Noes, 1 - Senator
Baumgart.
Senate Bill 314
Relating to: the involuntary commitment of prisoners for mental health treatment.
Passage.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
Breske, Grobschmidt, Baumgart, Shibilski, Schultz, A. Lasee and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 349
Relating to: motorists approaching certain authorized emergency vehicles stopped near a highway and providing a penalty.
Senate amendment 1 adoption.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
Breske, Grobschmidt, Shibilski, Schultz, A. Lasee and Zien.
Noes, 1 - Senator
Baumgart.
Passage as amended.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
Breske, Grobschmidt, Baumgart, Shibilski, Schultz, A. Lasee and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 396
Relating to: venue for a delinquency proceeding involving an American Indian juvenile who is alleged to have committed a delinquent act while under the supervision of the department of corrections under an order of a tribal court and an agreement between the department of corrections and the governing body of an American Indian tribe or band.
Passage.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
Breske, Grobschmidt, Baumgart, Shibilski, Schultz, A. Lasee and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 398
Relating to: an agreement to indemnify the federal government in connection with the transfer of land for the Kickapoo valley reserve.
Introduction and adoption of Senate amendment 1.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
Breske, Grobschmidt, Baumgart, Shibilski, Schultz, A. Lasee and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Passage as amended.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
Breske, Grobschmidt, Baumgart, Shibilski, Schultz, A. Lasee and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Roger Breske
Chairperson
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The committee on
Judiciary and Consumer Affairs reports and recommends:
Senate Bill 172
Relating to: discharge or other retaliation or discrimination against an employe of a health care facility or a health care provider who reports a violation of the law or a violation of a clinical or ethical standard by the health care facility or health care provider or by an employe of the health care facility or health care provider and providing a penalty.
Introduction and adoption of Senate substitute amendment 1.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
George, Risser, Clausing, Huelsman and Darling.
Noes, 0 - None.
Passage as amended.
Ayes, 4 - Senators
George, Risser, Clausing and Darling.
Noes, 1 - Senator
Huelsman.
Gary George
Chairperson
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
February 24, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
This report is transmitted as required by sec. 20.002(11)(f) of the Wisconsin Statutes, (for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under sec. 13.172(3) Stats.), and confirms that the Department of Administration has found it necessary to exercise the "temporary reallocation of balances" authority provided by this section in order to meet payment responsibilities and cover resulting negative balances during the month of January 2000.
On January 1, 2000 the Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund balance was -$6 thousand. This shortfall increased to -$27 thousand on January 7, 200 and to -$30 thousand on January 20, 2000. This shortfall decreased to -$6 thousand on January 21, 200 and continued into the month of February. As of the date of this letter, it is expected to be resolved soon. This shortfall is due to the timing of revenues.
On January 1, 2000 the Wisconsin Health Insurance Risk Sharing Plan Fund balance was -$77 thousand. This shortfall increased to -$128 thousand on January 7, 2000, to -$138 thousand on January 31, 2000, and continued into the month of February. As of the date of this letter, it is expected to be resolved. This shortfall was to the timing of revenues
The Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund and Wisconsin Health Insurance Risk Sharing Plan Fund shortfalls were not in excess of the statutory interfund borrowing limitation and did not exceed the balances of the Funds available for interfund borrowing.
The distribution of interest earnings to investment pool participants is based on the average daily balance in the pool and each fund's share. Therefore, the monthly calculation by the State Controller's Office will automatically reflect the use of these temporary reallocations of balance authority.
Sincerely,
George Lightbourn
Secretary
Referred to the joint committee on Finance.
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
March 3, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed a review of the financial condition of the Green Bay Packers, Inc., at the request of several legislators including Senator Robert Cowles, who first requested it. The review was conducted in the context of analyzing the Packers' $295.0 million proposal to renovate Lambeau Field using a combination of public and private funds.
We choose two methods to analyze the Packers' financial condition. First, we reviewed retained earnings reported in the Packers' financial statements, which are a measure of past profitability. The Packers' retained earnings increased from $40.5 million at the end of fiscal year (FY) 1994-95, to an estimated $83.9 million at the end of their current fiscal year, which is March 31, 2000. The Packers have benefitted from a number of years of record earnings, and our analysis confirms a healthy financial condition through the current fiscal year.
We also reviewed the Packers' cash and investments, which represent resources available to pay current and future salaries and other operating costs. Except in one year, available cash and investments have increased at a considerably slower pace than retained earnings. In response to the increased use of player signing bonuses throughout the National Football League, the Packers have used their available cash largely for this purpose, rather to increase their cash and investment balances. As a result, the Packers estimate they will not have sufficient cash in the current year, and they will need to liquidate more that $3.7 million in investments to pay expenses. To the extent the current year's decline is the beginning of a trend, it will be necessary for the Packers to secure additional revenues or limit future cost increases.
Packers officials believe that their proposal to renovate Lambeau Field will improve the financial condition of the franchise and position it competitively within the National Football League. We cannot determine whether the amount of additional net income that is estimated to be generated by the Packers' proposal - at least $20.2 million in FY 2004-05 - will be more or less than what is needed to accomplish these goals. We note, however, that if the stadium is renovated, the Packers project that by FY 2004-05, they will rank near the top third of all League franchises in total revenues.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Packers during the course of this review.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
March 7, 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
Andrews, Morris Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association
Broydrick, William Cornell Corrections
Chrnelich, Joseph M Milwaukee Athletic Club
Cullen, Lee Blue Cross/Blue Shield United of Wisconsin
Hanson, Thomas City Brewery - La Crosse
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Hough, James E
Midwest Express Airlines Inc
Kammer, Peter Cornell Corrections
McDowell, Kelly Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin
Schreiber, Martin Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin
Taylor, Chad Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin
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
__________________
Senator Robson, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate recess until 12:32 P.M..
