LRB-4306/1
TAY:jlg:km
1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE
March 26, 1998 - Introduced by Senator George, cosponsored by Representatives
L. Young, Morris-Tatum and Riley. Referred to Committee on Labor,
Transportation and Financial Institutions.
SB532,1,5
1An Act to repeal 49.147 (4) (as);
to renumber and amend 49.147 (2) (a) 1. and
249.147 (2) (b);
to amend 49.145 (3) (b) (intro.), 49.147 (4) (as) and 49.147 (4) (b)
31. b.; and
to create 49.147 (2) (b) 1. and 2. and 49.155 (1m) (a) 3g. of the statutes;
4relating to: eligibility for Wisconsin works and cash grants and child care for
5certain participants under Wisconsin works.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a person applying for a Wisconsin works (W-2) employment
position, which is a subsidized job or other activity, must meet certain financial and
nonfinancial eligibility criteria. For example, the gross income of the W-2 group of
which an applicant is a member may not exceed 115% of the federal poverty level.
This bill increases the income level to 125% of the federal poverty level.
Currently, in determining an appropriate job placement for an applicant a W-2
agency must give priority to placing the individual in unsubsidized employment over
placement in a W-2 employment position. This bill creates 2 exceptions to that
mandate. The W-2 agency may not give priority placement of the individual
unsubsidized employment if either of the following is true:
1. The only available unsubsidized employment is unsuitable for the individual
either because the individual lacks the skills necessary to maintain the employment
or lacks the transportation to get to the employment site.
2. The only appropriate unsubsidized employment is a part-time position. If
the only appropriate unsubsidized employment available to the individual is
part-time, the W-2 agency may place the individual in that position, but must also
place the individual in an appropriate W-2 employment position if the individual
wishes to be placed in a W-2 employment position.
Finally, this bill requires that an applicant for a W-2 employment position who
was receiving aid to families with dependent children (AFDC) on the day before
applying for W-2 be allowed to continue to receive the AFDC grant pending the
approval or denial of the application. The bill also provides that a person who is
required to search for employment pending the application process is eligible for
subsidized child care under W-2.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB532, s. 1
1Section
1. 49.145 (3) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB532,2,52
49.145
(3) (b)
Income limitations. (intro.) The individual is a member of a
3Wisconsin works group whose gross income is at or below
115% 125% of the poverty
4line. In calculating gross income under this paragraph, the Wisconsin works agency
5shall include all of the following:
SB532, s. 2
6Section
2. 49.147 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 49.147 (2) (a) 1. a. and
7amended to read:
SB532,2,158
49.147
(2) (a) 1. a. An individual who applies for a Wisconsin works
9employment position may be required by the Wisconsin works agency to search for
10unsubsidized employment during the period that his or her application is being
11processed as a condition of eligibility.
An individual who applies for a Wisconsin
12works employment position on or before March 1, 1998, and who, as of the day before
13applying, was receiving aid to families with dependent children under s. 49.19, shall,
14pending approval or denial of the application, continue to receive a grant equal to the
15amount of aid that the individual received as of the day before applying.
SB532,3,3
1b. A participant in a Wisconsin works employment position shall search for
2unsubsidized employment throughout his or her participation. The department
3shall define by rule satisfactory search efforts for unsubsidized employment.
SB532, s. 3
4Section
3. 49.147 (2) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 49.147 (2) (b) (intro.)
5and amended to read:
SB532,3,106
49.147
(2) (b) (intro.)
Job search assistance. A Wisconsin works agency shall
7assist a participant in his or her search for unsubsidized employment. In
8determining an appropriate placement for a participant, a Wisconsin works agency
9shall give priority to placement in unsubsidized employment over placements under
10subs. (3) to (5)
. except to the extent that any of the following is true:
SB532, s. 4
11Section
4. 49.147 (2) (b) 1. and 2. of the statutes are created to read:
SB532,3,1412
49.147
(2) (b) 1. The only available unsubsidized employment is unsuitable for
13the participant either because the participant lacks the skills necessary to maintain
14the employment or lacks the transportation to get to the employment site.
SB532,3,2015
2. The only appropriate unsubsidized employment is a part-time position. If
16the only appropriate unsubsidized employment available to the participant is
17part-time, the Wisconsin works agency may place the participant in that position,
18but shall, in addition, place the participant in an appropriate Wisconsin works
19employment position if the participant wishes to be placed in a Wisconsin works
20employment position.
SB532,4,723
49.147
(4) (as)
Required hours. Except as provided in pars. (at) and (av), a
24Wisconsin works agency may require a participant placed in a community service job
25program to work not more than 30 hours per week in a community service job
, except
1that if the participant has been placed in part-time unsubsidized employment under
2sub. (2) (b) 2. the Wisconsin works agency may not require the participant to
3participate in a community service job for more than the difference between 30 hours
4and the number of hours that the participant works in the unsubsidized employment
5position. A Wisconsin works agency may require a participant placed in the
6community service job program to participate in education or training activities for
7not more than 10 hours per week.
SB532, s. 6
8Section
6. 49.147 (4) (as) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act ....
9(this act), is repealed.
SB532,4,1612
49.147
(4) (b) 1. b. A community service job for not more than 30 hours per week.
13A participant placed in part-time unsubsidized employment under sub. (2) (b) 2. may
14be required to participate in a community service job for not more than the difference
15between 30 hours and the number of hours that the participant works in the
16unsubsidized employment position.
SB532, s. 8
17Section
8. 49.155 (1m) (a) 3g. of the statutes is created to read:
SB532,4,2118
49.155
(1m) (a) 3g. Participate, as an applicant for a Wisconsin works
19employment position, in any job search or job orientation activities that may be
20required under s. 49.147 (2) (a) as a condition of eligibility for a Wisconsin works
21employment position.
SB532,4,2423
(1)
The treatment of section 49.145 (3) (b) (intro.) of the statutes first applies
24to a person applying for Wisconsin works on the effective date of this subsection.
SB532, s. 10
1Section
10.
Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication,
2except as follows:
SB532,5,43
(1)
The treatment of section 49.147 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes takes effect
4retroactively to September 1, 1997.
SB532,5,65
(2)
The treatment of section 49.147 (4) (b) 1. b. of the statutes and the repeal
6of section 49.147 (4) (as) of the statutes take effect on February 1, 1999.
