Relating to revising requirements for defined network plans, preferred provider plans and limited service health organization plans to comply with recent changes in state laws.
Submitted by Office of Commissioner of Insurance.
Report received from Agency, August 30, 2002.
To committee on Health.
Referred on September 11, 2002.
Relating to construction site erosion control and storm water management procedures for department actions.
Submitted by Department of Transportation.
Report received from Agency, August 29, 2002.
To committee on Natural Resources
.
Referred on September 10, 2002.
Relating to adult field supervision.
Submitted by Department of Corrections.
Report received from Agency, August 29, 2002.
To committee on Corrections and the Courts
.
Referred on September 10, 2002.
Relating to adoption assistance and the use of the state adoption information exchange to find adoptive families for children.
Submitted by Department of Health and Family Services.
Report received from Agency, August 29, 2002.
To committee on Children and Families
.
Referred on September 10, 2002.
__________________
Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
August 29, 2002
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
A928
This report is transmitted as required by s.
20.002(11)(f), Wisconsin Statutes, (for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s.
13.172(3), Wisconsin Statutes), 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 cash balances during the month of July 2002.
On July 1, 2002, the General Fund cash balance closed at negative $381.8 million. This negative balance continued through July 31, 2002, when the balance closed at negative $616.7 million. The General Fund cash balance reached a low of negative $835.8 million on July 25, 2002. The negative balance was due to the overall budget shortfall, in combination with the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
On July 22, 2002, the Common School Income Fund cash balance closed at negative $0.4 million. This negative balance continued until July 31, 2002, when the balance reached a positive $0.2 million. The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
The General Fund and the Common School Income Fund negative cash balances 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, and as a result, the funds requiring the use of the authority will effectively bear the interest cost.
Sincerely,
George Lightbourn
Secretary
Referred to committee on Ways and Means.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Groundwater Coordinating Council
Madison
DATE: August 30, 2002
TO: Patrick E. Fuller
Assembly Assistant Chief Clerk
FROM: Tim Asplund
Department of Natural Resources - DG/2
In this packet, please find the following items:
1) The 2002 Groundwater Coordinating Council
Report to the Legislature, as required by s.
15.347 Wis. Stats.
2) A document titled, "Sharing Our Buried Treasure: Directions for the Protection and Management of Wisconsin's Groundwater" which is a summary of the 2001 Groundwater Summit facilitated by the Groundwater Coordinating Council.
3) A set of three Comprehensive Planning and Groundwater Fact Sheets developed by the Groundwater Coordinating Council to assist local communities in their "Smart Growth" planning activities.
Referred to committee on Natural Resources.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Employment Relations Commission
Madison
September 2002
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
The following is the Biennial Report of the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission for 1999-2001 biennium. The report represents a compilation of the statistical and subjective record of the agency over this period. The agency continues to maintain its statewide and national recognition for competence, fairness and integrity as the administrative agency for the Wisconsin Labor Relations Statutes.
As a Commission, we look forward to maintaining that hard working reputation through the continued exercise of diligence and professionalism in the performance of our duties.
Respectfully submitted,
Steven R. Sorenson
Chairperson
A. Henry Hempe
Commissioner
Paul A. Hahn
Commissioner
Referred to committee on Labor and Workforce Development.
__________________
Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
August 29, 2002
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
A929
We have completed an evaluation of the full-time open enrollment program, as directed by s.
13.94(11), Wis. Stats. Under the program, students may apply to attend school in any K-12 public school district in the state, regardless of whether they live in that district. Families of students who transfer from their local district do not pay tuition. However, a local district loses state aid for each student who transfers to another district and gains state aid for each student who transfers from another district.
In the 2001-02 school year 9,457 students, or 1.1 percent of all public school students, participated in the program. Although participation increased significantly during the first four years of the program, it is still too early to determine whether public schools have improved as a result of district competition to retain and attract students. Few districts report developing new or innovative programs in response to the program, perhaps because most school districts gained or lost 20 students or less. Similarly, fiscal effects of the program have been limited to those districts that experienced significant participation. In 2001-02, 308 of 426 school districts in Wisconsin had net gains or losses of less than $75,000.
Although parental satisfaction with the program appears to be high, several issues related to open enrollment pose challenges for the program's future. First, the Legislature may wish to carefully consider the costs associated with funding the education of home-schooled students under proposals for on-line virtual schools that accept students from across the state. In addition, school district staff are concerned about the increasing administrative burden of processing open enrollment transfer applications, and program rules related to special education are under federal review.
We appreciate the cooperation and courtesy extended to us by the Department of Public Instruction management and staff. The response from the Superintendent of Public Instruction is Appendix 4.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
