Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Ninety-Sixth Regular Session
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date.
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
July 13, 2004
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed a review of the methodology for determining credentialing fees proposed by the Department of Regulation and Licensing during 2003-05 budget deliberations, as requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The Department and the boards its supports issue nearly 318,000 credentials in 84 professions and 26 businesses. In fiscal year 2003-04, the Department had a total budget of $11.1 million, which was supported entirely with credentialing and other fees, and an authorized staff of 125.5 full-time equivalent employees.
With the fee-setting methodology proposed in 2003, the Department believed it would more accurately allocate regulatory costs to credential holders based on services provided to each type of profession or business, as required by statutes. However, legislators and others were concerned that the methodology was based on time estimates, rather than on documented time spent, and that several professions would experience large fee increases. As a result, neither new fees nor the proposed methodology were approved, and credentialing fees have not changed since 2001.
We found that the proposed methodology could increase the Department's ability to allocate credentialing costs based on services provided. However, additional refinements could be considered by the Department and the Legislature if the methodology will again be proposed during 2005-07 biennial budget deliberations, We also provide options for the Legislature to consider as it deliberates on the Department's funding and spending authority.
Finally, we compared Wisconsin's regulatory structure and methodology for determining fees with those in six other midwestern states. Regulatory structures are less centralized in other states, with regulatory authorities overseeing small groups or related professions. In addition, credentialling fees in Wisconsin are typically lower than in surrounding states.
We appreciated the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department. Its response follows Appendix 2.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
July 8, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Hillard, Dr. Cecilia,
of Milwaukee, as a member of the Controlled Substances Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2007.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Homeland Security, Veterans and Military Affairs and Government Reform.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
July 7, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Joyner
, Bennie,
of Milwaukee, as a member of the State Fair Park Board, to serve for the term ending May 1, 2009.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Agriculture, Financial Institutions and Insurance.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
July 7, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Lepak
, Katie,
of Milwaukee, as a member of the Hearing and Speech Examining Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2007.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care.
Office of the Governor
July 8, 2004
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Wiley
, Jane,
of Wausau, as a member of the Natural Resources Board, to serve for the term ending May 1, 2009.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
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