AB50: Bill Text

AB50,68 Section 68. 15.145 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,43,23 15.145 (7) Office of the ombudsperson for corrections. There is created an office of the ombudsperson for corrections, attached to the department of corrections under s. 15.03. The office shall be under the direction and supervision of an ombudsperson who shall be nominated by the governor, with the advice and consent of three-fourths of members elected to the senate appointed, and may be removed only by the governor for just cause.

AB50,69 Section 69. 15.165 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,44,1 15.165 (title) Same; attached boards and offices.

AB50,70 Section 70. 15.165 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,44,7 15.165 (5) Office of internal audit. There is created an office of internal audit that is attached to the department of employee trust funds under s. 15.03. The office shall be under the direction and supervision of an internal auditor who shall be appointed by the employee trust funds board in the classified service. The internal auditor shall report directly to the employee trust funds board.

AB50,71 Section 71. 15.465 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,44,9 15.465 (title) Same; attached board and office.

AB50,72 Section 72. 15.615 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,44,16 15.615 Same; attached office. (1) Office of election transparency and compliance. There is created an office of election transparency and compliance, which is attached to the elections commission under s. 15.03. The office shall be under the direction and supervision of a director who shall be a policy initiatives advisor appointed in the classified service by the administrator or interim administrator of the elections commission.

AB50,73 Section 73. 15.67 of the statutes is renumbered 15.105 (36), and 15.105 (36) (title), (a) (intro.) and (b), as renumbered, are amended to read:

AB50,45,2 15.105 (36) (title) Higher educational aids board; creation. (a) (intro.) There is created a higher educational aids board consisting, attached to the department of administration under s. 15.03. The board shall consist of the state superintendent of public instruction and the following members appointed for 3- year terms, except that the members specified under pars. (a) 5. subds. 1. e. and 6. f. and (b) 3. 2. c. shall be appointed for 2-year terms:

AB50,45,6 (b) If a student member under sub. (1) par. (a) loses the status upon which the appointment was based, he or she shall cease to be a member of the higher educational aids board upon appointment to the higher educational aids board of a qualified successor.

AB50,74 Section 74. 15.675 (title) of the statutes is repealed.

AB50,75 Section 75. 15.675 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 15.105 (37), and 15.105 (37) (intro.), as renumbered, is amended to read:

AB50,45,13 15.105 (37) Distance learning authorization board. (intro.) There is created a distance learning authorization board, for higher education, that is attached to the higher educational aids board department of administration under s. 15.03 and that consists of all of the following members:

AB50,76 Section 76. 15.732 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,45,17 15.732 Same; attached office. (1) Office of the public intervenor. There is created an office of the public intervenor which is attached to the office of the commissioner of insurance.

AB50,77 Section 77. 15.735 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,45,21 15.735 Same; attached board. (1) There is created a prescription drug affordability review board attached to the office of the commissioner of insurance under s. 15.03. The board shall consist of the following members:

AB50,45,22 (a) The commissioner of insurance or his or her designee.

AB50,46,3 (b) Two members appointed for 4-year terms who represent the pharmaceutical drug industry, including pharmaceutical drug manufacturers and wholesalers. At least one of the members appointed under this paragraph shall be a licensed pharmacist.

AB50,46,5 (c) Two members appointed for 4-year terms who represent the health insurance industry, including insurers and pharmacy benefit managers.

AB50,46,9 (d) Two members appointed for 4-year terms who represent the health care industry, including hospitals, physicians, pharmacies, and pharmacists. At least one of the members appointed under this paragraph shall be a licensed practitioner.

AB50,46,11 (e) Two members appointed for 4-year terms who represent the interests of the public.

AB50,46,14 (2) A member appointed under sub. (1), except for a member appointed under sub. (1) (b), may not be an employee of, a board member of, or a consultant to a drug manufacturer or trade association for drug manufacturers.

AB50,46,19 (3) Any conflict of interest, including any financial or personal association, that has the potential to bias or has the appearance of biasing an individual’s decision in matters related to the board or the conduct of the board’s activities shall be considered and disclosed when appointing that individual to the board under sub. (1).

AB50,78 Section 78. 15.79 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,47,6 15.79 (1) There is created a public service commission consisting of one chairperson and 2 commissioners. The chairperson and any commissioner may not have a financial interest in a railroad, water carrier, or public utility. If the chairperson or a commissioner voluntarily becomes so interested, the chairperson’s or commissioner’s office shall become vacant. If the chairperson or commissioner involuntarily becomes so interested, the chairperson’s or commissioner’s office shall become vacant unless the chairperson or commissioner divests himself or herself of the interest within a reasonable time. The chairperson and each commissioner shall hold office until a successor is appointed and qualified.

AB50,79 Section 79. 15.795 (title) of the statutes is repealed.

AB50,80 Section 80. 15.795 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 15.465 (3) and amended to read:

AB50,47,18 15.465 (3) Office of the commissioner of railroads. There is created an office of the commissioner of railroads which is attached to the public service commission department of transportation under s. 15.03, provided that s. 85.02 (1) does not apply to the office of the commissioner of railroads. The commissioner of railroads shall have expertise in railroad issues and may not have a financial interest in a railroad, as defined in s. 195.02 (1), or a water carrier, as defined in s. 195.02 (5). The commissioner may not serve on or under any committee of a political party. The commissioner shall hold office until a successor is appointed and qualified.

AB50,81 Section 81. 16.004 (26) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,47,22 16.004 (26) Tribal relations. The secretary shall appoint a director of Native American affairs to manage relations between the state and American Indian tribes or bands in this state.

AB50,82 Section 82. 16.02 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,48,2 16.02 Office of violence prevention. (1) Purpose. The office of violence prevention shall coordinate and expand violence prevention activities in this state.

AB50,48,3 (2) Duties. The office of violence prevention shall do all of the following:

AB50,48,4 (a) Establish a violence prevention focus across state government.

AB50,48,8 (b) Collaborate with other state agencies that are interested or active in the reduction of interpersonal violence, including child abuse, elder abuse, violence against youth, domestic violence, gun violence, intimate partner violence, suicide, sexual assault, and gender-based violence.

AB50,48,11 (c) Support the development and implementation of comprehensive, community-based violence prevention initiatives within local units of government across the state, including collaborating with law enforcement agencies.

AB50,48,13 (d) Develop sources of funding beyond state revenues to maintain the office and expand its activities.

AB50,48,15 (e) Create a directory of existing violence prevention services and activities in each county.

AB50,48,20 (f) Support and provide technical assistance to local organizations that provide violence prevention services, including in seeking out and applying for grant funding in support of their initiatives and provide technical assistance and support to the organizations to maximize the organizations’ likelihood of success with their applications.

AB50,48,21 (g) Develop public education campaigns to promote safer communities.

AB50,49,3 (3) Grants. (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (bs), the office of violence prevention shall award grants to support effective violence reduction initiatives in communities across the state, including supporting efforts to reduce gun violence, group violence, suicides, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and gender-based violence.

AB50,49,8 (b) The grants under this subsection shall be used to support, expand, and replicate evidence-based violence reduction initiatives, including hospital-based violence intervention programs, evidence-based street outreach programs, and focused deterrence strategies, that seek to interrupt the cycles of violence, victimization, and retaliation in order to reduce the incidence of firearm violence.

AB50,49,12 (c) Of the grants the department awards under this section, the department shall award up to $3,000,000 in grants each fiscal year to federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands in this state and organizations affiliated with tribes relating to missing and murdered indigenous women.

AB50,49,17 (d) Of the grants the department awards under this section, the department shall award up to $500,000 in suicide prevention grants each fiscal year to organizations or coalitions of organizations, which may include a city, village, town, county, or federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state, for any of the following purposes:

AB50,49,19 1. To train staff at a firearm retailer or firearm range on how to recognize a person who may be considering suicide.

AB50,49,21 2. To provide suicide prevention materials for distribution at a firearm retailer or firearm range.

AB50,49,22 3. To provide voluntary, temporary firearm storage.

AB50,83 Section 83. 16.035 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,50,2 16.035 Community climate action grants. (1) The department shall establish and administer a community climate action grant program.

AB50,50,3 (2) The department shall do all of the following:

AB50,50,6 (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (4) (cm), award grants to local governmental units and governing bodies of federally recognized American Indian tribes and bands in this state to do any of the following:

AB50,50,7 1. Conduct climate risk assessments and prepare action plans.

AB50,50,8 2. Implement emission-reducing and climate action projects.

AB50,50,11 (b) Assist local governmental units and governing bodies of federally recognized American Indian tribes and bands in this state with the development of climate risk assessment and action plans.

AB50,84 Section 84. 16.037 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,50,19 16.037 Community climate engagement grant program. The department shall establish and administer a community climate engagement grant program under which the department shall award grants to local nongovernmental organizations in this state for the purpose of promoting local climate and clean energy community engagement. Additionally under the program, the department shall itself conduct and support outreach across the state concerning climate change, climate resilience, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

AB50,85 Section 85. 16.07 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,51,3 16.07 Grants to support tribal programs. From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (ky), the department shall award a grant to each American Indian tribe or band in this state for use as the tribe or band deems necessary to support programs to meet the needs of its members. No tribe or band may be awarded grant moneys under this section that exceed the amount awarded to any other tribe or band. No grant moneys may be used to pay gaming-related expenses.

AB50,86 Section 86. 16.075 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,51,7 16.075 Grants to tribes for alternatives to prosecution and incarceration programs. (1) In this section, “tribe” has the meaning given in s. 165.91 (1).

AB50,51,10 (2) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (cb), the department shall make grants to tribes for alternatives to prosecution and incarceration programs that meet the criteria specified in s. 165.95 (3).

AB50,51,11 (5) Grants made under sub. (2) shall be provided on a calendar year basis.

AB50,51,13 (6) The department of justice shall assist the department with its duties under this section.

AB50,87 Section 87. 16.08 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,51,20 16.08 Grants to promote tribal language and cultural revitalization. From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (ky), the department shall award a grant to each American Indian tribe or band in this state to promote tribal language and cultural revitalization. No tribe or band may be awarded grant moneys under this section that exceed the amount awarded to any other tribe or band. No grant moneys may be used to pay gaming-related expenses.

AB50,88 Section 88. 16.088 (4) to (8) of the statutes are created to read:

AB50,51,24 16.088 (4) Award grants to the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin to support the Menominee Indian Tribe’s transit services, in an amount up to $266,600 annually.

AB50,52,4 (5) Award grants to the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin to conduct an inter- governmental training program, that shall be available to all tribal governments in the state, to improve consultations and communication between the tribes and the state, in an amount up to $60,000 annually.

AB50,52,9 (6) Award grants to the Wisconsin Indigenous Housing and Economic Development Corporation to support tribal economic development and housing programs in this state. The department may not award more than $3,890,000 in grants under this subsection in the 2025-26 fiscal year, nor more than $2,540,000 annually thereafter.

AB50,52,11 (7) Award grants to American Indian tribes or bands in this state to support strategic planning concerning cybersecurity, in an amount up to $250,000 annually.

AB50,52,14 (8) Award grants to American Indian tribes or bands in this state to support home repairs that reduce energy burdens and improve health outcomes, in an amount up to $1,000,000 annually.

AB50,89 Section 89. 16.095 (6) to (14) of the statutes are created to read:

AB50,52,21 16.095 (6) (a) The legislature finds and determines that providing assistance to local governments to construct facilities that provide public services to help citizens of the state is a statewide responsibility of statewide dimension. It is therefore in the public interest, and it is the public policy of this state, to provide the department with the authority to award grants to any city, village, town, county, or tribal government for construction projects of public buildings.

AB50,53,2 (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (r), the department may award grants to cities, villages, towns, counties, and tribal governments to assist with construction projects, as specified in par. (a), or as specified in sub. (11) (a), (12) (a), or (13) (a), if the grant is approved by the building commission.

AB50,53,9 (7) (a) The legislature finds and determines that providing assistance to local communities to provide facilities and services to help citizens of the state overcome life circumstances and to improve the ability of local communities to address homelessness 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 the New Community Shelter, Inc., in the construction of a permanent supportive housing facility in Brown County.

AB50,53,12 (b) The building commission may approve and the department may award a grant under sub. (2) of up to $4,000,000 to assist the New Community Shelter, Inc., in the construction of a facility, as described in par. (a).

AB50,53,22 (8) (a) The legislature finds and determines that providing out-of-school care that inspires local youth to be contributing, productive, and responsible members of their communities through intentional programming that supports positive character development and unique opportunities to grow as individuals, while addressing a shortage of dental care, mental health services, and preventative health services for youth of underserved populations 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 the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee, Inc., and Community Smiles Dental in carrying out renovation of the historic Wisconsin Avenue School in the city of Milwaukee for use as a health and wellness center.

AB50,54,2 (b) The building commission may approve and the department may award a grant under sub. (2) of up to $6,000,000 to assist the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee, Inc., and Community Smiles Dental in the renovation of the Wisconsin Avenue School, as described in par. (a).

AB50,54,10 (9) (a) The legislature finds and determines that assisting local communities to provide facilities and services to help citizens of the state overcome life circumstances and to improve the ability of local communities to address food insecurity and enhance equitable access to nutritious food 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 the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, Inc., in constructing a new facility to expand food processing, storage, and distribution.

AB50,54,13 (b) The building commission may approve and the department may award a grant under sub. (2) of up to $15,000,000 to assist the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, Inc., in the construction of a facility, described in par. (a)

AB50,54,20 (10) (a) The legislature finds and determines that preserving Wisconsin’s transportation heritage, expanding historical educational programs, and enhancing the state's tourism, thereby strengthening local economies 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 the Colfax Railroad Museum, Inc., in constructing and renovating museum facilities in the village of Colfax to protect and display historical railroad artifacts.

AB50,54,23 (b) The building commission may approve and the department may award a grant under sub. (2) of up to $860,000 to assist the Colfax Railroad Museum, Inc., in the construction and renovation of museum facilities, as described in par. (a).

AB50,55,4 (11) (a) The legislature finds and determines that enhancing tourism to the state, thereby strengthening local economies 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 the city of Green Bay in the construction and development of a public market.

AB50,55,7 (b) The building commission may approve and the department may award a grant under sub. (6) of up to $3,000,000 to assist the city of Green Bay in the construction and development of a public market, as described in par. (a).

AB50,55,14 (12) (a) The legislature finds that increasing access to learning materials in communities across the state will enhance and enrich the state's workforce, thereby strengthening the state's economy and increasing the resilience of the state's citizens. It is therefore in the public interest, and it is the public policy of this state, to assist the city of Glendale in the construction of a new library that will serve the communities of Bayside, Fox Point, Glendale, and River Hills, as well as all of Milwaukee County through the Milwaukee County Federated Library System.