Emergency rules now in effect
Under s. 227.24, Stats., state agencies may promulgate rules without complying with the usual rule-making procedures. Using this special procedure to issue emergency rules, an agency must find that either the preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare necessitates its action in bypassing normal rule-making procedures.
Emergency rules are published in the official state newspaper, which is currently the Wisconsin State Journal. Emergency rules are in effect for 150 days and can be extended up to an additional 120 days with no single extension to exceed 60 days.
Extension of the effective period of an emergency rule is granted at the discretion of the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules under s. 227.24 (2), Stats.
Notice of all emergency rules which are in effect must be printed in the Wisconsin Administrative Register. This notice will contain a brief description of the emergency rule, the agency finding of emergency, date of publication, the effective and expiration dates, any extension of the effective period of the emergency rule and information regarding public hearings on the emergency rule.
Copies of emergency rule orders can be obtained from the promulgating agency. The text of current emergency rules can be viewed at www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/code.
Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection
Rules adopted revising
ch. ATCP 80, relating to pathogen-tests on ready-to-eat dairy products.
Finding of emergency
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary to protect public health, safety and welfare. The facts constituting the emergency are as follows:
(1) DATCP licenses and inspects dairy plants under s.
97.20, Stats. Current DATCP rules, under s.
ATCP 80.56 (4), Wis. Adm. Code, require dairy plant operators to report to DATCP the results of any microbiological test that confirms the presence of a pathogenic organism in a pasteurized or ready-to-eat dairy product.
(2) There has been a nationwide increase in food borne disease outbreaks associated with food and dairy products. Such outbreaks can occur when ready-to-eat foods enter food distribution channels without being tested for pathogenic bacteria.
(3) There is no national or state law requiring dairy plant operators to test ready-to-eat dairy products for pathogens prior to sale or distribution. Dairy plant operators have a natural incentive to test, in order to avoid liability and meet their customers' product safety demands. But the current test reporting requirement under s.
ATCP 80.56 (4) discourages pathogen testing, because test reports become public records that may be open to public inspection even if the affected products are withheld from distribution.
(4) There is an urgent need to repeal this counterproductive reporting requirement, and to create alternative rules that will encourage pathogen testing and provide stronger public health protection. This emergency rule will encourage more pathogen testing, and provide stronger public health protection, pending the adoption of “permanent" rule changes.
Publication Date:
March 2, 2001
Effective Date:
March 2, 2001
Expiration Date:
July 30, 2001
Hearing Dates:
June 14 & 15, 2001
Commerce
(Flammable and Combustible Liquids - Ch. Comm 10)
Rules adopted revising s. Comm 10.345
, relating to the effective date of required upgrades to aboveground bulk tanks that were in existence on May 1, 1991.
Finding of emergency
The Department of Commerce finds that an emergency exists and that the adoption of a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of public health, safety and welfare. The facts constituting the emergency are as follows:
Wisconsin Administrative Code ch.
Comm 10, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, became effective on 5/1/91. Section
Comm 10.345 (2) contains requirements for bulk tanks in existence on that date to be provided with specific containment or leak detection upgrades within 10 years of that date. Some concerns have been expressed on the impact that compliance date could have on heating oil supplies and prices this winter. Construction requirements could result in a substantial number of tanks storing heating oil to be closed during the winter heating season in preparation for the required upgrades.
Based on these concerns, the department has agreed to extend the compliance deadline for 3 months until 8/1/01 if approvable tank system upgrade plans have been submitted to the department by 2/1/01.
Publication Date:
January 6, 2001
Effective Date:
January 6, 2001
Expiration Date:
June 4, 2001
Hearing Date:
February 27, 2001
Extension Through:
August 2, 2001
Commerce
(Financial Assistance for Businesses and Communities)
(Chs. Comm 105-128)
Rules adopted revising ch. Comm 113 relating to the allocation of volume cap on tax-exempt private activity bonds.
Finding of emergency
The Department of Commerce finds that an emergency exists and that the adoption of a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of public health, safety and welfare.
Pursuant to s.
560.032, Stats., the Department of Commerce (Commerce) is responsible for administering the allocation of volume cap. The emergency rule is being adopted to incorporate in the administrative code recent changes to the Internal Revenue Code (Section CFR 146) which increases state volume cap limits on tax-exempt private activity bonds. The year 2000 limit was $50 per resident of the state. For the year 2001 the limit has been raised to $62.50; for the year 2002, the limit will be $75.00; and thereafter, the limit will be indexed to inflation. The rule identifies a formula for the allocation of volume cap for the year 2001 and future years. This emergency rule outlines the distribution of the volume cap between the State Building Commission, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, and Commerce. The rules are also being revised to provide an allocation process that will allow Commerce to be more responsive to the needs of businesses as changes occur in the state's economy.
Publication Date:
April 26, 2001
Effective Date:
April 26, 2001
Expiration Date:
September 23, 2001
Hearing Date:
July 16, 2001
Corrections
Rules adopted revising ch. DOC 309
, relating to sexually explicit material at adult correctional institutions.
Finding of emergency
The Department of Corrections finds that an emergency exists and that rules are necessary for preservation of the public welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is: Effective December 1, 1998, the Department implemented rules restricting inmates' access to sexually explicit material. These rules were challenged in federal court in a class action suit brought by several inmates (Aiello v. Litscher, Case No. 98-C-791-C, Western District of Wisconsin). The defendants filed a motion for summary judgment, but it was denied by the court in language that suggested the rules were unconstitutional in their present form based on a number of federal appellate court decisions that were reported after the rules were implemented.
In light of these developments, the parties negotiated a settlement which includes an immediate revision of the present rules to conform to the latest decisional law regarding the extent to which inmates' access to sexually explicit material can be restricted for legitimate penological objectives. Adoption of the revised rules no later than February 23, 2001, is necessary to avoid a lapse of the settlement agreement and lengthy trial with the attendant possibility of having to pay a considerable amount in attorneys' fees.
This order:
•
Revises the present rules restricting inmates' access to sexually explicit material by prohibiting access to published material that depicts nudity on a routine or regular basis or promotes itself based on nudity in the case of individual one-time issues.
•
Revises the present rules by prohibiting access to written material when it meets the legal definition of obscenity.
Publication Date:
February 23, 2001
Effective Date:
February 23, 2001
Expiration Date:
July 23, 2001
Hearing Date:
May 3, 4 & 9, 2001
Financial Institutions - Corporate and Consumer Services
Rules adopted repealing
ch. SS 3 and creating
chs. DFI-CCS 1 to 6, relating to the Uniform Commercial Code.
Finding of emergency
2001 Act 10 repealed and recreated the Wisconsin Uniform Commercial Code (“UCC"), effective July 1, 2001. The act authorizes the Department of Financial Institutions to promulgate rules to implement the UCC. Without these rules, the department will be unable to operate either a state-wide lien filing system or give effect to the provisions of the UCC before permanent rules can be promulgated. The act is part of an effort by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and all member states to implement a revised model Uniform Commercial Code on July 1, 2001 to facilitate interstate commerce with nation-wide uniformity in lien filings. The rules address general provisions, acceptance and refusal of documents, the information management system, filing and data entry procedures, search requests and reports, and other notices of liens under the UCC.
