SB761: Bill Text

SB761,,1 2023 SENATE BILL 761

December 8, 2023 - Introduced by Senators Roys, L. Johnson, Agard, Taylor, Carpenter, Smith, Spreitzer, Wirch and Larson, cosponsored by Representatives Neubauer, Ohnstad, Sinicki, C. Anderson, J. Anderson, Andraca, Baldeh, Bare, Clancy, Conley, Emerson, Jacobson, Joers, Madison, Moore Omokunde, Palmeri, Ratcliff, Shankland, Shelton, Stubbs, Subeck, Vining and Drake. Referred to Committee on Economic Development and Technical Colleges.

SB761,,2 An Act to amend 20.445 (1) (bm), 106.27 (2g) (a) 1., 106.27 (2g) (a) 2. and 106.27 (3); and to create 20.445 (1) (bp) and 106.27 (1p) of the statutes; relating to: green jobs training program grants, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and making an appropriation.

SB761,,3 Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill creates a green jobs training program to be administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Under the program, DWD must award grants to public or private organizations for the development and implementation of green jobs training programs. The bill defines “green jobs” as jobs that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources. The bill also allows DWD to require a public or private organization, as a condition of receiving a grant, to provide matching funds at a percentage to be determined by DWD.

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

SB761,,4 The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB761,1 Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated:

SB761,2 Section 2. 20.445 (1) (bm) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB761,,7 20.445 (1) (bm) Workforce training; administration. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for the administration of the local youth apprenticeship grant program under s. 106.13 (3m), the youth summer jobs program under s. 106.18, the employment transit assistance grant program under s. 106.26, the workforce training program programs under s. 106.27, the teacher development program grants under s. 106.272, the career and technical education incentive grant program under s. 106.273, the technical education equipment grant program under s. 106.275, and the apprentice programs under subch. I of ch. 106.

SB761,3 Section 3. 20.445 (1) (bp) of the statutes is created to read:

SB761,,9 20.445 (1) (bp) Green jobs training program; grants. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for green jobs training program grants under s. 106.27 (1p).

SB761,4 Section 4. 106.27 (1p) of the statutes is created to read:

SB761,,11 106.27 (1p) Green jobs training program. (a) In this subsection, “green jobs” means jobs that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources.

SB761,,12 (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (bp), the department shall award grants to public or private organizations for the development and implementation of green jobs training programs. As a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, the department may require a public or private organization to provide matching funds at a percentage to be determined by the department.

SB761,5 Section 5. 106.27 (2g) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB761,,14 106.27 (2g) (a) 1. Promulgate rules prescribing procedures and criteria for awarding grants under sub. subs. (1) and (1p) and the information with respect to those grants that must be contained in the reports required under subd. 3.

SB761,6 Section 6. 106.27 (2g) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB761,,16 106.27 (2g) (a) 2. Receive and review applications for grants under subs. (1), (1g), and (1j) (am), and (1p) and prescribe the form, nature, and extent of the information that must be contained in an application for a grant under sub. (1), (1g), or (1j) (am), or (1p).

SB761,7 Section 7. 106.27 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB761,,18 106.27 (3) Annual report. Annually, by December 31, the department shall submit a report to the governor and the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance providing an account of the department’s activities and expenditures under this section during the preceding fiscal year and detailing the amounts allocated to and expended for each of the programs, grants, and services specified in s. 20.445 (1) (b) and, (bm), and (bp) for that fiscal year. The report shall include information on the number of unemployed and underemployed workers and incumbent employees who participate in training programs under sub. (1) or, (1j), or (1p); the number of unemployed workers who obtain gainful employment, underemployed workers who obtain new employment, and incumbent employees who receive increased compensation after participating in such a training program; and the wages earned by those workers and employees both before and after participating in such a training program. The report shall also include information on the extent to which waiting lists for enrollment in courses and programs provided by technical colleges in high-demand fields are reduced as a result of grants under sub. (1g) (a), on the number of students who participate in certification or training programs under sub. (1) (a) or (e) or (1g) (b), on the building modifications funded under sub. (1) (f) and the effect of those building modifications on the school districts’ technical education programs, and on the number of persons with disabilities who participate in employment enhancement activities under sub. (1g) (c). In addition, the report shall provide information on the number of student interns who are placed with employers as a result of the coordination activities conducted under sub. (1r) or the grants awarded under sub. (1) (d).

SB761,8 Section 8. Nonstatutory provisions.

SB761,,20 (1) Position authorized. The authorized FTE positions for the department of workforce development are increased by 1.0 GPR position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (bm), for the purpose of administering the green jobs training program under s. 106.27 (1p).

SB761,,21 (2) Emergency rules. The department of workforce development may promulgate emergency rules under s. 227.24 necessary to implement s. 106.27 (1p). Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules under this subsection remain in effect until July 1, 2024, or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

SB761,9 Section 9. Effective date.

SB761,,23 (1) This act takes effect on the day after publication, or on the 2nd day after publication of the 2023 biennial budget act, whichever is later.

SB761,,24 (end)