AB779: Bill Text

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

AB779,,4 The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB779,1 Section 1. 38.04 (26) of the statutes is renumbered 38.04 (26) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB779,,6 38.04 (26) Technical preparation programs. (intro.) In consultation with the state superintendent of public instruction, the board shall approve courses for technical preparation programs under s. 118.34 (1) (b). By July 1, 1994, and annually thereafter Annually by July 1, the board shall publish a list of the all of the following:

AB779,,7 (a) The approved courses that indicates under s. 118.34 (1) (b), indicating the high schools in which each course is taught and the credit equivalency available in each technical college district for each course.

AB779,2 Section 2. 38.04 (26) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB779,,9 38.04 (26) (b) Courses offered to high school students that meet all of the following criteria:

AB779,,10 1. The course is offered to adults in an approved apprenticeship program, as defined in s. 106.001 (4).

AB779,,11 2. The course has a technical college district course number.

AB779,,12 3. The course is taught by school district faculty, by technical college faculty, or by industry professionals who teach the course to adults in an approved apprenticeship program, as defined in s. 106.001 (4).

AB779,3 Section 3. 38.40 (2g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB779,,14 38.40 (2g) Apprenticeship courses. (a) In this subsection, “apprenticeship courses” means those courses identified under s. 38.04 (26) (b).

AB779,,15 (b) The board shall facilitate dual enrollment programs between school boards and technical college district boards for apprenticeship courses.

AB779,,16 (c) The board shall ensure that an individual’s successful completion of an apprenticeship course allows the individual to receive technical college course credit while in high school.

AB779,4 Section 4. 71.07 (11) of the statutes is created to read:

AB779,,18 71.07 (11) Eligible apprenticeship expenses credit. (a) Definitions. In this subsection:

AB779,,19 1. “Apprentice” has the meaning given in s. 106.001 (1).

AB779,,20 2. “Apprenticeship program” has the meaning given in s. 106.001 (4).

AB779,,21 3. “Claimant” means an individual who is an apprentice enrolled in an apprenticeship program and who files a claim under this subsection.

AB779,,22 (b) Filing claims. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2023, and subject to the limitations under this subsection, a claimant may claim as a credit against the tax imposed under s. 71.02 $500 for the taxable year in which the claimant successfully completes an apprenticeship program.

AB779,,23 (c) Limitations. No credit may be allowed under this subsection unless it is claimed within the time period under s. 71.75 (2).

AB779,,24 (d) Administration. Subsection (9e) (d), to the extent that it applies to the credit under that subsection, applies to the credit under this subsection.

AB779,5 Section 5. 71.10 (4) (eb) of the statutes is created to read:

AB779,,26 71.10 (4) (eb) Eligible apprenticeship expenses credit under s. 71.07 (11).

AB779,6 Section 6. 106.01 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

AB779,,28 106.01 (3) Skilled wage rate. (a) An apprentice contract wage scale shall be deemed adequate when, during the term of training, it averages 60 percent of the current journeyworker rate or skilled wage rate. The apprentice contract shall provide for a graduated scale, progressing in periods as approved by the department.

AB779,,29 (b) In determining the journeyworker or skilled wage rate under par. (a), for all industries:

AB779,,30 1. For apprentices whose employment is governed by a collective bargaining agreement, the rate specified in the collective bargaining agreement applies.

AB779,,31 2. For apprentices whose employment is not governed by a collective bargaining agreement, the skilled wage rate is the average rate paid to competent journeyworkers in like establishments in the area, as determined by the sponsor.

AB779,7 Section 7. 106.05 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB779,,33 106.05 (title) Apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship completion award program programs.

AB779,8 Section 8. 106.05 (1) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

AB779,9 Section 9. 106.05 (1) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 106.05 (1) (t).

AB779,10 Section 10. 106.05 (1) (e) and (f) of the statutes are created to read:

AB779,,37 106.05 (1) (e) “Eligible apprenticeship expenses” means any of the following costs incurred by an apprentice in connection with the apprenticeship:

AB779,,38 1. Tools, books and instructional guides, and other materials, including personal protective equipment, that are used in the apprentice’s trade, craft, or business.

AB779,,39 2. Tuition costs.

AB779,,40 3. Travel costs, including mileage reimbursement, costs related to mass transit, parking costs, and taxicab and transportation network company ride fares.

AB779,,41 (f) “Eligible youth apprenticeship expenses” means any of the following incurred by a youth apprentice in connection with the youth apprenticeship program:

AB779,,42 1. Tools, books and instructional guides, and other materials, including personal protective equipment, that are used in the youth apprentice’s youth apprenticeship program.

AB779,,43 2. Travel costs, including mileage reimbursement, costs related to mass transit, parking costs, and taxicab and transportation network company ride fares.

AB779,11 Section 11. 106.05 (1) (v) of the statutes is created to read:

AB779,,45 106.05 (1) (v) “Youth apprenticeship program” means a program undertaken by a youth apprentice under the youth apprenticeship program under s. 106.13.

AB779,12 Section 12. 106.05 (2) (a) (intro.) and 1. of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 106.05 (2) (a) and amended to read:

AB779,,47 106.05 (2) (a) The department shall administer an apprenticeship completion award program as provided in this section subsection to partially reimburse tuition costs eligible apprenticeship expenses that are incurred by any of the following: 1. An an apprentice who has successfully completed part or all of the requirements of his or her apprenticeship program as provided in par. (b) 1. and 2. and who is employed in the trade, occupation, or business in which he or she is being trained under the apprenticeship program.

AB779,13 Section 13. 106.05 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes is repealed.

AB779,14 Section 14. 106.05 (2) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB779,,50 106.05 (2) (b) (intro.) Subject to par. (c) and sub. (3), from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (dr), the department may provide to an apprentice described in par. (a) 1. or the apprentice’s sponsor a completion award equal to 25 percent of the cost of tuition eligible apprenticeship expenses that are incurred by the apprentice or sponsor or $1,000, whichever is less. If the department provides a completion award under this subsection, the department shall pay the award as follows:

AB779,15 Section 15. 106.05 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB779,,52 106.05 (2) (c) The total amount of a completion award that the department may pay to an apprentice and his or her sponsor may not exceed 25 percent of the cost of tuition eligible apprenticeship expenses that are incurred by the apprentice and sponsor or $1,000, whichever is less.

AB779,16 Section 16. 106.05 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB779,,54 106.05 (2m) Youth apprenticeship completion awards. (a) The department shall, subject to par. (am), administer a youth apprenticeship completion award program as provided in this subsection to partially reimburse eligible youth apprenticeship expenses that are incurred by a youth apprentice who has successfully completed part or all of the requirements of his or her youth apprenticeship program as provided in par. (b).

AB779,,55 (am) A completion award under par. (b) shall be available only with respect to a youth apprenticeship program for an occupational area specified in s. 106.13 (2m) (b).

AB779,,56 (b) Subject to par. (c) and sub. (3), the department may, upon the successful completion of all requirements of one year of a youth apprenticeship program, provide to a youth apprentice a completion award. An award shall be equal to 25 percent of the eligible youth apprenticeship expenses that are incurred by the youth apprentice for that year or $500, whichever is less.

AB779,,57 (c) 1. The total amount of a completion award that the department may pay to a youth apprentice for one year of a youth apprenticeship program may not exceed 25 percent of the eligible youth apprenticeship expenses that are incurred by the youth apprentice or $500, whichever is less.

AB779,,58 2. The department may not provide completion awards under par. (b) to a youth apprentice for more than 2 years of participation in a youth apprenticeship program by the youth apprentice, and the total amount of completion awards that the department may provide to a youth apprentice may not exceed 25 percent of the eligible youth apprenticeship expenses that are incurred by the youth apprentice for those years or $1,000, whichever is less.

AB779,17 Section 17. 106.05 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB779,,60 106.05 (3) (a) If the amount of funds to be distributed under sub. (2) exceeds the amount available in the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (dr) for completion awards under sub. (2), the department may reduce the reimbursement percentage or deny applications for completion awards that would otherwise qualify under sub. (2). In that case, the department shall determine the reimbursement percentage and eligibility on the basis of the dates on which apprentices and sponsors become eligible for completion awards.

AB779,18 Section 18. 106.05 (3) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2023 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB779,,62 106.05 (3) (a) If the amount of funds to be distributed under sub. subs. (2) and (2m) exceeds the amount available in the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (dr) for completion awards under sub. subs. (2) and (2m), the department may reduce the reimbursement percentage or deny applications for completion awards that would otherwise qualify under sub. subs. (2) and (2m). In that case, the department shall determine the reimbursement percentage and eligibility on the basis of the dates on which apprentices become eligible for completion awards.

AB779,19 Section 19. 106.05 (3) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB779,,64 106.05 (3) (b) (intro.) The department may provide a completion award under sub. (2) or (2m) to a person who is delinquent in child support or maintenance payments or who owes past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses, as established by appearance of the person’s name on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), only if the person provides the department with one of the following:

AB779,20 Section 20. 106.273 (2) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 106.273 (2) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB779,,66 106.273 (2) (b) (intro.) Prepare individuals for occupations as fire any of the following:

AB779,,67 2. Fire fighters, emergency.

AB779,,68 3. Emergency medical responders, as defined in s. 256.01 (4p), or emergency.

AB779,,69 4. Emergency medical services practitioners, as defined in s. 256.01 (5).

AB779,21 Section 21. 106.273 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes is created to read:

AB779,,71 106.273 (2) (b) 1. Construction workers. In this subdivision, “construction worker” means an individual engaged in the construction of roads, bridges, highways, sewers, water mains, utilities, public buildings, factories, housing, or similar construction projects.

AB779,22 Section 22. 118.34 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 118.34 (1) (a) and amended to read:

AB779,,73 118.34 (1) (a) In cooperation with a technical college district board, each school board shall establish a technical preparation program in each public high school located in the school district.

AB779,,74 (b) The program under par. (a) shall consist of a sequence of courses, approved by the technical college system board under s. 38.04 (26), designed to allow high school pupils to gain advanced standing in the technical college district’s associate degree program upon graduation from high school.

AB779,23 Section 23. 118.34 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB779,,76 118.34 (1) (c) Courses identified under s. 38.04 (26) (b) shall be included in the applicable school district’s technical preparation program.

AB779,24 Section 24. 118.52 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB779,,78 118.52 (6) (b) Undue financial burden. The school board of a pupil’s resident school district may reject an application to attend a course in a public school in a nonresident school district if the cost of the course would impose upon the resident school district an undue financial burden in light of the resident school district’s total economic circumstances, including its revenue limit under subch. VII of ch. 121, its ability to pay tuition costs for the pupil, and the per pupil cost for children continuing to be served by the resident school district. In determining whether the cost of a course imposes an undue financial burden, a resident school district shall use a consistent methodology that does not consider the content of the course and shall evaluate whether paying the cost of the course will impair the operations of the resident school district.

AB779,25 Section 25. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB779,,80 (1) The department of workforce development may promulgate emergency rules under s. 227.24 that are necessary to implement this act. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect for 2 years, or until the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), 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.

AB779,26 Section 26. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

AB779,,82 (1) The treatment of ss. 106.05 (title), (1) (e) 1. and 3., (f), and (v), (2m), and (3) (a) (by Section 18) and (b) (intro.) and 106.273 (2) (b) 1. takes effect on the 2nd day after publication of the 2023 biennial budget act or on the day after publication, whichever is later.

AB779,,83 (end)