SB 540

This bill provides for additional funding for Wisconsin grants to technical

college students. Under current law, the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB)

administers the Wisconsin grants program, which provides grants to resident

postsecondary students enrolled in institutions of higher education, including

technical colleges. The bill provides additional funding for Wisconsin grants to

technical college students by allowing the Technical College System Board (TCSB)

to solicit contributions from technical college district boards to HEAB to provide

funding for the grants. In addition, the bill allows the TCSB to transfer money from

certain of its appropriations for the grants. The bill limits the total amount the TCSB

may transfer in a fiscal year based on the amount of contributions by district boards

in the fiscal year. Under that limit, the amount of contributions is subtracted from

$1,000,000, and the transfers may not exceed the difference.

The bill also provides additional general purpose revenue (GPR) for the grants

to technical college students, but only if the TCSB makes transfers or district boards

make contributions in a fiscal year. The bill provides GPR in a fiscal year in an

amount equal to the sum of the transfers and contributions in the fiscal year, except

that the GPR may not exceed $1,000,000.