On August 28, 2009, APHIS identified emerald ash borer in Milwaukee County, near the borders of Racine County and Waukesha County. Emerald ash borer is an exotic pest that poses a dire risk to the ash forest. When APHIS declares quarantine, DATCP has regulatory authority for import controls and quarantine for emerald ash borer under ATCP 21.17. It is anticipated that APHIS will declare quarantines for Milwaukee County, Racine County and Waukesha County but that it will take up to six weeks for APHIS to act. A six week delay until enactment of the federal quarantines leaves too much time for businesses or individuals to move potentially emerald ash borer infested material out of the county to areas of Wisconsin or other states that are not infested with emerald ash borer.
DATCP is adopting this rule as a temporary emergency rule, pending completion of federal quarantine regulations. DATCP does not anticipate completing a permanent rule.
Publication Date:
September 14, 2009
Effective: September 14, 2009
through February 10, 2010
Hearing Date:
October 15, 2009
Children and Families
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Children and Families finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
2009 Wisconsin Act 28 assumes that court-ordered kinship care relatives will be applying for a license to operate a foster home beginning after January 1, 2010, and continuing throughout 2010. This rule creates the first two levels of the new levels of care system for foster care. The newly-licensed kinship care relatives will be incorporated into the foster care program. Licensing these relatives will allow the state to claim an additional $6.5 million in Title IV-E funds for 2010. Act 28 appropriates this $6.5 million to be expended in 2011.
Publication Date:
December 30, 2009
Effective: January 1, 2010 through
May 30, 2010
Commerce
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Commerce finds that an emergency exists within the state of Wisconsin and that adoption of an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, safety and welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is as follows.
1. Implementation of the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act necessitates most existing public swimming pools and water attractions to undergo physical modifications to reduce the risk of entrapment at suction outlets.
2. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act has a compliance date of December 19, 2008.
3. The department estimates that 3,700 existing pools and water attractions will need to be modified in order to comply with the federal act. As of December 1, 2009, approximately 1,800 pool modifications have been submitted to the department for review and approval.
4. There are claims that the availability of parts to make the necessary modifications is limited.
5.
The current department plan review fees and inspection fees under s.
Comm 2.68 reflect an estimated average time and cost to provide those services. For the types of pool and water attraction modifications necessary to comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, the department believes that the time and cost to provide the service will be below the averages reflected under the current fee structure of section
Comm 2.68.
6.
The department believes that a fee reduction to facilitate plan review and inspection relative to the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act is in alignment with the direction provided under s.
101.19, Stats., of keeping fees consistent with the costs of providing service.
Publication Date:
January 1, 2010
Effective: January 1, 2010 through
May 30, 2010
Hearing Date:
January 21, 2010
Commerce
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Commerce finds that an emergency exists within the state of Wisconsin and that adoption of an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, safety and welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is as follows.
1. Recently, chapter Comm 22, relating to energy conservation, was repealed and recreated to bring the Wisconsin requirements in line with the national model energy code. Effective April 1, 2009, chapter Comm 22 incorporates new prescriptive requirements that apply to individual components such as walls, windows, skylights, doors and ceilings. Within that subsection is section
Comm 22.31 (2) (a), that allows the use of a “total dwelling thermal envelope" method, and (2) (b), that allows the use of REScheck software, version 4.1.0, or later, to calculate compliance with the Uniform Dwelling Code thermal envelope requirements.
2. The U.S. Department of Energy's Building Energy Codes Program develops and distributes REScheck software. The software program simplifies and clarifies residential code compliance with the Model Energy Code (MEC) and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). REScheck software makes it easier for designers, builders, product manufacturers and code officials to comply with energy codes based on the IECC or ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 requirements. Also, REScheck can be tailored to meet state-specific codes.
3. The department included the REScheck software edition requirement in anticipation that Version 4.1.0 would be compatible with the current code. Working with Pacific Northwest Laboratories, who contracts with the U.S. Department of Energy to develop the REScheck software, the department developed state-specific energy calculations that were not incorporated into REScheck software until Version 4.2.2. The calculations that reflect the current code are identified in the software as “Wisconsin 2009." Versions prior to 4.2.2 do not have the code choice “Wisconsin 2009."
4. Previous versions of REScheck, including Version 4.1.0, do not meet nor support the requirements of Wisconsin's current energy code. In fact, Version 4.1.0 includes other values, such as gross wall trade-offs and appliance credits that are not included in chapter Comm 22 that became effective April 1, 2009.
5. The department recognizes that without promulgating this emergency rule, there would be confusion and miscalculations surrounding the use of Version 4.1.0 and other previous and out-of-date versions of REScheck software to calculate compliance with Uniform Dwelling Code thermal envelope requirements.
Publication Date:
September 5, 2009
Effective: September 5, 2009 through
February 1, 2010
Hearing Date:
October 21, 2009
Commerce (2)
Financial Resources for Businesses and Communities, Chs.
Comm 104—
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
The Legislature, by section 9110 (4) in
2009 Wisconsin Act 2, exempts the Department from providing evidence that this emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare; and exempts the Department from providing a finding of emergency for the adoption of this rule.
Publication Date:
June 30, 2009
Effective: June 30, 2009 through
July 1, 2010 or the date
permanent rules take
effect, whichever is sooner
Hearing Date:
September 15, 2009
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Commerce finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of public welfare. The facts constituting the emergency are as follows.
Between June 14 and July 9, 2008, thirty Wisconsin counties were declared major disaster areas by the President as a result of severe storms, tornados or flooding in 2008 that caused extensive damage to communities, residents, businesses, the economy and critical infrastructure. Subsequently, the federal Heartland Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008 was enacted, authorizing the Governor of Wisconsin to designate up to $3,830,112,000 in Qualified Midwestern Disaster Area Bonds, which must be issued before January 1, 2013, for the purpose of encouraging economic development and recovery in the 30 counties.
To implement the provisions this federal Act, Governor Jim Doyle issued Executive Order #288, directing the Department to promulgate rules for allocating Wisconsin's Qualified Midwestern Disaster Area Bonding Authority, and including the necessary provisions to ensure that bonds are allocated to eligible projects on the basis of providing assistance to areas in the order in which the assistance is most needed. This rule is the result of that directive.
Publication Date:
November 9, 2009
Effective: November 9, 2009 through
April 7, 2010
Hearing Date:
January 25, 2010
Corrections (2)
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Corrections finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, safety and welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
Under
2009 WI Act 28, an increased number of inmates are being considered for release. In addition, the department has developed a number of release initiatives to address an inmate's successful transition from incarceration to community life. As part of those initiatives, there are costs associated with that transition, including acquiring housing, employment, and transportation. For example, an inmate must have a social security card, a driver's license or state identification card, the first months rent and security deposit for an apartment, and civilian clothing.
Under the current rule, an inmate may only use release account funds for “adequate clothing for release" and for “out-of-state release transportation." In addition, the rule limits the maximum amount of money which can be saved in the release account to $500.00. The emergency rule immediately permits the use of release account money for a wide variety of purchases, including fees associated with obtaining a driver's license or state identification card, housing, and a mode of transportation (bus tickets, vehicle, bicycle, etc.). In the past the Department has borne some of these costs, despite an inmate having the money in his or her release account. Given the initiatives of reentry and release, an inmate should be responsible for these expenditures.
In addition, the emergency rule raises the limit on release accounts from $500.00 to $5,000.00. Since the current limit was established, the cost of living in the community has risen. The department seeks this change to reflect the significant costs of housing, transportation, and food and other necessities.
If the rule is not created promptly and immediately, the department will not be able to use inmate release account funds to pay for items which inmates need in preparation for their release to the community. The purpose of the emergency rule is to permit inmates to use release account funds for a greater range of expenditures related to their release from incarceration and transition back into the community. The permanent rule process has been started. However, the permanent rule process will take approximately nine months to complete. Emergency rules are necessary to respond promptly to the need to use inmate funds, not state funds, while permanent rules are being developed.
Publication Date:
September 10, 2009
Effective: September 10, 2009
through February 6, 2010
Extension Through:
April 7, 2010
Hearing Date:
October 14, 2009
emergency_rules EmR0939
2.
EmR0939 — Rule adopted revising
Chapter DOC 302, relating to sentence calculations and prison release and to administrative review of inmate classification decisions.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Corrections finds that an emergency exists and that emergency rules are necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, safety and welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
Under
2009 Wisconsin Act 28, the legislature provides for the release of inmates from prison if certain criteria are met. The Department is responsible for implementing several of those procedures. Specifically, the department is responsible for implementing the early release programs under: (1) s PAT (2) ERP/CIP (3) CER (4) Risk reduction (5) 75%/85%. In addition, the department is revising section 302.18 to facilitate the review of inmates for purposes of early release.
If the rule is not created promptly and immediately, the Department will not be able to proceed in reviewing inmates under these various release procedures. This could result in significant delay in the implementation of the statutory provisions which will negatively impact the ability of the Department to manage the inmate population in a safe and effective manner. In addition, a delay will affect the management and control of inmate population levels of correctional facilities with the resources necessary to maintain public safety.
The purpose of the emergency rule is to implement newly created statutory provisions providing for release of inmates under specified circumstances. The permanent rule process has been started. However, the permanent rule process will take approximately nine months to complete. Emergency rules are necessary for a prompt implementation of the legislative mandates concerning the release of inmates meeting established criteria while the permanent rules are being developed.
Publication Date:
December 31, 2009
Effective: December 31, 2009
through May 29, 2010
Hearing Date:
February 25, 2010
Earned Release Review Commission
(Formerly Parole Commission)
Finding of Emergency
The Wisconsin Earned Release Review Commission finds that an emergency exists and that emergency rules are necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, safety and welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
Under
2009 Wisconsin Act 28, the legislature provides for the release of inmates from prison if certain criteria are met. The Earned Release Review Commission (formerly the Parole Commission) is responsible for implementing several of those procedures. Specifically, the commission is responsible for considering the early release of inmates under: (1) section
304.06 (1) (bg)1. and
2., Stats., after the inmate has served the term of confinement of their bifurcated sentence less positive adjustment time, (2) section
304.06 (1) (bg) 3. and
4., Stats., after the inmate has served either 75 % or 85 % of their term of confinement, depending on the offense for which the inmate was sentenced, and (3) section
302.1135 (2) (a),
(b), and
(c), Stats., based on age or extraordinary health.
If the rule is not created promptly and immediately, the commission will not be able to proceed in reviewing inmates under these various release procedures. This could result in significant delay in the implementation of the statutory provisions which will negatively impact the ability of the department of corrections to manage the inmate population in a safe and effective manner. In addition, a delay will affect the management and control of inmate population levels of correctional facilities with the resources necessary to maintain public safety.
The purpose of the emergency rule is to implement newly created statutory provisions providing for release of inmates under specified circumstances. The permanent rule process has been started. However, the permanent rule process will take approximately nine months to complete. Emergency rules are necessary to respond the legislatively recognized need to review inmates who meet the requirements under the statutes for potential release while the permanent rules are being developed.
Publication Date:
December 31, 2009
Effective: December 31, 2009
through May 29, 2010
Hearing Date:
February 23, 2010
Employee Trust Funds
