Bill
Bill > AB297
WI AB297
Performance grants based on improving employment rates for individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision. (FE)
summary
Introduced
05/30/2025
05/30/2025
In Committee
05/30/2025
05/30/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires the Department of Corrections to award performance grants to adult probation and parole offices based on increases in employment rates for individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision in the regions the offices serve. The bill provides a formula to determine the amount of funds each adult probation and parole office is eligible to receive under this performance grant program. Under the formula, DOC must calculate a baseline employment rate for individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision who reside in the region the office serves by averaging the annual employment rate for those individuals in fiscal years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24. Then, on July 1 of each fiscal year, DOC must calculate the employment rate for individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision who reside in the region the office serves for the fiscal year that just ended. DOC must subtract the baseline employment rate from the employment rate for the fiscal year that just ended. If the difference is negative, the office is not eligible for a performance grant in the fiscal year that just began. If the difference is positive, the office is eligible for a performance grant in the fiscal year that just began that is equal to that difference multiplied by the number of individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision who reside in the region the office serves, multiplied again by $2,500. Under the bill, an office that receives a grant must use the funds to provide bonuses for employees of the regional office. The bill requires DOC to develop and publish outcome-based measures for each region such as the employment rate and the average length of employment for individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision; the percentage and employment status of individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision who are convicted of a crime while on the supervised status; the number and employment status of individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision who complete their period of supervised status; the programs for individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision that were created or eliminated; and an estimate of savings to the state as a result of reduced correctional costs due to lower crime rates among individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision. The bill requires DOC to work with the offices to prepare annual reports for the legislature. The reports must be available to the public and must include information about the effectiveness of the performance grants based on outcome- based measures and recommendations regarding resource allocations or collaboration with other state, regional, or local entities or other regions for improvements to the performance grant program. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
AI Summary
This bill establishes a performance grant program for adult probation and parole offices that incentivizes increasing employment rates among individuals on probation, parole, or extended supervision. The Department of Corrections (DOC) will calculate each region's baseline employment rate using data from fiscal years 2021-2024, then compare it to the employment rate in subsequent fiscal years. If a region shows a positive increase in employment rates, the regional office can receive a grant calculated by multiplying the rate increase by the number of supervised individuals and then by $2,500. To qualify for the grant, offices must demonstrate that individuals are employed for at least 130 hours in a 30-day period over at least 9 months. Regional offices that receive grants must use the funds to provide employee bonuses. The bill also requires DOC to develop and publish comprehensive outcome-based measures, including employment rates, new crime conviction percentages, successful supervision completion rates, and estimated state savings from reduced correctional costs. Additionally, DOC must prepare annual public reports for the legislature detailing the grant program's effectiveness and potential improvements. Importantly, no regional office can receive a grant if its region experiences an increase in revocations due to new crimes in the previous fiscal year.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (8)
Benjamin Franklin (R)*,
Dean Kaufert (R)*,
Dan Knodl (R)*,
Jeff Mursau (R)*,
Jerry O'Connor (R)*,
William Penterman (R)*,
Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R),
Eric Wimberger (R),
Last Action
Fiscal estimate received (on 06/17/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Document Type | Source Location |
---|---|
State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab297 |
Fiscal Note - AB297: Fiscal Estimate From DOC | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/fe/ab297/ab297_doc.pdf |
BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB297.pdf |
Loading...