Chapter 106

EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS

106.09 106.09 Public employment offices.

106.09(1) (1) The department shall establish and conduct free employment agencies, license and supervise the work of private employment offices, do all in its power to bring together employers seeking employees and working people seeking employment, make known the opportunities for self-employment in this state, aid in procuring employment for the blind adults of the state, aid in inducing minors to undertake promising skilled employments, provide industrial or agricultural training for vagrants and other persons unsuited for ordinary employments, and encourage wage earners to insure themselves against distress from unemployment. It shall investigate the extent and causes of unemployment in this state and the remedies therefor in this and other countries, and it shall devise and adopt the most efficient means within its power to avoid unemployment, to provide employment, and to prevent distress from involuntary idleness.

106.09(2) (2) Any county, city, town or village may enter into an agreement with the department for such period of time as may be deemed desirable for the purpose of establishing and maintaining local free employment offices, and it shall be lawful for any county, city, town or village to appropriate and expend the necessary money and to permit the use of public property for the joint establishment and maintenance of such offices as may be agreed upon, or in counties containing 250,000 inhabitants or more in any city, town or village therein to purchase a site and construct necessary buildings. Provided, that in any county, city, village or town therein, wherein there is a citizens’ committee on unemployment, such committee may rent, lease, purchase or construct necessary buildings for the joint establishment and maintenance of such free employment office, subject to the approval of such plans by the department. The department may establish such free employment offices as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of ch. 108. All expenses of such offices, or all expenses not defrayed by the county, city, town or village in which an office is located, shall be paid from the appropriations to the department provided in s. 20.445 (1) (ga) and (n).

106.09(3) (3) The department may rent, furnish and equip, except as provided in sub. (2), such offices as may be needed in cities for the conduct of its affairs. All payments arising under this section shall be charged against the proper appropriation for the department.

106.09(5) (5) The department is authorized and directed to cooperate with the U.S. employment service in the administration of its functions.

106.09(7) (7) The department may, by rule, fix and collect fees for provision of employment services authorized but not funded by the U.S. employment service.

106.09 History History: 1971 c. 185 ss. 1, 7; 1971 c. 228 ss. 25, 42; Stats. 1971 s. 101.23; 1973 c. 90 s. 559; 1979 c. 34 s. 2102 (25) (a); 1981 c. 36 s. 45; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 29 ss. 1650, 3202 (29); 1995 a. 27 s. 3692; Stats. 1995 s. 106.09; 2003 a. 33.

106.09 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DWD 310, Wis. adm. code.

106.10 106.10 Veterans job training. The department shall cooperate with the U.S. department of veterans affairs in the performance of functions prescribed in P.L. 79-679, 60 Stat. 934 and any acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto. The secretary may with the approval of the governor take all necessary steps in the making of leases or other contracts with the federal government in the adoption and execution of plans, methods and agreements to effectuate P.L. 79-679.

106.10 History History: 1971 c. 185 s. 1; 1971 c. 228; Stats. 1971 s. 101.25; 1977 c. 29, 272; 1989 a. 56; 1995 a. 27 s. 3693; Stats. 1995 s. 106.10.

106.11 106.11 Workforce investment programs. The department shall cooperate with the federal government in carrying out the purposes of the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, 29 USC 2801 to 2945. In administering the programs authorized by that act the department shall, in cooperation with other state agencies and with local workforce development boards established under 29 USC 2832, establish a statewide workforce investment system to meet the employment, training, and educational needs of persons in this state. If a local workforce development board anticipates that there may be a business closing or mass layoff under s. 109.07 in the area served by that board, the board may prepare a list of resources available in that area that provide career planning, job search, job skills training, and other support services for affected employees, as defined in s. 109.07 (1) (a), including contact information for those resources, for distribution to those employees under s. 109.07 (1m) (a).

106.11 History History: 1985 a. 29 ss. 43, 45 to 48, 50, 51, 1651 to 1653, 3202 (22); 1993 a. 399, 446; 1995 a. 27 ss. 3694 to 3697, 9145 (1); Stats. 1995 s. 106.11; 1997 a. 27, 39, 112; 1999 a. 9; 2009 a. 87.

106.12 106.12 Employment and education program administration. The department shall plan, coordinate, administer, and implement the youth apprenticeship program under s. 106.13 (1) and such other employment and education programs as the governor may by executive order assign to the department. Notwithstanding any limitations placed on the use of state employment and education funds under this section or s. 106.13 or under an executive order assigning an employment and education program to the department, the department may issue a general or special order waiving any of those limitations on finding that the waiver will promote the coordination of employment and education services.

106.12 History History: 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27 s. 3701; 1995 Stats. s. 106.12; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25.

106.125 106.125 Early college credit program. On behalf of the school board of a school district, on behalf of a governing board of a charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), and on behalf of the governing body of a participating private school, as defined in s. 118.55 (1) (c), the department of workforce development shall pay to the department of public instruction the costs of tuition for a pupil who attends an institution of higher education under the program under s. 118.55 as provided under s. 118.55 (5) (e) 2. and 3.

106.125 History History: 2017 a. 59; 2021 a. 217.

106.13 106.13 Youth apprenticeship program.

106.13(1) (1) The department may provide a youth apprenticeship program. If the department provides that program, the program may include under that program the grant program under sub. (3m).

106.13(2) (2) The council on workforce investment established under 29 USC 2821, the technical college system board, and the department of public instruction shall assist the department in providing the youth apprenticeship program under sub. (1).

106.13(2m) (2m) The department shall approve occupational areas and maintain a list of approved occupational areas for the youth apprenticeship program. The department shall include in its approved list, at a minimum, all of the following occupational areas:

106.13(2m)(a) (a) Agriculture, food, and natural resources.

106.13(2m)(b) (b) Architecture and construction.

106.13(2m)(c) (c) Arts, audio-visual technology, and communications.

106.13(2m)(d) (d) Business management and administration.

106.13(2m)(e) (e) Education and training.

106.13(2m)(f) (f) Finance.

106.13(2m)(g) (g) Government and public administration.

106.13(2m)(h) (h) Health science.

106.13(2m)(i) (i) Hospitality and tourism.

106.13(2m)(j) (j) Human services.

106.13(2m)(k) (k) Information technology.

106.13(2m)(L) (L) Law, public safety, corrections, and security.

106.13(2m)(m) (m) Manufacturing.

106.13(2m)(n) (n) Marketing.

106.13(2m)(o) (o) Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

106.13(2m)(p) (p) Transportation, distribution, and logistics.

106.13(2r) (2r) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (a), the department shall develop curricula for youth apprenticeship programs for occupational areas approved under sub. (2m).

106.13(3) (3) The youth apprenticeship program under sub. (1) shall not affect any apprenticeship program that is governed by subch. I, except that an apprenticeship program that is governed by subch. I may grant credit toward the completion of an apprenticeship for the successful completion of a youth apprenticeship under sub. (1).

106.13(3m) (3m) 

106.13(3m)(a) (a) In this subsection:

106.13(3m)(a)1. 1. “Local partnership” means one or more school districts, or any combination of one or more school districts, other public agencies, nonprofit organizations, individuals, or other persons, who have agreed to be responsible for implementing and coordinating a local youth apprenticeship program.

106.13(3m)(a)1r. 1r. “Nonprofit organization” means a nonstock corporation under ch. 181 that is a nonprofit corporation, as defined in s. 181.0103 (17).

106.13(3m)(a)2. 2. “Public agency” means a county, city, village, town, school district or technical college district or an agency of this state or of a county, city, village, town, school district or technical college district.

106.13(3m)(b) (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (e), the department may award grants to applying local partnerships for the implementation and coordination of local youth apprenticeship programs. A local partnership shall include in its grant application the identity of each public agency, nonprofit organization, individual, and other person who is a participant in the local partnership, a plan to accomplish the implementation and coordination activities specified in subds. 1. to 6., and the identity of a fiscal agent who is responsible for receiving, managing, and accounting for the grant moneys received under this paragraph. Subject to par. (c), a local partnership that is awarded a grant under this paragraph may use the grant moneys awarded for any of the following implementation and coordination activities:

106.13(3m)(b)1. 1. Recruiting employers to provide on-the-job training and supervision for youth apprentices and providing technical assistance to those employers.

106.13(3m)(b)2. 2. Recruiting students to participate in the local youth apprenticeship program and monitoring the progress of youth apprentices participating in the program.

106.13(3m)(b)3. 3. Coordinating youth apprenticeship training activities within participating school districts and among participating school districts, postsecondary institutions and employers.

106.13(3m)(b)4. 4. Coordinating academic, vocational and occupational learning, school-based and work-based learning and secondary and postsecondary education for participants in the local youth apprenticeship program.

106.13(3m)(b)5. 5. Assisting employers in identifying and training workplace mentors and matching youth apprentices and mentors.

106.13(3m)(b)6. 6. Any other implementation or coordination activity that the department may direct or permit the local partnership to perform.

106.13(3m)(c) (c) A local partnership that is awarded a grant under par. (b) may not use any of the grant moneys awarded to provide funding to a business that is operated for profit or to a nonprofit organization that represents business interests.

106.13(3m)(d) (d) The amount of a grant awarded under par. (b) may not exceed $900 per youth apprentice. Beginning on July 10, 2021, the amount of a grant awarded under par. (b) cannot be greater than $1,100. A local partnership that is awarded a grant under par. (b) shall provide matching funds equal to 50 percent of the grant amount awarded.

106.13(3m)(e) (e) The following outcomes are expected of a local youth apprenticeship program that is funded under par. (b):

106.13(3m)(e)1. 1. At least 80 percent of the youth apprentices who participate in the program for 2 years must receive a high school diploma on completion of the youth apprenticeship.

106.13(3m)(e)2. 2. At least 60 percent of the youth apprentices who participate in the program for 2 years must be offered employment by the employer that provided the on-the-job training for the youth apprentice on completion of the youth apprenticeship.

106.13(5) (5) The department shall promulgate rules to administer this section.

106.13 History History: 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16, 339, 399, 437, 491; 1995 a. 27 ss. 3703 to 3712, 9130 (4), 9145 (1); Stats. 1995 s. 106.13; 1997 a. 3, 27, 79; 1999 a. 9 ss. 2016 to 2024, 2068; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25; 2009 a. 291; 2015 a. 55, 348; 2017 a. 370; 2019 a. 171; 2021 a. 58.

106.14 106.14 Job centers.

106.14(1) (1) The department shall provide a job center network throughout the state through which job seekers may receive comprehensive career planning, job placement, and job training information.

106.14(2) (2) The department shall publicize and maintain on its job center website information related to the job program under s. 49.147 (3) so that employers and individuals seeking employment may obtain information about the program, including how to participate in it.

106.14 History History: 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27 ss. 3713, 3770m and 3770p; Stats. 1995 s. 106.14; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2009 a. 333; 2011 a. 32; 2017 a. 365 s. 112.

106.15 106.15 Assistance for dislocated workers.

106.15(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

106.15(1)(a) (a) “Council” means the council on workforce investment established under 29 USC 2821.

106.15(1)(b) (b) “Dislocated worker” has the meaning given in 29 USC 2801 (9).

106.15(1)(c) (c) “Dislocated worker committee” means the committee or other subunit of the council that assists the governor in providing employment and training activities to dislocated workers under 29 USC 2862 to 2864.

106.15(1)(d) (d) “Local plan” means a local plan required under 29 USC 2833 as a condition for a grant.

106.15(3) (3) Grants. From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (m), the department shall make grants to persons providing employment and training activities to dislocated workers including all of the following:

106.15(3)(a) (a) Job search assistance, including participation in job clubs.

106.15(3)(b) (b) Training in job skills.

106.15(3)(c) (c) Support services, including but not limited to transportation assistance, relocation assistance, financial counseling, personal counseling and programs conducted in cooperation with employers or labor organizations.

106.15(4) (4) Grant approval. The department may award a grant under this section only if both of the following occur:

106.15(4)(a) (a) The dislocated workers committee approves the local plan or application for funding and refers its decision to the secretary.

106.15(4)(b) (b) After receiving a referral under par. (a), the secretary approves the local plan or application for funding.

106.15(5) (5) Local plan or application review. In reviewing local plans and applications for funding under this section, the dislocated workers committee and the secretary shall consider all of the following:

106.15(5)(a) (a) The severity of the need for the program in the community to be served when compared with the severity of need in other communities.

106.15(5)(b) (b) The appropriateness of the skill development or training to be provided, including whether the demand for that skill exceeds the supply.

106.15(5)(c) (c) Whether the program provides for labor organizations to participate in program planning.

106.15(5)(d) (d) Whether the program provides for coordination with other employment and training programs offered in the community in which the program will be offered.

106.15(6) (6) Rule making. The department shall promulgate rules to administer this section. The rules shall address eligible applicants and program providers, application requirements, criteria and procedures for awarding grants, reporting and auditing procedures and administrative operations.

106.15(7) (7) Funding. From the amounts appropriated under s. 20.445 (1) (m), all moneys received under 29 USC 2862 to 2864 shall be expended to fund grants and operations under this section.

106.15 History History: 1985 a. 153; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31, 44; 1995 a. 27 ss. 3714, 3715; Stats. 1995 s. 106.15; 1999 a. 9; 2003 a. 33; 2011 a. 32.

106.16 106.16 Notification of position openings.

106.16(1) (1) In this section:

106.16(1)(a) (a) “Company” means any business operated for profit.

106.16(1)(b) (b) “State agency” has the meaning given in s. 20.001 (1).

106.16(2) (2) Any company that receives a loan or grant from a state agency or an authority under ch. 231 or 234 shall notify the department and the local workforce development board established under 29 USC 2832, of any position in the company that is related to the project for which the grant or loan is received to be filled in this state within one year after receipt of the loan or grant. The company shall provide this notice at least 2 weeks prior to advertising the position.

106.16(3) (3) A state agency or an authority under ch. 231 or 234 shall notify the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation if it makes a loan or grant to a company.