E m e r g e n c y R u l e s N o w I n E f f e c t
Under s. 227.24, Stats., state agencies may promulgate rules without complying with the usual rule-making procedures. Using this special procedure to issue emergency rules, an agency must find that either the preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare necessitates its action in bypassing normal rule-making procedures.
Emergency rules are published in the official state newspaper, which is currently the Wisconsin State Journal. Emergency rules are in effect for 150 days and can be extended up to an additional 120 days with no single extension to exceed 60 days.
Extension of the effective period of an emergency rule is granted at the discretion of the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules under s. 227.24 (2), Stats.
Notice of all emergency rules which are in effect must be printed in the Wisconsin Administrative Register. This notice will contain a brief description of the emergency rule, the agency finding of emergency, date of publication, the effective and expiration dates, any extension of the effective period of the emergency rule and information regarding public hearings on the emergency rule.
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT
Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection
Rule adopted creating s. ATCP 139.04 (11), relating to prohibiting the sale of butane, propane, mixtures of butane and propane, or other gaseous hydrocarbons for use as refrigerants in mobile air conditioners.
Finding of Emergency
(1) On June 2, 1995, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued a final rule prohibiting the use of HC-12a, a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant containing liquified petroleum gas, as a refrigerant in mobile air conditioning systems. EPA prohibited HC-12a, and a predecessor product called OZ-12, because of safety risks associated with the use of flammable refrigerants in mobile air conditioning systems. According to EPA, the manufacturer of HC-12a did not provide adequate information to demonstrate that the product was safe when used in a mobile air conditioning system.
(2) Despite the current EPA rule, at least one company is currently engaged in manufacturing and distributing HC-12a for use in motor vehicle air conditioning systems. The Idaho manufacturer argues that EPA lacks jurisdiction to regulate the sale of its product. HC-12a is currently being offered, distributed or promoted for sale at wholesale and retail outlets in Wisconsin and surrounding states, for use as a refrigerant in mobile air conditioning systems.
(3) HC-12a is a highly flammable substance, as defined by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard test procedure for refrigerants, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and Underwriter's Laboratories. Use of HC-12a or its predecessor, OZ-12, in mobile air conditioning systems is inconsistent with standards adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers. According to those standards, refrigerants used in mobile air conditioning systems must be of low toxicity, and must be nonflammable and nonexplosive.
(4) At least 13 states have enacted legislation prohibiting the sale of refrigerants for use in air conditioning or refrigeration systems unless those refrigerants meet flammability standards or are specifically approved for their intended use.
(5) HC-12a and other hydrocarbon-based refrigerants, when sold for use in motor vehicle air conditioning systems, present a serious risk to public health and safety for the following reasons:
(a) Motor vehicles and mobile air conditioning systems are not currently designed to use flammable refrigerants, or to prevent hazards associated with flammable refrigerants.
(b) Refrigerants in mobile air conditioning systems commonly leak into the engine compartments or passenger compartments of motor vehicles. Leaking refrigerant is often routed into the passenger compartment through the air distribution system from the evaporator. Hydrocarbon refrigerants, which are heavier than air, will tend to accumulate in low or confined spaces of a motor vehicle.
(c) Hydrocarbon refrigerants are flammable at low concentrations.
(d) Internal components of a motor vehicle provide many potential sources of ignition for flammable refrigerants. Passenger activities, such as smoking, may also create ignition sources.
(e) Fires or explosions resulting from the ignition of leaked flammable refrigerant may cause serious bodily injury or death to motor vehicle passengers. Automotive technicians who test for leaks, or who repair or service mobile air conditioning systems containing flammable refrigerants, are also at risk.
(6) The risk to public health and safety cannot be adequately addressed by product packaging or labeling, for the following reasons:
(a) The use of flammable hydrocarbon-based products in motor vehicle air conditioning systems is inherently hazardous. That hazard will not be materially altered by mere packaging or labeling.
(b) Use is hazardous to persons who are not aware that the refrigerant is present, and have not have seen or read the product label.
(c) Current product labels for HC-12a already contain a warning statement that the contents are under pressure and are extremely flammable. Current labels direct use by qualified personnel only, and list other cautions and instructions when recharging a mobile air conditioning system with this substitute refrigerant. These label statements do not materially alter the hazard inherent in the use for which the product is sold. There are few if any protective actions which a customer or technician could take to reduce the hazards associated with use of the product.
(d) There are no automotive industry standards which would allow a flammable refrigerant to be used in a motor vehicle air conditioning system as currently designed.
(7) Flammable hydrocarbon-based refrigerants, including HC-12a, OZ-12, and other refrigerants containing butane, propane, mixtures of butane and propane, or other gaseous hydrocarbons, pose a serious risk to public health and safety when sold for use as refrigerants in mobile air conditioners. At this time, the public health and safety can only be protected by keeping these products out of the channels of commerce in this state. The department can and should adopt rules, under ss. 93.07(1) and 100.37(2), Stats., prohibiting the sale of such products in this state.
(8) Pending the adoption of rules according normal administrative rulemaking procedures, it is necessary to adopt emergency rules under s. 227.24, Stats., to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
Publication Date:
October 9, 1996
Effective Date:
October 9, 1996
Expiration Date:
March 8, 1997
Hearing Date:
November 15, 1996
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT
Department of Commerce
Rules adopted repealing ch. DOD 13 and creating ch. Comm 113, relating to the annual allocation of volume cap.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Commerce finds that an emergency exists and that rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is:
Historically, s. 560.032, Stats. has been interpreted by the legislature and certain legislative attorneys to provide that the annual allocation for the distribution of volume cap established by the Department of Commerce expires at the end of each calendar year. To comply with this interpretation, the Department is required to repeal and recreate the volume cap rule annually. The proposed permanent rule for 1997 is in process. Without this emergency rule, which is effective upon publication in the official state newspaper and filing with the Secretary of State and Revisor of Statutes, there will be several months during which Wisconsin will be unable to take advantage of the approximately $260 million of volume cap and thus risk losing the jobs and investment that would be created by Wisconsin businesses that otherwise would make use of the federally subsidized financing during the period. Adoption of the rule will insure that there is no gap in the use of this development tool and that the jobs and investment occur.
Publication Date:
December 30, 1996
Effective Date:
December 30, 1996
Expiration Date:
May 29, 1997
Hearing Date:
February 13, 1997
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT
Department of Corrections
Rules adopted creating s. DOC 309.05 (2)(d), relating to inmate mail.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Corrections finds an emergency exists and that a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is:
Wisconsin state prison inmates outgoing mail is generally not reviewed or censored. Inmates have used mail to:
1. Contact the victims of their crimes, which has caused severe emotional distress;
2. Threaten and harass elected officials, law enforcement officers, and other persons; and
3. Defraud mail order and other businesses.
Since November 1, 1993, pursuant to Internal Management Procedure #35, the department has stamped outgoing inmate mail to indicate that the mail was sent from the Wisconsin state prison system. IMP #35 was adopted to protect victims of crime, the public, and businesses from inmate harassment and fraud.
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled in an unpublished decision that IMP #35 had to be promulgated as an administrative rule.
In order to protect the public welfare of the state, it is necessary for the department to adopt the following emergency rule to ensure that victims of crime are not further victimized by inmate mail, that members of the public are not threatened or harassed, and that businesses are not defrauded.
Publication Date:
August 15, 1996
Effective Date:
August 15, 1996
Expiration Date:
January 12, 1997
Hearing Dates:
January 10, 13 & 14, 1997
Extension Through:
March 12, 1997
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT
Health & Family Services
(Management, Policy and Budget, Chs. HSS 1--)
Rules adopted revising ch. HSS 1, relating to parental liability for the cost of care for children in court-ordered substitute care.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
The Legislature in s. 9126 (2z) of 1993 Wis. Act 481 directed the Department to promulgate rules required under s. 46.25 (9) (b), Stats., by using emergency rulemaking procedures but exempted the Department from the requirement under s. 227.24 (1) and (3), Stats., to make a finding of emergency.
Analysis
Section 46.10 (14) (b), Stats., as created by 1993 Wis. Act 481, requires that parental support for court-ordered placements under s. 48.345, Stats., for children found to be in need of protection or services, and s. 938.183 (2), 938.34, 938.345 or 938.357, Stats., for youth adjudged delinquent, be established according to the child support percentage of income standard in ch. HSS 80, and s. 46.25 (9) (b), Stats., as created by Wis. Act 481, directs the Department to promulgate rules, separate from ch. HSS 80, for the application of the child support percentage of income standard to court-ordered substitute care cases. The rules are to take into account the needs of any person, including dependent children other than the child going into care, whom either parent is legally obligated to support. The rules proposed here will address these and other issues related to support for children in court-ordered substitute care.
This order creates s. HSS 1.07 relating to parental support for children in court-ordered substitute care and makes related changes in ss. HSS 1.01 to 1.06. However, if a child in care has income or assets, the payment requirements will continue to be assessed according to s. HSS 1.03.
Publication Date:
January 22, 1997
Effective Date:
January 22, 1997
Expiration Date:
June 21, 1997
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT (3)
Health and Social Services
(Community Services, Chs. HSS 30--)
1. Rules were adopted revising ss. HSS 55.70 to 55.76, relating to administration of child care funds.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
The Legislature in s. 275 (2) of 1995 Wis. Act 289 directed the Department to promulgate rules relating to public assistance required under chs. 46, 48 and 49, Stats., as affected by the Acts of 1995, before July 1, 1996, for the period before permanent rules take effect, by using emergency rulemaking procedures but without having to make a finding of emergency. These are public assistance-related rules. They are for administration of health care funds. They will take effect on July 1, 1996.
Analysis
The Department's rules for county agency, tribal agency and other child care administrative agency administration of funds for child day care under s. 46.98, Stats., are revised by this order to bring the rules into compliance with statute changes made by 1995 Wis. Acts 27 and 289 and changes in federal regulations, including federal regulations for child care and development block grant funding, 45 CFR Parts 98 and 99, and at-risk child care, 45 CFR Part 257, since the rules were last revised in late 1991; to made policies relating to eligibility for low-income child care more like child care eligibility policies under the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) training program under 42 USC 682 and s. 49.193, Stats.; to prevent and deal with fraud; and to clarify the applicability of certain policies.
Key changes are the following:
1. Income Eligibility
Income eligibility for low income child care is changed to be in compliance with changes made in s. 46.98 (4), Stats., by Act 289.
2. Costs Charged to Parents
Parent co-payment responsibilities are revised to be those established in state law based on family income and the cost of care.
3. Eligibility for Parents in Training or Educational Programs
Parent eligibility to received low-income child care funds when the parents are in training or educational programs is modified so that only parents under 20 years of age enrolled in high school or an equivalent program are eligible, in compliance with Act 289 changes in the statutes.
4. Loss of Eligibility
