Section 106.275 - Technical education equipment grants(1) AWARDING OF GRANTS.(a) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (cg), the department shall, subject to par. (am), award technical education equipment grants under this section. The department shall award grants in the amount of not more than $100,000 to applicants whose grant applications are approved under sub. (2) (b).(am) The department shall award grant moneys under par. (a) so that not less than one-third of grant moneys awarded in a fiscal biennium are provided to applicants that are either school districts that are eligible for sparsity aid under s. 115.436 or consortia that include at least one school district that is so eligible.(b) An applicant that is awarded a grant under this section shall use the grant moneys awarded for the enhancement or improvement of a technical education facility or for the acquisition of equipment that is used in advanced manufacturing or construction fields in the workplace, together with any software necessary for the operation of that equipment and any instructional material necessary to train pupils in the operation of that equipment.(c) As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, a grant recipient shall provide matching funds, which may be in the form of money or the monetary value of equipment. The matching funds must be in an amount equal to the following: 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if the match is contributed from private sources, 100 percent of the grant amount awarded.2. If any of the match is contributed from school district funds, 200 percent of the grant amount awarded.(2) GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS.(a) A school district or a consortium consisting of multiple school districts that wishes to receive a grant under this section shall apply for the grant in accordance with procedures and requirements established by the department under rules promulgated under sub. (4) (b) 1. A grant application shall describe the purpose and need for the grant, the projected outcomes sought to be achieved as a result of receiving the grant, the amount and source of the matching funds required under sub. (1) (c), and any other information that the department may require under rules promulgated under sub. (4) (b) 1.(b) The department shall review and evaluate a grant application submitted under par. (a) in accordance with procedures and criteria established by the department under rules promulgated under sub. (4) (b) 2. After completing that review and evaluation, the department shall notify the applicant of the department's decision on the grant application.(3) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. A recipient of a grant under this section shall file a report with the department by September 1 of each of the first 3 fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the grant was received. The report shall describe how the grant moneys were expended, describe the outcomes achieved as a result of receiving the grant, share the best practices employed regarding the training of pupils in the use of any equipment acquired with the grant moneys, include a plan for sustainability of any such training, and provide such other information as the department may require under rules promulgated under sub. (4) (b) 3.(4) IMPLEMENTATION OF GRANT PROGRAM. (b) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section. Those rules shall include all of the following: 1. Rules establishing the procedures and requirements for applying for a grant under sub. (2) (a), including the information that must be submitted with a grant application.2. Rules establishing the procedures and criteria for awarding a grant under sub. (2) (b).3. Rules governing the reporting requirements under sub. (3), including the information that must be provided in a report submitted under sub. (3).Amended by Acts 2023 ch, 165,s 6, eff. 3/23/2024.Amended by Acts 2023 ch, 165,s 5, eff. 3/23/2024.Amended by Acts 2023 ch, 165,s 4, eff. 3/23/2024.Amended by Acts 2023 ch, 165,s 3, eff. 3/23/2024.Amended by Acts 2023 ch, 165,s 2, eff. 3/23/2024.Amended by Acts 2023 ch, 165,s 1, eff. 3/23/2024.Amended by Acts 2018 ch, 370,s 26, eff. 12/16/2018.Added by Acts 2017 ch, 59,s 1407k, eff. 9/23/2017, op. PV.