The committee on Education reports and recommends:
Assembly Bill 236
Relating to: requiring that certain high school agriculture courses be counted as science credits.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
Lehman, Jauch, Erpenbach, Hansen, Olsen, Grothman and Hopper.
Noes, 0 - None.
Assembly Bill 459
Relating to: the model academic standards for personal financial literacy.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
Lehman, Jauch, Erpenbach, Hansen, Olsen and Hopper.
Noes, 1 - Senator
Grothman.
Hanson
, Stephanie,
of Madison, as a member of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2011.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
Lehman, Jauch, Erpenbach, Hansen, Olsen, Grothman and Hopper.
Noes, 0 - None.
McCabe
, Jeff,
of Kaukauna, as a member of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers, to serve for the term ending June 30, 2012.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
Lehman, Jauch, Erpenbach, Hansen, Olsen, Grothman and Hopper.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 326
Relating to: the model academic standards for personal financial literacy.
Passage.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
Lehman, Jauch, Erpenbach, Hansen, Olsen and Hopper.
Noes, 1 - Senator
Grothman.
Senate Bill 359
Relating to: directing school boards to provide instruction about the recent history of the Hmong people.
Adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
Lehman, Jauch, Erpenbach, Hansen, Olsen, Grothman and Hopper.
Noes, 0 - None.
Passage as amended.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
Lehman, Jauch, Erpenbach, Hansen, Olsen, Grothman and Hopper.
Noes, 0 - None.
John Lehman
Chairperson
Pursuant to Senate Rule 17 (5), Senator Wirch added as a coauthor of
Senate Bill
419
.
__________________
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
December 18, 2009
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed a financial audit of the State of Wisconsin Educational Communications Board (ECB) Radio Network to meet our audit requirements under s.
13.94, Wis. Stats., and as requested by ECB to fulfill the audit requirements of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The Corporation requires audited financial statements of public broadcasting entities to determine future funding levels.
ECB, which is an agency of the State of Wisconsin, operates a radio network of 13 FM stations and 1 AM station, as well as a television network of 5 digital stations. The ECB Radio Network reported $9.4 million in support and revenue during fiscal year 2008-09, including state support, member contributions, funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and various other grants.
Our audit report contains the ECB Radio Network's financial statements and related notes as of and for the periods ending June 30, 2009, and June 30, 2008. We were able to issue an unqualified independent auditor's report on these statements. However, our report on internal control and compliance includes a recommendation that ECB implement additional steps and safeguards in its financial reporting process to prevent and detect financial statement errors.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by ECB staff during the audit.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
December 18, 2009
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed a financial audit of the State of Wisconsin Educational Communications Board (ECB) Television Network to meet our audit requirements under s.
13.94, Wis. Stats., and as requested by ECB to fulfill the audit requirements of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The Corporation requires audited financial statements of public broadcasting entities to determine future funding levels.
ECB, which is an agency of the State of Wisconsin, operates a television network of 5 digital stations, as well as a radio network of 13 FM stations and 1 AM station. The ECB Television Network reported $10.3 million in support and revenue during fiscal year 2008-09, including state support, member contributions, funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and various other grants.
Our audit report contains the ECB Television Network's financial statements and related notes as of and for the periods ending June 30, 2009, and June 30, 2008. We were able to issue an unqualified independent auditor's report on these statements. However, our report on internal control and compliance includes a recommendation that ECB implement additional steps and safeguards in its financial reporting process to prevent and detect financial statement errors.
S451
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by ECB staff during the audit.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health Services
December 14, 2009
The Honorable, The Senate:
The Department of Health Services is pleased to provide you with the annual report of plans and progress in addressing food insecurity under s.46.76(4) and (5).
•The Wisconsin Food Security Consortium (WFSC) remained active during 2009.
•Early in the year, the Consortium elected to visit other areas of the state to study local issues which have an
impact on food security rather than having all quarterly meeting in Madison.
•The WFSC wrote letters of recommendation for two funded projects: the Waukesha County U.W. Extension - $35,296, and the Wisconsin Apple Growers
Association - $13,900
•The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contains a number of provisions designed to strengthen Wisconsin's food assistance safety net:
•FoodShare - Provides a 14 persent increase in benefits, effective April 2009, as well as additional funding for
administrative costs.
•The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) - Provides $100 million to purchase food to distribute
through food pantries, soup kitchens and meal sites as well as $50 million over two years for additional storage and distribution costs.
•Wisconsin FoodShare Program participation increased 37 percent statewide (between August 2008 and August 2009).
We will continue to build on these successes to fight hunger in Wisconsin, especially among our most vulnerable citizens.
Sincerely,
karen e. timberlake
Secretary
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Claims Board
December 17, 2009
The Honorable, The Senate:
Enclosed is the report of the State Claims Board covering the claims heard on December 2, 2009.
Those claims approved for payment pursuant to the provisions of ss.
16.007 and
755.05 Stats., have been paid directly by the Board.
This report is for the information of the Legislature. The Board would appreciate your acceptance and publication of it in the Journal to inform the members of the Legislature.
Sincerely,
Cari Anne renlund
