2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
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2023 SENATE BILL 182
April 3, 2023 - Introduced by JOINT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Referred to Committee
on Education.
1 AN ACT to create 20.255 (2) (bt) and 115.448 of the statutes; relating to: grants
2 for feasibility studies of school district consolidation or whole grade sharing and
3 making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill is explained in the NOTES provided by the Joint Legislative Council in
the bill.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
JOINT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PREFATORY NOTE: This bill was prepared for the Joint
Legislative Council's Study Committee on Shared School District Services.
Current law does not provide state assistance to fund feasibility studies for school
districts considering consolidation or whole grade sharing agreements.
The bill requires the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to award grants of up
to $25,000 to consortia of 2 or more school boards to fund feasibility studies of school
district consolidation or whole grade sharing agreements. Grant moneys must be used for
a professional financial analysis, which may include a population study, of the effects of
consolidation or whole grade sharing on the school districts. In order to be eligible for a
grant for a consolidation feasibility study, each school board in a consortium must
demonstrate that it has adopted a resolution to consider consolidation.
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SENATE BILL 182
The bill provides a continuing appropriation of $200,000 in the 2023-2024 fiscal
year. The bill takes effect on the day after publication, or the 2nd day after publication
of the 2023 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
1 SECTION 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
2 the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
2023-24 2024-25
3 20.255 Public instruction, department of
4 (2) AIDS FOR LOCAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
5 (bt) Grants for feasibility studies of
6 consolidation or whole grade
7 sharing GPR C 200,000 -0-
8 SECTION 2. 20.255 (2) (bt) of the statutes is created to read:
9 20.255 (2) (bt) Grants for feasibility studies of consolidation or whole grade
10 sharing. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for the grant
11 program under s. 115.448.
12 SECTION 3. 115.448 of the statutes is created to read:
13 115.448 Grants for feasibility studies of consolidation or whole grade
14 sharing. (1) In this section, “eligible applicant” means an applicant for a grant
15 under this section that is a consortium of 2 or more school boards.
16 (2) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (bt) and subject to sub. (3),
17 the department shall award grants to eligible applicants to fund feasibility studies
18 of school district consolidation or whole grade sharing agreements under s. 118.50.
19 The department may not award a grant to an eligible applicant in an amount
20 exceeding $25,000.
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SENATE BILL 182 SECTION 3
1 (b) An eligible applicant receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant
2 moneys for a professional financial analysis, which may include a population study,
3 of how school district consolidation or a whole grade sharing agreement under s.
4 118.50 would affect the school districts governed by the eligible applicant.
5 (3) To receive a grant under this section to fund a feasibility study of school
6 district consolidation, an eligible applicant shall demonstrate to the department that
7 each school board that is a member of the consortium has adopted a resolution under
8 s. 117.08 (1) or 117.09 (1).
9 SECTION 4.0Effective date.
10 (1) This act takes effect on the day after publication, or on the 2nd day after
11 publication of the 2023 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
12 (END)