Wednesday, June 26, 1996
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin State Senate
June 20, 1996
The Honorable, The Senate:
The purpose of this letter is to inform you that the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Transportation, Utilities, and Financial Institutions has unanimously approved a report by the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection on the proposed funding for Wisconsin's Sustainable Agriculture Program.
Pursuant to ss.
93.47, the committee has fulfilled its obligation to review and act on this proposal by June 20, 1996. The committee voted 9-0 to approve DATCP's report. Since the committee has approved the department's report, it is the intent of this committee to continue this program to promote agricultural systems that preserve the ecology of the farm, while still allowing farms to be economically viable.
Enclosed for your records are copies of the paper ballots that were circulated to tabulate the votes of committee members on this report.
Although this report contained no immediate funding sources for this program, I look forward to reviewing the department's long-term funding sources for this program when it is submitted as part of the next biennial budget.
Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you require additional information or if I can be of further assistance.
Ayes, 9 - Senators Clausing, Moore, Potter, Decker, Shibilski, Drzewiecki, Fitzgerald, Lasee and Schultz.
Noes, None.
Sincerely,
alice clausing
Chair, Agriculture, Transportation,
Utilities, and Financial Institutions
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
June 25, 1996
To the Honorable the Senate:
At the direction of s.
13.685(7), Wisconsin Statutes, I am notifying you of changes in the Ethics Board's records of licensed lobbyists and their employers.
Organization's authorization of additional lobbyists:
The following organization previously registered with the Ethics Board as an employer of lobbyists has authorized to act on its behalf an additional licensed lobbyist:
Assisted Living Assn, Wisconsin
Oakley, Kara
Termination of lobbying authorizations:
The following individual is no longer authorized to lobby on behalf of the organization listed below, as of the date indicated.
Women's Network, Wisconsin
Fitzsimmons, Therese 6/1/96
Also available from the Wisconsin Ethics Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by the organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
R. Roth Judd
Executive Director
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
June 24, 1996
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed financial audits of the Wisconsin Gaming Commission and the Wisconsin Lottery for fiscal year 1994-95 to meet our audit requirements under s.
13.94(1)(em), Wis. Stats. We were able to provide unqualified opinions on the Gaming Commission's and Lottery's financial statements.
Copies of the audit reports have been distributed to members of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and those required by law to receive copies. If your are interested in receiving copies of these reports, please contact our office and request report numbers 96-7 and 96-8.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
June 19, 1996
The Honorable, The Legislature:
S849
We have completed an evaluation of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's State Laboratory of Hygiene. Through a broad range of testing services, the State Laboratory supports the public and environmental health programs of the departments of Health and Social Services and Natural Resources and the University of Wisconsin. However, over 54 percent of the State Laboratory's fiscal year 1994-95 revenue of $21.5 million was generated from tests provided to other customers, such as health care providers, industry, water suppliers, well owners, other states, other public agencies, and private laboratories. State Laboratory staff also conduct research and have educational responsibilities.
Representatives of private laboratories in Wisconsin, particularly those offering environmental testing services, question the extent to which the State Laboratory should provide testing services to public and private customers in competition with private laboratories. They also question whether the Laboratory sets its prices fairly.
Based on known capacity and interest on the part of private laboratories in Wisconsin, we estimate between $6.6 million and $10.1 million of the State Laboratory's fiscal year 1994-95 test billing might have been diverted to private laboratories. Redirecting this work would have a limited financial effect on the more than $500 million private laboratory industry, although a few environmental laboratories might realize significant benefits. However, public agency customers of the State Laboratory believe that factors such as cost, quality, and maintaining capacity to respond in emergencies justify the Laboratory's current levels of testing activity.
Inadequate financial and management information kept by the State Laboratory hampers efforts to ensure public agencies are getting the best value, determine which tests are subsidized by public funds, and set prices performed for private customers at competitive levels. Improved cost accounting would enable the Laboratory and other state agencies to manage their resources better and determine which laboratory activities can be provided most cost-effectively by the State Laboratory, and which by private laboratories.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by State Laboratory of Hygiene, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Health and Social Services, Department of Natural Resources, and private laboratory staff. Responses from the Director of the State Laboratory and the Department of Health and Social Services are Appendices II and III.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
