SB653: Bill Text

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Senate BILL 653

January 8, 2020 - Introduced by Senators Hansen, Bewley, Carpenter, Larson, Ringhand, Shilling, Smith and Wirch, cosponsored by Representatives Neubauer, Hesselbein, Hebl, C. Taylor, Anderson, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Crowley, Fields, Goyke, Gruszynski, Kolste, Ohnstad, Pope, Sargent, Shankland, Sinicki, Spreitzer, Stubbs, Subeck, Vining, Vruwink and Zamarripa. Referred to Committee on Education.

SB653,1,3 An Act to amend 119.04 (1); and to create 20.255 (2) (dv) and 115.457 of the statutes; relating to: grants to school districts for weatherization projects, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, this bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to award grants to school districts for weatherization projects. Under the bill, DPI must establish an advisory council to make recommendations on the criteria for awarding weatherization grants and, after reviewing applications, recommendations on which school districts should receive grants. Finally, the bill specifies that the annual maximum award amount is $100,000 and that a school district may use up to ten percent of a grant award for educational materials related to the weatherization project.

For further information see the state and local 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:

SB653,1 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

SB653,2 Section 2. 20.255 (2) (dv) of the statutes is created to read:

SB653,2,3 20.255 (2) (dv) Weatherization projects; grants. The amounts in the schedule for grants to school districts under s. 115.457.

SB653,3 Section 3. 115.457 of the statutes is created to read:

SB653,2,8 115.457 Weatherization projects; grants. (1) Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, after receiving recommendations from the council under sub. (2), the department shall award grants to school districts for projects to implement or install weatherization materials, as defined in 42 USC 6862 (9), in school buildings.

SB653,2,10 (2) The state superintendent shall establish a council under s. 15.04 (1) (c) to make recommendations to the department on all of the following:

SB653,2,11 (a) The criteria for awarding grants under this section.

SB653,2,13 (b) After reviewing applications, to which school districts the department should award grants under this section.

SB653,2,15 (3) (a) The department may not award more than $100,000 under this section to a school district in any school year.

SB653,2,18 (b) A school district may use up to 10 percent of the amount of a grant under this section on educational materials related to the weatherization project for which the grant is awarded.

SB653,2,19 (4) The department may promulgate rules to implement this section.

SB653,4 Section 4. 119.04 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB653,3,13 119.04 (1) Subchapters IV, V and VII of ch. 115, ch. 121 and ss. 66.0235 (3) (c), 66.0603 (1m) to (3), 115.01 (1) and (2), 115.28, 115.31, 115.33, 115.34, 115.343, 115.345, 115.363, 115.364, 115.365 (3), 115.367, 115.38 (2), 115.415, 115.445, 115.457, 118.001 to 118.04, 118.045, 118.06, 118.07, 118.075, 118.076, 118.10, 118.12, 118.125 to 118.14, 118.145 (4), 118.15, 118.153, 118.16, 118.162, 118.163, 118.164, 118.18, 118.19, 118.196, 118.20, 118.223, 118.225, 118.24 (1), (2) (c) to (f), (6), (8), and (10), 118.245, 118.25, 118.255, 118.258, 118.291, 118.292, 118.293, 118.30 to 118.43, 118.46, 118.50, 118.51, 118.52, 118.53, 118.55, 118.56, 120.12 (2m), (4m), (5), and (15) to (27), 120.125, 120.13 (1), (2) (b) to (g), (3), (14), (17) to (19), (26), (34), (35), (37), (37m), and (38), 120.137, 120.14, 120.20, 120.21 (3), and 120.25 are applicable to a 1st class city school district and board but not, unless explicitly provided in this chapter or in the terms of a contract, to the commissioner or to any school transferred to an opportunity schools and partnership program.

SB653,3,14 (End)