AB68-SSA1,1624,25 (9) Positions for partnership program for Lake Superior Research Institute. The authorized FTE positions for the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, funded from the appropriation under s. 20.285 (1) (bm), are increased by 5.0 GPR positions for the partnership program for the Lake Superior Research Institute under s. 36.25 (40).

AB68-SSA1,9148 Section 9148. Nonstatutory provisions; Veterans Affairs.

AB68-SSA1,9149 Section 9149. Nonstatutory provisions; Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

AB68-SSA1,1625,8 (1) Cooperative feasibility studies. From the appropriation under s. 20.192 (1) (a), the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation shall, during each year of the 2021-23 fiscal biennium, award up to $200,000 in grants for cooperative feasibility studies. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation shall consult with the Cooperative Network when making awards under this subsection.

AB68-SSA1,1625,15 (2) Regional economic development funding. In the 2021-22 fiscal year, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation shall expend up to $8,000,000 from the appropriation under s. 20.192 (1) (a) to provide funding to organizations focused on local or regional economic development in this state for the purpose of assisting businesses and nonprofit organizations in this state in their recovery from the COVID-19 global pandemic. The moneys appropriated under this subsection are not subject to the limitations specified in s. 20.192 (1) (a).

AB68-SSA1,1625,16 (3) Purchase of the Verso Paper Mill in Wisconsin Rapids.

AB68-SSA1,1625,23 (a) No later than the first day of the 25th month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph, from the appropriation under s. 20.192 (1) (c), the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation may award a loan of up to $50,000,000 to the Consolidated Cooperative for the purchase of the Verso Paper Mill, located at 600 4th Avenue North in the city of Wisconsin Rapids. The loan shall be for the term and upon the conditions as may be agreed upon between the corporation and the cooperative.

AB68-SSA1,1626,3 (b) Before awarding the loan under par. (a), the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation shall determine that substantial additional funding for the purchase of the Verso Paper Mill has been secured from both nonstate revenue sources and in the form of a loan issued by the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands to an entity eligible for the loan.

AB68-SSA1,1626,4 (4) Purchase of the Park Falls Pulp and Paper Mill in Park Falls.

AB68-SSA1,1626,11 (a) No later than the first day of the 25th month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph, from the appropriation under s. 20.192 (1) (c), the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation may award a loan of up to $15,000,000 to the Park Falls Mill Multi-Stakeholder Cooperative for the purchase of the Park Falls Pulp and Paper Mill, located at 200 1st Avenue North in the city of Park Falls. The loan shall be for the term and upon the conditions as may be agreed upon between the corporation and the cooperative.

AB68-SSA1,1626,16 (b) Before awarding the loan under par. (a), the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation shall determine that substantial additional funding for the purchase of the Park Falls Pulp and Paper Mill has been secured from both nonstate revenue sources and in the form of a loan issued by the board of commissioners of public lands to an entity eligible for the loan.

AB68-SSA1,9150 Section 9150. Nonstatutory provisions; Workforce Development.

AB68-SSA1,1626,18 (1) Minimum wage study committee.

AB68-SSA1,1626,20 (a) The secretary of workforce development shall establish a minimum wage study committee under s. 15.04 (1) (c). The committee shall consist of the following:

AB68-SSA1,1626,21 1. Five members appointed by the governor.

AB68-SSA1,1626,22 2. One member appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

AB68-SSA1,1626,23 3. One member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.

AB68-SSA1,1626,24 4. One member appointed by the majority leader of the senate.

AB68-SSA1,1626,25 5. One member appointed by the minority leader of the senate.

AB68-SSA1,1627,3 (b) The committee created under par. (a) shall study options to achieve a $15 per hour minimum wage and other options to increase compensation for workers in this state.

AB68-SSA1,1627,8 (c) No later than October 1, 2022, the committee created under par. (a) shall submit to the governor and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided under s. 13.172 (3) a report that includes recommendations regarding the options for achieving a $15 per hour minimum wage and other means of increasing worker compensation in this state.

AB68-SSA1,1627,10 (d) The minimum wage study committee terminates upon submission of the report under par. (c).

AB68-SSA1,1627,14 (2) Unemployment insurance; electronic interchange. The department of workforce development shall submit a notice to the legislative reference bureau for publication in the Wisconsin administrative register indicating the date upon which the department is able to implement the treatment of s. 108.14 (2e).

AB68-SSA1,1627,24 (3) Substance abuse prevention on public works and public utility projects. Using the procedure under s. 227.24, the department of workforce development may promulgate rules required under s. 103.503 (6) (b). Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until May 1, 2023, or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB68-SSA1,1628,14 (4) Emergency rule-making authority; family and medical leave. The department of workforce development may use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate rules to implement s. 103.10 (3) (b) 4. and to revise ch. DWD 225 of the administrative code as needed to implement the changes made by this act's treatment of s. 103.10 (1) (a) (intro.), 1., 2., and 3., (ao), (ap), (b), (c), (dg), (dr), (dt), (em), and (gm), (2) (c), (3) (a) 1. and 2m. and (b) 3., 4., 4m., 5., and 6., (4) (a), (6) (b) and (c), (7) (a), (b) (intro.), 1., 2., and 3., (d), (e), and (f), (10), (12) (b) and (c), and (14) (a) and (b). Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until July 1, 2022, or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB68-SSA1,1628,15 (5) Position transfer to the department of administration.

AB68-SSA1,1628,19 (a) Employee transfer. On the effective date of this paragraph, 0.6 FTE position classified as staff development program specialist—senior in the department of workforce development and the incumbent employee holding that position are transferred to the department of administration.

AB68-SSA1,1628,24 (b) Employee status. An employee transferred under par. (a ) has all the rights and the same status under ch. 230 in the department of administration that the employee enjoyed in the department of workforce development before the transfer. Notwithstanding s. 230.28 (4), no employee transferred under par. (a) who has attained permanent status in class is required to serve a probationary period.

AB68-SSA1,9151 Section 9151. Nonstatutory provisions; Other.