State Capitol
Madision, WI 53708
Dear Speaker Jensen:
This letter is to formally notify you that I will be resigning my position as the representative to the Assembly for the 35th District. The resignation will be effective at the end of the working day on Friday, January 29, 1999. Thank you for the courtesy and assistance extended to me by you and your office.
Sincerely,
thomas d. ourada
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Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Department of Justice
Madison
January 14, 1999
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Sec. 165.90(5), stats., requires the Department of Justice
on or before January 15 of each year
to report on the performance of cooperative county-tribal law enforcement programs receiving aid under this section . . . . the attached report is submitted
for distribution under s. 13.172(2), as provided under sec. 165.90(5), stats.
Sincerely,
Jack benjamin
Budget and Finance Director
Referred to committee on Criminal Justice.
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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
January 12, 1999
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
We have completed an evaluation of the Community Youth and Family Aids Program, commonly referred to as the Youth Aids program. Youth Aids is the State's primary means of providing counties with direct assistance to fund county juvenile delinquency services. In 1997, the program funded 45.4 percent of the $181.4 million counties spent on juvenile delinquency services.
Because total juvenile delinquency expenditures statewide have increased at a faster rate than Youth Aids funding, the percentage of juvenile delinquency service costs funded by Youth Aids has fallen over time. In addition, because the formula used to allocate most Youth Aids funding has not been modified or updated since 1981, state-provided county funding has become less connected to need. If the same formula were used with more current data, the distribution pattern would change: funding would increase for 14 counties and decrease for the other 58.
An increasing portion of county Youth Aids allocations is being spent on correctional costs. From 1992 to 1998, the daily rate counties were charged for sending youth to state-operated juvenile correctional institutions increased 42.5 percent, from $108.75 to $154.94, in response to increasing operational costs, the addition of specialized institutions, and declining juvenile populations.
Based on concerns about increases in juvenile delinquency costs, the Legislature has, in recent years, taken steps to assist counties by: 1) increasing the State's responsibility for paying juvenile delinquency costs, and 2) creating less-costly alternatives to out-of-home placements, especially juvenile correctional institutions. To date, however, these initiatives have had limited financial success for counties. We include alternatives the Legislature my wish to consider in addressing county concerns about Youth Aids funding.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Corrections. The Department's response is Appendix III.
Sincerely,
Janice mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
January 13, 1999
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
The Department of Administration is required by s.
16.705(8), Wisc. Stats., to submit a report to the Governor, the Joint Committee on Finance, the Joint Committee on Audit and the Chief Clerk of each house concerning the number, value and nature of contractual service procurements authorized for each agency during the preceding fiscal year. Enclosed is that report for fiscal year 1997-1998.
The report follows the format of the fiscal year 1996-1997 report. Additional information about state contractual services and additional copies of this report are available for committee members by contacting our Bureau of Procurement at 608) 266-2755.
Sincerely,
mark d. bugher
Secretary
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State of Wisconsin
Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission
Madison
January 15, 1999
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
Three copies of the Commission's biennial report for 1997-98 are enclosed for your office. Copies are being sent under separate cover to other offices to satisfy the requirement of the Minnesota-Wisconsin boundary Area Interstate Compact.
The Commission members and staff trust that you will find the report of actions taken this last biennium and plans for the next biennium fully satisfactory. Our proposed 1999 work program has been circulating for comment since November. We expect to formally adopt it at our February 11 meeting. Certainly any suggestions you may have are welcome.
Sincerely,
james m. fitzpatrick
Acting Chair
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Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Joint Resolution 3 be withdrawn from the calendar of Wednesday, January 27 and referred to the calendar of Thursday, January 28. Granted.
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Assembly Resolution 5
Relating to: commending Jim Irwin and Max McGee on their retirement.
The question was: Shall Assembly Resolution 5 be adopted?
Motion carried.
Assembly Joint Resolution 9
Relating to: commemorating the achievements and contributions of the University of Wisconsin on the occasion of its sesquicentennial.
The question was: Shall Assembly Joint Resolution
9 be adopted?
Motion carried.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Joint Resolution 9 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Representative Vrakas asked unanimous consent that the Assembly stand recessed. Granted.
The Assembly stood recessed.
1:12 P.M.
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Recess
3:40 P. M.
The Assembly reconvened.
Speaker Pro Tempore Freese in the chair.
Assembly Joint Resolution 11
Relating to: celebrating March 1, 1999, as St. David's Day.
The question was: Shall Assembly Joint Resolution
11 be adopted?
Motion carried.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Joint Resolution 11 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Assembly Joint Resolution 12
Relating to: urging the members of the Wisconsin delegation to the U. S. Congress to support proposed federal legislation that would provide revenues to Wisconsin from the development of oil and natural gas resources on the outer continental shelf.
The question was: Shall Assembly Joint Resolution
12 be adopted?
Motion carried.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Joint Resolution 12 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
A41
Assembly Joint Resolution 13
Relating to: memorializing Congress to investigate the crisis in the pork industry.
The question was: Shall Assembly Joint Resolution
13 be adopted?
Motion carried.
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Representative Foti asked unanimous consent for a leave of absence for balance of today's session for Representative Gard. Granted.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Joint Resolution 13 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Assembly Bill 49
Relating to: ratification of the agreement negotiated between the state of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Public Defenders Association, WFT/AFT, Local 4822, AFL-CIO, for the 1997-99 biennium, covering employes in the public defenders collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds.
