Haber, Darcy Wisconsin Citizen Action
Mulligan-Hansel, Kathleen Institute for Wisconsin's Future
Munyon, Marvin Family Research Institute of Wisconsin, Inc
Rude, Brian Dairyland Power 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
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
August 9, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed a best practices review of local government operations, as directed by s.
13.94(8), Wis. Stats. Efforts to reduce truancy in Wisconsin public schools are the topic of this review.
On average, approximately 15,600 students are truant from school on any given day, and nearly one-third of absences in the 1998-99 academic year were caused by truancy. To address the problem of truancy, state statutes were significantly modified in
1997 Wisconsin Act 239, which expanded the definition of habitual truancy, and provided municipal governments with additional options for addressing both simple and habitual truancy. Many of the local governments with which we spoke have moved to strengthen their truancy ordnances as a result, and most local government officials, school administrators, and law enforcement officials believe the changes assist municipalities in addressing truant behavior.
We found, however, that the statutory changes intended to reduce truancy have not yet resulted in lowered truancy rates. The proportion of students classified as habitual truants increased significantly during 1998-99, the first year for which the expanded definition of habitual truancy applied: 74,569 students, or 8.7 percent of the total enrollment in Wisconsin public schools, were classified as habitual truants in that year. In the previous year, 59,304 public school students, or 6.9 percent of the total enrollment, had been classified as habitual truants. It is important to note that changes to truancy laws occurred relatively recently, and improvement in truancy rates may occur in the future as municipalities take advantage of the increased number of options provided by the changes.
School, municipal courts, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations play a role in addressing truant behavior. Our review describes several best practices used by these organizations.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Public Instruction, local government officials, school administrators, truancy abatement center staff, and law enforcement agencies.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Department of Employment Relations
August 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Pursuant to s.
230.04 (9)(em), Stats., I am pleased to submit the Veterans Employment Report for 1999. The report summarizes veteran new hires and on-board statistics for the time period and includes information for each state agency and each institution of the UW System.
Veterans comprise an important segment of the Wisconsin workforce in both the private and public sectors. State government - and any other employer - can benefit greatly by recruiting and retaining our nation's trained and motivated veterans.
Sincerely,
Peter D. Fox
Secretary
Department of Health and Family Services
August 7, 2000
The Honorable, The Senate:
Section
46.972(4), Wis. Stats., requires the Department of Health and Family Services to submit to the chief clerk of each house of the Legislature a report on June 30 annually on the allocation and expenditure of funds for services for homeless individuals. Attached is the Department's annual report.
Department staff is available if you have any questions or need additional information.
Sincerely,
Joe Leean
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
July 31, 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 June 2000.
On June 1, 2000 the Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund balance was -$8 thousand. This shortfall increased to -$10 thousand on June 13, 2000, to -$11 thousand on June 27, 2000, and continued until July 25, 2000 when the balance reached $9 thousand. This shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
On June 1, 2000 the Wisconsin Lottery Fund balance was -$7.71 million. This shortfall decreased to -$3.82 million on June 8, 2000, to -$1.98 million on June 15, 2000, and continued until June 16, 2000 when the balance reached $1.36 million. This shortfall was due to a timing difference between the distribution of property tax credits and the receipt of Lottery revenues.
On June 1, 2000 the University Trust - Income Fund balance was -$183 thousand. This shortfall increased to -$204 thousand on June 5, 2000, to -$359 thousand on June 7, 2000, and continued until June 8, 2000 when the balance reached $581 thousand. This shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
The Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund, Wisconsin Lottery Fund, and University Trust - Income 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.
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executive order #404
Relating to the Establishment of the Office of State Poet Laureate and the
Governor's Poet Laureate Nomination Commission
WHEREAS, the State of Wisconsin is a recognized leader in culture and arts; and
WHEREAS, it is important that Wisconsin maintain its strong tradition of excellence in the arts; and
WHEREAS, poetry serves as a tool for the enrichment of all people and serves as a herald for the deep emotions and pride felt by the citizens of this great state; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to have an individual who promotes and develops an interest in poetry;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, TOMMY G. THOMPSON, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of this State, and specifically by Section
14.019 of the Wisconsin Statutes, do hereby:
1. Create the Governor's Poet Laureate Nomination Commission (hereinafter, "Commission"); and
2. Provide that the Commission shall be composed of seven (7) members appointed by the Governor to serve a term of four (4) years; and
3. Provide that the Governor shall designate one (1) member on the Commission as its chair to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the Governor; and
4. Provide that the following organizations shall each recommend to the Governor one (1) individual for membership on the Commission:
a. The Council for Wisconsin Writers; and
b. The Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets; and
c. The Wisconsin Regional Writers Association, Inc.; and
d. The Wisconsin Humanities Council; and
e. The Wisconsin Arts Board; and
5. Provide that the Poet Laureate shall be appointed by the Governor to serve a four (4) year term; and
6. Provide that the Poet Laureate shall have the following purpose and mission:
a. Contribute to the growth of poetry in the State by organizing and leading one project of the Poet Laureate's choosing, subject to review by the Commission; and
b. Plan and attend at least four (4) statewide literary events per year; and
c. Perform in at least four (4) government, state and civil events as requested by the Governor's Office, school systems, and/or literary organizations; and
7. Provide that the Commission shall have the following purpose and mission:
a. Recommend three (3) candidates for Poet Laureate to the Governor; and
b. Assign responsibilities to the Poet Laureate; and
c. Assist the Poet Laureate in performing official duties; and
S661
8. Provide that the Commission shall nominate a Poet Laureate based on the following:
a. That the Poet Laureate be 18 years of age or older; and
b. That the Poet Laureate have demonstrated excellence in promoting awareness and enjoyment of poetry in Wisconsin; and
c. That the Poet Laureate have an admirable and proven history of having published individual poems and/or books; and
d. That the Poet Laureate be a resident of Wisconsin for at least one year prior to the nomination deadline; and
9. Direct the Secretary of the Department of Administration to provide the Commission and Poet Laureate with administrative and support services and with such sums of money that are necessary for travel and operating expenses in accordance with section 20.505(3)(a) of the Wisconsin Statutes; and
10. Direct the Commission to make an annual report to the Governor on the activities of the Poet Laureate.
