Tuesday, August 5, 1997
10:00 A.M.
Ninety-Third Regular Session
The Senate met.
The Senate was called to order by Senator Fred Risser.
The Chair, with unanimous consent, asked that the proper entries be made in the journal.
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Read first time and referred:
Senate Bill 269
Relating to: the number of members on the system board in certain federated library systems; nomination and approval of members of a library system board in a federated public library system; public library advisory committees; exemption from the county property tax levy for library services; the establishment by counties of standards for public libraries; convening a public library and school library technology conference; public library system aids; reports on the effectiveness of public library systems; withdrawal from and participation in public library systems; appeals to the state superintendent of public instruction of a county library board or county board of supervisors' disapproval of a town's request to establish a public library; authorizing private colleges and universities to participate in telecommunications networks; and requiring counties to pay public libraries for services provided to residents of the county that reside in municipalities that do not maintain public libraries.
By
Joint Legislative Council.
To committee on Education.
Senate Bill 270
Relating to: littering and providing a penalty.
By
Senators
Clausing, Schultz and Risser; cosponsored by Representatives Musser, Ott, Otte, Hasenohrl, Bock, Turner, Baumgart, Lorge, Staskunas, Plouff and Boyle.
To committee on Judiciary, Campaign Finance Reform and Consumer Affairs.
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
August 1, 1997
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed an audit of the Wisconsin Gaming Board, as required by s.
13.94 (1)(eg), Wis. Stats. We have issued an unqualified opinion for the Gaming Board's financial statement for the three programs it administers - Racing, Charitable Gaming, and Indian Gaming - for fiscal years (FYs) 1994-95 and 1995-96. Given the considerable interest in Indian gaming operations in Wisconsin, we have provided additional information in this area.
Pari-mutuel tax revenue, which is deposited directly in the State's General Fund, has declined from $4.74 million in FY 1994-95 to an estimated $2.6 million in FY 1996-97. While five greyhound racetracks were in operation at the peak of pari-mutuel activity, two have closed. Given the current status of greyhound racing in Wisconsin, it is not likely any significant increase in racing revenues will occur.
Similarly, the amount generated by a 2 percent bingo tax based on gross bingo revenues deposited directly in the State's General Fund has also declined from $566,300 in FY 1994-95 to an estimated $545,200 in FY 1996-97.
Based on data from the Indian tribes' financial statements from 1992 through 1996, the five-year period during which tribal-state gaming compacts have been in effect, we found the tribes' gaming-related revenues totaled $2.4 billion, expenses were $1.5 billion, and net profits were $946.8 million. The financial statements submitted by the tribes indicate that at least $829.9 million of these profits was transferred to the tribes or paid directly to tribal members over the five-year period.
The compacts currently in effect will begin to expire in August 1998, and negotiations between the tribes and the Governor are currently underway. Questions related to payments by tribes are likely to be of substantial interest during these negotiations, including whether the tribes' payments for the State's regulatory costs, which currently total $350,000 annually, should be increased. A second question is whether the tribes should make other payments in exchange for the exclusive rights to conduct casino gaming.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
July 31, 1997
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Nelson
, John F.,
of Middleton, as a member of the Deferred Compensation Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2001.
Sincerely,
TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Labor, Transportation and Financial Institutions.
Relating to certification to perform lead abatement, other lead hazard reduction work and lead management activities, accreditation of training courses for individuals performing those activities and approval of training course managers, principal instructors and guest instructors.
Submitted by Department of Health and Family Services.
Report received from Agency, August 5, 1997.
Referred to committee on Health, Human Services, Aging, Corrections, Veterans and Military Affairs,
August 5, 1997 .
Relating to credentialing requirements and procedures for private detective agencies, private detectives and private security persons.
Submitted by Department of Regulation and Licensing.
Report received from Agency, August 1, 1997.
Referred to committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations, August 5, 1997
.
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The committee on Agriculture and Environmental Resources reports and recommends:
Relating to the nonpoint source pollution abatement program.
