AB837: Bill Text

MPG:cjs

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly BILL 837

January 30, 2020 - Introduced by Representatives Steffen, Anderson, Crowley, Dittrich, Edming, Macco, Tusler, Wittke and Skowronski, cosponsored by Senator Kooyenga. Referred to Committee on Jobs and the Economy.

AB837,1,4 An Act to amend 20.866 (1) (u); and to create 13.48 (46p), 20.866 (2) (zcv) and 20.867 (3) (cv) of the statutes; relating to: purchase and renovation of a center for the employment of blind and visually impaired individuals, sale of the existing center, granting bonding authority, and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill amends the 2019-21 Authorized State Building Program to add a grant to Wiscraft, Inc., doing business as Beyond Vision, to assist in the purchase and renovation of a new facility in Milwaukee County for the employment of blind and visually impaired individuals and the provision of related services to those individuals. The project has a combined cost of $11,000,000 ($5,000,000 in general fund supported borrowing authority and $6,000,000 in gifts, grants, and other receipts). Under the bill, the Department of Administration is required to sell the existing land and facilities occupied by Wiscraft, Inc., to the highest bidder and deposit the proceeds of the sale in the budget stabilization fund.

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:

AB837,1 Section 1 . 13.48 (46p) of the statutes is created to read:

AB837,2,10 13.48 (46p) Beyond Vision; new facility. (a) The legislature finds and determines that the employment of individuals who are blind or visually impaired, including statewide remote employment, and providing other related services to those individuals, improves those individuals' lives and increases the workforce and reduces unemployment in this state and is a statewide responsibility of statewide dimension. It is therefore in the public interest, and it is the public policy of this state, to assist Wiscraft, Inc., doing business as Beyond Vision, in the purchase and renovation of a new facility in Milwaukee County, to be known as the VisABILITY Center, for the employment of, and provision of other related services to, blind and visually impaired individuals.

AB837,2,18 (b) The building commission may authorize up to $5,000,000 in general fund supported borrowing to assist Wiscraft, Inc., in the purchase and renovation of a new facility in Milwaukee County for the employment of, and provision of other related services to, blind and visually impaired individuals. The state funding commitment shall be in the form of a grant to Wiscraft, Inc. Before approving any state funding commitment for the purchase and renovation of the new facility, the building commission shall determine that Wiscraft, Inc., has secured additional funding for the project of at least $6,000,000 from nonstate revenue sources.

AB837,2,23 (c) If the building commission authorizes a grant to Wiscraft, Inc., under par. (b) and if, for any reason, the space that is purchased and renovated with funds from the grant is not used for the employment of, and provision of other related services to, blind and visually impaired individuals, the state shall retain an ownership interest in the renovated space equal to the amount of the state's grant.

AB837,2 Section 2. 20.866 (1) (u) of the statutes, as affected by 2019 Wisconsin Act 9, is amended to read:

AB837,3,14 20.866 (1) (u) Principal repayment and interest. A sum sufficient from moneys appropriated under sub. (2) (zp) and ss. 20.115 (2) (d) and (7) (b) and (s), 20.190 (1) (c), (d), (i), and (j), 20.225 (1) (c) and (i), 20.245 (1) (e) and (j), 20.250 (1) (c) and (e), 20.255 (1) (d), 20.285 (1) (d), (gj), and (je), 20.320 (1) (c) and (t) and (2) (c), 20.370 (7) (aa), (ad), (ag), (aq), (ar), (at), (au), (bq), (br), (cb), (cc), (cd), (cg), (cq), (cr), (cs), (ct), (ea), (eq), and (er), 20.395 (6) (af), (aq), (ar), and (au), 20.410 (1) (e), (ec), and (ko) and (3) (e) and (fm), 20.435 (2) (ee), 20.465 (1) (d), 20.485 (1) (f) and (go) and (4) (qm), 20.505 (4) (es), (et), (ha), and (hb) and (5) (c), (g), and (kc), 20.855 (8) (a), and 20.867 (1) (a) and (b) and (3) (a), (b), (bb), (bc), (bd), (be), (bf), (bg), (bh), (bj), (bL), (bm), (bn), (bq), (br), (bt), (bu), (bv), (bw), (bx), (cb), (cd), (cf), (ch), (cj), (cq), (cr), (cs), (cv), (cw), (cx), (g), (h), (i), (kd), and (q) for the payment of principal, interest, premium due, if any, and payment due, if any, under an agreement or ancillary arrangement entered into under s. 18.06 (8) (a) relating to any public debt contracted under subchs. I and IV of ch. 18.

AB837,3 Section 3 . 20.866 (2) (zcv) of the statutes is created to read:

AB837,3,20 20.866 (2) (zcv) Beyond Vision; VisABILITY Center. From the capital improvement fund, a sum sufficient for the building commission to provide a grant to Wiscraft, Inc., for the purchase and renovation of the VisABILITY Center specified in s. 13.48 (46p). The state may contract public debt in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 for this purpose.

AB837,4 Section 4 . 20.867 (3) (cv) of the statutes is created to read:

AB837,4,3 20.867 (3) (cv) Principal repayment, interest, and rebates; Beyond Vision; VisABILITY Center. A sum sufficient to reimburse s. 20.866 (1) (u) for the payment of principal and interest costs incurred in financing the purchase and renovation of the VisABILITY Center specified in s. 13.48 (46p), to make the payments determined by the building commission under s. 13.488 (1) (m) that are attributable to the proceeds of obligations incurred in financing the project, and to make payments under an agreement or ancillary arrangement entered into under s. 18.06 (8) (a).

AB837,5 Section 5 . Nonstatutory provisions.

AB837,4,7 (1) In 2019 Wisconsin Act 9, section 9104 (1), the following new paragraph is created to add the following new project to the 2019-21 Authorized State Building Program and the appropriate totals are increased by the amount shown: - See PDF for table

AB837,4,8 (2) Beyond Vision; VisABILITY Center.

AB837,5,6 (a) Notwithstanding s. 13.48 (46p) (b), the building commission may not make a grant to Wiscraft, Inc., for the purchase and renovation of the VisABILITY Center, as enumerated in sub. (1 ), under s. 13.48 (46p), unless the department of administration has reviewed and approved plans for the project. Notwithstanding ss. 16.85 (1) and 16.855 (1m), the department may not supervise any services or work or let any contract for the project. Section 16.87 does not apply to the project. Once the project is completed, the department shall offer for sale under s. 16.848 the existing state facilities occupied by Wiscraft, Inc.

AB837,5,12 (b) Notwithstanding ss. 13.48 (14) (am) and 16.848 (1), the department of administration shall solicit public bids for the purchase of the existing lands and facilities occupied by Wiscraft, Inc. No later than 6 months after Wiscraft, Inc., vacates those existing lands and facilities, the department of administration shall sell those lands and facilities to the highest bidder. The secretary of administration shall deposit all proceeds of the sale in the budget stabilization fund.

AB837,5,13 (End)