106.05 Apprenticeship completion award program.

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Sponsor" does not include a state agency or local governmental unit.

(b) “Tuition costs" means any fee that is charged for an apprentice to participate in related instruction under s. 106.01 (6).

(2) Apprenticeship completion awards.

(a) The department shall administer an apprenticeship completion award program as provided in this section to partially reimburse tuition costs incurred by any of the following:

1. An apprentice who has successfully completed part or all of the requirements of his or her apprenticeship program as provided in par. (b) 1. and 2. and who is employed in the trade, occupation, or business in which he or she is being trained under the apprenticeship program.

2. The sponsor of an apprentice described in subd. 1.

(b) Subject to par. (c) and sub. (3), from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (dr), the department may provide to an apprentice described in par. (a) 1. or the apprentice's sponsor a completion award equal to 25 percent of the cost of tuition incurred by the apprentice or sponsor or $1,000, whichever is less. If the department provides a completion award under this subsection, the department shall pay the award as follows:

1. The department shall make the first payment of a completion award upon the successful completion of the first year of the apprentice's apprenticeship contract. The amount of the first payment may not exceed $250.

2. The department shall pay the remainder of a completion award upon the successful completion of all requirements of the apprentice's apprenticeship program.

(c) The total amount of a completion award that the department may pay to an apprentice and his or her sponsor may not exceed 25 percent of the cost of tuition incurred by the apprentice and sponsor or $1,000, whichever is less.

(3) Limitations on awards.

(a) If the amount of funds to be distributed under sub. (2) exceeds the amount available in the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (dr) for completion awards under sub. (2), the department may reduce the reimbursement percentage or deny applications for completion awards that would otherwise qualify under sub. (2). In that case, the department shall determine the reimbursement percentage and eligibility on the basis of the dates on which apprentices and sponsors become eligible for completion awards.

(b) The department may provide a completion award under sub. (2) to a person who is delinquent in child support or maintenance payments or who owes past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses, as established by appearance of the person's name on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), only if the person provides the department with one of the following:

1. A repayment agreement that the person has entered into, that has been accepted by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5), and that has been kept current for the 6-month period immediately preceding the date of the application for a completion award.

2. A statement that the person is not delinquent in child support or maintenance payments and does not owe past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses, signed by a representative or designee of the department of children and families within 7 working days before the date of the application for a completion award.

(4) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section.

History: 2013 a. 57; 2015 a. 348; 2017 a. 370.