Training programs
Wis. Stat. § 230.046
in effect(1) Declaration of policy. In order to promote efficiency and economy in the operation of the state government, to provide means for the development of maximum proficiency by employees thereof, to establish and maintain the highest standards of performance in the transaction of the state’s business, and to install and utilize effectively the best modern practices and techniques which have been developed, tested and proved, it is necessary and desirable in the public interest that self-improvement be supplemented and extended by state-sponsored training programs. The objective of these programs is to develop skills, knowledge, and abilities which will best qualify state employees for effective performance of their official duties, and to retain skilled and efficient state employees in order to continually improve the quality of public service.
(2) Supervisory training. After initial appointment to a supervisory position, each appointing authority shall ensure that each classified service supervisor successfully completes a supervisory development program. The program shall include such subjects as state personnel policies, grievance handling, discipline, performance evaluation, understanding the concerns of state employees with children, the supervisor’s role in management and the concept of the total quality leadership process, including quality improvement through participatory management.
(3) Training programs. Each appointing authority may do any of the following:
(a) Provide off-the-job specialized training courses during working hours to designated employees without loss of pay.
(b) Provide specialized training to qualified persons through educational stipends in lieu of pay, but in no event shall a monthly stipend exceed the minimum pay of the position for which training is undertaken.
(c) Provide specialized training to designated employees through assignment to research projects, prescribed courses of study, institutes and short courses which are related to the performance of official duties and to pay the cost of required tuition and other necessary fees and expense in connection therewith.
(d) Conduct on-the-job courses of instruction deemed necessary for the efficient performance of agency functions and to pay honorariums to qualified experts instructing in such courses.
(e) Conduct other training programs consistent with the standards set by this section.
(4) Records of training program participation. Each agency shall adopt a standardized system for measuring, recording, reporting, accumulating and recognizing employee participation in its training program.
(5) Initiation of programs. Unless otherwise empowered by law, any agency desiring to initiate a training program under sub. (3) shall ensure that:
(a) Unencumbered appropriated funds are available or funds have been so provided by the joint committee on finance;
(b) Training costs estimated to exceed $500, excluding the compensation of participants, have been included in the budget and approved by the legislature or the joint committee on finance, and such costs will be encumbered for training purposes on the records of the agency;
(c) An agreement has been entered into by the trainee and the appointing authority relative to employment with the state, together with such other terms and conditions as may be necessary under the rules of the administrator whenever on-the-job trainees are employed; and
(d) The immediate and necessary work requirements of the agency will not be seriously handicapped because of such training program.
(6) Gifts and grants. Nothing in this section shall nullify the acceptance or the special conditions of training programs financed by gifts, grants, bequests and devises from individuals, partnerships, associations, limited liability companies or corporations and all subventions from the United States, unless such financing has been refused by the state under s. 16.54 or 20.907.
(7) Establish internships. The administrator shall establish in the classified service in-service training internships designed to give rigorous training in public service administration for periods not to exceed 3 years under the direct supervision of experienced administrators.
(8) Cooperate for scholarship loans. To stimulate the interest of qualified students of exceptional merit in government career service, the administrator shall cooperate with the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System in providing opportunities for recipients of public service scholarship loans to secure employment under the internship plan.
(9) Tuition refund program. The administrator may establish by rule in the classified service a tuition refund program to supplement departmental training, to encourage employee job-related development and, upon satisfactory completion of training under this program to refund to the employee, an amount not to exceed the cost of tuition and necessary fees.
(10) Functions of the division. The division may do all of the following:
(a) Conduct off-the-job employee development and training programs relating to functions under this chapter or subch. V of ch. 111.
(b) Charge fees to state agencies whose employees participate in employee development and training programs under this subsection.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/230.046Fetched: 10/7/2026