Moving expenses; temporary lodging allowance
Wis. Stat. § 20.917
in effect(1)
(a) Whenever an employee currently employed in a position in the civil service, other than on a limited term basis, is ordered to relocate or is promoted to a different position in the civil service and the new place of employment requires in the judgment of the new appointing authority at the new place of employment, or in the judgment of the appointing authority in an intra-agency relocation or promotion, a change in location of residence, the appointing authority shall authorize payment of the employee’s actual and necessary expense of transporting the employee and the immediate members of the employee’s family to the new place of residence and for the transportation of the employee’s household effects to the new place of residence.
(b) Payment under this section for an employee who relocates as a result of transfer or demotion made at the employee’s request is at the discretion of the new appointing authority, or in an intra-agency transfer or demotion at the employee’s request, at the discretion of the appointing authority of the state agency at which the employee is employed.
(c) Payment for moving expenses may be granted to a person reporting to his or her first place of employment or reporting upon reemployment after leaving the civil service, if payment is recommended by the appointing authority and approved in writing by the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration prior to the time when the move is made.
(d) Payment may not be granted if the distance between the old and new residences of the employee is less than a minimum distance established by the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration for payment of moving expenses.
(e) In addition to other costs payable under this subsection, an employee who is eligible for payment of moving expenses under par. (a) shall be paid a stipend in an amount established in the compensation plan under s. 230.12 for preparation of household effects incident to moving and other moving expenses not otherwise reimbursable under this section. An employee who is eligible for payment under par. (b) may, at the discretion of the appointing authority, be paid a stipend of not more than the amount established in the compensation plan under s. 230.12 for preparation of household effects incident to moving and other moving expenses not otherwise reimbursable under this section. An appointee who receives a payment under par. (c) may, at the discretion of the appointing authority, be paid a stipend of not more than the amount established in the compensation plan under s. 230.12 for preparation of household effects incident to moving and other moving expenses not otherwise reimbursable under this section.
(2)
(a) The administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration may establish a maximum amount for payment of any employee moving costs under sub. (1) (a) to (c). This amount shall be submitted for the approval of the joint committee on employment relations in the manner provided in s. 20.916 (8), and upon approval shall become a part of the compensation plan under s. 230.12 (1).
(b) The amount of reimbursement for transporting the employee and his or her immediate family to the new place of residence may not exceed the cost of automobile travel at the rate determined under s. 20.916 (4).
(c) No more than 2 reimbursements under sub. (1) may be granted to any employee in a calendar year. Each reimbursement shall be approved and paid in the same manner as provided for the payment of travel expenses under s. 20.916.
(2m) An individual who is living outside the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia and who incurs moving and transportation expenses for the purpose of reporting to his or her first place of employment or reporting upon reemployment after leaving the civil service to a location within the contiguous 48 states or District of Columbia may be paid for actual, necessary and reasonable expenses incurred, if the reimbursement is recommended and approved in the manner prescribed in sub. (1) (c). Any such payment may not exceed the maximum amounts available for an individual who incurs such expenses upon appointment to a position in the federal government, as prescribed by applicable federal regulation. The payments under this subsection are in lieu of those otherwise payable under subs. (1) and (2).
(3)
(a) An appointing authority may recommend payment of a temporary lodging allowance for not to exceed 45 days to an employee or person reporting to employment in the civil service, other than on a limited term basis, if the employee or person is eligible for moving expense reimbursement under sub. (1), whether or not that reimbursement is granted, and must establish a temporary residence at his or her headquarters city, village or town, subject to the following:
1. Lodging allowances shall be in accordance with the schedule established by the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration, but may not exceed the rate established under s. 13.123 (1) (a) 1.
2. Lodging allowance payments are subject to prior approval in writing by the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration.
3. Claims for lodging allowances shall be approved and paid in the same manner as travel expenses.
(b) This subsection applies to employees in all positions in the civil service, including those employees in positions included in collective bargaining units under subch. V of ch. 111, whether or not the employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
(5)
(a) To encourage affirmative action, as defined in s. 230.03 (2), at the correctional facilities under s. 302.01, the department of corrections may, from the appropriation under s. 20.410 (1) (a), reimburse an employee for any of the following expenses incurred during the first 30 days of employment or the first 30 days following successful completion of a preservice training program:
1. All or a portion of one month’s rent, if the employee does not receive a temporary lodging allowance;
2. All or a portion of a rental security deposit, not to exceed one month’s rent; and
3. The cost of transportation between the employee’s home and headquarters city, village or town, not to exceed the cost of 4 round trips.
(b) Payments under this subsection are in addition to any payments made under sub. (1). Payments under this subsection may be made only with the prior written approval of the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration.
(6) The administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration may, in writing, delegate to an appointing authority the authority to approve reimbursement for moving expenses under sub. (1) (c), a temporary lodging allowance under sub. (3) (a) 2. or expenses under sub. (5) (b).
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/20.917Fetched: 10/7/2026