Trial job program and transitional jobs demonstration project and making an appropriation

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

The Wisconsin Works (W-2) program under current law provides work experience and benefits for low-income custodial parents who are at least 18 years old, as well as job search assistance to noncustodial parents and child care subsidies for certain parents who need child care services to participate in various educational or work activities. W-2, which is administered by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), which in turn contracts with W-2 agencies to administer W-2 on the local level, is partially funded with federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant moneys. One of the work components under W-2 is the trial job program (program), under which an individual receives at least minimum wage from an employer for up to 40 hours of work per week and the W-2 agency pays the employer a wage subsidy of up to $300 per month. Also under current law, DCF is required to conduct a transitional jobs demonstration project (project) in six counties under which DCF provides up to 2,500 transitional jobs for unemployed, low-income adults who are not eligible for W-2.

This bill provides federal funding from the TANF Emergency Fund under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for the project and for an expansion of the program. Under both the project and the program, an individual may participate for a maximum of 1,040 hours actually worked and is paid by the employer at not less than minimum wage. Any employer is eligible to receive a subsidy for employing a participating individual if the individual is employed for at least 20 hours per week and at a location in this state. The employer receives a wage subsidy that is equal to the wages the employer actually pays the individual, up to 40 hours per week at minimum wage.

Who's behind it

5 lawmakers are its authors⁠. All 5 are Democrats.

5 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

What it would cost

State agencies filed a cost estimate. Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

• Fiscal Estimate From DCF
• Fiscal Estimate From DWD

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

• Amendment AA1-AB898
• LC Amendment Memo