Rule-Making Notices (Hearing Notices)

None.

Describe the type of professional skills necessary for compliance with the rule.

Familiarity with software such as SNAP Plus and RUSLE2 will be needed for the phosphorus index agricultural performance standard.

Small business regulatory coordinator

The Department's Small Business Regulatory Coordinator for this rule may be contacted at [e-mail] or by calling [phone].

Environmental Analysis

The Department has made a preliminary determination that this action does not involve significant adverse environmental effects and does not need an environmental analysis under ch. NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department's consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives.

Fiscal Estimate

Summary

Proposed rule revision will result in an increased demand on agency staff devoting more time to training, education, grant oversight, enforcement and development of guidance and procedures. The department estimates that a total of 10.5 FTEs will be needed to implement all three rules.

State fiscal effect

Increase costs. Costs will not be absorbed within the agency's budget.

Local government fiscal effect

Increase costs.

Types of local governmental units affected

Towns, Villages, Cities, Counties.

Fund sources affected

GPR, SEG.

Long-range fiscal implications

State cost-share grants to fully implement the process wastewater performance standard would be $9.3 million or $930,000 annually if awarded over a 10-year period. However, this estimate is dependent upon the availability of cost-share funds to implement the standard.

Agency Contact Person

Carol Holden,

Department of Natural Resources

P.O. Box 7921

Madison, WI 53707-7921

Telephone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Notice of Hearing

Veteran Affairs

rulemaking_notices CR 09-122 EmR0944, CR 09-122

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That pursuant to s. 45.20 (2) (c) 2. a., Stats., and Chapter 227 of the Wisconsin Statutes, the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs will hold a public hearing to consider emergency rules and proposed permanent rules to amend section VA 2.02 (2), relating to the veterans tuition reimbursement program.

Hearing Information

The public hearing will be held as follows:

Date and Time:	Location:
March 10, 2010 Wednesday At 10:00 a.m.	Wis. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Board Room, 8th Floor 30 West Mifflin Street Madison, Wisconsin

Submission of Written Comments

Written comments relating to the proposed rules should be submitted to James A. Stewart, 30 West Mifflin Street, P.O. Box 7843, Madison, WI 53707-7843. Phone: [phone] E-Mail: [e-mail]

Comments should be submitted no later than March 24, 2010.

Analysis Prepared by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs

Statute interpreted

Section 45.20 (2) (c) 2., Stats.

Statutory authority

Section 45.20 (2) (c) 2. a., Stats.

Explanation of agency authority

The department is charged with administering a grant program to reimburse eligible veterans for undergraduate tuition within the program limitations. It provides eligible applicants with printed and electronic applications for the program through county veterans service offices, school veterans officials and directly from the department. The Legislature has granted the agency authority to promulgate a rule for setting the time an application for the program must be completed and received by the department.

Related statute or rule

There is no related statute or rule.

Plain language analysis

The amendment of VA 2.02 (2) will create a specific time period for the completion and submission of an application for the veterans tuition reimbursement program.

Comparison with federal regulations

There is no current or pending federal regulation which would provide tuition reimbursement for the eligible veterans under this program.

Comparison with rules in adjacent states

There are no similar rules in adjacent states.

Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies

The department has reviewed the provision of financial aids through public and private institutions of higher education. It has also discussed the application deadlines for financial aids with school veterans officials and county veterans service officers. The department has determined that the majority of applications for financial aid in institutions of higher education occur within the first 60 days following the initiation of the semester or term. The department is proposing a time frame for applying for this program consistent with the majority of other financial aids applications.

Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small business

No analysis was performed regarding an economic impact statement.

Small Business Impact

These rules have no effect upon small businesses, nor any significant fiscal impact upon the private sector.

Fiscal Estimate

Assumptions used in arriving at fiscal estimate

The amended rule will require the application to be completed and received by the department no later than 60 days after the starting date of the course, term or semester for which reimbursement is requested. The proposed rule amendment will show initially an increase in the department's denial rate and a decrease in expenditures of the tuition reimbursement grant for eligible veterans. Available data shows that based on historic trends the percentage of applications denied by not being submitted within the required time limit; in FY07 13%, FY08 9% and in FY09 0%.

For the purpose of the fiscal impact of this fiscal estimate, the decrease in expenditures is projected to be:

	Base Demand	% denials	Fiscal Impact	Adjusted Demand
FY11	$1,403,015	13%	$(182,392)	$1,220,623
FY12	$1,487,196	8%	$(118,976)	$1,368,220
FY13	$1,576,428	4%	$(63,057)	$1,513,371
FY14	$1,671,013	4%	$(66,841)	$1,604,173

The fiscal effect in FY11 will be ($182,392) and in FY12 ($118,976).

Please contact the Agency Contact Person listed below to request a copy of the fiscal estimate.

State fiscal effect

Decrease existing appropriation.

Fund sources affected

SEG.

Affected Ch. 20 appropriations

Section 20.485 (2) (tf), Stats.

Text of the Proposed Permanent and Emergency Rules

SECTION 1. VA 2.02 (2) is amended to read:

(2) REIMBURSEMENT APPLICATION. An application shall be submitted on a form approved by the department. It may be submitted through a county veterans service officer, through any other agent authorized by the department, or directly to the department, either manually or electronically. The application may not be submitted until the semester for which reimbursement is requested has been completed. Applications shall be received by the department or an authorized agent no later than 60 days after the starting date of the course, term or semester for which reimbursement is requested. Applications are considered received if all student information is completed and a physical or electronic date stamp is affixed to the application. The school veterans coordinator shall list the completion date of the semester, the cost of tuition, other assistance received or applied for by the applicant, the number of credits enrolled in during the semester, and the semester grade point average. Applications are considered complete when all required information has been provided and the completed application is submitted to the department manually or electronically. Completed applications submitted more than 60 days following the last day of the course, term or semester for which reimbursement is requested will be denied unless good cause can be shown for the delay in submission.

Agency Contact Person

James A. Stewart, Chief Legal Counsel

30 West Mifflin Street, P.O. Box 7843

Madison, WI 53707-7843

Phone: [phone]

E-Mail: [e-mail]