Section 47.92. Logging certification scholarships.

 

(1)   Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish standards and procedures for implementation of a grant program to contribute funds to individuals seeking Wisconsin master logger certification.

(2)   Applicability. This section applies to individuals applying for master logger certification as administered through the Wisconsin Professional Loggers Association.

(3)   Definitions. In this section:

(a) "In-woods harvesting equipment" means the equipment necessary to enter a harvesting site, and to harvest, process and remove the designated forest products including, but not limited to, excavating equipment, chain saws, mechanized tree harvesters, skidders, forwarders, slashers and chippers.

(b) "Master Logger Advisory Board" means a third party board, independent of WPLA, that provides oversight and monitoring for the Wisconsin master logger certification program.

(c) "Master logger certification program" or "MLC © " means a performance-based program copyrighted and sanctioned by the American Loggers Council that establishes national standards of performance for the logging profession.

(d) "Scholarship" means a sum of money that is credited towards an individual's application fee to offset part of the program cost of processing applicants for master logger certification.

(e) "State fiscal year" means the time period commencing at July 1 and ending the following June 30.

(f) "Wisconsin certified master logger" means an applicant who has been audited, and met or exceeded standards and practices that have been developed and approved for Wisconsin by WPLA, the Master Logger Advisory Board, and the American Loggers Council.

(g) "WPLA" means the Wisconsin Professional Loggers Association.

(4)   Application and grant procedure.

(a) An individual may apply for a scholarship under the logging certification scholarship program using an application form provided by WPLA. The application shall include the applicant's name, address, contact information, and an application fee.

(b) Application forms shall be available from and filed with the WPLA.

(c) To be eligible for a scholarship an applicant shall do all of the following:

1. Be in the business of purchasing timber stumpage, or of subcontracting with another party to fulfill a timber harvesting contract.

2. Be an independent contractor as defined in s. 102.07 (8) , Stats.

3. Be responsible for on-site timber harvest activities.

4. Own, lease, or rent and operate in-woods timber harvesting equipment.

(d) The application fee for individuals seeking to become a Wisconsin certified master logger shall be established on July 1 of each year by the Master Logger Advisory Board. The application fee shall include the cost of all of the following:

1. Audit process, including time and expenses.

2. Training directly related to the audit process.

3. Record keeping and administrative costs directly associated with MLC © .

4. Information outreach on MLC © to prospective applicants and owners of Wisconsin woodlands.

(e) Scholarships shall be applied as a credit to the eligible individual's application fee.

(f) WPLA shall submit a listing of eligible scholarship applicants to the department quarterly based on the state fiscal year.

(g) The department shall provide payment to the Wisconsin master logger certification program for scholarships as provided in par. (e) and sub. (6) (a) quarterly, based on the state fiscal year.

(j) An individual may not receive a logging certification scholarship more than once every 2 years for initial Master Logger certification.

(5)   General provisions.

(a) The department shall maintain a liaison to the WPLA board of directors.

(b) WPLA shall deposit all scholarship funds received from the department into a segregated account.

(c) WPLA, in conjunction with the Master Loggers Advisory Board and American Loggers Council, shall develop, retain, and may revise the standards of the Wisconsin master logger certification program.

(6)   Funding rates and constraints.

(a) A scholarship shall be limited to no more than 50% of the cost of the application fee for receiving, and maintaining, Wisconsin master logger certification.

(b) The remaining application fee costs may be derived from other grants or scholarship programs.

(c) If the total amount of scholarships awarded under this section exceeds the funds available in any one quarter, the scholarships shall be prorated.

(d) Funding through this program may not be applied to applications for Wisconsin master logger certification that have been reviewed and audited prior to June 1, 2006.

(7)   Accountability and audit procedures.

(a) Wisconsin master logger certification scholarship funds shall be applied only to the costs stipulated in sub. (4) (d) and for the purpose in sub. (1) .

(b) Any unused scholarship funds shall be applied towards future scholarship applicants.

(c) Scholarship funds not applied to eligible costs included in application fees, or subject to gross abuse or corrupt practices in the administration of the scholarship program through WPLA as determined by the department, shall be returned to the department.

(d) WPLA shall retain financial records, including all documentation to substantiate that scholarship funds were applied towards fees of individuals applying for Wisconsin master logger certification, for a minimum of 3 years from the date of award.

(8)   Termination.

(a) The department and WPLA may enter into an agreement to terminate the scholarship program at any time.

(b) The agreement shall establish the effective date of termination, the basis for settlement of scholarship termination costs, and the amount of any sums due to either party.

(c) Scholarships may not be awarded if funding has not been appropriated by the legislature for this purpose

Emerg. cr. eff. 11-15-05; CR 05-106 : cr. Register May 2006 No. 605 , eff. 6-1-06.

Note

The address for WPLA is P.O. Box 326, Tomahawk, WI 54487 Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1