An Act to create 106.145 of the statutes; Relating to: workforce literacy grant program. (FE)
Summary
AB235 would require the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development to create an annual workforce literacy grant program. The program would award one grant each year to a qualifying nonprofit organization located in Wisconsin that provides adult literacy services or supports community-based literacy programs in more than half of the state’s counties.
A recipient could use the grant to teach workforce readiness skills, basic literacy, and digital literacy; provide GED and HSED preparation and testing; support other literacy programs tied to workforce development; or supply training, materials, programming, and professional support to organizations that directly serve adult learners. In effect, the bill links adult education and literacy services more directly to workforce development goals.
Impact
The bill would create a new statutory section, s. 106.145, and direct the Department of Workforce Development to administer a new annual grant program. It would not broadly change eligibility rules for public benefits or labor law, but it would establish a state funding mechanism for nonprofit literacy providers and related support organizations, potentially affecting adult education providers, community literacy networks, and workforce training partners across Wisconsin.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no detailed public discussion to assess. Based on the bill’s structure, the measure appears policy-oriented and supportive of adult education and workforce preparation, with a generally positive framing around literacy, GED/HSED access, and workforce readiness. The bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.
Contention
The main policy question raised by the bill’s text is how narrowly the grant should be targeted: eligibility is limited to a single nonprofit located in Wisconsin that serves or supports literacy programs in more than half of the state’s counties, which may draw scrutiny over whether the program is too restrictive or favors a small number of providers. Another possible point of contention is the use of state funds for a program that supports both direct literacy instruction and indirect support services, though no specific opposition or debate was recorded in the materials provided.
Establishes the Artificial Intelligence Literacy Act which establishes an artificial intelligence literacy in the digital equity competitive grant program.
Authorizing the chief executive officer of the board of regents to negotiate and settle repayment obligations arising under financial aid programs administered by the board, providing requirements for agreements between postsecondary educational institutions and school districts for postsecondary courses taught in secondary schools, directing the governor to approve short-term workforce training programs for Pell grant eligibility, modifying requirements under the every child can read act and prohibiting Kansas promise scholarship awards for remedial hours.