The bill allows WEDC and DOR to enter into an agreement under which WEDC
may obtain copies of tax returns and related documents from DOR. The bill also
authorizes WEDC to examine tax returns and related documents held by DOR to the
extent necessary to administer WEDC's economic development programs. Under
current law, WEDC's examination authority is limited to the development zone
program.
Modifications to WEDC reporting requirements
The bill modifies WEDC's reporting requirements to the legislature. First, the
bill alters the requirement that WEDC, prior to the beginning of each calendar year,
report to the legislature on the economic development projects it intends to develop
and implement during the year. Under the bill, the reporting period is the fiscal year,
not the calendar year. Second, the bill repeals the requirement that WEDC report
to the legislature on the economic development tax credit program. This program
ended in 2015, and tax year 2019 is the final year for which taxpayers may claim the
credit under contracts with WEDC.
Increase to WEDC GPR appropriation
The bill increases from $16,512,500 per fiscal year under current law to
$25,012,500 in the 2021-22 fiscal year and $20,012,500 in the 2022-23 fiscal year
the amount WEDC may expend from its GPR appropriation for its economic
development programs.
Changes to WEDC's appropriation from the economic development fund
Current law appropriates moneys to WEDC from the economic development
fund for WEDC's operations and to fund its economic development programs. An
economic development surcharge administered by DOR funds the economic
development fund. Currently, the total amount WEDC may expend from the
economic development fund is limited to surcharge amounts deposited into the fund
by DOR and is limited by the amount of moneys appropriated from the fund to DOR
for purposes of administering the economic development surcharge.
Under the bill, WEDC may expend all moneys from the economic development
fund not expended by DOR for purposes of administering the economic development
surcharge. Those moneys include interest and earnings of the fund and
unencumbered amounts lapsed to the fund at the end of each fiscal year from DOR's
annual appropriation for administration of the economic development surcharge.
Tourism
American Indian tourism marketing
The bill requires DOA to award an annual grant to the Great Lakes
Inter-Tribal Council to provide funding for a program to promote tourism featuring
American Indian heritage and culture. The bill also transfers from the Department
of Tourism to DOA a contract between the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council and the
Department of Tourism that relates to the promotion of tourism featuring American
Indian heritage and culture.
Mass burial monument at UW–Stevens Point
The bill appropriates $100,000 to the Arts Board to provide a grant to a Native
American artist through the Wisconsin Woodland Indian Art Initiative for the
design, production, and installation on the UW–Stevens Point campus of a
permanent marker in recognition of the Native Americans who died due to a scarlet
fever epidemic.
New PR-S appropriation
The bill creates a new appropriation for the Department of Tourism to expend
moneys the department receives from other state agencies for the purposes for which
those moneys are received.
correctional system
Adult correctional system
Extended supervision
Under current law, when a person is sentenced to prison, the person is given a
bifurcated sentence, with the first portion of the sentence served in confinement in
prison and the second portion of the sentence served in the community on extended
supervision. DOC may not discharge a person from extended supervision until the
entire term of the bifurcated sentence is completed. Under certain circumstances,
the sentencing court may reduce the confinement portion of the bifurcated sentence,
but current law does not allow the sentencing court to reduce the period of extended
supervision. The bill allows the sentencing court to reduce the term of a person's
extended supervision if all of the following apply:
1. The person has served the lesser of three years or 50 percent of the term of
extended supervision without violating the conditions and rules of supervision.
2. The person has met all of his or her financial obligations to the victim of the
crime.
3. The person is not required to register as a sex offender and is serving a
sentence for a crime that is not a crime against life or bodily security or a specified
crime against a child.
Earned compliance credit
The bill creates an earned compliance credit for time spent on extended
supervision or parole. Under current law, a person's extended supervision or parole
may be revoked if he or she violates a condition of the extended supervision or parole.
If extended supervision or parole is revoked, the person is returned to prison for an
amount of time up to the length of the original sentence, less any time actually served
in confinement and less any credit for good behavior. Under current law, when
extended supervision or parole is revoked, the time spent on extended supervision
or parole is not credited as time served under the sentence.
Under the bill, an eligible inmate receives an earned compliance credit for time
served on extended supervision or parole. The earned compliance credit equals the
amount of time served on extended supervision or parole without violating any
conditions or rules of extended supervision or parole. Under the bill, a person is
eligible to receive the earned compliance credit only if the person is not required to
register as a sex offender and is serving a sentence for a crime that is not a specified
violent crime or a specified crime against a child. Under the bill, if a person's
extended supervision or parole is revoked, he or she may be incarcerated for up to
the length of the original sentence, less any credit for time served in confinement, any
credit for good behavior, and any earned compliance credit.
Revocation of probation, parole, or extended supervision
Under current law, if a person violates a condition or rule of probation, parole,
or extended supervision, the Division of Hearings and Appeals (DHA) in DOA, or
DOC if a hearing is waived, may revoke that person's probation, parole, or extended
supervision and return the person to confinement. Under the bill, a person's
probation, parole, or extended supervision may not be revoked for a rule violation
unless one of the following conditions is met:
1. The person committed three or more independent rule violations during his
or her term of probation, parole, or extended supervision.
2. The person violated a condition prohibiting contact with a specified
individual.