Tuesday, May 18, 1999
10:00 A.M.
Ninety-Fourth Regular Session
The Senate met.
The Senate was called to order by Senator Fred Risser.
The roll was called and the following Senators answered to their names:
Senators Baumgart, Breske, Burke, Chvala, Clausing, Cowles, Darling, Decker, Drzewiecki, Ellis, Erpenbach, Farrow, Fitzgerald, George, Grobschmidt, Huelsman, Jauch, A. Lasee, Lazich, Moen, Moore, Panzer, Plache, Risser, Robson, Roessler, Rosenzweig, Rude, Schultz, Shibilski, Welch, Wirch and Zien - 33.
Absent - None.
Absent with leave - None.
The Senate stood for the prayer which was offered by Pastor Roy Nabors of Community Baptist Church in Milwaukee.
The Senate remained standing and Senator Baumgart led the Senate in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
__________________
Read first time and referred:
Senate Bill 158
Relating to: requiring payment from a ward's estate of reasonable attorney fees and costs for successful petitioners in incompetency and guardianship proceedings.
By
Senators
Darling, Panzer, Rosenzweig, Huelsman, Erpenbach, Roessler and Schultz; cosponsored by Representatives Handrick, La Fave, Owens, Musser, Plale, Porter, Plouff, Sherman and Krusick.
To committee on Judiciary and Consumer Affairs.
Senate Bill 159
Relating to: authorizing revenue obligations to fund payment of claims under the petroleum storage remedial action program; authorizing a new type of revenue obligation; granting revenue bonding authority; granting rule-making authority; and making appropriations.
By
Senator
George
; cosponsored by Representative Kelso
.
To joint committee on Audit.
Senate Bill 160
Relating to: setting rates for certain motor vehicle insurance policies and granting rule-making authority.
By
Senator
Burke
; cosponsored by Representative Cullen
.
To committee on Insurance, Tourism, Transportation and Corrections.
Senate Bill 161
Relating to: authorizing payment schedules for delinquent taxpayers who enter into a compromise with the department of revenue.
By
Senators
Plache, Panzer, Wirch, Darling, Zien and Roessler; cosponsored by Representatives F. Lasee, Bock, Olsen, Young, Gunderson, Turner, Musser, Miller, Huber, Boyle, Lassa and J. Lehman.
To committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations.
Senate Bill 162
Relating to: receiverships for public nuisance.
By
Senators
Plache, Cowles and Burke; cosponsored by Representatives Plale, Ainsworth, J. Lehman, Musser, Turner, Miller, Huber and Colon.
To committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations.
Senate Bill 163
Relating to: changing certain terminology in laws affecting the state civil service system (suggested as remedial legislation by the department of employment relations).
By
Law Revision Committee.
To committee on Labor.
__________________
The joint committee on Finance reports and recommends:
Senate Bill 3
Relating to: payment of health insurance premiums for University of Wisconsin System faculty and certain administrative staff.
Report Passage, with emergency statement (s.
16.47 Wisconsin Statutes).
Ayes, 13 - Senators
Burke, Decker, Jauch, Moore, Shibilski, Plache and Panzer. Representatives Kaufert, Albers, Duff, Ward, Huber and Riley.
Noes, 3 - Senator
Cowles. Representatives Gard and Porter.
Brian Burke
Senate Chairperson
The committee on Senate Organization reports and recommends:
Assembly Joint Resolution 53
Relating to: the tragic death of Kevin L. Reichert.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Chvala, Risser, Moen, Ellis and Rude.
Noes, 0 - None.
Relating to: commending Jim Irwin and Max McGee on their retirement.
Adoption.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Chvala, Risser, Moen, Ellis and Rude.
Noes, 0 - None.
Charles Chvala
Chairperson
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
May 12, 1999
The Honorable, The Legislature:
This report is transmitted as required by sec. 20.002(11)(f) of the Wisconsin Statutes, (for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under sec. 13.172(3) Stats.), and confirms that the Department of Administration has found it necessary to exercise the "temporary reallocation of balances" authority provided by this section in order to meet payment responsibilities and cover resulting negative balances during the month of April 1999.
On April 1, 1999 the Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund balance was -$3 thousand. As of the date of this letter, this shortfall has not been resolved. This shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
On April 12, 1999 the Support Collection Trust Fund balance was -$450 thousand. This shortfall continued until April 13, 1999 when the balance reached $2.14 million. This shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
On April 20, 1999 the Wisconsin Petroleum Inspection Fund balance was -$4.22 million. This shortfall continued until April 21, 1999 when the balance reached $3.68 million. This shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
On April 22, 1999 the Wisconsin Health Insurance risk Sharing Plan Fund was -$1 thousand and it increased to -$2 thousand on April 23, 1999. As of the date of this letter, this shortfall has not been resolved. This shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
This Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund, Support Collection Trust Fund, Wisconsin Petroleum Inspection Fund, and Wisconsin Health Insurance Risk Sharing Plan Fund shortfalls were not in excess of the statutory interfund borrowing limitation and did not exceed the balances of the Funds available for interfund borrowing.
The distribution of interest earnings to investment pool participants is based on the average daily balance in the pool and each fund's share. Therefore, the monthly calculation by the State Controller's Office will automatically reflect the use of these temporary reallocations of balance authority.
Sincerely,
Mark D. Bugher
Secretary
Referred to the joint committee on Finance.
State of Wisconsin
The University of Wisconsin System
May 13, 1999
The Honorable, The Legislature:
One year ago the Joint Finance Committee passed a motion to "require the UW Board of Regents to develop recommended legislation to establish an optional retirement plan for faculty and academic staff and submit such recommended legislation to the Legislature by June 1, 1999."
At its May 7 meeting, the Board of Regents adopted Resolution 7902 that approved drafting instructions for an Optional Retirement System and directed me to forward those instructions to the Legislature as required by the 1998 Budget Bill. The Regents resolution and the ORS drafting instructions are enclosed for your use.
Our Office of Human Resources and our Office of General Counsel developed the drafting instructions under the direction of Senior Vice President Dave Olien. If you or any legislative staff member has any questions regarding the instructions, please contact Mr. Olien at 262-4048 and he will make sure that your questions are answered without delay.
