October 18, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives Kurtz, Dallman, Dittrich, Duchow, Gundrum, Michalski, Novak, O’Connor and Oldenburg, cosponsored by Senators Marklein and Testin. Referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities.
AB540,,22An Act to create 20.192 (1) (c) and 238.145 of the statutes; relating to: University of Wisconsin System branch campus redevelopment grants, including a grant to Richland County, and making an appropriation. AB540,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill requires the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to award grants of up to $2,000,000 to political subdivisions of this state for costs associated with the redevelopment of buildings or other sites owned by the political subdivision on a UW System branch campus that are or will no longer be used for academic purposes. A branch campus is any of the former two-year college campuses that were partnered with a four-year UW System campus in the 2018 UW System restructuring. WEDC must award a $2,000,000 grant to Richland County before awarding a grant to any other political subdivision.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
AB540,,44The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: AB540,15Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: AB540,26Section 2. 20.192 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read: AB540,,7720.192 (1) (c) Branch campus redevelopment grants. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for grants to political subdivisions under s. 238.145. AB540,38Section 3. 238.145 of the statutes is created to read: AB540,,99238.145 Branch campus redevelopment grants. (1) Definitions. In this section: AB540,,1010(a) “Branch campus” means any of the former college campuses that were partnered with a university in the University of Wisconsin System restructuring plan approved by the Higher Learning Commission on or about June 28, 2018. AB540,,1111(b) “Political subdivision” means a city, village, town, or county. AB540,,1212(2) Grants. (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.192 (1) (c), and subject to par. (b), the corporation shall award grants to political subdivisions for costs, including planning costs, associated with the redevelopment of buildings or other sites owned by the political subdivision on a branch campus or former branch campus that are or will no longer be used for academic purposes. AB540,,1313(b) The corporation shall award a grant under this subsection, in the amount of $2,000,000, to Richland County before awarding a grant under this subsection to any other political subdivision. AB540,,1414(c) No grant awarded under this subsection may exceed $2,000,000.
