AB789: Bill Text

2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Assembly BILL 789

January 4, 2022 - Introduced by Representatives Vining, Goyke, Ortiz-Velez, Anderson, Andraca, Baldeh, Brostoff, Cabrera, Conley, Considine, Emerson, Hebl, Hong, B. Meyers, Milroy, Neubauer, Ohnstad, Pope, S. Rodriguez, Shelton, Sinicki, Snodgrass, Spreitzer, Stubbs and Subeck, cosponsored by Senators Smith, Roys, Erpenbach, Agard, L. Taylor and Larson. Referred to Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight.

AB789,1,3 An Act to amend 251.05 (3) (c); and to create 16.9652, 20.505 (1) (cp), 66.1001 (2g) and 323.14 (1m) of the statutes; relating to: consideration of climate change in certain local plans and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, local governmental units are required or permitted to prepare a variety of plans that guide the local governmental unit's response to future events. Among these plans are comprehensive plans that assist in guiding a local governmental unit's future physical development, community health plans that assist in guiding a local governmental unit's response to community health problems, and hazard mitigation plans that assist a local governmental unit in preparing for disasters. Under this bill, if a local governmental unit prepares a comprehensive plan, a community health plan, or a disaster mitigation plan, it must consider the effects of climate change when preparing the plan.

The bill also requires the Department of Administration to administer a climate change planning grant program under which DOA provides grants to local governmental units to pay the cost of considering climate change in a comprehensive plan, a community health plan, or a disaster mitigation plan.

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:

AB789,1 Section 1. 16.9652 of the statutes is created to read:

AB789,2,4 16.9652 Climate change planning grants. (1) In this section, “local governmental unit” means a county, city, village, town, or regional planning commission.

AB789,2,12 (2) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (cp), upon application the department shall provide grants to local governmental units to finance the cost of planning for climate change under ss. 66.1001 (2g), 251.05 (3) (c), and 323.14 (1m). A grant under this section shall be in an amount that finances the entire cost attributable to the consideration of climate change in a plan under s. 66.1001 (2g), 251.05 (3) (c), or 323.14 (1m), as determined by the department. The department shall prescribe the form, nature, and extent of information that shall be contained in applications for grants under this section.

AB789,2 Section 2. 20.505 (1) (cp) of the statutes is created to read:

AB789,2,15 20.505 (1) (cp) Climate change planning grants. A sum sufficient to provide climate change planning grants to local governmental units under s. 16.9652.

AB789,3 Section 3. 66.1001 (2g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB789,2,20 66.1001 (2g) Consideration of climate change. In preparing or updating a comprehensive plan, a local governmental unit shall consider, to the extent practicable, the effects of climate change with regard to each of the elements under sub. (2).

AB789,4 Section 4. 251.05 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB789,3,2 251.05 (3) (c) Involve key policymakers and the general public in determining and developing a community health improvement plan that includes actions to implement the services and functions specified under s. 250.03 (1) (L). The plan under this paragraph shall include consideration of the effects of climate change on community health and consideration of the policies, plans, and programs that may assist in mitigating community health problems and health hazards.

AB789,5 Section 5. 323.14 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB789,3,9 323.14 (1m) Considerations in federal hazard mitigation planning. If a city, village, town, or county develops a mitigation plan under 42 U.S.C. 5165, the city, village, town, or county shall consider the effects of climate change on the natural hazards, risks, and vulnerabilities of the city, village, town, or county and consider actions that may assist in mitigating the effects of climate change on these hazards, risks, and vulnerabilities.

AB789,3,10 (End)