Universal basic income program and making appropriations. (FE)

What it would have done

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

This bill requires the Department of Health Services to create a universal basic income program to provide a cash benefit to individuals whose earned income through employment is less than the state's per capita personal income. The bill requires DHS and the departments of children and families and administration to submit waiver requests to the federal government to use the benefits paid by the federal government under the Wisconsin Works and Wisconsin Shares program and FoodShare, known as the food stamp program, and certain housing assistance programs for the universal basic income benefit. Those federal benefit moneys in addition to the state administrative moneys expended for Wisconsin Works, Wisconsin Shares, FoodShare, and the housing assistance programs are deposited in the universal basic income fund for the universal basic income program. Also, if the federal government approves the waivers for use of the Wisconsin Works, Wisconsin Shares, FoodShare, and housing assistance benefit moneys, money saved by eliminating the state-based earned income tax credit is also included in the moneys to pay for the universal basic income program.

The benefit under the universal basic income program is a monthly amount equal to the state's minimum wage per hour for 40 hours per week for those eligible individuals earning equal to or less than the state's minimum wage per hour for 40 hours per week. For individuals earning more, the benefit decreases with an increase in earned income such that an individual who earns income equal to the state's per capita personal income receives no benefit from the universal basic income program. To be eligible for the universal basic income benefit, an individual must have verifiable earned income from full-time, part-time, or intermittent employment, be receiving unemployment compensation benefits, or be unable to work due to a verified disability. Full-time students and members of the military on active duty are not eligible for the universal basic income benefit.

Who's behind it

Josh Zepnick, a Democrat, is its author⁠.

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 DOR