AB68,248,8 b. One or more individuals with a disability or one or more duly authorized representatives of one or more individuals with a disability control the management and daily business operations of the business, financial adviser, or investment firm.

AB68,248,10 c. The business, financial adviser, or investment firm has its principal place of business in this state.

AB68,248,14 d. The business, financial adviser, or investment firm is currently performing a useful business function. Acting as a conduit for the transfer of funds to a business that is not certified under this section does not constitute a useful business function, unless doing so is a normal industry practice.

AB68,248,23 2. The department may, without conducting an investigation, certify a business, financial adviser, or investment firm having its principal place of business in this state and currently performing a useful business function if the business, financial adviser, or investment firm is certified, or otherwise classified, as disability-owned business, financial adviser, or investment firm by an agency or municipality of this or another state, a federally recognized American Indian tribe, or the federal government, or by a private business with expertise in certifying disability-owned businesses if the business uses substantially the same procedures the department uses in making a determination under subd. 1.

AB68,249,6 (c) If a business, financial adviser, or investment firm applying for certification under this section fails to provide the department with sufficient information to enable the department to conduct an investigation under par. (b) 1. or does not qualify for certification under par. (b), the department shall deny the application. A business, financial adviser, or investment firm whose application is denied may, within 30 days after the date of the denial, appeal in writing to the secretary. The secretary shall enter his or her final decision within 30 days after receiving the appeal.

AB68,249,11 (d) 1. The department may, at the request of any state agency or on its own initiative, evaluate any business, financial adviser, or investment firm certified under this section to verify that it continues to qualify for certification. The business, financial adviser, or investment firm shall provide the department with any records or information necessary to complete the examination.

AB68,249,16 2. If a business, financial adviser, or investment firm fails to comply with a reasonable request for records or information, the department shall notify the business, financial adviser, or investment firm and the department of transportation, in writing, that it intends to decertify the business, financial adviser, or investment firm.

AB68,249,21 3. If, after an evaluation under this paragraph, the department determines that a business, financial adviser, or investment firm no longer qualifies for certification under this section, the department shall notify the business, financial adviser, or investment firm and the department of transportation, in writing, that it intends to decertify the business, financial adviser, or investment firm.

AB68,249,24 (e) 1. A business, financial adviser, or investment firm receiving a notice under par. (d) 2. or 3. may appeal in writing to the secretary within 30 days after the date of the notice.

AB68,250,3 2. If the business, financial adviser, or investment firm does not submit an appeal under subd. 1., the department shall immediately decertify the business, financial adviser, or investment firm.

AB68,250,8 3. If the business, financial adviser, or investment firm submits an appeal under subd. 1., the secretary shall enter his or her final decision, in writing, within 30 days after receiving the appeal. If the secretary confirms the decision of the department, the department shall immediately decertify the business, financial adviser, or investment firm.

AB68,250,17 4. A business, financial adviser, or investment firm decertified under subd. 3. may, within 30 days after the secretary's decision, request a contested case hearing under s. 227.42 from the department. If the final administrative or judicial proceeding results in a determination that the business, financial adviser, or investment firm qualifies for certification under this section, the department shall immediately certify the business, financial adviser, or investment firm. The department shall provide the business, financial adviser, or investment firm and the department of transportation with a copy of the final written decision regarding certification under this paragraph.

AB68,250,19 (4) Department rule making. The department shall promulgate by administrative rule procedures to implement this section.

AB68,111 Section 111. 16.29 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,250,21 16.29 (title) Technical assistance ; tourism marketing.

AB68,112 Section 112. 16.29 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,250,25 16.29 (4) Annually, the department shall grant to the Great Lakes inter-tribal council the amount appropriated under s. 20.505 (1) (kv) to fund a program to promote tourism featuring American Indian heritage and culture.

AB68,113 Section 113. 16.293 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,251,3 16.293 Water utility assistance for low-income households. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB68,251,4 (a) “County department" means a county department under s. 46.215 or 46.22.

AB68,251,6 (b) “Crisis assistance" means a benefit that is given to a household experiencing or at risk of experiencing a water utility–related emergency.

AB68,251,9 (c) “Household" means any individual or group of individuals who are living together as one economic unit for whom residential water is customarily purchased in common or who make undesignated payments for water in the form of rent.

AB68,251,12 (d) “Utility allowance" means the amount of utility costs paid by those individuals in subsidized housing who pay their own utility bills, as averaged from total utility costs for the housing unit by the housing authority.

AB68,251,14 (e) “Water utility assistance" means a benefit that is given to a household to assist in meeting the cost of water utility.

AB68,251,17 (2) Administration. (a) The department shall administer a water utility assistance program for low-income households to assist eligible households to meet home water utility costs and shall establish a payments schedule for the program.

AB68,251,21 (b) The department may contract with a county department, another local governmental agency, or a private nonprofit organization to process applications and make payments under the water utility assistance program for low-income households.

AB68,252,2 (3) Application procedure. (a) A household may apply for water utility assistance from a county department, another local governmental agency, or a private nonprofit organization with which the department contracts under the water utility assistance program for low-income households. A household shall apply on a form prescribed by the department.

AB68,252,7 (b) If by February 1 of any year the number of households applying for assistance under par. (a) substantially exceeds the number anticipated to apply, the department may reduce the assistance payments under sub. (5) made after that date. The department may also suspend the processing of additional applications until the department adjusts assistance amounts payable.

AB68,252,9 (4) Eligibility. Subject to sub. (3) (b), the following households are eligible to receive water utility assistance under this section: