AB68-SSA1,60,1917
(c) “Household" means any individual or group of individuals who are living
18together as one economic unit for whom residential water is customarily purchased
19in common or who make undesignated payments for water in the form of rent.
AB68-SSA1,60,2220
(d) “Utility allowance" means the amount of utility costs paid by those
21individuals in subsidized housing who pay their own utility bills, as averaged from
22total utility costs for the housing unit by the housing authority.
AB68-SSA1,60,2423
(e) “Water utility assistance" means a benefit that is given to a household to
24assist in meeting the cost of water utility.
AB68-SSA1,61,3
1(2) Administration. (a) The department shall administer a water utility
2assistance program for low-income households to assist eligible households to meet
3home water utility costs and shall establish a payments schedule for the program.
AB68-SSA1,61,74
(b) The department may contract with a county department, another local
5governmental agency, or a private nonprofit organization to process applications and
6make payments under the water utility assistance program for low-income
7households.
AB68-SSA1,61,12
8(3) Application procedure. (a) A household may apply for water utility
9assistance from a county department, another local governmental agency, or a
10private nonprofit organization with which the department contracts under the water
11utility assistance program for low-income households. A household shall apply on
12a form prescribed by the department.
AB68-SSA1,61,1713
(b) If by February 1 of any year the number of households applying for
14assistance under par. (a) substantially exceeds the number anticipated to apply, the
15department may reduce the assistance payments under sub. (5) made after that date.
16The department may also suspend the processing of additional applications until the
17department adjusts assistance amounts payable.
AB68-SSA1,61,19
18(4) Eligibility. Subject to sub. (3) (b), the following households are eligible to
19receive water utility assistance under this section:
AB68-SSA1,61,2120
(a) A household with income that is not more than 60 percent of the statewide
21median household income.
AB68-SSA1,61,2422(b) A household entirely composed of persons receiving food stamps under
7
23USC 2011 to
2036 or supplemental security income or state supplemental payments
24under
42 USC 1381 to
1383c or s. 49.77.
AB68-SSA1,62,4
1(c) A household with income within the limits specified under par. (b) that
2resides in housing that is subsidized or administered by a municipality, a county, the
3state, or the federal government for which a utility allowance is applied to determine
4the amount of rent or the amount of the subsidy.
AB68-SSA1,62,7
5(5) Assistance payments. Subject to moneys appropriated under s. 20.505 (7)
6(e) and any payment reduction under sub. (3) (b), water utility assistance shall be
7paid according to the payment schedule established under sub. (2) (a).
AB68-SSA1,62,12
8(6) Individuals in state prisons or secured juvenile facilities. No assistance
9payment under sub. (5) may be made to an individual who is imprisoned in a state
10prison under s. 302.01 or to an individual placed at a juvenile correctional facility,
11as defined in s. 938.02 (10p), or a secured residential care center for children and
12youth, as defined in s. 938.02 (15g).
AB68-SSA1,62,19
13(7) Crisis assistance program. A household eligible for water utility assistance
14under sub. (5) may also be eligible for a crisis assistance payment. The department
15shall define the circumstances constituting a crisis for which an assistance payment
16may be made and shall establish the amount of payment to an eligible household.
17The department may delegate a portion of its responsibility under this subsection to
18a county department, another local governmental agency, or a private nonprofit
19organization.
AB68-SSA1,115
20Section
115. 16.295 (5) (b) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
AB68-SSA1,62,2221
16.295
(5) (b) 4. Unless otherwise directed by the department, the gross
22proceeds from all investments of the moneys designated in subd. 1.
AB68-SSA1,116
23Section
116. 16.295 (6) of the statutes is repealed.
AB68-SSA1,117
24Section
117. 16.3065 of the statutes is created to read:
AB68-SSA1,63,2
116.3065 Affordable workforce housing grants. (1) Definition. In this
2section, “municipality” means a city, village, or town.
AB68-SSA1,63,7
3(2) Grants. From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (7) (fq), the department
4shall award grants to municipalities for the purpose of increasing the availability of
5affordable workforce housing within the municipality. The department may
6establish eligibility requirements and other program guidelines for the grant
7program under this subsection.
AB68-SSA1,118
8Section 118
. 16.3077 of the statutes is created to read:
AB68-SSA1,63,11
916.3077 Housing quality standards grants. From the appropriation under
10s. 20.505 (7) (bp), the department shall award grants to owners of rental housing
11units in this state for purposes of satisfying applicable housing quality standards.
AB68-SSA1,119
12Section 119
. 16.3078 of the statutes is created to read:
AB68-SSA1,63,17
1316.3078 Rental assistance grants for homeless veterans. From the
14appropriation under s. 20.505 (7) (bq), the department shall award grants to each
15continuum of care organization in this state designated by the federal department
16of housing and urban development. All grant funds shall be used to provide
17tenant-based rental assistance to homeless veterans in this state.
AB68-SSA1,120
18Section
120. 16.3085 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB68-SSA1,63,2119
16.3085
(2) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (7) (kg), the department
20may award
up to 10 annual grants
, of up to
$50,000 $75,000 each
, annually to any
21shelter facility.
AB68-SSA1,122
23Section
122. 16.40 (24) of the statutes is created to read:
AB68-SSA1,64,524
16.40
(24) Worker misclassification outreach. Direct all departments to
25provide targeted educational outreach regarding worker misclassification in
1English, Spanish, and other languages spoken by a significant number of individuals
2in this state, to employers, workers, and organizations that serve vulnerable
3populations, including individuals with limited English proficiency. The outreach
4shall emphasize the appropriate departments to contact and the rights of individuals
5to remain anonymous when reporting worker misclassification.