Amendment ASA1-AB336

LRBs0175/1

JAM/MED/EHS:all

2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1, TO ASSEMBLY BILL 336

June 9, 2021 - Offered by Representatives Doyle, S. Rodriguez, Vining, Conley, Hesselbein, Hintz, Vruwink, Andraca, Snodgrass, Shelton, Emerson, Haywood, Shankland, Bowen, Billings, Riemer, Pope, Considine, Subeck, Spreitzer, Stubbs, Anderson, L. Myers, Cabrera, Brostoff, Baldeh, Moore Omokunde, Ohnstad, Hong, B. Meyers and Milroy.

AB336-ASA1,1,9 An Act to repeal 49.155 (6) (e); to amend 20.445 (1) (bm), 49.175 (1) (qm), 106.27 (2g) (a) 1., 106.27 (2g) (a) 2. and 106.27 (3); and to create 20.437 (2) (c), 20.445 (1) (bp), 20.445 (1) (bq), 20.445 (1) (bv), 20.445 (1) (bw), 20.445 (1) (cm), 49.133, 106.27 (1p), 106.27 (1q), 106.274, 106.28 and 106.29 of the statutes; relating to: a child care quality improvement program, green jobs training programs, pandemic workforce training programs, a worker connection program, a health care recruitment initiative, pandemic recovery grants, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

employment

Worker Connection program

This bill requires the Department of Workforce Development to establish a worker connection program to be administered by DWD to help prospective employee participants prepare for and enter quality jobs in targeted employment sectors identified by DWD as having high opportunities for career growth.

Pandemic workforce training program grants

This bill creates a pandemic workforce training program to be administered by DWD. Under the program, DWD is required to award grants to public and private organizations for the development and implementation of pandemic workforce training programs. 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. The bill also permits DWD to require a public or private organization, as a condition of receiving a grant, to provide matching funds at a percentage to be determined by DWD.

Pandemic recovery grants

This bill requires DWD to establish and operate a program to provide grants to local workforce development boards to fund pandemic recovery efforts to 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.

Green jobs training program grants

This bill creates a green jobs training program to be administered by DWD. Under the program, DWD is required to award grants to public and private organizations for the development and implementation of green jobs training programs. The bill defines green jobs as jobs that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources. The bill also permits DWD to require a public or private organization, as a condition of receiving a grant, to provide matching funds at a percentage to be determined by DWD.

Health care recruitment initiative

This bill requires DWD, in coordination with local workforce development boards, to 1) undertake a statewide recruitment initiative to promote and connect individuals with nurse aide instructional programs and employment opportunities and to promote other health care provider employment opportunities and 2) create a free, four-hour course that individuals may take to explore career opportunities within the field of human services or health care delivery.

health and human services

Child care quality improvement program

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.