Wednesday, August 14, 1996
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date.
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State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
August 5, 1996
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Chapter 34, Laws of 1979, requires that when the Department of Administration maintains an office in Washington, DC, for the purpose of promoting federal/state cooperation, it should submit a report detailing the activities of the office and reporting the status of federal legislation of concern to the Legislature and other agencies (Wis. Stats. 16.548 (2)).
The report for the period April 1, 1996, through June 30, 1996, is attached.
Sincerely,
james r. klauser
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
August 8, 1996
The Honorable, The Legislature:
This report is transmitted as required by sec. 20.002(11)(f) of the Wisconsin Statutes, (for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under sec. 13.172(3) Stats.), and confirms that the Department of Administration has found it necessary to exercise the "temporary reallocation of balances" authority provided by this section in order to meet payment responsibilities and cover resulting negative balances during the month of July, 1996.
On July 1, 1996 the Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund balance was -$2 thousand. This shortfall grew to -$30 thousand on July 29 and continued through the end of the month. This shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
On July 1, 1996 the Wisconsin Health Insurance Risk Sharing Fund balance was -$12 thousand. This shortfall grew to -$16 thousand on July 31 and continued through the end of the month. This shortfall was due to timing of revenues.
The Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund and Health Insurance Risk Sharing Fund shortfalls were not in excess of the $400 million ceiling and did not exceed the balances of the Funds available for interfund borrowing.
The distribution of interest earnings to investment pool participants is based on the average daily balance in the pool and each fund's share. Therefore, the monthly calculation by the State Controller's Office will automatically reflect the use of these temporary reallocations of balance authority.
Sincerely,
james R. klauser
Secretary
Referred to the Joint Committee on Finance
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
August 8, 1996
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed an evaluation of Wisconsin's employer-funded Duty Disability program, which is administered by the Department of Employe Trust Funds. The program provides lifetime benefits to police officers, firefigthers, prison guards, and other protective employes who are fully or partially disabled by injuries on the job. Benefits can equal up to 80 percent of the injured employe's former salary and are exempt from federal and state income taxes. As of January 1, 1996, more than 16,000 workers were employed in protective occupations, and 627 former protective workers or their families were receiving program benefits.
The Duty Disability program provides more generous benefits and has considerably lower qualifying requirements than standard disability programs for non-protective workers. The Legislature created these higher benefit levels in recognition of the unusual risks associated with protective occupations. However, questions have been raised over whether higher benefit levels limit the incentive for partially disabled participants to seek careers for which they are physically qualified, and over the equity of some benefits levels. Further, the program has no mechanism to remove participants whose injuries heal and who are no longer disabled. Since 1982, when the Duty Disability program underwent major changes, the number of former protective workers qualifying for disability benefits has increased from an average of 10 per year to and average of 49 per year. The Department's contracted actuary estimates the lifetime cost of benefits for current program recipients at $142 million.
We have identified a number of options the Legislature can consider to improve program administration and address equity questions. These options include establishing work incentives for those who are physically able to develop new careers, requiring periodic medical reviews to confirm a continuing disability, and authorizing more extensive employer review of claims.
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We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff in the Department of Employe Trust Funds and representatives of other state agencies, municipalities, and counties we contacted during the course of this evaluation. The Department's response is Appendix II.
Sincerely,
dale cattanach
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Department of Commerce
August 2, 1996
The Honorable, The Legislature:
In accordance with s.
234.65(5), the Department of Development is required to provide a report addressing the effects of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority's (WHEDA) lending activities on the state's economic development.
I am respectfully submitting the attached WHEDA Report for loans closed in 1995 in the manner provided in section 13.172(3), Wisconsin Statutes. If you have any questions concerning the report or would like to obtain copies, please contact Bev Haberman in our Division of Administrative Services, Bureau of Policy and Budget Development at (608)267-6876.
Sincerely,
william j. mccoshen
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
State of Historical Society
August 6, 1996
The Honorable, The Senate:
I'm pleased to send you the initial report from the Electronic Records Program at the State Historical Society. The State Legislature established the program with a special appropriation in 1994.
The report describes what the Program staff accomplished in its first year of work.
Please call me at (608)264-6480 if you have any questions about out first-year report or would like further information on our work.
Sincerely,
Peter Gottlieb
State Archivist
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