Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 84 - State trunk highways; federal aid.
84.076 - Disadvantaged business demonstration and training program.

84.076 Disadvantaged business demonstration and training program.
(1) Definitions. In this section:
(a) “Disadvantaged individual" means a minority group member, a woman or any other individual found by the department to be socially and economically disadvantaged within the meaning given in 49 CFR 26.5, unless successfully challenged as provided in 49 CFR 26.89.
(b) “Disadvantaged business" has the meaning given in s. 84.072 (1) (b).
(c) “Minority business" has the meaning given under s. 16.287 (1) (e).
(d) “Minority group member" has the meaning given under s. 16.287 (1) (f).
(2) Administration.
(a) The secretary shall administer a demonstration and training program for the purpose of developing the capability of disadvantaged businesses to participate in construction projects funded under s. 20.395 (3) (bq), (bv), (bx), (cq), (cv), (cx), (eq), (ev) and (ex). From the amounts appropriated under those paragraphs, the secretary shall allocate $4,000,000 each fiscal year for the awarding of contracts under this section. The secretary shall attempt to ensure that 75 percent of the amount so allocated each fiscal year is for the awarding of contracts under this section to minority businesses. The secretary may award 100 percent of the amount so allocated each fiscal year to one disadvantaged business.
(b) The secretary shall establish requirements for programs of preapprenticeship training and management and technical assistance designed to develop the expertise of disadvantaged individuals and disadvantaged businesses in transportation construction.
(3) Bids, contracts. Section 84.06 (2) applies to bids and contracts under this section, except that the secretary shall reject low bids that do not satisfy the requirements under sub. (4). Each bid submitted under this section shall include the agreement specified under sub. (4) and, as a condition, a goal that at least 25 percent of the total number of workers in all construction trades employed on the project will be disadvantaged individuals.
(4) Contractor responsibilities. Each contractor shall agree to do one of the following in its bid submitted under sub. (3):
(a)
1. Assure that the contractor has developed a program of preapprenticeship training that satisfies the requirements established by the secretary under sub. (2) (b) and has experience in providing the training to disadvantaged individuals; and
2. Assure that the contractor has developed and has experience in providing a program of management and technical assistance to disadvantaged business subcontractors. The management and technical assistance program shall satisfy the requirements established by the secretary under sub. (2) (b) and shall include all of the following:
a. On-site administrative support.
b. Assistance with managing scheduling, finances and property.
c. The provision of other management services necessary to assist disadvantaged businesses in developing construction capabilities and opportunities for participation in construction projects.
(b) Obtain from a subcontractor that has experience in providing training to disadvantaged individuals a program of preapprenticeship training that satisfies the requirements established by the secretary under sub. (2) (b), and assure that the subcontractor has experience in providing a program of management and technical assistance to disadvantaged business contractors, and that the subcontractor's management and technical assistance program satisfies the requirements established by the secretary under sub. (2) (b) and includes all of the requirements of par. (a) 2. A subcontractor under this paragraph need not be a disadvantaged business, but if the subcontractor is not a disadvantaged business, it may not be included within the goal established under sub. (3).
(5) Sunset. This section does not apply after the later of the following:
(a) September 30, 1997.
(b) The date on which federal law does not require, as a condition of using federal funds, that this state establish goals for the participation of disadvantaged businesses or the employment of disadvantaged individuals in projects using federal funds.
History: 1987 a. 399; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 112; 1995 a. 113; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2011 a. 32; 2021 a. 239 s. 73.
This section is unconstitutional as applied to goals for disadvantaged business subcontractor participation in exclusively state-funded projects but is constitutional as applied to federally-funded projects. Milwaukee County Pavers Ass'n v. Fiedler, 731 F. Supp. 1395 (1990).

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