2023 WISCONSIN ACT 80
An Act to repeal 36.11 (27), 39.28 (6), 39.30 (2) (intro.), (a) and (b), 39.30 (2) (f) and 39.30 (3m) and (4); to amend 20.285 (1) (e), 36.66 (1) (a), 36.66 (2), 36.66 (3) (a) and (c), 36.66 (4), 36.66 (5), 36.66 (6) (a) (intro.), 36.66 (6) (b), 38.42 (1) (a), 38.42 (3) (c), 38.42 (6) (b), 39.285 (title), 39.30 (2) (title), 39.30 (2) (d), 39.30 (2) (e), 39.39 (2) (b), 39.435 (1), 39.435 (2), 39.435 (3), 39.435 (4) (a) and 39.435 (8); to repeal and recreate 39.30 (3); and to create 36.66 (1) (c), 39.285 (4), 39.30 (1m), 39.30 (2) (g) and 39.435 (2m) of the statutes; relating to: Wisconsin grants and other financial aid for higher education.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
80,1Section 1. 20.285 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read: 20.285 (1) (e) Grants to meet emergency financial need. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for distribution to the college campuses institutions for purposes of making grants under s. 36.66.
80,2Section 2. 36.11 (27) of the statutes is repealed. 80,3Section 3. 36.66 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read: 36.66 (1) (a) “Eligible student” means a student enrolled in a college campus whose expected family contribution, as defined in s. 39.437 (3) (a), is less than $5,000 an institution whose financial need meets the eligibility criteria for a grant from the Federal Pell Grant Program.
80,4Section 4. 36.66 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read: 36.66 (1) (c) “Institution” includes any former college campus that was partnered with the institution as a branch campus in the system restructuring plan approved by the Higher Learning Commission on or about June 28, 2018.
80,5Section 5. 36.66 (2) of the statutes is amended to read: 36.66 (2) From the appropriation under s. 20.285 (1) (e), no later than September 1, 2016, and by September 1 of each year thereafter, the board shall distribute funds to the college campuses institutions for payment of grants under this section. These funds may not be used by the college campuses institutions for any other purpose. The amount distributed by the board to each college campus institution shall be determined by the board based on the anticipated need and demand for grants at each college campus institution.
80,6Section 6. 36.66 (3) (a) and (c) of the statutes are amended to read: 36.66 (3) (a) Subject to pars. (b) to (d), each college campus institution may award grants to eligible students to pay the student’s expense resulting from a financial emergency. In evaluating a grant application, the college campus institution shall, in its discretion and based on its best judgment, determine whether the student has incurred a legitimate financial emergency.
(c) A college campus An institution may not award more than 2 grants under this section to the same student in any academic year. The total of all grants made to a student under this section in the same academic year may not exceed $500 $1,000.
80,7Section 7. 36.66 (4) of the statutes is amended to read: 36.66 (4) Each college campus institution shall create or adopt a brief application process and designate an employee with the authority to disburse the grant funds to eligible students. A decision on a grant application, and disbursement of grant funds to a student if a grant is awarded, shall be made within 5 business days of the student’s application.
80,8Section 8. 36.66 (5) of the statutes is amended to read: 36.66 (5) If a student applies for a 2nd grant under this section within the same academic year, a college campus an institution shall require the student to undergo a financial counseling session with a financial aid professional before the grant may be awarded.
80,9Section 9. 36.66 (6) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read: 36.66 (6) (a) (intro.) Each college campus institution shall collect, for each academic year, the following information related to the grant program under this section:
80,10Section 10. 36.66 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read: 36.66 (6) (b) By June 30, 2017, and by June 30 September 1 of each year thereafter, each college campus institution shall report to the board the information collected under par. (a), for the academic year ending in that calendar year, and the board shall submit a report of this information to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3) having jurisdiction over matters relating to colleges and universities.
80,11Section 11. 38.42 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read: 38.42 (1) (a) “Eligible student” means a student enrolled in a technical college whose expected family contribution, as defined in s. 39.437 (3) (a), is less than $5,000 financial need meets the eligibility criteria for a grant from the Federal Pell Grant Program.
80,12Section 12. 38.42 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read: 38.42 (3) (c) A technical college may not award more than 2 grants under this section to the same student in any academic year. The total of all grants made to a student under this section in the same academic year may not exceed $500 $1,000.
80,13Section 13. 38.42 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read: 38.42 (6) (b) By June 30, 2017, and by June 30 September 1 of each year thereafter, each district shall report to the board the information collected under par. (a), for the academic year ending in that calendar year, and the board shall submit a report of this information to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3) having jurisdiction over matters relating to colleges and universities.
80,14Section 14. 39.28 (6) of the statutes is repealed. 80,15Section 15. 39.285 (title) of the statutes is amended to read: 39.285 (title) Board review of proposed formulae; minimum and maximum grant amounts.
80,16Section 16. 39.285 (4) of the statutes is created to read: 39.285 (4) By March 1 of each year, the board shall establish a minimum and maximum amount for grants awarded for the next fiscal year under s. 39.30 and 39.435, except for grants awarded under s. 39.435 (2) or (5). The board shall integrate the minimum and maximum grant amounts into the formula for awarding grants.
80,17Section 17. 39.30 (1m) of the statutes is created to read: 39.30 (1m) Grant program. There is established, to be administered by the board, a grant program for postsecondary resident students who satisfy the eligibility criteria under 20 USC 1091 (a) (1) and (2) and are enrolled in accredited, private, nonprofit institutions of higher education headquartered in this state.
80,18Section 18. 39.30 (2) (title) of the statutes is amended to read: 39.30 (2) (title) Eligibility restrictions.
80,19Section 19. 39.30 (2) (intro.), (a) and (b) of the statutes are repealed. 80,20Section 20. 39.30 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read: 39.30 (2) (d) No grant shall may be awarded under this section to members of religious orders who are pursuing a course of study leading to a degree in theology, divinity or religious education.
80,21Section 21. 39.30 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read: 39.30 (2) (e) The board may not make a grant under this section to a student whose name appears on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), unless the student provides to the board a payment agreement that has been approved by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and that is consistent with rules promulgated under s. 49.858 (2) (a).
80,22Section 22. 39.30 (2) (f) of the statutes is repealed. 80,23Section 23. 39.30 (2) (g) of the statutes is created to read: 39.30 (2) (g) The board may award a grant under this section to the same student for up to 10 semesters of full-time enrollment or, as determined by the board, the equivalent of 10 semesters of full-time enrollment. If the student receiving the grant is enrolled less than full time in any semester or session, only the fraction of the student’s enrollment, in proportion to full-time enrollment, shall be applied toward this 10-semester limit.
80,24Section 24. 39.30 (3) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read: 39.30 (3) Grant awards. (a) The board shall award grants under this section based on the current federal need analysis formula consistent with generally accepted definitions and nationally approved need analysis methodology.
(b) The awarding of grants under this section is subject to any formula approved or modified by the board under s. 39.285 (1).
80,25Section 25. 39.30 (3m) and (4) of the statutes are repealed. 80,26Section 26. 39.39 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read: 39.39 (2) (b) Promulgate rules to administer this section, including rules establishing loan amounts and the criteria and procedures for loan forgiveness and for selecting loan recipients. Loan recipients shall be selected on the basis of financial need, as determined by the board, using the needs need analysis methodology used under s. 39.435.
80,27Section 27. 39.435 (1) of the statutes is amended to read: 39.435 (1) There is established, to be administered by the board, a grant program for postsecondary resident students enrolled at least half-time and registered as freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors in accredited institutions of higher education or in tribally controlled colleges in this state who satisfy the eligibility criteria under 20 USC 1091 (a) (1) and (2). Except as authorized under sub. (5), such grants shall be made only to students enrolled in nonprofit public institutions or tribally controlled colleges in this state.
80,28Section 28. 39.435 (2) of the statutes is amended to read: 39.435 (2) The board shall award talent incentive grants to uniquely needy students enrolled at least half-time as first-time freshmen at public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education located in this state and to sophomores, juniors, and seniors who received such grants as freshmen. No grant under this subsection may exceed $1,800 for any academic year. The board may award a grant under this subsection to the same student for up to 10 semesters or their equivalent, but may not award such a grant to the same student more than 6 years after the initial grant is awarded to that student. A student need not maintain continuous enrollment at an institution of higher education to remain eligible for a grant under this subsection. The board shall promulgate rules establishing eligibility criteria for grants under this subsection. No provision of this subsection applies to a grant under sub. (1).
80,29Section 29. 39.435 (2m) of the statutes is created to read: 39.435 (2m) The board may award a grant under sub. (1) to the same student for up to 10 semesters of full-time enrollment or, as determined by the board, the equivalent of 10 semesters of full-time enrollment. If the student receiving the grant is enrolled less than full time in any semester or session, only the fraction of the student’s enrollment, in proportion to full-time enrollment, shall be applied toward this 10-semester limit.
