February 2, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed an evaluation of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, as required by s.
119.23(9), Wis. Stats. this program provides publicly funded private school tuition for low-income children in Milwaukee and was established in 1990. After the Wisconsin Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of religious schools' participation in 1998, and the United States Supreme Court allowed that decision to stand, Choice enrollment increased significantly. In the 1999-2000 school year, approximately 8,000 pupils are enrolled in 91 private schools, which will receive an estimated $38.9 million in publicly funded tuition payments.
Some hopes for the program - most notably, that it would increase participating pupils' academic achievement - cannot be documented, largely because uniform testing is not required in participating schools. However, the program is serving low-income children and is serving a population whose ethnic composition is similar to that in Milwaukee Public Schools. Participating schools are located throughout the city and appear to be providing a variety of educational options. The application and admissions process has drawn criticism; we include alternatives to modify that process and to improve applicants' knowledge of program requirements.
Seventy-six of the 86 schools participating in the program in 1998-99 reported some form of independent quality review or performance measurement, such as accreditation by the Wisconsin Nonpublic School Accrediting Association or other organizations. All participating schools are required to meet statutory requirements intended to promote educational quality, such as a requirement to provide instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, and health, and all schools have submitted information indicating compliance.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Public Instruction, Milwaukee Public Schools, the participating private schools, and the families that responded to our survey concerning participation in the Choice program. The Department's response in Appendix VIII.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Investment Board
January 28, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Section
25.17(14r) of the Statutes required that the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) submit a report to the Joint Committee on Audit, Joint Committee on Finance and the Chief Clerks of each House summarizing any change in the Board's investment policies, upon adoption of the change.
On January 13, 2000 the Board approved modifications to the Investment Policy Guidelines relating to the Patients Compensation Fund. Attached are the modified guidelines.
Please contact me if you have any questions about this report.
Sincerely,
Patricia Lipton
Executive Director
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
February 2, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
With this letter, I am forwarding to you the Bureau of Justice Information Systems (BJIS) Fourth Annual Report. S.
13.172 (2) directs BJIS to report annually on its activities, and this report is submitted in fulfillment of that requirement.
The report describes the efforts of BJIS on behalf of Integrated Justice Information Sharing (IJIS) and District Attorney Information Technology (DA IT). Significant progress was made in these areas, and are described in detail in the report.
Multiple projects to improve the electronic sharing of information among justice agencies were undertaken in 1999. These include the beginning of an IJIS data dictionary with court, DA and CCH definitions and tables, a DOJ brief bank on line through a partnership with the Department of Justice, and much more. This is just the beginning of what could be possible in reducing redundant data entry and improving public safety gaps that currently exist.
Progress also occurred in several areas relating to district attorney information technology (DA IT). In 1999, BJIS worked hard installing and supporting 27 state standard local area networks (LANs) connected to county and state networks (WANs), training and supporting users in 27 LAN and 44 DA Net offices and piloting a DA case management system (PROTECT) which is now up and running in two counties.
In response to Executive Order 341 (Year 2000 Preparedness) were initiated in 1998. BJIS had established a Public Safety Functional Team to address state public safety agency Y2K preparedness. BJIS identified critical areas of Y2K action related to counties, interdependencies among public safety agencies and public communication about Y2K. Educating DA's about Y2K issues affecting their offices was completed as was ensuring Y2K compliance of all BJIS equipment and software installed in DA offices. We are happy to report that there were no public safety disruptions due to Y2K, due in large part to the hard work of the Public Safety Functional Team.
With the support of the legislature, BJIS can help improve public safety and bring efficiency to government by working to improve both the communication between agencies and by providing the basic infrastructure needed to be effective.
Jennifer Reinert
Administrator, Division of Technology
State of Wisconsin
Department of Corrections
January 31, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The following information is provided for your consideration and review pursuant to 301.03(6m) WI STATS. The figures below cover the period from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999.
1.
There were 41 inmates transferred involuntarily from a prison to a mental health institute under 51.20(13)(A)4. All but two inmates were committed for outpatient treatment. One inmate was committed upon release. Two inmates were committed to inpatient treatment and stayed an average of 87 days. One inmate transferred voluntarily from prison to a mental health institute and stayed for 12 days.
2.
4,097 inmates underwent voluntary treatment with psychotropic drugs and 41 inmates were treated with psychotropics on an involuntary basis. The types of medications used include antipsychotic drugs, antidepressant drugs, mood stabilizers, anti-parkinsonian medications, and medications for side effects.
3.
Mental health services, both psychiatric and psychological, are available at all major institutions. Services include individual and group therapy, chemotherapy, psychiatric, psychological, and neuropsychological evaluation, crisis interventions, sex offender groups, domestic abuse groups, anger management groups, and cognitive intervention programs. Inmates who need more intensive mental health services are transferred to the Special Management Unit at Columbia Correction Institution, the Wisconsin Resource Center, or one of the Mental Health Institutes.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Jon E. Litscher
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
February 8, 2000
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 1999 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
Abramson, Betsy Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups Inc
Dodge, Christopher Midwest Equipment Dealers Association, Inc
Dunn, John AT&T Corporation
Hildebrandt, Kurt A. Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation
Hildebrandt, Kurt A. AT&T Corporation
Hildebrandt, Kurt A. Wisconsin Coalition for Fair Competition
Hildebrandt, Kurt A. Wisconsin Association of Judicial Court Commissioners
Munyon, Marvin Wisconsin Family Forum
Reitan, Mark Employers Health Cooperative
Also available from the Wisconsin Ethics Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by the organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
Roth Judd
Director
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Relating to inmate conduct, inmate discipline and procedures for the imposition of discipline.
Submitted by Department of Corrections.
Report received from Agency, February 7, 2000.
Referred to committee on Insurance, Tourism, Transportation and Corrections, February 8, 2000.
Relating to the harvest, possession and sale of native amphibians, lizards and snakes.
Submitted by Department of Natural Resources.
Report received from Agency, February 4, 2000.
Referred to committee on Agriculture, Environmental Resources and Campaign Finance Reform, February 8, 2000.
Relating to the use of land, water and facilities in the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.
Submitted by Department of Tourism.
Report received from Agency, February 7, 2000.
Referred to committee on Insurance, Tourism, Transportation and Corrections, February 8, 2000.
Relating to reexaminations.
Submitted by Department of Regulation and Licensing.
Report received from Agency, February 7, 2000.
Referred to committee on Human Services and Aging, February 8, 2000.
__________________
The committee on Agriculture, Environmental Resources and Campaign Finance Reform reports and recommends:
Relating to private onsite wastewater treatment systems.
