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.
S873
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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executive order #287
Relating to Amending Executive Order #283 and to the Transfer to the Department of Administration of Responsibilities for Higher Educational Aid Programs Currently Assigned to the Higher Educational Aids Board and to Transfer to the Department of Administration of Responsibilities for the Regulation of Proprietary Schools and the Approval of Schools and Courses of Instruction for the Training of Veterans Receiving Assistance from the Federal Government Currently Assigned to the Educational Approval Board and to the Creation of Higher Educational Aids Council and the Educational Approval Council
WHEREAS, Executive Order #283 directed the Secretary of the Department of Administration, effective July 1, 1996, to assume responsibility for programs formerly administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board and the Educational Approval Board; and
WHEREAS, Executive Order #283 directed the Secretary of the Department of Administration to request that the Joint Committee on Finance transfer the funds and positions associated with the administration of higher educational aids and the administration of Educational Approval Board responsibilities from the Department of Public Instruction to the Department of Administration, effective July 1, 1996; and
WHEREAS, the Joint Committee on Finance, in action taken on June 27, 1996, did not transfer positions and funds related to higher educational aids and Educational Approval Board responsibilities from the Department of Public Instruction to the Department of Administration; and
WHEREAS, the Joint Committee on Finance recommended that prior to July 1, 1996, the Department of Public Instruction enter into a memoranda of understanding with the Higher Educational Aids Board and the Educational Approval Board for the Department of Public Instruction to provide funding and staff in 1996-97 to carry out the functions of the respective boards; and
WHEREAS, the Joint Committee on Finance created a project position to serve as the Executive Secretary of the Higher Educational Aids Board;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, TOMMY G. THOMPSON, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of this State, and specifically by Section
14.019 of the Wisconsin Statutes, do hereby
1. Direct the higher Educational Aids Council, established by Executive Order #283, to oversee implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the Department of Public Instruction and the Higher Educational Aids Board to carry out the functions of the Board and advise Board staff on the administration of the financial aid appropriations pursuant to Section
20.235 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
2. Direct the Educational Approval Council, established by Executive Order #283, to oversee the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the Department of Public Instruction and the Educational Approval Board to carry out the functions of the Board and advise Board staff on the administration of responsibilities formerly assigned to the Educational Approval Board pursuant to Section
38.51 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
3. Direct that, effective July 1, 1996, the individual currently holding the position of Executive Secretary of the Higher Educational Aids Board serve as the Executive Secretary in the project position created by the Joint Committee on Finance on June 27, 1996
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the city of Madison this twenty-ninth day of June in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-six.
TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Governor
By the governor:
DOUGLAS LA FOLLETTE
Secretary of State
executive order #289
Relating to the Creation of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on 21st Century Jobs
WHEREAS, Wisconsin has enjoyed unprecedented economic success during the past decade; and
WHEREAS, technological progress and the imperatives of a global economy have mandated a change in the skill profile of the labor force; and
WHEREAS, the computer has reshaped the work place to a degree not anticipated by the Strategic Development Commission; and
WHEREAS, the success of Welfare Reform will require continued growth of job opportunities into the 21st Century; and
WHEREAS, Wisconsin must be aggressive and competitive in attracting and keeping high tech jobs;
