Chapter 106

106.273(4) (4) Completion awards for students. From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (c), the department shall annually award a completion award to a student in the amount of $500 for each industry-recognized certification program approved by the department under sub. (2) (b) that the student successfully completed in a school year in which the program was approved by the department under sub. (2) (b).

106.273(5) (5) Memorandum of understanding. The department and the department of public instruction shall enter into a memorandum of understanding setting forth their respective responsibilities in administering this section. The memorandum of understanding shall provide that the department of workforce development will annually furnish funds to the department of public instruction to make the payments under subs. (3) and (4).

106.273 History History: 2015 a. 55. ss. 3193b, 3193be to 3193bi; 2017 a. 59, 336, 370.

106.275 106.275 Technical education equipment grants.

106.275(1) (1) Awarding of grants.

106.275(1)(a) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (cg), the department shall, subject to par. (am), award technical education equipment grants under this section. The department shall award grants in the amount of not more than $100,000 to applicants whose grant applications are approved under sub. (2) (b).

106.275(1)(am) (am) The department shall award grant moneys under par. (a) so that not less than one-third of grant moneys awarded in a fiscal biennium are provided to applicants that are either school districts that are eligible for sparsity aid under s. 115.436 or consortia that include at least one school district that is so eligible.

106.275(1)(b) (b) An applicant that is awarded a grant under this section shall use the grant moneys awarded for the enhancement or improvement of a technical education facility or for the acquisition of equipment that is used in advanced manufacturing or construction fields in the workplace, together with any software necessary for the operation of that equipment and any instructional material necessary to train pupils in the operation of that equipment.

106.275(1)(c) (c) As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, a grant recipient shall provide matching funds, which may be in the form of money or the monetary value of equipment. The matching funds must be in an amount equal to the following:

106.275(1)(c)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if the match is contributed from private sources, 100 percent of the grant amount awarded.

106.275(1)(c)2. 2. If any of the match is contributed from school district funds, 200 percent of the grant amount awarded.

106.275(2) (2) Grant application process.

106.275(2)(a) (a) A school district or a consortium consisting of multiple school districts that wishes to receive a grant under this section shall apply for the grant in accordance with procedures and requirements established by the department under rules promulgated under sub. (4) (b) 1. A grant application shall describe the purpose and need for the grant, the projected outcomes sought to be achieved as a result of receiving the grant, the amount and source of the matching funds required under sub. (1) (c), and any other information that the department may require under rules promulgated under sub. (4) (b) 1.

106.275(2)(b) (b) The department shall review and evaluate a grant application submitted under par. (a) in accordance with procedures and criteria established by the department under rules promulgated under sub. (4) (b) 2. After completing that review and evaluation, the department shall notify the applicant of the department’s decision on the grant application.

106.275(3) (3) Reporting requirements. A recipient of a grant under this section shall file a report with the department by September 1 of each of the first 3 fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the grant was received. The report shall describe how the grant moneys were expended, describe the outcomes achieved as a result of receiving the grant, share the best practices employed regarding the training of pupils in the use of any equipment acquired with the grant moneys, include a plan for sustainability of any such training, and provide such other information as the department may require under rules promulgated under sub. (4) (b) 3.

106.275(4) (4) Implementation of grant program.

106.275(4)(b) (b) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section. Those rules shall include all of the following:

106.275(4)(b)1. 1. Rules establishing the procedures and requirements for applying for a grant under sub. (2) (a), including the information that must be submitted with a grant application.

106.275(4)(b)2. 2. Rules establishing the procedures and criteria for awarding a grant under sub. (2) (b).

106.275(4)(b)3. 3. Rules governing the reporting requirements under sub. (3), including the information that must be provided in a report submitted under sub. (3).

106.275 History History: 2017 a. 59, 370; 2023 a. 165.

106.275 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DWD 802, Wis. adm. code.

106.276 106.276 Commercial driver training grant program.

106.276(1) (1) 

106.276(1)(a) (a) The department shall establish and administer a commercial driver training grant program.

106.276(1)(b) (b) A person that satisfies the eligibility requirements under par. (c) may apply to the department for a grant under this section. The department shall prescribe the form, nature, and extent of information that shall be contained in applications for grants under this section.

106.276(1)(c) (c) An applicant is eligible for a grant under this section if all of the following are satisfied:

106.276(1)(c)1. 1. The applicant provides to an individual who resides in this state training in the operation of commercial motor vehicles that satisfies the requirements of 49 CFR part 380, subparts F and G.

106.276(1)(c)2. 2. The applicant is listed on the Training Provider Registry (TPR), as set forth in 49 CFR part 380, subpart G.

106.276(1)(c)2m. 2m. The applicant has a facility in this state that is listed in the Training Provider Registry described in subd. 2., and the training described in subd. 1. is provided at or through that facility.

106.276(1)(c)3. 3. The individual for whom the applicant provides training under subd. 1. obtains an initial commercial driver license, as defined in s. 340.01 (7m), in this state after March 23, 2024.

106.276(1)(c)4. 4. The application is received by the department before July 1, 2025.

106.276(1)(d) (d) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (bk), the department may award grants to eligible applicants under par. (c). The amount of a grant under this section with regard to each individual trained may not exceed 50 percent of the costs of training the individual in the operation of commercial motor vehicles or $3,000, whichever is less.

106.276(2) (2) Before July 1 of each year, the department shall prepare a report summarizing the number and amount of grants awarded under sub. (1). The department shall submit the report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3).

Effective date note NOTE: This section is repealed eff. 7-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 153.

106.276 History History: 2023 a. 153.

106.277 106.277 Grants for teacher training and recruitment.

106.277(1) (1) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (bt), the department shall award a grant to a nonprofit organization that applies on a form prepared by the department to receive a grant under this section if all of the following apply:

106.277(1)(a) (a) The organization is described under section 501 (c) (3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from taxation under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

106.277(1)(b) (b) The organization operates a program to recruit and prepare individuals to teach in public or private schools located in low-income or urban school districts in this state.

106.277(1)(c) (c) The organization submits an application no later than January 15 in the year for which the organization seeks a grant under this section and includes with its application a description of the organization and its program and the manner in which grant funding will benefit the organization or has benefited the organization in the past.

106.277(2) (2) The department shall establish a process for evaluating and assigning a score to each organization eligible to receive a grant under sub. (1). If the amount appropriated under s. 20.445 (1) (bt) is insufficient to make the payments required under sub. (1), the department shall give preference in evaluating grants under this section to a nonprofit organization for each of the following:

106.277(2)(a) (a) The program trains future teachers who are enrolled in an accredited college or university in this state concurrent with the training.

106.277(2)(b) (b) The program focuses on future teachers who plan to teach in public or private schools in this state as a profession.

106.277(2)(c) (c) The program provides continuing education and professional development.

106.277(2)(d) (d) The program attempts to place a majority of its total participants in public or private schools located in low-income or urban school districts in this state.

106.277(3) (3) When awarding a grant under this section, the department may not consider the religious affiliation, if any, of the nonprofit organization or whether the organization has received funding from the state in the past.

106.277(4) (4) By February 15 of each year, the department shall make its determination regarding successful applicants and shall notify those applicants that will receive a grant under this section.

106.277 History History: 2017 a. 59.

106.30 106.30 Nursing workforce survey and grant.

106.30(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “nurse” means a registered nurse licensed under s. 441.06 or permitted under s. 441.08, a licensed practical nurse licensed or permitted under s. 441.10, an advanced practice nurse prescriber certified under s. 441.16 (2), or a nurse-midwife licensed under s. 441.15.

106.30(2) (2) Survey form. Each odd-numbered year, the department of workforce development shall develop and submit to the department of safety and professional services a survey form to gather data under s. 441.01 (7) (a) 1. to assist the department of workforce development in evaluating the supply of, demand for, and turnover among nurses in this state and in determining whether there are any regional shortages of nurses, shortages of nurses in any specialty areas, or impediments to entering the nursing profession in this state.

106.30(3) (3) Survey results. Beginning in 2011, by September 30 of each odd-numbered year, the department shall compile, process, and evaluate the survey results and submit a report of its findings to the speaker of the assembly and the president of the senate under s. 13.172 (3) and to the governor, the secretary of health services, and the nurse resource center described in sub. (5).

106.30(4) (4) Costs of survey. The department may use no more than 12 percent of the amount received under s. 20.445 (1) (km) for costs incurred by the department under subs. (2) and (3).

106.30(5) (5) Nursing workforce grants.

106.30(5)(a) (a) From the appropriation account under s. 20.445 (1) (km), the department of workforce development shall award grants equal to the amount appropriated under s. 20.445 (1) (km) minus the amount expended under sub. (4) to a nonprofit statewide nursing center that is comprised of and led by nurses and that has demonstrated coordination with constituent groups within the nursing community, including professional nursing organizations; organizations representing nurse educators, staff nurses, and nurse managers or executives; labor organizations representing nurses; the department of safety and professional services; the department of health services; and legislators who are concerned with issues affecting the nursing profession.

106.30(5)(b) (b) A statewide nursing center that receives a grant under par. (a) shall use the grant moneys to develop strategies to ensure that there is a nursing workforce that is adequate to meet the current and future health care needs of this state. The statewide nursing center may use those moneys to fund activities that are aimed at ensuring such a nursing workforce, including monitoring trends in the applicant pool for nursing education programs; evaluating the effectiveness of nursing education programs in increasing access to those programs and in enhancing career mobility for nurses, especially for populations that are underrepresented in the nursing profession; and facilitating partnerships between the nursing community and other health care providers, the department of safety and professional services, the business community, the legislature, and educators to promote diversity within the nursing profession, enhance career mobility and leadership development for nurses, and achieve consensus regarding policies aimed at ensuring an adequate nursing workforce in this state.

106.30 History History: 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32; s. 35.17 correction in (2).

106.36 106.36 Offender reentry initiative.

106.36(1) (1) In this section, “offender” has the meaning given in 29 USC 3102 (38).

106.36(2) (2) The department shall align its workforce development activities under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 USC 3101 to 3361, with the department of corrections’ initiatives to reintegrate offenders into the community by doing all of the following:

106.36(2)(a) (a) Training staff of the department of corrections in the use of assessment tools to assess the educational and vocational needs and skills of offenders who are incarcerated.

106.36(2)(b) (b) Providing in its guidelines for the development of local plans under 29 USC 3123 a specific requirement that local workforce development boards established under 29 USC 3122 outline in their local plans how they will work with local and statewide offender reentry initiatives supported by the department of corrections.

106.36(2)(c) (c) Appointing a representative of the department of corrections to serve on any subcommittee of the state workforce development board established under 29 USC 3111 that is responsible for the planning and operation of, and other issues relating to, the state workforce development system to ensure that workforce development programs made available through that system provide workforce development activities serving offenders.

106.36(2)(d) (d) Integrating offender reentry initiatives supported by the department of corrections with the job center network under s. 106.14 (1) to ensure that offenders are aware of the comprehensive career planning, job placement, job training, and other resources available to them through the job center network.

106.36 History History: 2015 a. 55.

106.361 106.361 Hotline for employers.

106.361(1) (1) The department shall maintain a toll-free telephone number as a hotline to assist employers seeking to employ individuals with a conviction record, as defined in s. 111.32 (3). The department shall make the hotline available during normal work hours, as determined by the department. The department shall designate hotline staff to provide employers with information and assistance relating to available incentives and programs under state and federal law for employing individuals with a conviction record, including individuals on release under s. 302.27, individuals on work release under s. 303.065, and individuals on Huber release under s. 303.08 or 973.09 (4).

106.361(2) (2) The department shall maintain a website that contains information relating to employing individuals with a conviction record, including individuals on release under s. 302.27, individuals on work release under s. 303.065, and individuals on Huber release under s. 303.08 or 973.09 (4).

106.361 History History: 2023 a. 228.

106.38 106.38 Hire Heroes program.

106.38(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “program” means the Hire Heroes program established under this section.

106.38(2) (2) Establishment. The department shall establish a Hire Heroes program to provide transitional jobs to veterans.

106.38(3) (3) Program components. The program under this section shall include all of the following features and requirements:

106.38(3)(a) (a) An individual may participate in the program for a maximum of 1,040 hours actually worked.

106.38(3)(b) (b) The employer of record shall pay the individual for hours actually worked at not less than the federal or state minimum wage that applies to the individual.

106.38(3)(c) (c) The department may reimburse an employer that employs an individual participating in the program for a minimum of 20 hours per week at a location in this state for any of the following costs that are attributable to the employment of the individual under the program:

106.38(3)(c)1. 1. A wage subsidy that is equal to an amount negotiated between the department and the employer, that is paid for each hour the individual actually worked, not to exceed 40 hours per week, and that is not more than the federal or state minimum wage that applies to the individual.

106.38(3)(c)2. 2. Federal social security and Medicare taxes.

106.38(3)(c)3. 3. State and federal unemployment insurance contributions or taxes, if any.

106.38(3)(c)4. 4. Worker’s compensation insurance premiums, if any.

106.38(3)(d) (d) An employer that employs an individual participating in the program may pay the individual an amount that exceeds any wage subsidy paid to the employer by the department under par. (c) 1., except that the employer or contractor must pay the individual at least minimum wage.

106.38(3)(e) (e) The employment of an individual under this section may not do any of the following:

106.38(3)(e)1. 1. Have the effect of filling a vacancy created by an employer terminating a regular employee or otherwise reducing its work force for the purpose of hiring an individual under this section.

106.38(3)(e)2. 2. Fill a position when any other person is on layoff or strike from the same or a substantially equivalent job within the same organizational unit.

106.38(3)(e)3. 3. Fill a position when any other person is engaged in a labor dispute regarding the same or a substantially equivalent job within the same organizational unit.

106.38(4) (4) Eligibility.

106.38(4)(a) (a) To be eligible to participate in the program, an individual must satisfy all of the following criteria:

106.38(4)(a)1. 1. Be at least 18 years of age.