The Honorable, The Senate:
Pursuant to Senate Rule
20 (2)(a), I have appointed Senator Kim Plache to the Joint Committee on Finance, and removed Senator Judy Robson.
Sincerely,
Chuck Chvala
Chair, Committee on Senate Organization
executive order #12
Relating to the Creation of the Governor's Task force on Invasive Species
WHEREAS, Wisconsin has some of the most beautiful lakes, rivers and forests in the nation; and
WHEREAS, the State's natural resources must be preserved and protected for future generations; and
WHEREAS, invasive species, both plant and aquatic, are harmful in that they disrupt Wisconsin's natural ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, in the year 2000 alone, economic losses and control measures cost more than $138 billion in the United States;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Scott McCallum, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Wisconsin, and specifically by Section
14.019 of the Wisconsin Statutes, do hereby:
1.
Create the Governor's Advisory Task Force on Invasive Species (hereinafter referred to as the "Task Force"; and
2.
Provide that the Task Force shall consist of not more than twenty (20) members appointed by the Governor to serve at the pleasure of the Governor; and
3.
Provide that the Governor shall designate two (2) members of the Task Force as co-chairs to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the Governor; and
4.
Provide that the Task Force shall have the following mission:
a.
Evaluate the severity of the induction and spread of invasive species in Wisconsin; and
b.
Develop a statewide control plan to combat the induction and spread of invasive species; and
c.
Identify and obtain federal funding to be used in the implementation of the statewide plan.
5.
Require the Task Force to prepare and submit a report to the Governor detailing its findings and recommendations; and
6.
Direct the Department of Administration to provide the Task Force with such sums of money as are necessary for the travel and operating expenses in accordance with Section
20.505(3)(a) of the Wisconsin Statutes; and
7.
Provide that the Task Force dissolve upon the acceptance of its final report by the Office of the Governor.
IN TESTIMONY WHERE OF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the city of Madison this twenty-third day of May in the year two thousand and one.
SCOTT McCALLUM
Governor
By the governor:
DOUGLAS LA FOLLETTE
Secretary of State
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
May 21, 2001
The Honorable, The Legislature:
In accordance with s.
601.427(9), Wis. Stats., I am pleased to submit this report to the Wisconsin Legislature. This report is to evaluate the impact that
1995 Wisconsin Act 10 has had on the following:
(a) The number of health care providers practicing in Wisconsin.
(b) The fees that health care providers pay under s.
655.27 (3), Wis. Stats.
(c) The premiums that health care providers pay for health care liability insurance.
S206
The evaluation performed included the collection and analysis of statistics regarding the number of health care providers and premiums charged for health care liability insurance. Analysis of these statistics determined the only discernable effect on these areas has been an estimated $60.8 million dollars in reductions of fees collected under s.
655.27 (3), Wis. Stats., over the last five years. However, it was further noted that loss experience to date is too immature to validate the reduction.
The attached report provides information regarding the background of Act 10, the statistics collected and the analysis performed.
Sincerely,
Connie L. O'Connell
Commissioner
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
May 29, 2001
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed an evaluation of the administration of the 0.5 percent county sales and use tax, as requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. This tax is levied on the same goods and services affected by the State's 5.0 percent sales and use tax. The Department of Revenue administers the tax on behalf of the counties and retains 1.75 percent of the collections, as prescribed by s.
77.76(4) Wis. Stats. During calendar year 2000, the Department distributed $215.2 million to 53 counties that imposed the tax.
The $215.2 million that was distributed to counties in 2000 included a delayed distribution of $13.0 million, which the counties should have received in January and February 2000 but which they did not receive until June 2000. The delay occurred because the Department did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that all tax returns were fully processed and included in distributions to counties. We also found that the 90- to 180-day time limit for distributing county sales and use tax revenues prescribed by Wisconsin Statutes is longer than limits established by other states, and improvements in business practices and technological advances enable the Department to process returns and distribute funds to counties in significantly less time than statutory time limits allow. Therefore, we have included a recommendation that the Legislature reduce the time period for distributing county sales and use taxes to county governments.
In fiscal year (FY) 1999-2000, the Department retained $3.9 million in administrative fees from county sales and use taxes. In reviewing the Department's time reporting system, we found that administrative fees supported 10.38 more full-time equivalent positions that were reportedly used to administer the county sales and use tax. Wisconsin's administrative fee is the second-highest among surrounding midwestern states and generates more revenue than the Department expends to administer the tax. In FY 1999-2000, $931,600 in county sales and use tax administrative fees lapsed to the General Fund.
Funding from the administrative fee is used to support the Department's new Integrated Tax System (ITS). The administrative fee is expected to support $8.8 million of the system's total costs, which are projected to be $78.0 million. The amount of ITS costs to be funded by the county sales and use tax administrative fee appears to have been based on the unencumbered funds available in the appropriation for administration of the tax, rather than on an analysis of system costs and benefits.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Revenue. The Department's response is Appendix 2.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
May 29, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2001 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us/
Boyce, Catherine American Heart Association
Buchberger, Paul Wausau Benefits Inc
Gardon, Peter Calpine
Higgins, Anthony American Education Reform Foundation
Mitchell, Susan American Education Reform Foundation
Morgan, Lynn American Heart Association
Schultz-Thuot, Gretchen Wausau Benefits Inc
Strohl, Joseph TDS Telecom Inc
Theo, Peter Menominee County Taxpayers Association
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 organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
Roth Judd
Director
__________________
Relating to health benefit plan grievance requirements and independent review organizations.
Submitted by Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.
Report received from Agency, May 24, 2001.
Referred to committee on Insurance, Tourism, and Transportation, May 30, 2001
.
Relating to hunting, trapping and captive wildlife.
Submitted by Department of Natural Resources.
Report received from Agency, May 29, 2001.
Referred to committee on Environmental Resources,
May 30, 2001.
Relating to fishing on the inland, outlying and boundary waters of Wisconsin and fish rearing pond grants.
Submitted by Department of Natural Resources.
