,34,22 (m) Veterans housing. $50,000,000 for veterans housing statewide.

AB444,34,25 (n) Ricardo Diaz Early Learning Academy. $2,000,000 to assist in completion of the United Community Center's Ricardo Diaz Early Learning Academy in the city of Milwaukee.

AB444,9119 Section 9119. Nonstatutory provisions; Health Services.

AB444,35,10 (1) Childless adults demonstration project. The department of health services shall submit any necessary request to the federal department of health and human services for a state plan amendment or waiver of federal Medicaid law or to modify or withdraw from any waiver of federal Medicaid law relating to the childless adults demonstration project under s. 49.45 (23), 2019 stats., to reflect the incorporation of recipients of Medical Assistance under the demonstration project into the BadgerCare Plus program under s. 49.471 and the termination of the demonstration project. Sections 20.940 and 49.45 (2t) do not apply to a submission to the federal government under this subsection.

AB444,35,11 (2) Grant for psychiatric beds.

AB444,35,18 (a) The legislature finds and determines that expanding psychiatric bed capacity as described in par. (b ) would greatly benefit state residents by expanding access to timely inpatient mental health treatment and services and allowing public financial resources to be better distributed to more effectively improve delivery of mental health services. It is therefore in the public interest, and it is the public policy of this state, to assist the hospital described under par. (b) in expanding psychiatric bed capacity.

AB444,35,22 (b) In fiscal year 2021-22, from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (a), the department of health services shall award a grant in the amount of $15,000,000 for the purpose of expanding capacity for psychiatric beds to a hospital that applies to the building commission and meets all of the following criteria:

AB444,35,25 1. The hospital is located in Eau Claire County, south of the Chippewa River, and northeast of the intersection of STH 37 and USH 12 and is part of a health system that has a hospital in Chippewa County.

AB444,36,8 2. The hospital agrees to expand psychiatric bed capacity by 22 beds between the Eau Claire County hospital and the Chippewa County hospital. The hospitals shall give preference in admissions to fill beds added under this subdivision to individuals who meet the criteria for emergency detention under s. 51.15 and who are from Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Iron, Jackson, La Crosse, Lincoln, Marathon, Monroe, Oneida, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vilas, Washburn, or Wood Counties.

AB444,36,11 3. The hospital identifies measures that it believes will serve the needs of area residents with mental health needs, especially, as a critical component of the measures, in reducing the burden on the Winnebago Mental Health Institute.

AB444,36,15 4. The hospital agrees to annually report to the legislature, in the manner described under s. 13.172 (2), the services provided with the resources funded by the grant awarded under this subsection, including the number of individuals diverted from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute.

AB444,36,21 (c) The recipient of the grant under this subsection is liable to repay the grant funds to the state if it fails to continue to maintain the expanded services and number of expanded psychiatric beds available. The amount the hospital is liable for repayment is reduced proportionately each year for 10 years of continuing expanded services as described under this paragraph. A determination of continued services shall be based on findings that the hospital does all of the following:

AB444,37,2 1. Maintains an agreed upon number of beds for acceptance of admissions for emergency detention under s. 51.15. A hospital is considered to be in compliance with this subdivision if at least half of the expanded psychiatric beds under par. (b) 2. are available for individuals who are initially admitted under an emergency detention under s. 51.15.

AB444,37,4 2. Enters into a contract with, at minimum, two-thirds of the counties specified in par. (b) 2. in which the hospital agrees to do all of the following:

AB444,37,6 a. Be the primary receiver for individuals under an emergency detention under s. 51.15 for the county.

AB444,37,8 b. Accept for admission under an emergency detention individuals regardless of payment source.

AB444,37,11 c. Accept any individual subject to an emergency detention from the county unless all psychiatric beds added under par. (b ) 2. are filled. The hospital may set its payment rate based on the acuity of the individual being detained.

AB444,37,13 d. Ensure the county department is the secondary payer after any other coverage the individual has is exhausted.

AB444,37,15 (d) Notwithstanding s. 150.93, any hospital that expands psychiatric bed capacity under this subsection may increase its approved bed capacity.

AB444,37,16 (3) Grant for mental health beds.

AB444,37,23 (a) The legislature finds and determines that expanding mental health bed capacity as described in par. (b ) would greatly benefit state residents by expanding access to timely mental health treatment and services and allowing public financial resources to be better distributed to more effectively improve delivery of mental health services. It is therefore in the public interest, and it is the public policy of this state, to assist the health care center described under par. (b) in expanding mental health bed capacity.

AB444,38,2 (b) In fiscal year 2021-22, the department of health services shall award a grant in the amount of $5,000,000 for the purpose of expanding mental health bed capacity at an existing mental health facility in Marathon County to an organization that applies to the department and that meets all of the following criteria:

AB444,38,4 1. The organization provides mental and behavioral health services in the north central region of the state and has a campus in Marathon County.

AB444,38,6 2. The organization agrees to renovate or expand its existing mental health campus to provide additional capacity for mental health treatment.

AB444,38,9 3. The organization identifies measures that it believes will serve the needs of area residents with mental health needs, especially, as a critical component of the measures, in reducing the burden on state-operated facilities.

AB444,38,13 4. The organization agrees to annually report to the legislature, in the manner described under s. 13.172 (2), the services provided with the resources funded by the grant awarded under this subsection, including the number of individuals diverted from the state-operated facilities.

AB444,38,15 (c) Notwithstanding s. 150.93, any hospital that expands mental health bed capacity under this subsection may increase its approved bed capacity.

AB444,38,19 (d) The organization that receives the grant under this subsection is liable to repay the grant funds to the state if the organization fails to continue to maintain the expanded mental health services for a period agreed to between the organization and the department of health services.

AB444,38,20 (4) Racine County federally qualified health centers.

AB444,38,22 (a) In this subsection, “federally qualified health center” has the meaning given under 42 CFR 405.2401 (b).

AB444,38,25 (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (b), the department of health services shall award $53,000,000 in grants to create federally qualified health centers in Racine County before June 30, 2023.

AB444,39,6 (5) Black women's health. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (b), the department of health services shall award a grant of $500,000 in fiscal year 2021-22 and a grant of $500,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 to an entity to connect and convene efforts among state agencies, public and private sector organizations, and community organizations to support a statewide public health strategy to advance Black women's health.

AB444,9132 Section 9132. Nonstatutory provisions; Natural Resources.

AB444,39,18 (1) Emergency rules for PFAS municipal grant program. The department of natural resources may use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate emergency rules relating to the municipal grant program under s. 292.66. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), when promulgating emergency rules under this subsection, the department 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. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (e) 1d. and 1g., for emergency rules promulgated under this subsection, the department is not required to prepare a statement of scope of the rules or to submit the proposed rules in final draft form to the governor for approval.

AB444,39,22 (2) Land conservation and recreation grants. From the appropriation under s. 20.370 (1) (ma), in fiscal year 2021-22 the department of natural resources shall fund all of the following conservation and recreational projects in the following amounts:

AB444,39,24 (a) A grant to West Wisconsin Land Trust to acquire land in the town of Peru in the county of Dunn, $706,045.

AB444,40,2 (b) A grant to West Wisconsin Land Trust to acquire land in the town of Maxville in the county of Buffalo, $460,545.

AB444,40,3 (c) A grant to the city of Milwaukee to redevelop Modrzejewski Park, $773,910.

AB444,40,4 (d) A grant to the city of Ashland to redevelop Kreher Park, $601,000.

AB444,40,6 (e) Department of natural resources' acquisition of land for the Jefferson Marsh Wildlife Area, $325,000.

AB444,40,8 (f) A grant to Jefferson County to develop an interurban recreation trail between Watertown and Oconomowoc, $655,252.

AB444,40,9 (g) A grant to the city of West Bend to develop the Riverwalk South, $617,208.

AB444,40,11 (h) A grant to the village of Sister Bay to acquire land on the bay of Green Bay, $785,185.

AB444,40,13 (i) A grant to the village of Egg Harbor to acquire land on the bay of Green Bay, $470,250.

AB444,9138 Section 9138. Nonstatutory provisions; Safety and Professional Services.

AB444,41,2 (1) Septage characterization study. The department of safety and professional services shall fund a septage characterization study by the Department of Soil and Waste Resources of the College of Natural Resources of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The study shall analyze and make recommendations on practices to mitigate the risk of contamination of the state's groundwater and surface waters through the strategic and data-driven application of septage at sites approved by the department of natural resources. The Department of Soil and Waste Resources of the College of Natural Resources of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point shall prepare a report detailing the results of the study and shall submit the report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided under s. 13.172 (3) no later than December 31, 2022.

AB444,9142 Section 9142. Nonstatutory provisions; Technical College System.

AB444,41,7 (1) Grant for manufacturing engineering apprenticeship center. From the appropriation under s. 20.292 (1) (f), in the 2021-22 fiscal year, the technical college system board shall award a $9,600,000 grant to Mid-State Technical College for a manufacturing engineering apprenticeship center.

AB444,9143 Section 9143. Nonstatutory provisions; Tourism.

AB444,41,9 (1) Destination marketing grants.

AB444,41,10 (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

AB444,41,12 1. “Governmental organization” means a department or a subunit of a county, city, village, town, or federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state.

AB444,41,16 2. “Tourism promotion and development organization” means a nonprofit organization or a governmental organization whose primary purpose is the promotion and development of tourism to or within this state or a particular region in this state.