Thursday, March 12, 1998
10:00 A.M.
Ninety-Third Regular Session
The Senate met.
Senator Rude, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of Newspaper in Education (NIE) and the Sesquicentennial edition of the Badger Times. The NIE celebrated Wisconsin's Sesquicentennial prior to the commencement of today's State Senate Session with the reenactment of newspaper distribution as it would have occurred in the 1800's. Participants in the distribution included: Sandra Kawatski-Wisconsin NIE Chairperson, La Crosse, Karla Foss, La Crosse, Samantha Abraham, Eau Claire and Tim Abraham, Eau Claire. State Superintendent John Benson joined in the celebration as the Badger Times newspaper was distributed to all Senators. The Badger Times is a cooperative project of 18 Wisconsin newspapers to help students celebrate our state's 150th birthday. The NIE program joins local school systems and local newspapers in partnership to stimulate youngsters to learn to read, to become lifetime readers and to become informed citizens. The State Senate is pleased to adjourn in honor of the Newspaper in Education program.
The Senate was called to order by Senator Fred Risser.
The roll was called and the following Senators answered to their names:
Senators Breske, Burke, Chvala, Clausing, Cowles, Darling, Decker, Drzewiecki, 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 - 32.
Absent - None.
Absent with leave - None.
The Senate stood for the prayer which was offered by Pastor Bill Timm Senior Pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Valders, Wisconsin.
The Senate remained standing and Senator Jauch led the Senate in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
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Read first time and referred:
Senate Bill 498
Relating to: sentencing of a person convicted of driving while under the influence of an intoxicant or other drug, the counting of the period of imprisonment when determining a penalty for driving while under the influence of an intoxicant or other drug and providing a penalty.
By
Senators
Burke, Huelsman, Wirch, Darling, Decker and Plache; cosponsored by Representatives Huber, Olsen, Murat, Goetsch, Dobyns, Wood, Walker, Ziegelbauer, Grothman, Staskunas, Ainsworth and Wasserman.
To committee on Judiciary, Campaign Finance Reform and Consumer Affairs.
Senate Bill 499
Relating to: funding for the statewide immunization program and making an appropriation.
By
Senators
Rosenzweig, Rude, Burke, Risser, Darling, Breske and Roessler; cosponsored by Representatives Ourada, Urban, Olsen, Robson, Wasserman, Bock, M. Lehman, Staskunas, Ward, Baumgart, Carpenter, Ott, J. Lehman, Hanson, Handrick, R. Young, R. Potter, Black, Notestein, Brandemuehl, Springer, Lorge, Owens, Musser, Spillner, Baldwin and Sykora.
To committee on Health, Human Services, Aging, Corrections, Veterans and Military Affairs.
Senate Bill 500
Relating to: limiting the establishment or expansion of certain livestock operations.
By
Senators
Clausing and Burke; cosponsored by Representative Black
.
To committee on Agriculture and Environmental Resources.
Senate Bill 501
Relating to: permitting the creation of joint local water authorities and granting rule-making authority.
By
Senators
Cowles, Drzewiecki, A. Lasee and Shibilski; cosponsored by Representatives F. Lasee, Gard, Kelso, Green, Hoven, Ott, Ainsworth, Hutchison, Vander Loop, Ryba, Porter, Owens and Ladwig.
To committee on Utility Regulation.
Pursuant to Senate Rule
36(2)(c) and section 13.50(6)(a), Wisconsin Statutes, the Co-Chairs of the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions shall prepare and submit a report in writing setting forth an opinion on the desirability of
Senate Bill 501, relating to permitting the creation of joint local water authorities and granting rule-making authority, as a matter of public policy.
The committee on Agriculture and Environmental Resources reports and recommends:
Assembly Bill 727
Relating to: designating the Root River watershed as a priority watershed for the nonpoint source water pollution abatement program.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 4 - Senators
Clausing, Wirch, A. Lasee and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Alice Clausing
Chairperson
The committee on Education reports and recommends:
Assembly Bill 686
Relating to: compulsory school attendance, habitual truancy, the penalties for contributing to truancy, truancy planning committees and school district truancy plans.
Introduction and adoption of Senate substitute amendment 1.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
C. Potter, Shibilski, Grobschmidt, Darling, Huelsman, Roessler and Fitzgerald.
Noes, 1 - Senator
Jauch.
Concurrence as amended.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
C. Potter, Shibilski, Grobschmidt, Darling, Huelsman, Roessler and Fitzgerald.
Noes, 1 - Senator
Jauch.
Senate Bill 462
Relating to: requirements for driver education courses.
Passage.
Ayes, 8 - Senators
C. Potter, Jauch, Shibilski, Grobschmidt, Darling, Huelsman, Roessler and Fitzgerald.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 468
Relating to: eliminating obsolete language and provisions from the statutes governing public schools and the department of public instruction (suggested as remedial legislation by the department of public instruction).
Passage.
Ayes, 8 - Senators
C. Potter, Jauch, Shibilski, Grobschmidt, Darling, Huelsman, Roessler and Fitzgerald.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 473
Relating to: a periodic study of the public schools.
Passage.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
C. Potter, Jauch, Shibilski, Grobschmidt, Darling and Roessler.
Noes, 2 - Senators
Huelsman and Fitzgerald.
Calvin Potter
Chairperson
The joint committee on Finance reports and recommends: