Confirmation.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
Moen, Breske, Moore, Roessler, Rosenzweig and Fitzgerald.
Noes, 0 - None.
Ficks
, Judith E.,
of Mequon, as a member of the Dentistry Examining Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2002.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
Moen, Breske, Moore, Roessler, Rosenzweig and Fitzgerald.
Noes, 0 - None.
Gill
, Wilber G.,
of Oconomowoc, as a member of the Dentistry Examining Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2002.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
Moen, Breske, Moore, Roessler, Rosenzweig and Fitzgerald.
Noes, 0 - None.
Kell
, Susan A.,
of Madison, as a member of the Examining Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2002.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
Moen, Breske, Moore, Roessler, Rosenzweig and Fitzgerald.
Noes, 0 - None.
Lindgren, Ruth E.,
of Whitewater, as a member of the Board of Nursing, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2002.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
Moen, Breske, Moore, Roessler, Rosenzweig and Fitzgerald.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 260
Relating to: the operation of private businesses in state prisons.
Introduction and adoption of Senate substitute amendment 1.
Ayes, 4 - Senators
Moen, Breske, Moore and Rosenzweig.
Noes, 2 - Senators
Roessler and Fitzgerald.
Passage as amended without recommendation.
Ayes, 3 - Senators
Moen, Breske and Moore.
Noes, 3 - Senators
Roessler, Rosenzweig and Fitzgerald.
Rodney Moen
Chairperson
S544
The committee on
Judiciary, Campaign Finance Reform and Consumer Affairs reports and recommends:
Assembly Bill 169
Relating to: the prohibition of certain billing practices for goods and certain services and providing a penalty.
Introduction and adoption of Senate substitute amendment 1.
Ayes, 4 - Senators
Wirch, Clausing, Huelsman and Drzewiecki.
Noes, 0 - None.
Concurrence as amended without recommendation.
Ayes, 2 - Senators
Wirch and Clausing.
Noes, 2 - Senators
Huelsman and Drzewiecki.
Assembly Bill 505
Relating to: persistent child sex offenders and providing penalties.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 4 - Senators
Wirch, Clausing, Huelsman and Drzewiecki.
Noes, 0 - None.
Assembly Bill 577
Relating to: pharmacological treatment for persons convicted of certain child sex offenses and certain persons found to be sexually violent persons, and affecting parole.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 4 - Senators
Wirch, Clausing, Huelsman and Drzewiecki.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 492
Relating to: the powers of full-time court commissioners.
Passage.
Ayes, 4 - Senators
Wirch, Clausing, Huelsman and Drzewiecki.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 96
Relating to: homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and providing a penalty.
Passage.
Ayes, 4 - Senators
Wirch, Clausing, Huelsman and Drzewiecki.
Noes, 0 - None.
Robert Wirch
Chairperson
The committee on Utility Regulation reports and recommends:
Senate Bill 501
Relating to: permitting the creation of joint local water authorities and granting rule-making authority.
Introduction and adoption of Senate amendment 1.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
Moen, Clausing, Shibilski, Rude, Welch and Farrow.
Noes, 0 - None.
Introduction and adoption of Senate amendment 2.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
Moen, Clausing, Shibilski, Rude, Welch and Farrow.
Noes, 0 - None.
Passage as amended.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
Moen, Clausing, Shibilski, Rude, Welch and Farrow.
Noes, 0 - None.
Rodney Moen
Chairperson
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
March 23, 1998
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed a review of the Department of Public Instruction's administration of the Wisconsin Student Assessment System's Knowledge and Concepts Examinations, as directed by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The tests measure the achievement of fourth-, eighth-, and tenth-grade students enrolled in Wisconsin's 426 school districts in five subject areas: reading, mathematics, science, social studies, and language arts, including writing.
Although the underlying cause of problems encountered with the testing process in the 1996-97 school year was a change in testing contractors, the Department's management of the program did little to mitigate the effects of this change. In particular, the Department's lack of specificity about its expectations of the new contractor contributed to delays in the availability of score reports and concerns about their content. Tardiness by the contractor also contributed to the problems encountered. However, problems with comparability of test results to prior years could not have been avoided.
Although the contractor did not meet expectations in 1996-97, the Department renewed its contract for $1.5 million, which is an increase of $250,000 over the 1996-97 contract when the costs associated with a one-time study are excluded. The Department, however, has taken steps to improve the process during the current school year. As a result, the testing process proceeded smoothly, and score reports have been available with minor delays.
The Department has requested and received permission from the Governor to negotiate successive one-year renewals of the current contract through 2001-02, in order to ensure program continuity. Such continuity may be difficult to achieve, however, given continually changing program and policy goals. For example, tenth graders will no longer be subject to the Knowledge and concepts Examinations process after the implementation of a high school graduation test beginning in 2000-01.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation of the Department of Public Instruction in completing this review. The Department's response is the appendix.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
