Chapter 85

85.24(2)(b) (b) “Ride sharing” means the use of a single motor vehicle by 2 or more persons for the purpose of commuting to and from their places of employment or attendance at postsecondary institutions, and includes commuting by means of a car pool or a van pool.

85.24(2)(br) (br) “Transportation employment and mobility” means policies and programs that encompass demand management, ride sharing, and job access and employment transportation assistance.

85.24(3) (3) Administration.

85.24(3)(a) (a) The department of transportation shall be the lead state agency in demand management and ride-sharing activities and shall collaborate with the department of workforce development in job access and employment transportation assistance programs. The department of transportation shall have all powers necessary to develop and implement a state transportation employment and mobility program that includes the coordination of demand management, ride-sharing, and job access and employment transportation assistance activities in this state; the promotion and marketing of demand management, ride-sharing, and job access and employment transportation assistance activities; the dissemination of technical information; the provision of technical and financial assistance to public and private organizations for the planning, development, and implementation of demand management, ride-sharing, and job access and employment transportation assistance programs; and the development and distribution of computer and manual ride-matching systems.

85.24(3)(b) (b) The department may apply for and receive federal grants on its own behalf or as requested on behalf of other private and public organizations.

85.24(3)(c) (c) The department may administer a program for the distribution of any federal funds for ride sharing, demand management, and job access and employment transportation assistance that are made available to the state.

85.24(3)(d) (d) The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (1) (bs) to public and private organizations for the development and implementation of demand management, ride-sharing, and job access and employment transportation assistance programs. As a condition of obtaining a grant under this paragraph, a public or private organization may be required to provide matching funds at any percentage. For demand management and ride-sharing purposes, the department shall give priority in the awarding of grants to those programs that provide the greatest reduction in automobile trips, especially during peak hours of traffic congestion. The department shall have all powers necessary and convenient to implement this paragraph, including the following powers:

85.24(3)(d)1. 1. To promulgate, by rule, procedures and criteria for the review and award of grants under this paragraph.

85.24(3)(d)2. 2. To receive and review applications for grants and to prescribe the form, nature and extent of the information which shall be contained in applications.

85.24(3)(d)3. 3. To audit and inspect the records of grant recipients.

85.24(3)(d)4. 4. To require reports from grant recipients as needed.

85.24(4) (4) Confidentiality of information.

85.24(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a record containing any of the following information collected under this section relating to any applicant for ride-sharing services shall be kept confidential and may not be inspected or copied under s. 19.35 (1):

85.24(4)(a)1. 1. Residential address and phone number.

85.24(4)(a)2. 2. The time of beginning and ending work.

85.24(4)(a)3. 3. Current mode of commuting between home and workplace.

85.24(4)(a)4. 4. Type of ride-sharing service information requested.

85.24(4)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) does not prohibit the disclosure of the information to the extent necessary to administer the ride-sharing program nor, if requested under s. 49.22 (2m), does it prohibit disclosure of the name or address of a person or of his or her employer to the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5).

85.24(4)(c) (c) Any person who willfully discloses or who, under false pretenses, willfully requests or obtains information in violation of par. (a) may be required to forfeit not more than $500 for each violation. This paragraph does not apply to information disclosed, requested or obtained to the extent necessary to administer the ride-sharing program or, if requested under s. 49.22 (2m), to the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5).

85.24 History History: 1981 c. 20; 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 423; 1997 a. 191; 2001 a. 16; 2007 a. 20.

85.24 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 5, Wis. adm. code.

85.245 85.245 Congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program.

85.245(1) (1) The department may administer a program for the distribution of federal funds for congestion mitigation and air quality improvement projects made available to the state under 23 USC 149. The cost of any project shall be funded from the appropriations under s. 20.395 (2) (kv) and (kx).

85.245(2) (2) The department shall pay to the department of natural resources $624,000 in fiscal year 1993-94 and $552,000 in fiscal year 1994-95 from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (2) (kx) for air quality improvement related to mobile sources of air contaminants.

85.245 History History: 1993 a. 16.

85.25 85.25 Disadvantaged business mobilization assistance program.

85.25(1) (1) Findings and purpose. The legislature finds that the lack of working capital is a major barrier to the participation of certain businesses in construction contracts with the department. This problem is most acute for newer, less experienced businesses, and, in particular, for disadvantaged businesses, many of which lack the assets necessary to obtain financing under normal business lending standards. The disadvantaged business mobilization assistance program is created to assist disadvantaged businesses in obtaining working capital in order to participate in construction contracts with the department and to increase the representation of disadvantaged businesses among contractors performing on construction projects for the department.

85.25(2) (2) Definitions. In this section:

85.25(2)(a) (a) “Business development organization” means the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority under s. 234.02 or any private organization that prepares business and loan plans for and provides other financial, management, and technical assistance to disadvantaged businesses.

85.25(2)(b) (b) “Deficiency” means the unpaid principal amount of a defaulted mobilization loan guaranteed under sub. (4). “Deficiency” does not include any interest, any origination fees or other charges relating to the guaranteed loan or any expenses incurred by the lender in enforcing the security interest taken in the capital equipment or other asset resulting from the proceeds of the guaranteed loan.

85.25(2)(c) (c) “Disadvantaged business” means any of the following:

85.25(2)(c)1m. 1m. A sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or corporation that fulfills all of the following requirements:

85.25(2)(c)1m.a. a. It is at least 51 percent owned, controlled and actively managed by a disadvantaged individual, as defined in s. 84.076 (1) (a).

85.25(2)(c)1m.b. b. It is currently performing a useful business function as defined in s. 16.287 (1) (h).

85.25(2)(c)2m. 2m. A disabled veteran-owned business, as defined in s. 84.075 (1c) (a).

85.25(2)(d) (d) “Guaranteed loan” means a mobilization loan which is guaranteed by a business development organization under a grant under sub. (3).

85.25(2)(e) (e) “Mobilization loan” means a short-term loan, as specified by the department by rule, to a disadvantaged business to provide working capital in order to finance the purchase of capital equipment, insurance or any other service or consumable good necessary to enable the disadvantaged business to participate in transportation-related construction contracts with the department.

85.25(2)(f) (f) “Participating lender” means a bank, credit union, savings bank, savings and loan association or other person who makes mobilization loans.

85.25(3) (3) Administration. The department shall administer the disadvantaged business mobilization assistance program. Subject to sub. (4), the department may make grants for the purpose specified in sub. (1) to a business development organization in order to provide funding for the guarantee by the business development organization of a mobilization loan made by a participating lender to a disadvantaged business certified by the department.

85.25(4) (4) Rule making. The department shall promulgate rules to implement the disadvantaged business mobilization assistance program. The rules shall specify all of the following:

85.25(4)(a) (a) Conditions for eligibility of a business development organization for a grant under sub. (3).

85.25(4)(b) (b) Conditions for eligibility of a disadvantaged business for a guaranteed loan. The conditions may include requirements relating to certification of a disadvantaged business by the department.

85.25(4)(c) (c) Conditions for the guarantee of a mobilization loan by a business development organization applying for a grant under sub. (3). The conditions shall include requirements relating to the term of a mobilization loan. The conditions may include a requirement for execution of a guarantee agreement between the business development organization and the participating lender and review of such an agreement by the department. The conditions may specify a percentage of principal of any mobilization loan which must be guaranteed by a business development organization applying for a grant under sub. (3). The conditions may include requirements relating to the rate of a mobilization loan. The conditions may include requirements relating to defaulted mobilization loans and deficiencies.

85.25(4)(d) (d) Conditions relating to the total principal amounts of all mobilization loans which may be guaranteed by business development organizations at one time, not to exceed $1,500,000.

85.25(4)(e) (e) Conditions under which a business development organization may not guarantee additional mobilization loans. The conditions shall include a prohibition on the guarantee of additional mobilization loans by a business development organization if the amount of the grant to the business development organization not yet expended under the disadvantaged business mobilization assistance program is equal to or less than $100,000.

85.25(4)(f) (f) Conditions under which a grant made under sub. (3) to a business development organization may be required to be repaid.

85.25(5) (5) Moral obligation. Recognizing its moral obligation to do so, the legislature expresses its expectation and aspiration that, if ever called upon to do so, it shall make an appropriation from the transportation fund to meet all demands for funds relating to defaulted mobilization loans and deficiencies under this section.

85.25 History History: 1987 a. 399; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 221; 1993 a. 112; 2001 a. 104; 2009 a. 299; 2011 a. 32.

85.25 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 404, Wis. adm. code.

85.26 85.26 Intercity bus assistance program.

85.26(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

85.26(1)(a) (a) “Intercity bus service” means regularly scheduled bus service for the general public that operates with limited stops over fixed routes connecting 2 or more urban areas not in close proximity, that has the capacity for transporting baggage carried by passengers, and that makes meaningful connections with scheduled intercity bus service to more distant points if service to more distant points is available.

85.26(1)(b) (b) “Net operating loss” means the portion of the reasonable costs of operating an intercity bus service route that cannot reasonably be financed from revenues derived from the route.

85.26(1)(c) (c) “Political subdivision” means a city, village, town, or county.

85.26(2) (2) Administration.

85.26(2)(a) (a) The department shall develop and administer an intercity bus assistance program to increase the availability of intercity bus service in this state. Under this program, the department may do any of the following:

85.26(2)(a)1. 1. Contract with private providers of intercity bus service to support intercity bus service routes of the provider.

85.26(2)(a)2. 2. Make grants to political subdivisions to support intercity bus service routes having an origin or destination in the political subdivision.

85.26(2)(b) (b) All expenditures under the program shall be made from the appropriations under s. 20.395 (1) (bq), (bv), and (bx). The department may not enter into any contract under par. (a) 1., or award any grant under par. (a) 2., that provides funds to support any intercity bus service route in an amount exceeding the lesser of the following:

85.26(2)(b)1. 1. Fifty percent of the net operating loss of the intercity bus service route.

85.26(2)(b)2. 2. The portion of the net operating loss of the intercity bus service route for which federal funds are not available.

85.26(2)(c) (c)

85.26(2)(c)1. 1. The department shall prescribe the form, nature, and extent of the information which shall be contained in an application for a grant under par. (a) 2.

85.26(2)(c)2. 2. The department shall establish criteria for evaluating applications for grants under par. (a) 2.

85.26 History History: 2009 a. 28.

85.27 85.27 Driver education grant program.

85.27(1) (1) The department shall establish and administer a driver education grant program. Under the program, from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (5) (eq), the department may provide grants to a provider of a course in driver education that satisfies all of the following:

85.27(1)(a) (a) The provider is any of the following:

85.27(1)(a)1. 1. A public school providing a course in driver education approved by the department of public instruction or department of transportation.

85.27(1)(a)2. 2. A technical college providing a course in driver education approved by the technical college system board.

85.27(1)(a)3. 3. A nonpublic or private school or tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), providing a course in driver education that meets the minimum standards set by the department of public instruction.

85.27(1)(a)4. 4. A school licensed by the department under s. 343.61.

85.27(1)(b) (b) The provider provides classroom or behind-the-wheel driver instruction or both.

85.27(2) (2) 

85.27(2)(a) (a) The department may provide a grant under sub. (1) solely for the purpose of funding a course in driver education for a specified individual who satisfies the income eligibility criteria for a free or reduced-price lunch in the federal school lunch program under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1).

85.27(2)(b) (b) The department may provide a grant under sub. (1) solely for courses in driver education that are designed to result in an individual obtaining an initial operator’s license authorizing the operation of only “Class D” vehicles.

85.27(3) (3) The amount of a grant under sub. (1) may not exceed the cost that would have been incurred by the individual under sub. (2) (a) in taking the course in driver education.

85.27(4) (4) The department may promulgate rules necessary to implement this section.

85.27 History History: 2023 a. 86.

85.28 85.28 Driver license reinstatement training program. The department shall administer a driver license reinstatement training program. From the appropriation under s. 20.395 (5) (cq), the department may contract with public or private entities for programs that provide persons whose driver’s license has been revoked or suspended under the laws of this state with training and assistance in meeting the requirements of ch. 343 for license reinstatement.

85.28 History History: 1993 a. 16.

85.30 85.30 Motorcycle, moped and motor bicycle safety program. The department shall develop and administer a motorcycle, moped and motor bicycle safety program. The program shall include operational skills training, safety education and public awareness and such other elements as the department deems desirable. The safety education program for motorcycles shall include instruction as to the proper eye protection to be worn during hours of darkness. The department may make grants under this program for establishment of courses which further the aims of this program. The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.

85.30 History History: 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 243, 534, 538; 1985 a. 65, 135; 2019 a. 50.

85.31 85.31 Information for tax bills. By October 1, the department shall provide to the department of revenue the information about the aids paid under s. 86.30 to each municipality and county that will enable the department of revenue to furnish to taxation districts the information required under s. 73.03 (31).

85.31 History History: 1985 a. 12.

85.32 85.32 Statewide trauma care system transfer. Beginning July 1, 2000, and annually thereafter, the secretary shall transfer $80,000 from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (5) (dq) to the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (kx) for the purposes of the statewide trauma care system under s. 256.25.

85.32 History History: 1999 a. 9; 2007 a. 130.

85.35 85.35 Motor carrier projects program. The department may administer a program for the study of motor carrier operations and may participate in projects, including pilot projects in cooperation with other jurisdictions, for the evaluation of programs affecting motor carriers.

85.35 History History: 1987 a. 27.