Chapter 49

49.141(1)(f) (f) “Migrant worker” has the meaning given in s. 103.90 (5).

49.141(1)(g) (g) “Minimum wage” means the state minimum hourly wage under s. 104.035 (1) or the federal minimum hourly wage under 29 USC 206 (a) (1), whichever is applicable.

49.141(1)(h) (h) “Noncustodial parent” means, with respect to a dependent child, a parent who is not the custodial parent.

49.141(1)(i) (i) “Nonmarital coparent” means, with respect to an individual and a dependent child, a parent who is not married to the individual, who resides with the dependent child, and who is one of the following:

49.141(1)(i)1. 1. An adjudicated parent.

49.141(1)(i)2. 2. A parent who has signed and filed with the state registrar under s. 69.15 (3) (b) 3. a statement acknowledging paternity.

49.141(1)(i)3. 3. A parent who has been conclusively determined from genetic test results to be the father under s. 767.804.

49.141(1)(j) (j) “Parent” means any of the following:

49.141(1)(j)1. 1. A biological parent.

49.141(1)(j)2. 2. A person who has consented to the artificial insemination of his wife under s. 891.40.

49.141(1)(j)3. 3. A parent by adoption.

49.141(1)(j)4. 4. A man adjudged in a judicial proceeding to be the biological father of a child if the child is a nonmarital child who is not adopted or whose parents do not subsequently intermarry under s. 767.803.

49.141(1)(j)5. 5. A man who has signed and filed with the state registrar under s. 69.15 (3) (b) 3. a statement acknowledging paternity.

49.141(1)(j)6. 6. A man who has been conclusively determined from genetic test results to be the father under s. 767.804.

49.141(1)(k) (k) “Participant” means an individual who participates in any component of the Wisconsin works program.

49.141(1)(L) (L) “Strike” has the meaning provided in 29 USC 142 (2).

49.141(1)(m) (m) “Transitional placement” means a work component of Wisconsin works administered under s. 49.147 (5).

49.141(1)(n) (n) “Trial employment match program job” means a work component of Wisconsin Works administered under s. 49.147 (3).

49.141(1)(p) (p) “Wisconsin works” means the assistance program for families with dependent children, administered under ss. 49.141 to 49.161.

49.141(1)(r) (r) “Wisconsin works employment position” means any job or placement under s. 49.147 (3) to (5).

49.141(1)(s) (s) “Wisconsin Works group” means an individual who is a custodial parent, all dependent children with respect to whom the individual is a custodial parent, and all dependent children with respect to whom the individual’s dependent child is a custodial parent. “Wisconsin Works group” includes any nonmarital coparent or any spouse of the individual who resides in the same household as the individual and any dependent children with respect to whom the spouse or nonmarital coparent is a custodial parent.

49.141(3) (3) Applications. Any individual may apply for any component of Wisconsin works. Application for each component of Wisconsin works shall be made on a form prescribed by the department. The individual shall submit a completed application form to a Wisconsin works agency in the geographical area specified by the department under s. 49.143 (6) in which the individual lives and in the manner prescribed by the department.

49.141(4) (4) Nonentitlement. Notwithstanding fulfillment of the eligibility requirements for any component of Wisconsin works, an individual is not entitled to services or benefits under Wisconsin works.

49.141(5) (5) Nonsupplant.

49.141(5)(am) (am) No Wisconsin works employment position may be operated so as to do any of the following:

49.141(5)(am)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 s. 49.147 (3), (4) or (5).

49.141(5)(am)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.

49.141(5)(am)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.

49.141(5)(bm) (bm) The department shall promulgate rules specifying a grievance procedure for resolving complaints of alleged violations of par. (am).

49.141(6) (6) Prohibited conduct. A person, in connection with Wisconsin works, may not do any of the following:

49.141(6)(a) (a) Knowingly and willfully make or cause to be made any false statement or representation of a material fact in any application for any benefit or payment.

49.141(6)(b) (b) Having knowledge of the occurrence of any event affecting the initial or continued eligibility for a benefit or payment under Wisconsin works, conceal or fail to disclose that event with an intent fraudulently to secure a benefit or payment under Wisconsin works either in a greater amount or quantity than is due or when no such benefit or payment is authorized.

49.141(7) (7) Suspensions.

49.141(7)(c) (c) Except as provided in par. (d), in addition to the penalties applicable under s. 946.90 (2) or (3), a person shall be suspended from participating in Wisconsin Works for a period of 10 years, beginning on the date of conviction, if the person is convicted in a federal or state court for any of the following:

49.141(7)(c)1. 1. Violating sub. (6) (a) or s. 946.90 (2) (a) with respect to his or her identity or place of residence for the purpose of receiving simultaneously from this state and at least one other state assistance funded by a block grant under Title I of the Federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.

49.141(7)(c)2. 2. Fraudulently misstating or misrepresenting his or her identity or place of residence for the purpose of receiving simultaneously from this state and at least one other state benefits under the medical assistance program under 42 USC 1396 et seq.

49.141(7)(c)3. 3. Fraudulently misstating or misrepresenting his or her identity or place of residence for the purpose of receiving simultaneously in this state and at least one other state benefits under the federal food stamp program under 7 USC 2011 to 2029.

49.141(7)(c)4. 4. Fraudulently misstating or misrepresenting his or her identity or place of residence for the purpose of receiving simultaneously in this state and at least one other state benefits under the federal supplemental security income program under 42 USC 1381 to 1383d.

49.141(7)(d) (d) A person who has been suspended from participating in Wisconsin works under par. (c) and whom the president of the United States has pardoned with respect to the conduct for which the person had been suspended may have his or her eligibility to participate in Wisconsin works reinstated beginning on the first day of the first month beginning after the pardon.

49.141(8) (8) Damages. If a person is convicted under s. 946.90 (2) or (3), the state has a cause of action for relief against the person in an amount equal to 3 times the amount of actual damages sustained as a result of any excess payments made in connection with the offense for which the conviction was obtained. Proof by the state of a conviction under s. 946.90 (2) or (3) is conclusive proof in a civil action of the state’s right to damages and the only issue in controversy shall be the amount, if any, of the actual damages sustained. Actual damages consist of the total amount of excess payments, any part of which is paid with state funds. In a civil action under this subsection, the state may elect to file a motion in expedition of the action. Upon receipt of the motion, the presiding judge shall expedite the action.

49.141 History History: 1995 a. 289; 1997 a. 27, 41, 283; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 105, 109; 2003 a. 173; 2005 a. 443 s. 265; 2009 a. 28; 2013 a. 20, 226; 2015 a. 55; 2019 a. 95.

49.141 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DCF 101, Wis. adm. code.

49.143 49.143 Wisconsin works; agency contracts.

49.143(1) (1) Awarding contracts.

49.143(1)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (ar), the department may do any of the following:

49.143(1)(a)1. 1. Award a contract, on the basis of a competitive process approved by the secretary of administration, to any person to administer Wisconsin works in a geographical area determined by the department under sub. (6). The competitive process shall include cost and prior experience criteria.

49.143(1)(a)2. 2. Contract with a Wisconsin works agency to administer Wisconsin works if that agency has met the performance standards established by the department under sub. (3), during the immediately preceding contract period.

49.143(1)(ac) (ac)

49.143(1)(ac)1. 1. Except for a county department under s. 46.21, 46.22, or 46.23 or a tribal governing body, a person who submits a bid in a competitive process under par. (a) 1. shall include with the proposal a filing fee of $50 and a statement of economic interests that discloses all of the following information:

49.143(1)(ac)1.a. a. The person’s assets and liabilities.

49.143(1)(ac)1.b. b. The sources of the person’s income.

49.143(1)(ac)1.c. c. All of the person’s other clients, as well as a description of the goods or services provided to those clients.

49.143(1)(ac)1.d. d. The identity of all of the person’s subsidiaries, affiliates, and parent companies, if any.

49.143(1)(ac)2. 2. Except for a county department under s. 46.21, 46.22, or 46.23 or a tribal governing body, a Wisconsin Works agency that enters into a succeeding contract with the department under par. (a) 2. shall, before executing the succeeding contract, submit to the department a filing fee of $50 and a statement of economic interests that discloses the information specified in subd. 1. a. to d.

49.143(1)(ac)3. 3. One year after entering into a contract under par. (a) 1. or 2., a Wisconsin Works agency that is not a county department under s. 46.21, 46.22, or 46.23 or a tribal governing body shall submit to the department a filing fee of $50 and an updated statement of economic interests that discloses the information specified in subd. 1. a. to d.

49.143(1)(ag) (ag) A contract entered into under par. (a) 2. shall be for a term of at least 2 years. A Wisconsin works agency may elect not to enter into a contract under par. (a) 2. if the Wisconsin works agency informs the department by the date established by the department that the Wisconsin works agency has made that election. A Wisconsin works agency that has not met the performance standards established by the department under sub. (3) may apply for a contract under the competitive process established under par. (a) 1.

49.143(1)(ar) (ar) If the department changes the geographical areas for which a Wisconsin works agency administers Wisconsin works as provided under sub. (6), the department shall award contracts on the basis of the competitive process established by the department under par. (a) 1. regardless of whether a Wisconsin works agency has met the performance standards established by the department under sub. (3) and is eligible to contract with the department under par. (a) 2.

49.143(1)(ay) (ay) A county or tribal governing body that enters into a contract under par. (a) but elects not to compete for a subsequent contract under par. (a) 1. shall provide the notice required under this paragraph at least 6 months prior to the expiration of its contract under par. (a). A county or tribal governing body that elects not to enter into a contract under par. (a) 2. or to compete for a contract under par. (ag) shall provide the notice required under this paragraph by the date established by the department, by rule, under par. (ag). The notice shall be provided to all employees of the county or tribal governing body who may be laid off as a result of the county’s or tribal governing body’s election not to enter into or compete for a contract and to the certified or recognized collective bargaining representatives of such employees, if any. The notice shall inform the employees and the representatives that the county or tribal governing body is making the election not to enter into or compete for a contract; that the employees may be laid off as a result of that election; that the employees may wish to consider forming a private agency to bid on the contract under par. (a) 1.; that the employees may obtain information from the department on the competitive process under par. (a) 1. and the contract requirements under this section; and that the employees may obtain information from the department on steps that the employees might take to organize themselves to form a private agency for the purposes of competing for a contract under par. (a) 1. The department shall provide the information specified in this paragraph upon the request of any employee or collective bargaining representative described in this paragraph.

49.143(1)(b) (b) If no acceptable provider in a geographical area is selected under par. (a), the department shall administer Wisconsin works in that geographical area.

49.143(2) (2) Contract requirements. Each contract under sub. (1) shall contain performance-based incentives established by the department. The contract shall require a Wisconsin works agency to do all of the following:

49.143(2)(a) (a) Establish at least one community steering committee within 60 days after the date on which the contract is signed. A Wisconsin Works agency must establish as many committees as necessary to allow the representation required under subd. 1m. on each committee without exceeding the maximum number of members under subd. 1m. All of the following apply to a community steering committee created under this paragraph:

49.143(2)(a)1m. 1m. The Wisconsin Works agency shall appoint the members of the committee within the following parameters:

49.143(2)(a)1m.a. a. The total number of members on the committee may not exceed 20.

49.143(2)(a)1m.b. b. Each county that the Wisconsin Works agency serves must be represented on a committee by a member who is a representative of a county department responsible for economic development, of a city department responsible for economic development for a city that is in that county, or of the business community in that county. The Wisconsin Works agency shall appoint at least one representative of business interests as a member of the committee.

49.143(2)(a)2m. 2m. The members of the committee shall appoint a chairperson who shall be a person who represents business interests.

49.143(2)(a)3m. 3m. The committee may foster and guide the entrepreneurial efforts of participants who are eligible for Wisconsin Works and provide mentors, both from its membership and from recruitment of members of the community, to provide job-related guidance, including assistance in resolving job-related issues and the provision of job leads or references, to persons who are eligible for Wisconsin Works.

49.143(2)(a)4m. 4m. The committee shall do all of the following:

49.143(2)(a)4m.a. a. Advise the Wisconsin works agency concerning employment and training activities.

49.143(2)(a)4m.b. b. Identify and encourage employers to provide permanent jobs for persons who are eligible for Wisconsin Works.

49.143(2)(a)4m.c. c. Create, and encourage others to create, subsidized jobs for persons who are eligible for Wisconsin Works.

49.143(2)(a)4m.d. d. Create, and encourage others to create, work experience opportunities, including supported work experience, for persons who are eligible for Wisconsin Works.

49.143(2)(a)4m.e. e. Coordinate with local workforce development boards established under 29 USC 2832 to ensure compatibility of purpose and no duplication of effort.

49.143(2)(c) (c) Employ at least one financial and employment planner. The financial and employment planner shall work with a participant to facilitate the participant’s achievement of the maximum degree of self-sufficiency. The department shall ensure that a financial and employment planner employed by a Wisconsin works agency meets certification and training requirements established by the department by rule and that appropriate training is provided by a Wisconsin works agency.

49.143(2)(cg) (cg) Employ staff, if necessary, to meet the needs of participants who are refugees and who have cultural or linguistic barriers to participation in Wisconsin works.

49.143(2)(cm) (cm) If a significant proportion of the population served by the Wisconsin works agency is comprised of a refugee group, employ staff that is proficient in the language of the refugee group to aid the financial and employment planner in locating appropriate employment opportunities that do not require English proficiency for participants who are members of that refugee group.

49.143(2)(cr) (cr) Provide, or contract with another person to provide, credit establishment and credit repair assistance to participants. Prior to providing, or contracting with another to provide, the assistance specified under this paragraph, the Wisconsin works agency shall submit a proposed plan for the provision of that assistance to the department.

49.143(2)(d) (d) If the Wisconsin works agency is not a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 or tribal governing body, cooperate with the county department or tribal governing body to ensure that services delivered under Wisconsin works, the food stamp program and medical assistance are coordinated with the county or tribal governing body in a manner that most effectively serves the recipients of those services.

49.143(2)(em) (em) Determine eligibility for and administer child care assistance under s. 49.155, if the department contracts with the Wisconsin Works agency to do so.

49.143(2)(es) (es) Provide to every individual who requests assistance from the Wisconsin works agency a single-page description of all of the benefits and services that may be provided to any individual by the Wisconsin works agency. The department shall develop the description and distribute it to all Wisconsin works agencies. The department shall update the description as frequently as necessary to reflect all benefits and services that may be offered by Wisconsin works agencies.

49.143(2)(f) (f) Perform any other tasks specified by the department in the contract that the department determines are necessary for the administration of Wisconsin works.

49.143(2)(g) (g) If the Wisconsin Works agency is not a county department under s. 46.21, 46.22, or 46.23 or a tribal governing body, provide to the department, one year after the date on which the contract under sub. (1) was signed, a filing fee of $50 and an updated statement of economic interests that discloses the information specified in sub. (1) (ac) 1. a. to d.

49.143(2m) (2m) Nutrition outreach. A Wisconsin works agency may establish a nutrition outreach program with the community steering committee established under sub. (2) (a). The Wisconsin works agency and community steering committee may coordinate with local food pantries and food banks and other interested parties to increase the supply of food available. Under the outreach program, the Wisconsin works agency may do anything that it determines would best effect the desired outcome of the program, including any of the following:

49.143(2m)(a) (a) Establish a local drop-off point for donated food.

49.143(2m)(b) (b) Establish a hotline for information about the availability of food and the types of food to donate.

49.143(2m)(c) (c) Coordinate with volunteer organizations for food collection activities.

49.143(2m)(d) (d) Seek ongoing periodic commitments of donations from individuals, businesses, religious associations and civic groups.

49.143(2m)(e) (e) Recruit mentor families.

49.143(2m)(f) (f) Establish a subcommittee of the community steering committee that includes qualified aliens and that may do any of the following:

49.143(2m)(f)1. 1. Develop flyers identifying culture-specific foods and preferred packaging of donated food.