07-0931-1-2009
07-1021-1-2009
07-1051-1-2009
08-0271-1-2009
08-0301-1-2009
08-0451-1-2009
08-0521-1-2009
08-0531-1-2009
08-0541-1-2009
08-0611-1-2009
08-0641-1-2009
08-0661-1-2009
08-0771-1-2009
Sincerely,
BRUCE J. HOESLY
Senior Legislative Attorney/Code Editor
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Corrections
December 22, 2008
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The 2005-07 biennial budget,
2005 Wisconsin Act 25, required the Department to conduct a study regarding the possibility of reducing its costs for the care of inmates, who are not a threat to the community and require extended nursing care. The Department has completed such a study and per the instructions in the non-statutory section 9109 (3q) it is being submitted for distribution under section
13.172(3) of the statutes.
Sincerely,
rick raemisch
Secretary
Referred to committee on Judiciary, Corrections, and Housing.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health Services
December 22, 2008
The Honorable, The Legislature:
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In accordance with Section
51.06 (8), Wisconsin Statutes, enclosed is a copy of the report on people relocated and diverted from nursing homes, intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded (ICFs-MR), and State Centers for the Developmentally Disabled in state fiscal year (SFY) 2008. This report provides information related to four programs, the ICF-MR Restructuring Initiative, Relocations from the State Centers for the Developmentally Disabled, the Community Relocation Initiative, and the Nursing Home Diversion Initiative.
The Department's relocation and diversion programs have been highly successful, providing the opportunity in SFY08 for 895 elderly individuals and people with physical and developmental disabilities who otherwise would have resided in ICFs-MR and Nursing Facilities to live in community based settings. Since FY 2006, approximately 2,545 elders and people with physical and developmental disabilities have successfully relocated from institutional settings and an additional approximately 492 individuals were diverted from admission to a nursing home though the Department's programs. The quality of life for these 3,037 individuals has been enhanced through the opportunity to live in the community and be near family and friends and more fully involved in community activities.
Highlights of the relocation and diversion initiatives include:
• 600 people with developmental disabilities, many of whom resided in institutions for decades, moved to the community and participated in community activities that were not available to them when they resided in institutions.
• 1,331 frail elders who resided in nursing facilities chose to live in the community near their families and friends. Prior to this initiative, these people would have been on a waiting list for home and community-based care, and few would have had the opportunity to return to the community.
•614 people with physical disabilities chose to live in the community where they were able to access community activities, rather than live in nursing facilities.
• People with developmental disabilities have been served in the community at a cost that is within the institutional budget for this population.
• Frail elders and people with physical disabilities are being served in the community at a cost below that of institutional care, resulting in a level of savings under the Medical Assistance Program in SFY 2008 of $4 million for the people relocated during the year.
• 338 elders and 154 people with physical disabilities, who were determined to be at imminent risk of having to move to a nursing facility, were able to remain in community-based settings because diversion funding was made available.
I trust you will find the enclosed report useful. Please contact Sinikka Santala, Administrator of the Division of Long Term Care at 608-266-0554 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
karen e. timberlake
Secretary
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health Services
December 22, 2008
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The Department of Health Services is please to provide you this annual report of the Wisconsin Food Security Consortium's plans to address food insecurity, as required under s.46.76(4) and (5).
The Wisconsin Food Security Consortium continues making progress in strategies to end hunger and food insecurity in Wisconsin. Highlights include:
• The Consortium planned and hosted a statewide Hunger Summit on October 4, 2007 in Stevens Point. The purpose of the Summit was to bring partners from around Wisconsin to learn about food insecurity and hunger in the State, network and collaborate, and be inspired with ideas and action. Input was collected to draft a statewide action plan would serve as a blueprint for further action.
• During the first half of 2008, members of the Wisconsin Food Security Consortium processed the input from the Hunger Summit to write the statewide action plan, Ending Hunger in Wisconsin. This plan offers and extensive list of ideas to help eliminate food insecurity and hunger in Wisconsin - to ensure that all households are able to put food on the table. The Executive Summary of the Plan is enclosed. For a copy of the full version of Ending Hunger in Wisconsin, contact the Division of Public Health at
patti.herrick@wisconsin.gov.
• The Action Plan was the basis for further discussion at the four regional hunger forums held in 2008 in Racine, Rice Lake, Rhinelander, and Richaland Center. The goal of the regional forums was to further engage local partners - from state policymakers to local volunteers - in strategies to reduce hunger. The Forums were very successful, drawing anywhere from 60-100 attendees at the sessions.
• The Wisconsin Food Security Consortium will continue to meet and plan next steps in promotion and implementation of the Action Plan.
The Department, with the assistance of the Food Security Consortium, continues its commitment to fight hunger in Wisconsin.
Sincerely,
karen e. timberlake
Secretary
__________________
Medical College of Wisconsin
December 29, 2008
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Enclosed, please find the Medical College of Wisconsin's annual report for the Breast and Prostate Cancer Research Program funded through the income tax check-off programs created by 2003 Wisconsin ACT 176 and 2005 Wisconsin ACT 460. The document represents the annual report highlighting the fiscal reporting period of July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the report, please contact me at 414-456-8217.
Sincerely,
kathryn a. kuhn
Associate Vice President of Government Affairs
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Transportation
December 29, 2008
S20
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The department respectfully submits this report on the results of the study of Wisconsin's truck size and weight limit laws required by
2007 Act 20.
Consistent with the specific requirements of Act 20, the department contracted for the study and the study did identify changes in these laws that would have a net benefit to Wisconsin's economy. The study included review of items that were found to have net benefit in a similar Minnesota project report. The study was conducted with the assistance of an advisory committee, appointed by the department to meet the requirements of the Act.
Any questions about the study or this report may be directed to Rory Rhinesmith, Statewide Bureaus Operation Director, Division of Transportation Systems Development at 608-266-2392, or by email
Rory.Rhinesmith@dot.wi.gov.
Sincerely,
frank j. busalacchi
Secretary
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
December 30, 2008
The Honorable, The Legislature:
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 November 2008.
On November 1, 2008, the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund cash balance closed at a negative $137.0 million. This negative balance continued through November 30, 2008, when the fund's cash balance closed at a negative $124.7 million. The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund cash balance reached its intra-month low of a negative $137.4 million on November 14, 2008. The negative balance was due to the transfer of $200 million to the Medical Assistance Trust Fund per
2007 Wisconsin Act 20, and the pending liquidation of fund securities necessary to offset this shortfall.
On November 1, 2008, the Worker's Compensation Fund cash balance closed at a negative $2.5 million. This negative balance continued through November 30, 2008, when the fund's cash balance closed at a negative $2.6 million (its intra-month low). The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
On November 1, 2008, the Mediation Fund cash balance closed at a negative $3.0 thousand. This negative balance continued through November 14, 2008, when the fund's cash balance closed as a positive $209 thousand. The Mediation Fund cash balance reached its intra-month low of a negative $13 thousand on November 13, 2008. The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
On November 20, 2008, the Conservation Fund cash balance closed at a negative $2.7 million (its intra-month low). This negative balance continued through November 21, 2008, when the fund's cash balance closed at a positive $579 thousand. The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
On November 20, 2008, the Utility Public Benefits Fund cash balance closed at a negative $1.6 million. This negative balance continued through November 30, 2008, when the fund's cash balance closed at a negative $4.0 million (its intra-month low). The negative balance was due to a delayed transfer to the fund.
The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund, Worker's Compensation Fund, Mediation Fund, Conservation Fund and Utility Public Benefits Fund shortfalls were not in excess of the statutory interfund borrowing limitations and did not exceed the balances of the funds available for interfund borrowing.
