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.
Occasionally the Legislature grants emergency rule authority to an agency with a longer effective period than 150 days or allows an agency to adopt an emergency rule without requiring a finding of emergency.
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 or a statement of exemption from a 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 (2)
1.
Rules adopted amending
s. ATCP 10.47 (2) (c) and (3) (b) 3., relating to minimum acreage requirements for farm-raised deer hunting preserves.
(1) The Wisconsin department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection (“DATCP") administers state laws related to farm-raised deer. DATCP currently licenses deer farms and issues certificates for deer hunting preserves, pursuant to s.
95.55, Stats., and ch.
ATCP 10, Wis. Adm. Code.
(2) Current law generally prohibits deer hunting preserves smaller than 80 acres. However,
2005 Wis. Act 359 (enacted effective May 3, 2006) provides a limited “grandfather" exemption for certain white-tailed deer hunting preserves previously licensed by the Department of Natural Resources (“DNR"). Under Act 359, a white-tailed deer hunting preserve is exempt from the 80-acre minimum size requirement if,
among other things, the acreage of the hunting preserve is “not less than the acreage subject to the deer farm license on December 31, 2002." This rule clarifies that the “acreage subject to the deer farm license on December 31, 2002" means the
hunting acreage subject to the deer farm license on December 31, 2002. Without this interpretation, Act 359 would have no practical effect and would be rendered a nullity.
(3) The “grandfather" exemption in Act 359 is limited to hunting preserve operators who apply by November 1, 2006. DATCP must act on applications within 90 business days. Action may affect an operator's ability to operate during the 2006 hunting season. DATCP is adopting this rule as an emergency rule, in order to facilitate timely action on applications. DATCP could not adopt this rule by normal rulemaking procedures in time to implement Act 359.
Publication Date:
October 9, 2006
Effective Date:
October 9, 2006
Expiration Date:
March 7, 2007
Hearing Date: November 13, 2006
2.
Rules adopted creating
ch. ATCP 112, relating to credit report security freezes.
Finding of Emergency
(1) The Wisconsin department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection (“DATCP") will administer s.
100.54, Stats. as of January 1, 2007. DATCP is required under s.
100.54 (12), Stats. to adopt rules related to identification required of consumers requesting credit report security freezes.
(2) As of January 1, 2007, s.
100.54, Stats. will be in effect, however without an emergency rule the statute will be unclear regarding what constitutes proper identification for purposes of creating a security freeze, temporarily releasing a security freeze or permanently removing a security freeze from a consumer credit report.
(3) DATCP is adopting this emergency rule for the sole purpose of allowing consumers to clearly place a security freeze on their consumer credit report while the permanent rulemaking process is completed.
Publication Date:
January 19, 2007
Effective Date:
January 19, 2007
Expiration Date:
June 18, 2007
Hearing Date: February 12, 2007
Commerce (2)
(Financial Resources for Businesses and Communities, Chs.
Comm 104-
131)
1.
Rules adopted creating
ch. Comm 104, relating to Woman-Owned Business Certification Program.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
The Legislature, by section 5 (1) (a) in
2005 Wisconsin Act 358, exempts the Department from providing evidence that this emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety or welfare; and exempts the Department from providing a finding of emergency for the adoption of this rule.
Pursuant to section
227.24 of the statutes, this rule is adopted as an emergency rule to take effect upon publication
in the official state newspaper. In accordance with section
5 (1) (b) of
2005 Wisconsin Act 358, this rule will remain in effect until March 1, 2007, or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner.
Plain Language Analysis
These emergency rules primarily specify (1) which businesses are eligible for becoming certified in this program; (2) how to apply for certification and recertification; (3) how the certifications will be issued, renewed, and rescinded; and (4) how to appeal a decision by the Department. Parameters are also included for recognizing equivalent certifications that are issued by other public agencies.
Publication Date:
February 9, 2007
Effective Date:
February 9, 2007
Hearing Date: March 30, 2007
2.
Rules adopted creating
ch. Comm 135, relating to tax credits and exemptions for internet equipment used in the broadband market.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
These rules establish the criteria for administering a program that will (1) certify businesses as temporarily eligible for tax credits and exemptions for Internet equipment used in the broadband market, and (2) allocate up to $7,500,000 to these businesses for these tax credits and exemptions.
Pursuant to section
227.24 of the statutes, this rule is adopted as an emergency rule to take effect upon publication
in the official state newspaper. In accordance with section
17 (1) (d) of
2005 Wisconsin Act 479, this rule will remain in effect until January 1, 2008, or until the Department reports its certifications and determinations under this rule to the Department of Revenue, whichever is sooner.
The rules specify who is eligible for the income and franchise tax credits and the sales and use tax exemptions in this program, for Internet equipment used in the broadband market. Eligible equipment is also specified, along with how to apply for the certifications and allocations. Parameters for allocating the authorized total of $7,500,000 are likewise specified. These parameters emphasize (1) efficiently initiating broadband Internet service in areas of Wisconsin that otherwise are not expected to soon receive this service, and (2) encouraging economic or community development. The rule chapter also describes the time-specific legislative oversight that is established in
2005 Act 479 for these allocations, and describes the follow-up reports that the Act requires from every person who receives a sales or use tax exemption under this chapter.
Publication Date:
February 20, 2007
Effective Date:
February 20, 2007
Hearing Date: March 26, 2007
Dentistry Examining Board
Rules were adopted amending
ch. DE 11, relating to better identifying the different levels of anesthesia, including nitrous oxide, anxiolysis, conscious sedation-enteral, conscious sedation-parenteral, deep sedation, and general anesthesia, and the requirements for each level.
Finding of Emergency
The board finds that failure to delay the effective date of
CR04-095, from January 1, 2007, to July 1, 2007, will create a danger to the public health, safety and welfare. The extra six months are needed to allow the implementation of the rule to occur and to ensure the continued use of conscious sedation for dental patients.
Publication Date:
December 21, 2006
Effective Date:
December 29, 2006
Expiration Date:
May 28, 2007
Hearing Date: January 31, 2007
Hearing Date: December 13, 2006
Insurance (2)
1.
Rules adopted creating
ss. Ins 9.25 (8) and 9.27 (4), Wis. Adm. Code, relating to preferred provider plan applicability dates and affecting small business plan limited exemption.
Finding of Emergency
