AB 513

Under current law, there is appropriated to the Higher Educational Aids Board

(HEAB) a sum sufficient equal to $37,750,000 in the 2009-10 fiscal year and equal

to $58,345,400 in the 2010-11 fiscal year for Wisconsin higher education grants for

University of Wisconsin (UW) System students (WHEG-UW grants). There is also

appropriated to HEAB for WHEG-UW grants in the 2009-10 fiscal year $17,250,000

in auxiliary enterprises moneys transferred to HEAB by the UW System. This bill

appropriates to HEAB for WHEG-UW grants a sum sufficient equal to $43,313,900

in the 2009-10 fiscal year and equal to $69,850,200 in the 2010-11 fiscal year.

Under current law, there is appropriated to HEAB, as a biennial appropriation,

$36,960,100 in the 2009-11 state fiscal biennium for Wisconsin higher education

grants for technical college students (WHEG-tech grants). This bill increases the

amount appropriated for WHEG-tech grants in the 2009-11 state fiscal biennium

by $24,116,800 over the total amount appropriated for that purpose under current

law.

Under current law, there is appropriated to HEAB, as a biennial appropriation,

$893,000 in the 2009-11 state fiscal biennium for Wisconsin higher education grants

for tribal college students (WHEG-tribal grants). This bill increases the amount

appropriated for WHEG-tribal grants in the 2009-11 state fiscal biennium by

$372,000 over the total amount appropriated for that purpose under current law.

Under current law, there is appropriated to HEAB, as a biennial appropriation,

$53,208,600 in the 2009-11 state fiscal biennium for tuition grants for students

attending accredited, nonprofit, post-high school educational institutions in this

state. This bill increases the amount appropriated for tuition grants in the 2009-11

state fiscal biennium by $5,046,700 over the total amount appropriated for that

purpose under current law.

This bill directs the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Board to

award grants to technical college districts for programs that assist in reducing

unemployment. To be eligible for a grant, a technical college district must meet

certain eligibility criteria relating to the unemployment rate of areas within the

district or recent increases in the unemployment rate of areas within the district.

Grants are available for three specified purposes:

1. To recruit, enroll, instruct, provide support services to, and pay the tuition

and fees of dislocated workers who enroll in the district. A dislocated worker is a

person who has been laid off or terminated from employment and meets certain

additional criteria; a person who was self-employed but is currently unemployed as

a result of economic conditions or natural disasters; or a displaced homemaker.

2. To recruit, enroll, instruct, and provide services to adults who enroll in the

district in a program leading to a certificate of general educational development

(commonly referred to as a GED) or a high school equivalency diploma.

3. To expand existing capacity or create capacity in district programs for which