AB1023: Bill Text

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2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly BILL 1023

March 26, 2020 - Introduced by Representatives Haywood, Fields, Anderson, Cabrera, Considine, Crowley, Emerson, Hebl, Neubauer, Ohnstad, Spreitzer, Stubbs, Subeck, C. Taylor and Vruwink, cosponsored by Senators Johnson, Larson and Shilling. Referred to Committee on Rules.

AB1023,1,5 An Act to create 13.205, 14.25, 20.445 (1) (bn), 20.455 (3) (ab), 20.765 (1) (c), 106.135 and 165.989 of the statutes; relating to: interns employed by assembly and senate offices, the governor, and the Department of Justice, an intern placement program administered by the Department of Workforce Development, and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill authorizes the employment of one paid intern in each assembly office and up to two paid interns in each senate office, four paid interns in the Milwaukee offices of the governor, four paid interns in the Madison offices of the governor, and four paid interns in the Milwaukee offices of the Department of Justice. Each intern must be at least 18 years old, be enrolled in an institution of higher education, and come from a household whose income does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty line based on family size. Under the bill, each intern must be paid a stipend of at least $15 per hour, which may be paid for up to 20 hours per week of work for work performed during certain terms set forth in the bill that correspond to the academic school year. Under the bill, the stipend is required to be disregarded in establishing household income for purposes of obtaining public benefits under any state program.

The bill also requires the Department of Workforce Development to establish a program for the placement of paid interns with Wisconsin businesses. The program requirements parallel the requirements set forth above. In addition, the bill requires DWD to seek to coordinate with the private sector to administer the intern placement program and to provide matching funds for purposes of paying intern stipends. The bill appropriates $500,000 to DWD for the program.

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

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

AB1023,1 Section 1. 13.205 of the statutes is created to read:

AB1023,2,4 13.205 Equal opportunity intern program. (1) In this section, “low-income household” means a household having an income that does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty line based on family size.

AB1023,2,6 (2) Each assembly office may employ one intern and each senate office may employ up to 2 interns under this section, subject to all of the following requirements:

AB1023,2,8 (a) Each intern shall be at least 18 years old, be enrolled in an institution of higher education, and come from a low-income household.

AB1023,2,12 (b) Each intern shall be paid a stipend of at least $15 per hour for services provided to the legislator. The stipend may be paid for up to 20 hours per week of work under par. (d). The stipend shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.765 (1) (c).

AB1023,2,15 (c) The stipend an intern receives under par. (b) shall be disregarded in establishing household income for purposes of obtaining public benefits under any state program.

AB1023,2,17 (d) A stipend may be paid to an intern under this section only for work performed during the following terms:

AB1023,3,3 1. In each odd-numbered year, a 16-week spring term beginning on the 2nd Monday in January, a 10-week summer term beginning on the first Monday in June, and a 16-week fall term beginning on the day after Labor Day.

AB1023,3,5 2. In each even-numbered year, a 16-week spring term beginning on the 2nd Monday in January.

AB1023,2 Section 2. 14.25 of the statutes is created to read:

AB1023,3,9 14.25 Equal opportunity intern program. (1) In this section, “low-income household” means a household having an income that does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty line based on family size.

AB1023,3,11 (2) The governor may employ up to 8 interns under this section, subject to all of the following requirements:

AB1023,3,13 (a) Each intern shall be at least 18 years old, be enrolled in an institution of higher education, and come from a low-income household.

AB1023,3,17 (b) Each intern shall be paid a stipend of at least $15 per hour for services provided to the governor. The stipend may be paid for up to 20 hours per week of work under par. (e). The stipend shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.525 (1) (a).

AB1023,3,20 (c) The stipend an intern receives under par. (b) shall be disregarded in establishing household income for purposes of obtaining public benefits under any state program.

AB1023,3,23 (d) The governor may employ no more than 4 interns under this section in the governor's offices in the city of Milwaukee and no more than 4 interns under this section in the governor's offices in the city of Madison.

AB1023,4,2 (e) A stipend may be paid to an intern under this section only for work performed during a 16-week spring term beginning on the 2nd Monday in January, a 10-week summer term beginning on the first Monday in June, and a 16-week fall term beginning on the day after Labor Day.

AB1023,3 Section 3. 20.445 (1) (bn) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1023,4,6 20.445 (1) (bn) Intern placement program. A sum sufficient for the intern stipend paid under s. 106.135 (2) (b). No more than $500,000 may be expended from this appropriation.

AB1023,4 Section 4. 20.455 (3) (ab) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1023,4,9 20.455 (3) (ab) Stipend for interns. A sum sufficient for the intern stipend paid under s. 165.989 (2) (b).

AB1023,5 Section 5 . 20.765 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1023,4,12 20.765 (1) (c) Stipend for interns. A sum sufficient for the intern stipend paid under s. 13.205 (2) (b).

AB1023,6 Section 6. 106.135 of the statutes is created to read:

AB1023,4,16 106.135 Equal opportunity intern program. (1) In this section, “low-income household” means a household having an income that does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty line based on family size.

AB1023,4,18 (2) The department shall establish a program under which it attempts to place interns with businesses in this state, subject to all of the following requirements.

AB1023,4,20 (a) Each intern shall be at least 18 years old, be enrolled in an institution of higher education, and come from a low-income household.

AB1023,4,24 (b) Each intern shall be paid a stipend of at least $15 per hour for services provided to the business. The stipend may be paid for up to 20 hours per week of work under par. (e). The stipend shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (bn) and any matching funds provided under par. (d).

AB1023,5,3 (c) The stipend an intern receives under par. (b) shall be disregarded in establishing household income for purposes of obtaining public benefits under any state program.

AB1023,5,6 (d) The department shall seek to coordinate with private entities to administer the intern placement program under this section and shall seek matching funds from nonstate sources for purposes of paying stipends under par. (b).

AB1023,5,10 (e) A stipend may be paid to an intern under this section only for work performed during a 16-week spring term beginning on the 2nd Monday in January, a 10-week summer term beginning on the first Monday in June, and a 16-week fall term beginning on the day after Labor Day.

AB1023,7 Section 7. 165.989 of the statutes is created to read:

AB1023,5,14 165.989 Equal opportunity intern program. (1) In this section, “low-income household” means a household having an income that does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty line based on family size.

AB1023,5,16 (2) The department may employ up to 4 interns under this section, subject to all of the following requirements:

AB1023,5,18 (a) Each intern shall be at least 18 years old, be enrolled in an institution of higher education, and come from a low-income household.

AB1023,5,22 (b) Each intern shall be paid a stipend of at least $15 per hour for services provided to the department. The stipend may be paid for up to 20 hours per week of work under par. (e). The stipend shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.455 (3) (ab).

AB1023,5,25 (c) The stipend an intern receives under par. (b) shall be disregarded in establishing household income for purposes of obtaining public benefits under any state program.

AB1023,6,2 (d) Each intern shall perform his or her services for the department in the department's offices at the state office building in the city of Milwaukee.