The bill allows local governments, tribal governments, nonprofit corporations, and executive branch agencies to sponsor projects. The manager is required to administer the grant program, including reviewing applications, approving projects, and negotiating agreements with sponsors to provide work crews to complete eligible projects, and to submit an annual report to DOA regarding each project. The board may provide grants for projects approved by the manager. Under the bill, the cumulative amount of administrative costs in connection with a grant may not exceed 10 percent of the amount of the grant.

The bill provides a preference for work crew members on a WCC project to be at least 16 and not more than 30 years old and a requirement that at least 50 percent of the work crew members on each project be from underserved populations in this state, as determined by the manager. The bill also provides that workers on projects must be paid at least $15 per hour worked and receive a housing stipend and health insurance coverage.

The bill requires each sponsor of a WCC project to erect a permanent plaque at each work site that is on property owned by the federal government, the state, a local government, a tribal government, or a nonprofit entity identifying the site as a WCC project.

The bill allows DOA to retain its manager and allows other state agencies to engage a WCC crew on a project without complying with state procurement laws, including requirements for public notice to and competitive solicitation of contractors and limitations on the circumstances under which contractual services may be obtained.

Finally, the bill requires DOA to annually audit the program and submit an annual report to the legislature identifying the projects that were completed in each year or that are in the process of completion as of the end of that year.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

SB762,,4 The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB762,1 Section 1. 15.105 (34) of the statutes is created to read:

SB762,,6 15.105 (34) Wisconsin climate corps board. There is created a Wisconsin climate corps board that is attached to the department of administration under s. 15.03, consisting of the following:

SB762,,7 (a) The secretary of natural resources or his or her designee.

SB762,,8 (b) The executive secretary of the board of commissioners of public lands.

SB762,,9 (c) The secretary of administration or his or her designee.

SB762,,10 (d) The secretary of workforce development or his or her designee.

SB762,,11 (e) One representative to the assembly, appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

SB762,,12 (f) One representative to the assembly, appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.

SB762,,13 (g) One senator, appointed by the president of the senate.

SB762,,14 (h) One senator, appointed by the minority leader of the senate.

SB762,,15 (i) One member of a nongovernmental organization that has expertise in conservation matters or climate resilience or that represents employees who work in conservation activities or climate resilience, appointed for a 3-year term.

SB762,,16 (j) One member of a nongovernmental organization that has expertise in youth training programs, appointed for a 3-year term.

SB762,,17 (k) One member appointed by the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc.

SB762,2 Section 2. 16.24 of the statutes is created to read:

SB762,,19 16.24 Climate corps. (1) Definitions. In this section:

SB762,,20 (a) “Board” means the Wisconsin climate corps board.

SB762,,21 (b) “Local government” has the meaning given for “local governmental unit” in s. 16.97 (7).

SB762,,22 (c) “Manager” means the nonprofit corporation with which the department executes a contract to manage the Wisconsin climate corps program under sub. (3).

SB762,,23 (d) “Nonprofit corporation” means a nonstock, nonprofit corporation described under section 501 (c) (3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code that is exempt from the federal income tax under section 501 (a) of that code and organized under the laws of this state.

SB762,,24 (e) “Project” means a planned undertaking of the Wisconsin climate corps for a sponsor to carry out a specific goal within a defined period of time that is focused on the restoration and rebuilding of natural lands, weatherization and energy efficiency projects in homes, or other climate resiliency projects in urban and rural areas of this state.

SB762,,25 (f) “Sponsor” means a local government, tribal government, or nonprofit corporation or an executive branch agency, as defined in s. 16.70 (4), that proposes to undertake a project.