The exclusion of certain amounts from the calculation of income for purposes of Wisconsin Works eligibility and sources of funding for the Brighter Futures Initiative (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Children and Families)

What it would have done

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

Under current law, the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program is administered by the Department of Children and Families and provides work experience and benefits for low-income custodial parents who are at least 18 years old. Eligibility criteria for employment positions and job access loans under W-2 require an individual to meet certain income requirements. Current law requires that, in calculating gross income, all earned and unearned income of the individual be included, except for certain tax and financial aid related amounts. This bill eliminates from the amounts that must be excluded from this calculation any payment made by an employer under a provision of the Internal Revenue Code that authorized advance payment of earned income credit.

This bill also changes the appropriations from which amounts are distributed for awarding grants under the Brighter Futures Initiative. Under that program, DCF awards grants to nonprofit corporations and public agencies to provide programs to, among other things, prevent and reduce the incidence of youth alcohol and other drug abuse.

Who's behind it

Law Revision Committee is its author⁠.