Chapter DWD 295

DWD 295.23(1)(a) (a) A reasonable time and place of hearing.

DWD 295.23(1)(b) (b) A statement of the provisions of this chapter pursuant to which the hearing is to be held.

DWD 295.23(1)(c) (c) A concise statement of the matters pursuant to which the action forming the basis of the hearing is proposed to be taken.

DWD 295.23(2) (2) The procedures contained in ch. 227, Stats., shall apply to the disposition of the request for hearing except that:

DWD 295.23(2)(a) (a) The hearing officer shall receive, and make part of the record, documentary evidence offered by any party and accepted at the hearing. Copies thereof shall be made available by the party submitting the documentary evidence to any party to the hearing upon request.

DWD 295.23(2)(b) (b) Technical rules of evidence shall not apply to hearings conducted pursuant to this chapter, but rules or principles designed to assure production of the most credible evidence available and to subject testimony to test by cross-examination shall be applied, where reasonably necessary, by the hearing officer conducting the hearing. The hearing officer may exclude irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence.

DWD 295.23(2)(c) (c) The hearing officer shall issue a written decision within 90 days of the close of the hearing record. The hearing officer’s decision constitutes final agency action unless, within 20 days from the date of the decision, a party dissatisfied with the decision files a petition for rehearing with the department, specifically identifying the procedure, fact, law or policy to which exception is taken. Any exception not specifically noted is deemed to have been waived. A copy of the petition for rehearing shall be sent to the opposing party at the same time. Thereafter, the decision of the hearing officer remains final agency action unless the hearing officer, within 30 days of the filing of the petition for rehearing, notifies the parties that it has accepted the case for rehearing. The hearing officer may set a briefing schedule or decide the matter on the record. The hearing officer shall decide any case that the hearing officer accepts for review within 180 days of the close of the record. If not so decided, the hearing officer’s previous decision constitutes final agency action.

DWD 295.23 History History: CR 10-073: cr. Register November 2010 No. 659, eff. 12-1-10; CR 14-032: am. (1) (intro.), (a), (b) Register May 2015 No. 713, eff. 6-1-15.

DWD 295.25 DWD 295.25 Apprenticeship completion award program.

DWD 295.25(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

DWD 295.25(1)(a) (a) “Sponsor” has the meaning given under s. 106.001 (8), Stats. “Sponsor” does not include a state agency or local governmental unit.

DWD 295.25(1)(b) (b) “Tuition costs” has the meaning given under s. 106.05 (1) (b), Stats.

DWD 295.25 Note Note: Examples of costs which are not “tuition costs” include student fees charged for use of a health center, parking fees, or late fees.

DWD 295.25 Note Note: Section 106.001 (8), Stats., defines ”sponsor” as follows:

DWD 295.25 Note “Sponsor” means any employer, organization of employees, association of employers, committee, or other person operating an apprenticeship program and in whose name the apprenticeship program is approved by the department.

DWD 295.25 Note Note: Section 106.05 (1) (b), Stats., defines ”tuition costs” as follows:

DWD 295.25 Note “Tuition costs” means any fee that is charged for an apprentice to participate in related instruction under s. 106.01 (6), Stats.

DWD 295.25 Note Note: Section DWD 295.001 (20), defines ”related instruction” as follows:

DWD 295.25 Note “Related instruction” means an organized and systematic form of instruction designed to provide the apprentice with the knowledge of the theoretical and technical subjects related to the apprentice’s occupation. Such instruction may be given in a classroom, through occupational or industrial courses, or by correspondence courses of equivalent value, electronic media, or other forms of self-study approved by the department.

DWD 295.25(2) (2) Notice of eligibility. After the first 12 months of the apprenticeship contract under s. DWD 295.07, and upon successful completion of the apprenticeship contract, the department will notify the apprentice and sponsor in writing or by computer-based programs, of eligibility to apply for an apprenticeship completion award. This notice will include specific details on applying for an apprenticeship completion award.

DWD 295.25(3) (3) Eligibility. The department shall provide an apprenticeship completion award under s. 106.05, Stats., to an apprentice or sponsor who has incurred tuition costs and meets all of the following requirements:

DWD 295.25(3)(a) (a) The apprentice has a valid apprenticeship contract under s. DWD 295.07.

DWD 295.25(3)(b) (b) The apprentice or sponsor has not been reimbursed for any tuition costs by any other entity.

DWD 295.25(3)(c) (c) The apprentice or sponsor completes and files an application under sub. (4), within 60 days of the date of the notice provided by the department under sub. (2), that the apprentice or sponsor is eligible for an apprenticeship completion award. If an application for a completion award is not received within 60 days of the date of the notice provided by the department, the department does not guarantee the payment of an apprenticeship completion award.

DWD 295.25(3)(d) (d) The apprentice has successfully completed the first year of the apprenticeship contract or has fully completed the apprenticeship contract and the apprentice is employed in the trade, occupation, or business in which the apprentice is being trained.

DWD 295.25(3)(e) (e) If the applicant is delinquent in child support or maintenance payments, or owes past support medical expenses or birth expenses, then the applicant must meet the requirements under s. 106.05 (3) (b), Stats.

DWD 295.25(4) (4) Application for apprenticeship completion award. The application for an apprenticeship completion award shall contain all of the following:

DWD 295.25(4)(a) (a) The name and address of the apprentice and sponsor, and identification of who is applying for reimbursement.

DWD 295.25(4)(b) (b) A copy of all invoices and documents containing tuition costs eligible for apprenticeship completion awards. This information shall include all of the following:

DWD 295.25(4)(b)1. 1. The name and address of the entity to whom the tuition costs were paid.

DWD 295.25(4)(b)2. 2. The amount and description of all tuition costs.

DWD 295.25(4)(b)3. 3. The dates on which tuition costs were paid.

DWD 295.25(4)(b)4. 4. Cancelled checks or other information documenting that the apprentice or sponsor has paid all costs under subd. 2.

DWD 295.25(4)(b)5. 5. Any other relevant information requested by the department.

DWD 295.25(4)(c) (c) A statement from the sponsor that states either of the following:

DWD 295.25(4)(c)1. 1. The apprentice has successfully completed the first year under the apprenticeship contract.

DWD 295.25(4)(c)2. 2. The apprentice has successfully completed the full apprenticeship contract.

DWD 295.25 Note Note: The application for apprenticeship completion awards can be found online at http://www.wisconsinapprenticeship.org.

DWD 295.25(5) (5) Completion award rates and recalculations.

DWD 295.25(5)(a) (a) The department shall reimburse all eligible tuition costs under this section in an amount not to exceed 25%, or $1,000, whichever is less, upon successful completion of an apprenticeship contract.

DWD 295.25(5)(b) (b) The department shall reimburse an apprentice or sponsor up to $250 after the apprentice has successfully completed the first year under the apprenticeship contract. The total award granted in the first year under this paragraph, combined with any award received after the first year, may not exceed the amount specified in par. (a).

DWD 295.25(5)(c) (c) The department may calculate the amount of an apprenticeship completion award on a pro rata basis when both the apprentice and sponsor incur eligible tuition costs. The total amount of the apprenticeship completion award may not exceed the amounts identified under pars. (a) and (b).

DWD 295.25(5)(d) (d) If the amount of funds to be distributed under this section exceeds the amount available under s. 20.445 (1) (b), Stats., the department may deny applications for apprenticeship completion awards that would otherwise qualify under sub. (4).

DWD 295.25 History History: CR 14-032: cr. Register May 2015 No. 713, eff. 6-1-15; correction in numbering of (5) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register May 2015 No. 713; correction in (5) (b) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register June 2017 No. 738.