Wis. Stat. § 49.265 — WI Code / Chapter 49 / Section 49.265
Section 49.265
Status: in_force

(b) A community action agency may:

1. Approve program plans and priorities.

2. Resolve internal personnel or fiscal matters.

3. Create a community action program. If the community action agency creates a program, it shall plan, coordinate, administer and evaluate the program. A community action program may include provisions that will help poor persons:

a. Secure and retain employment.

b. Improve their education.

c. Make better use of available income.

d. Obtain and maintain adequate housing and a suitable living environment.

e. Secure needed transportation.

f. Obtain emergency assistance. Through its program, the community action agency may provide emergency supplies or services to meet basic needs.

g. Participate in community affairs.

h. Use more effectively other available programs.

4. Create methods by which poor persons can work with private groups to solve common problems.

5. Research the causes of and problems created by poverty in the community.

6. Determine if programs to reduce poverty are working effectively.

7. Initiate and sponsor projects to aid poor persons that provide otherwise unavailable services.

8. Transmit information between public and private organizations and otherwise coordinate the provision of public and private social services programs to eliminate overlap and ensure effective delivery of the programs.

9. Contract with other persons to perform the community action agency’s functions. The community action agency may delegate responsibility for funding or administering its programs or for making policy determinations concerning a particular geographic area of the community it serves only if poor persons represent at least one-third of the members of the governing body of the agent being delegated this responsibility.

10. Apply for funds from various sources to support a community action program.

11. Provide, to individuals who work at least 20 hours per week and whose earned income is at or below 150 percent of the poverty line, a program of skills enhancement that shall include access to transportation, child care, career counseling, job placement assistance, and financial support for education and training.

(4) Funding.

(a) The department shall distribute the federal community services block grant funds received under 42 USC 9903 and credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (2) (mg) .

(b) The department shall allocate at least 90 percent of the funds received under 42 USC 9903 to community action agencies and organizations.

(c) The department may not allocate more than 5 percent of the funds received under 42 USC 9903 for state administrative expenses.

(cm) From the appropriation under s. 20.437 (2) (fr) , the department of children and families shall distribute grants to community action agencies to provide the skills enhancement services specified under sub. (3) (b) 11.

(d) Before January 1 of each year the department shall contract with each agency and organization being funded, specifying the amount of money the organization will receive under this section and the activities to be carried out by the organization.

(5) City, village or town assistance. A city, village or town may appropriate funds for promoting and assisting a community action agency.

(6) Reports. At least annually, the secretary shall submit a report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3) , concerning activities of community action agencies under this section and their effectiveness in promoting social and economic opportunities for poor persons.

History: 1983 a. 27 , 538 ; 1985 a. 29 ; 1989 a. 31 ; 1991 a. 39 ; 1995 a. 27 ; 1997 a. 27 ; 1999 a. 150 ss. 451 , 672 ; 2007 a. 20 ss. 796 , 1076 to 1095 ; Stats. 2007 s. 49.265; 2009 a. 11 , 265 ; 2011 a. 32 ; 2021 a. 239 .