Multiple Bills Being Looked at by Wisconsin Legislature

Budget Talks Continue in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – College students would be eligible for more financial aid under a plan the Wisconsin Legislature’s budget committee has approved.

Gov. Scott Walker’s budget calls for increasing state grants by $5.6 million for University of Wisconsin System students; $2.6 for private college students; and $1.8 million for technical college students over the next two years. The new money amounts to a 3.67 percent increase over current grant funding for each type of student. The dollars would come out of the state’s general fund, which is built with tax dollars.

The Joint Finance Committee voted 12-4 on Tuesday to approve Walker’s increases as well as increase grants for tribal college students by $44,300. According to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the increase mirrors the same 3.67 percent bump Walker made to the other three grant categories.

The Legislature’s budget-writing committee is expected to approve requiring about 14,000 people who apply for Wisconsin Works jobs programs to be screened for drugs.

Co-chairs of the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee say the panel plans to approve the idea Tuesday.

The proposal would require screening for drugs in order to participate in three W-2 work programs. Drug screening has been required for four other state-run work programs since 2015.

The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates that about 56 people would test positive for drugs under the expanded screening and be referred for treatment.

Given the low numbers of people expected to be tested, the cost of expanding the screening, testing and treatment is expected to be minimal.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.