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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
February 2, 1998
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
We have completed an evaluation of the Department of Health and Family Services' regulation of Wisconsin nursing homes and a review of the Board on Aging and Long Term Care's role in monitoring nursing homes, as directed by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. Approximately 100 surveyors in five regional offices of the Department regularly inspect the state's 430 nursing homes. Based on 2,328 visits to nursing homes in fiscal years 1995-96 and 1996-97, the Department issued 5,642 federal citations that led to a variety of enforcement actions including $410,075 in penalties, and 751 state citations resulting in $334,480 in forfeitures.
Federal regulations appear to provide an adequate foundation for the Department's regulatory efforts, although enforcement of these regulations appears to have been affected by a period of transition following their implementation in July 1995. State statutes and rules, in contrast, are outdated. Although work on new state rules began in 1996, new rules are not expected to be completed until 1999. Because the Department's surveyors exhibit different patterns of citing practices among the regions within the state, we include a recommendation that the Department take action to improve consistency among its surveyors. In addition, the Legislature could consider statutory amendments to increase penalties for nursing homes that have been unresponsive to regulatory efforts and to clarify the circumstances in which these nursing homes should be penalized.
The Board's ombudsmen help monitor nursing home conditions and assist residents, their families, and nursing home staff in the resolution of problems and concerns. The amount of work that ombudsmen can do with regard to monitoring the work of the Department or responding to consumers' concerns is limited by their number, which is small in comparison to programs in other states even after the recent increase from 8 to 11 positions. Finally, more could be done by both the Department and the Board to enable the public to contribute more effectively to the provision of quality care.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff in the Department of Health and Family Services and the Board on Aging and Long Term Care. Responses from the two agencies are included as Appendices I and II, respectively.
Respectfully submitted,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
December 19, 1997
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
I have enclosed a copy of the State of Wisconsin's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997. This report contains the "general purpose" or combined financial statements, and the combining financial statements for each fund type. As such, it represents a summary of all State transactions during the fiscal year.
I am pleased to report that the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the State of Wisconsin for its fiscal year 1996 CAFR. The GFOA's Certificate is a prestigious national award recognizing conformance with the highest standards for state and local government financial reports. The State of Wisconsin is again applying for the Certificate, and the 1997 CAFR has been submitted to the GFOA.
If you have specific questions regarding the CAFR's contents or comments on its usefulness, please contact me at (608) 266-3628.
Sincerely,
William J. Raftery, CPA
State Controller
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State of Wisconsin
Southeast Wisconsin Professional
Baseball Park District
January 21, 1998
RE: Monthly Progress Report
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
Enclosed please find your copy of the December 1997 Miller Park Monthly Progress Report. If you have any questions or comments on this months report, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and input on the Miller Park project.
Very truly yours,
MICHAEL R. DUCKETT
Executive Director
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By Donald J. Schneider, Senate Chief Clerk.
Mr. Speaker:
I am directed to inform you that the Senate has
Adopted and asks concurrence in:
Senate Joint Resolution
39
Passed and asks concurrence in:
Senate Bill 180
Senate Bill 271
Senate Bill 321
Concurred in as amended:
Assembly amendment 4 to Senate Bill 3
(Senate amendment 1 as amended by Senate amendment 1)
Concurred in:
Assembly Bill 150
Assembly Bill 730
Assembly amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 3
Assembly substitute amendment 1 to Senate Bill 331
__________________
Senate Joint Resolution
39
Relating to: commending the Green Bay Packers' team, organization and fans for their accomplishments during the past season.
By
Senators
Drzewiecki, Cowles, Breske, Burke, Chvala, Clausing, Darling, Decker, Ellis, Farrow, Fitzgerald, George, Grobschmidt, Huelsman, Jauch, A. Lasee, Moen, Moore, Panzer, Plache, C. Potter, Risser, Roessler, Rosenzweig, Rude, Schultz, Shibilski, Weeden, Welch, Wineke, Wirch and Zien; cosponsored by Representatives Ryba, Kelso, Lorge, Ainsworth, Albers, Baldwin, Baumgart, Black, Bock, Boyle, Brandemuehl, Carpenter, Coggs, Cullen, Dobyns, Dueholm, Duff, Foti, Freese, Gard, Goetsch, Green, Gronemus, Grothman, Gunderson, Hahn, Handrick, Hanson, Harsdorf, Hasenohrl, Hebl, Hoven, Huber, Hubler, Huebsch, Hutchison, Jensen, Jeskewitz, Johnsrud, Kaufert, Kedzie, Klusman, Kreibich, Kreuser, Krug, Krusick, Kunicki, Ladwig, La Fave, F. Lasee, Lazich, J. Lehman, M. Lehman, Linton, Meyer, Morris-Tatum, Murat, Musser, Nass, Notestein, Olsen, Ott, Otte, Ourada, Owens, Plale, Plouff, Porter, R. Potter, Powers, Reynolds, Riley, Robson, Schafer, Schneider, Seratti, Skindrud, Spillner, Springer, Staskunas, Steinbrink, Sykora, Travis, Turner, Underheim, Urban, Vander Loop, Vrakas, Walker, Ward, Wasserman, Wieckert, Williams, Wood, L. Young, R. Young, Ziegelbauer and Zukowski.
To committee on Rules.
Senate Bill
180
Relating to: the sale of advertising space in folded highway maps, the sale of highway service maps and making an appropriation.
A545
By
Senators
Shibilski, Fitzgerald, Breske, Panzer, Clausing, Buettner and Welch; cosponsored by Representatives Gunderson, Meyer, Musser, Porter, Turner, Freese, Hanson, Ott, Seratti, Gronemus, Kreibich, Ryba, Walker and Handrick.
To committee on Highways and Transportation.
Senate Bill
271
Relating to: exempting certain resident students from tuition at the University of Wisconsin System and at the technical college system.
By
Senators
Jauch, Burke, Drzewiecki, Wirch, Darling, Breske, Schultz and Welch; cosponsored by Representatives Kaufert, Dobyns, Boyle, Bock, Ott, Linton, Turner, Musser, Murat, Plale, L. Young, Gronemus, Kreuser, Ryba, Green and Vander Loop.
To committee on Colleges and Universities.
Senate Bill
321
Relating to: increasing the number of circuit court branches.
By
Senators
Adelman, Fitzgerald, Rude, Breske, Roessler, Burke, Huelsman, Grobschmidt and Farrow; cosponsored by Representatives Huebsch, Ourada, Dobyns, Foti, Ward, L. Young, La Fave, Owens, Wood, Walker, Staskunas, Notestein, Gronemus, Meyer, Huber, Nass, Olsen, R. Potter and Wasserman.
To committee on Judiciary.
Senate Bill 3
Relating to: issuance of metallic mining permits for the mining of sulfide ore bodies.
By
Senators
Shibilski, Burke, Clausing, Decker, Grobschmidt, Jauch, Plache, C. Potter, Risser, Wineke, Wirch and Moore; cosponsored by Representatives Black, Baldwin, Baumgart, Bock, Carpenter, Krug, Notestein, R. Potter, Riley, Springer, Turner, R. Young, Vander Loop, La Fave, Robson, Meyer, Hanson, Ryba, Murat, Travis, Cullen, Plouff, Reynolds, Hebl and Lorge.
The question was: Shall Senate amendment 1 to Assembly amendment 4 to Senate Bill 3 be concurred in?
The roll was taken.
The result follows:
Ayes - Representatives Ainsworth, Albers, Baldwin, Baumgart, Black, Bock, Boyle, Brandemuehl, Carpenter, Coggs, Cullen, Dobyns, Dueholm, Foti, Freese, Gard, Goetsch, Green, Gronemus, Gunderson, Hahn, Handrick, Hanson, Harsdorf, Hasenohrl, Hebl, Hoven, Huber, Hubler, Huebsch, Hutchison, Johnsrud, Kaufert, Kedzie, Kelso, Klusman, Kreibich, Kreuser, Krusick, Kunicki, La Fave, Ladwig, F. Lasee, Lazich, J. Lehman, M. Lehman, Linton, Lorge, Meyer, Morris-Tatum, Murat, Musser, Nass, Notestein, Olsen, Ott, Otte, Ourada, Owens, Plale, Plouff, Porter, R. Potter, Powers, Reynolds, Riley, Robson, Ryba, Schafer, Schneider, Skindrud, Spillner, Springer, Staskunas, Steinbrink, Sykora, Travis, Turner, Underheim, Vander Loop, Vrakas, Walker, Ward, Wasserman, Wieckert, Williams, Wood, L. Young, R. Young, Ziegelbauer and Zukowski - 91.
Noes - Representatives Duff, Grothman, Jeskewitz, Seratti, Urban and Speaker Jensen - 6.
Absent or not voting - Representative Krug - 1.
Motion carried.
Representative Hutchison asked unanimous consent to be recorded as voting "No" on the previous question. Granted.
Representative Jeskewitz asked unanimous consent to be recorded as voting "Aye" on the previous question. Granted.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Senate Bill
3 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill 66 be withdrawn from the committee on Education and referred to the joint committee on Finance. Granted.
Representative Green asked unanimous consent that the Assembly stand recessed. Granted.
The Assembly stood recessed.
10:55 A.M.
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RECESS
12:33 P.M.
The Assembly reconvened.
