The Senate met.
The Senate was called to order by Senator Roger Breske.
The Chair, with unanimous consent, asked that the proper entries be made in the journal.
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The committee on Environmental Resources reports and recommends:
Assembly Bill 31
Relating to: certain applicants for preference points under the cumulative preference system for issuing Class A bear hunting licenses.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Baumgart, Hansen, Wirch, Cowles and Schultz.
Noes, 0 - None.
Assembly Bill 61
Relating to: the issuance of temporary fishing licenses to disabled persons.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Baumgart, Hansen, Wirch, Cowles and Schultz.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 159
Relating to: drilling beneath the beds of the Great Lakes and adjacent waters to explore for or produce oil or gas.
Passage.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Baumgart, Hansen, Wirch, Cowles and Schultz.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 180
Relating to: requirements for applying for and issuing licenses for game bird and animal farms and wildlife exhibits having bears, cougars, or wolves.
Passage.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Baumgart, Hansen, Wirch, Cowles and Schultz.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Joint Resolution 36
Relating to: urging the U.S. and Canadian governments to prohibit diversion of Great Lakes water.
Introduction and adoption of Senate amendment 1.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Baumgart, Hansen, Wirch, Cowles and Schultz.
Noes, 0 - None.
Passage as amended.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Baumgart, Hansen, Wirch, Cowles and Schultz.
Noes, 0 - None.
Jim Baumgart
Chairperson
The committee on Universities, Housing, and Government Operations reports and recommends:
Adamski, Paul C.,
of Stevens Point, as a member of the College Savings Program Board, to serve for the term ending May 1, 2005.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
M. Meyer, Grobschmidt, Hansen, Ellis, Huelsman and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Darling, Senator Alberta,
of River Hills, as a member of the College Savings Program Board, to serve for the term ending May 1, 2005.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
M. Meyer, Grobschmidt, Hansen, Ellis, Huelsman and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Herrera, Oscar,
of Madison, as Secretary of the Department of Regulation and Licensing, to serve for the term ending at the pleasure of the Governor.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
M. Meyer, Grobschmidt, Hansen, Ellis, Huelsman and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Manthei, Barbara,
of West Salem, as a member of the Wisconsin Technical College System Board, to serve for the interim term ending May 1, 2003.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
M. Meyer, Grobschmidt, Hansen, Ellis, Huelsman and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Neuenfeldt, Philip L.,
of Milwaukee, as a member of the Wisconsin Technical College System Board, to serve for the term ending May 1, 2007.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
M. Meyer, Grobschmidt, Hansen, Ellis, Huelsman and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
S217
Pertzborn, Robert J.,
of Madison, as a member of the Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers and Land Surveyors, to serve for the interim term ending July 1, 2003.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
M. Meyer, Grobschmidt, Hansen, Ellis, Huelsman and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Mark Meyer
Chairperson
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
June 1, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
This is to inform you that I am withdrawing the following nominations:
Marilyn Panka for reappointment to the Board of Nursing for the term to expire July 1, 2005. Ms. Panka has informed my office that she is unable to accept reappointment at this time.
Mr. Don Trettin for reappointment to the Waste Facility Siting Board. Mr. Trettin is no longer eligible to hold the position for which he was nominated.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Scott McCallum
Governor
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
June 5, 2001
The Honorable, The Legislature:
As required by s.
13.94 (1)(de), Wis. Stats., we have completed a financial audit of the Patients Compensation Fund, which insures health care providers in Wisconsin against medical malpractice claims that exceed the primary malpractice insurance thresholds established in statutes. The Fund is governed by a Board of Governors and administered by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. In fiscal year 1999-2000, 11,809 health care providers participated in the Fund. We have provided an unqualified auditor's report on the Fund's financial statements for fiscal years ending June 30, 2000, 1999, and 1998.
Past audit reports discussed concerns regarding the Fund's accounting deficit. Action by the Board of Governors and the Legislature and recent favorable claims experience have contributed to a significant improvement in the Fund's financial position, which showed an accounting surplus of $27.2 million as of June 30, 2000. To address concerns being raised about actuarial estimates that affect the Fund's financial position, and to promote broader acceptance of the actuarial analyses and related decisions, we include a recommendation that a comprehensive review of the consulting actuary's methods and assumptions be performed by an independent actuary.
Further, the Fund needs to take additional steps to ensure that all health care providers are obtaining primary insurance coverage as required by statutes. Our testing disclosed several instances in which providers had not obtained the primary malpractice coverage required by statutes. These uninsured providers could be held liable for up to $ 1 million in settlements or judgements per claim if any malpractice claims were resolved against them.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the staff of the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and the contractors who assist in administering the Patients Compensation Fund program.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
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