2011-10-19 Assembly Journal

Please find enclosed a hard copy of the Guide to Wisconsin Hospitals, FY 2010 produced by WHA Information Center, pursuant to s. 153.22, Wis. Stats. The report was posted on our Web site in August 2011. Please feel free to download and print additional copies.

If you have any questions regarding the report you may contact me at 608-274-1820, 800-231-8340 or [e-mail].

Sincerely,

Debbie Rickelman

Senior Director
WHA Information Center

Referred to committee on Health.

__________________

DATE: October 1, 2011

TO: Patrick E. Fuller, Assembly Chief Clerk
Robert J. Marchant, Senate Chief Clerk

FROM: Donna Katen-Bahensky, President and CEO
University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

Attached please find a copy of the UWHC Authority report on patient care, education, research, community service activities and a draft audited financial statement required by state law.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or desire additional information. Thank you.

Referred to committee on Health.

__________________

State of Wisconsin
Department of Veterans Affairs
Madison

October 17, 2011

To the Honorable, the Legislature:

In accordance with Wis. Stats. s. 45.35 (3d) (b), the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and the Wisconsin Council on Veterans Programs jointly submit the biennial report to the Chief Clerk of each house of the Legislature for distribution to the Legislature under s. 13.172 (2). The reports include a general summary of the activities and membership over the past two years of the Council on Veterans Programs and from each organization represented on the Council.

The information contained in the report was compiled by WDVA staff and the Council Chairman from materials submitted by the representative from each active organization on the Council. The following veterans' organizations have submitted Activities and Membership Reports: AMVETS, American GI Forum, American Legion, American Red Cross, Army Navy Union, Blinded Veterans Association, Catholic War Veterans, CVSO Association, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans, Marine Corps League, Military Officers Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, National Association for Black Veterans, Navy Club, The Retired Enlisted Assoc., United Women Veterans, US Submarine Veterans of WWII, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Wisconsin Association of Concerned Veterans Organizations, and Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans

These organizations have not yet submitted a report: Paralyzed Veterans of America, Polish Legion of American Veterans, and Ex-POWs.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at [phone] for further information or assistance.

Sincerely,

John A. Scocos

Secretary

Referred to committee on Veterans and Military Affairs.

__________________

State of Wisconsin
Medical College of Wisconsin
Madison

October 19, 2011

To the Honorable, the Legislature:

Attached please find the biennial Medical School Enrollment report of the Medical College of Wisconsin, prepared according to the statutory requirement under section 13.106. This report covers the period ending June 30, 2011, and contains information in the following areas:

A585 • Minority student recruitment policies and programs
• Number of minority students enrolled
• Number and percentages of Wisconsin residents enrolled
• Average faculty salaries compared to national averages
• Development of cooperative educational programs with other institutions throughout the state
• Placement of graduates of doctor of medicine and residency training programs

Please feel free to contact me at [phone] if you have any questions or would like additional information.

Sincerely,

Kathryn A. Kuhn

Vice President Government
and Community Relations

Referred to committee on Colleges and Universities.

__________________

Agency Reports

State of Wisconsin
Department of Workforce Development
Madison

October 15, 2011

To the Honorable, the Legislature:

I am pleased to provide you with this report on the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) for the biennium ending June 30, 2011.

As you are well aware, the period includes a change in administration on January 3, 2011. Under your leadership, Governor Walker, DWD has acted quickly to move the state's workforce system in a new direction, one that supports your goal of promoting a business climate that helps the private sector create 250,000 jobs in four years.

Our mission at DWD is advancing Wisconsin's economy and business climate by empowering and supporting the workforce, and our vision is to make Wisconsin the workforce of choice.

This report spans two years of workforce development efforts, but I want to note briefly some of our accomplishments so far this year:

• 2011-13 Budget - The fiscally responsible budget required tough decisions to get Wisconsin moving in the right direction. The budget included a one-week waiting period for initial payment of Unemployment Insurance benefits, saving $45.2 million a year when the measure takes effect next year. The budget also included $15 million a year in state funding for vocational rehabilitation services to serve people with disabilities.

• New website - One of my top priorities was to work with staff to identify ways we can better serve the public and communicate the many things we do every day to serve the people of Wisconsin. On June 20th, we launched a redesigned agency website at http://dwd.wisconsin.gov, making it easier for job seekers, employers and the public to find information about our programs and services. This project was done in house with existing staff and resources.

• www.JobCenterofWisconsin.com - Our overall objective is to get Wisconsin working again, whether in new jobs we help create or existing positions that are vacant. At every opportunity, we promote this free, userfriendly employment site. Job postings by employers have set records, exceeding 34,000 on a given day and topping 100,000 in early September, surpassing the 75,000 total postings for all of last year.

• Governor's Council on Workforce Investment - In step with efforts to create a more business friendly environment, the Governor's Council on Workforce Investment now has greater private sector representation. The council will play an important role as we work with our partners and all stakeholders to align resources, target funding more effectively and achieve the best results. At DWD, we are working closely with the new Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to advance the economy.

• Unemployment Insurance - Working in consultation with the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council, we are setting forth a plan to restore solvency in the UI trust fund, repay funds borrowed from the federal government and strengthen program integrity. As noted, Wisconsin now has a one-week waiting period for benefits. We are working with the UI Advisory Council on other steps to balance the fund. Program integrity efforts have been ongoing.

The year also included centennial celebrations of the two programs that started in Wisconsin and served as models to the nation, the Wisconsin Apprenticeship Program and Worker's Compensation. The apprenticeship program remains one of our best training programs and will serve us well in meeting the needs of employers for skilled workers. With its focus on safety, the worker's compensation program will help employers maintain safe, productive worksites and control costs. Much as we are working to move Wisconsin in a new direction and seek innovation, we also are committed to maintaining effective programs and services, improving them as needed.

We are pleased to be a part of your efforts to advance Wisconsin's economy and create new employment opportunities for the people of Wisconsin, and we look forward to continued success.

Sincerely,

Scott C. baumbach

Secretary

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State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison

October 15, 2011

To the Honorable, the Legislature:

This report presents statements of fund condition and operations (budgetary basis) of the State of Wisconsin for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. This satisfies the requirements of sec. 16.40 (3), Wisconsin Statutes. Displayed are major sources of revenues and major categories of expenditures for the General Fund and other funds compared to the prior year.

A586 The General Fund has an undesignated balance of $85.6 million as of the end of the fiscal year. This is $680 thousand lower than the balance of $86.2 million projected in the estimate for the January 31, 2011 Legislative Fiscal Bureau revenue estimates, as modified by 2011 Acts 10, 13 and 27.

General-purpose revenue taxes were $12.912 billion compared to $12.132 billion in the prior year, an increase of $780 million or 6.4 percent. Collections increased in fiscal year 2010-11 with individual income and sales tax collections 10.0% and 4.2% more, respectively, than the prior year.

General-purpose revenue expenditures, excluding fund transfers, were $13.565 billion compared to $12.824 billion in the prior year, an increase of $741 million or 5.8 percent.

In fiscal year 2011, the State of Wisconsin continued to devote the major share of state tax collections to assistance to local school districts, municipalities and counties. Local assistance accounted for 56.7 percent of total general purpose revenue spending. Aid payments to individuals and organizations represented 19.4 percent of total general purpose revenue expenditures. The University of Wisconsin accounted for 7.9 percent of total general purpose revenue spending and state operations spending for all other state agencies accounted for 16.0 percent of the total.

The State of Wisconsin expects to publish its comprehensive annual financial report in December of 2011. The report will be prepared under generally accepted accounting principles.

Sincerely,

Michael Huebsch

Secretary of Administration

Stephen J. Censky, CPA

State Controller