[Bill Section: 541]
Land Information and Local Planning Programs
1. DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPUTER-BASED LAND INFORMATION SYSTEM
PR $2,652,600
Governor: Provide $1,222,300 in 1999-00 and $1,430,300 in 2000-01 for the development of a new computer-based land information system as follows:
Computer-Based Land Information System. Provide that DOA shall develop and maintain, as a permanent agency responsibility, a computer-based Wisconsin land information system. Provide that this land information system would be excluded from the Land Information Board's general responsibilities to direct and supervise the state land information program.
Under current law, DOA has the permissive authority, on an on-going basis, to develop and maintain a geographic information system (GIS) or systems for the use of governmental and nongovernmental entities. The Land Information Board (rather than DOA) currently directs and supervises the state's land information program and serves as the state clearinghouse for access to land information. However, the Board, its supporting appropriations and all of its powers and duties are currently scheduled to be abolished, effective September 1, 2003. After that date, only those land information support activities expressly assigned to DOA as on-going responsibilities (the GIS and this proposed new computer-based land information system) would remain in force.
Conduct of Soil Surveys and Soil Mapping. Specify that in conjunction with the proposed computer-based land information system, DOA may conduct soil surveys and soil mapping activities. Since these survey and mapping activities would be part of the DOA computer-based land information system, these undertakings would also be outside of the direction and supervision of the Land Information Board.
Allow DOA to assess any state agency any amount that DOA determines would be required in order to conduct such soil survey and soil mapping activities. In making these assessments, DOA would be able to assess agencies on a premium basis and pay the costs incurred on an actual basis. Authorize DOA to contract with the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands to perform soil survey and soil mapping activities on trust lands that are under the jurisdiction of that Board.
DOA's statutory authority to conduct soil surveys and soil mapping activities, assess agencies for such costs and contract for survey and mapping activities on trust lands would be on-going. The authority to undertake these activities would not be subject to repeal as part of the sunsetting of the Land Information Board and associated activities, effective September 1, 2003.
Use of Land Information Board Revenues for Computer-Based Land Information System Activities. Establish an annual, PR appropriation under DOA to support the computer-based land information system and provide expenditure authority of $822,300 in 1999-00 and $1,030,000 in 2000-01 for this purpose. Provide that these appropriated amounts would be funded by diverting to DOA a portion of the monies received by the Land Information Board from county registers of deeds for the recording of legal documents that is currently used to provide aids to counties for local land information projects.
Under this modification, the amounts budgeted for Board general program operations would continue to receive an initial allocation from the registration fees revenues equal to budgeted amounts for administration, as provided under current law. In addition to this allocation, specify that the Board transfer to DOA the amounts budgeted in the new computer-based land information system appropriation for that purpose. Following the current law allocation for Board operations and the transfer to support DOA's computer-based land information system, provide that all remaining funds be credited to the existing land information aids to counties appropriation.
Reduce base level expenditure authority ($1,799,000 annually) under the Board's aids to counties appropriation by $822,300 in 1999-00 and $1,030,300 in 2000-00 to reflect the transfer of computer-based land information system funds to DOA. [A total of $976,700 in 1999-00 and $768,700 would then remain for county land information project grants.] As a result of these modifications, repeal a current law provision specifying the allocation of document recording fees only to the aids to counties appropriation.
Under current law, $6 of the $10 collected by a county register of deeds for recording the first page of a legal document is forwarded to the Board, unless the county has a land information office, in which case the county may retain an additional $4 to support the office and transfer only $2 to the Board. The monies currently received by the Board are first credited to an appropriation that supports the Board's budgeted general program operations. Following this allocation, all remaining revenues are now credited to aids to counties appropriation.
Funding the Computer-Based Land Information System Project. Provide that the amounts credited to the new appropriation would then be transferred to a PR-service appropriation to support the actual development and maintenance of the computer-based land information system and associated soil survey and soil mapping activities. Provide expenditure authority of $822,300 in 1999-00 and $1,030,000 in 2000-01 for the development and maintenance of the new land information system.
Of these amounts, earmark $202,300 in 1999-00 and $410,300 in 2000-01 for the development of the new system. These funds would support master lease costs associated with the system ($172,300 in 1999-00 and $350,300 in 2000-01) and contractor or in-house programming staff costs ($30,000 in 1999-00 and $60,000 in 2000-01). The balance of the expenditure authority under the PR-service appropriation ($620,000 annually) would be reserved for the new soil survey and soil mapping activities.
Funding of Soil Survey and Soil Mapping Activities. In addition to the remaining $620,000 under the PR-service appropriation for the land information system, create a new PR-service continuing appropriation funded from assessments levied by DOA against other state agencies for the costs of conducting soil surveys and soil mapping activities. Provide expenditure authority of $400,000 annually under this new soil survey and soil mapping assessment appropriation. [The biennial budget bill would also provide $200,000 annually under both DNR and DOT to fund these DOA assessments for soil survey and soil mapping activities. In addition, $30,000 annually would be provided, but not transferred to DOA, under the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands for soil survey and soil mapping activities on trust lands.]
As a result of all of these transfers, assessments and allocations, a total of $1,050,000 annually would be available to support soil survey and soil mapping activities. All of these amounts, except for the $30,000 annually budgeted under the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, would be appropriated under DOA.
Use of Funds for Soil Surveys. Provide $620,000 annually [$400,000 from the amounts assessed from DNR and DOT and $220,000 from the computer-based land information system PR-service appropriation] to support the first two years of a projected four-year project to develop a computerized soil data analysis of the soil layers in nine northern Wisconsin counties (Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer and Washburn counties). This activity would be carried out under contract with the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The state's total annual share of the costs of the surveys ($650,000) would also include the $30,000 provided by the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. The state's total four-year commitment to this soil survey project ($2.6 million) would represent about one-third of the total project costs. The remaining costs of the project would be supported from the NRCS's federal budget.
Use of Funds for Soil Mapping. Provide $400,000 annually from the computer-based land information system PR-service appropriation to support the first two years of a projected four-year project to develop digitized soil characteristics data in 38 Wisconsin counties where soil surveys have been completed. The state's total four-year commitment to the soil mapping project ($1.6 million) would represent about one-half of the total project costs. The remaining costs of the project would be supported from the NRCS's federal budget.
Repeal of Appropriations. Effective September 1, 2003, repeal the new PR and PR-service appropriations supporting the computer-based land information system function under DOA, including the soil mapping and soil surveying activities supported from these appropriations. Notwithstanding the repeal of these appropriations, DOA would continue to have the statutory duty to develop and maintain the computer-based land information system and would still have the authority to undertake soil survey and mapping activities.
The separate PR-service appropriation established to receive assessments transferred from other agencies for soil survey and soil mapping activities would not he included in the appropriations to be repealed.
[Bill Sections: 111 thru 114, 512 thru 514, 518, 519, 522, 523, 527 and 9401(2)]
2. PLANNING GRANTS TO LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT
SEG $2,000,000
Governor: Establish a grant program to finance local government planning activities as follows:
Local Planning Grant Program. Establish a new grant program under DOA and authorize the agency to provide grants to a county, city, village, town or regional planning commission to finance the cost of planning activities. Specify that the activities eligible for funding would include contracting for planning consultant services, public planning sessions and other planning outreach and educational activities, or for the purchase of computerized planning data, planning software or the hardware required to utilize that data or software. Stipulate that DOA must require the grantee to finance from local resources at least 20% of the costs of the product or services to be supported by the planning grant.
Funding. Create an annual appropriation under DOA to fund planning grants to local units of government. Provide $1,000,000 annually for such grants, to be funded from the transportation fund by transfers from DOT's highway administration and planning federal funds appropriation. Modify DOT's highway and planning federal funds appropriation to permit the transfer of such monies to DOA. The amount of the DOT transfer would equal the amounts appropriated under DOA for the planning grants.
DOT Approval of Planning Grant Expenditures. Specify that prior to the award of any planning grant from the new appropriation, DOA would be required to forward a detailed statement of the proposed grant expenditures to the Secretary of DOT and obtain the Secretary's written approval of the proposed expenditures. Federal law requires each state to designate one agency to administer federal highway aid. Since DOT is the designated agency in Wisconsin, the Secretary of DOT would have to approve the grants made by DOA under the new planning grant program.
[Bill Sections: 108, 352 and 529]
3. WISCONSIN LAND COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP
Governor: Expand the membership of the Wisconsin Land Council by adding a fifth public member. Although the Council's current public members are appointed to five-year terms by the Governor, the new public member would serve only until August 31, 2003, at which time the Council will sunset under current law. The actual and necessary meeting expenses of the additional public member would be supported from the Council's appropriation which is funded through assessments of state agencies.
The Council is required to identify and recommend state land use goals, set state land use priorities and identify areas where greater levels of cooperation and coordination are possible. Currently, the Council is comprised of the following sixteen members: the Secretaries (or their designees) of the Departments of Administration, Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Commerce, Natural Resources, Revenue and Transportation, the State Cartographer, a representative of the UW System, one member each representing respectively the interests of cities, counties, towns and local governments and four public members.
[Bill Section: 29]
Attached Programs
1. HEARINGS AND APPEALS -- INCREASED COSTS FOR PROBATION AND PAROLE HEARING ACTIVITIES
GPR $20,200
Governor: Provide $20,200 in 2000-01 for costs associated with the Division of Hearings and Appeals staff who conduct probation and parole hearings for the Department of Corrections. The funding would be used for: (a) purchase of five personal computer replacements [$4,100 (plus $3,400 of base resources)]; (b) user charges to provide dial-in access by staff to the Division's information data base ($5,100); (c) maintenance costs of the Division's scheduling and case tracking software ($6,000); and (d) increased transcript preparation services ($5,000).
2. HEARINGS AND APPEALS -- AUTO DEALER BOND CLAIM HEARINGS
Funding Positions
PR $109,200 1.00
Governor: Provide $49,400 in 1999-00 and $59,800 in 2000-01 and 1.0 position (0.5 attorney and 0.5 program assistant) to conduct automobile dealer bond claim hearings for DOT. The DOT currently conducts these hearings and has requested that the Division of Hearings and Appeals adjudicate dealer bond claims on behalf of DOT. To obtain a license from DOT, automobile dealers are required to maintain a $25,000 bond to cover financial losses of a customer due to negligent action by an automobile dealer. The need for administrative hearings arises when a dispute arises over payment of claims from these bonds. In 1999-00, $28,100 is provided for salary and fringe and $21,300 for supplies and services. In 2000-01, $37,500 is provided for salary and fringe benefits and $22,300 is provided for supplies and services. The revenue for these increased expenditures would from a charge-back to DOT for the cots of service provided by the Division.
3. HEARINGS AND APPEALS -- DPI SPECIAL EDUCATION HEARINGS
PR $24,700
Governor: Provide $10,700 in 1999-00 and $14,000 in 2000-01 for increased supplies and services costs related to the Division of Hearings and Appeals provision of special education due process hearings for DPI. Through a memorandum of understanding between the two agencies, the Division conducts all special education due process hearings for DPI. These hearings arise when there is a disagreement between a school district and a parent over special education services to be provided to a student. The Division currently employs a 0.5 attorney and 0.5 program assistant to conduct these hearings on behalf of DPI. The revenues for these increased expenditures would come from charge-backs to DPI for the cost of the hearing services provided. In turn, DPI assesses the involved school districts for these costs.
4. COLLEGE TUITION PREPAYMENT PROGRAM
Governor: Modify the college tuition prepayment program (EdVest) by specifying that a beneficiary can use tuition units purchased on his or her behalf for the payment of mandatory student fees as well as tuition. In addition, delete the provision that prohibits DOA from issuing a refund for one year following termination of an EdVest account and limit the number of tuition units for which a refund can be issued to 100 tuition units per year, if the account is terminated under certain circumstances. Instead, DOA would determine the method and schedule of the payment of refunds, as it does currently for other refunds.
Under current law, these refund restrictions apply if the beneficiary is at least 18 years old and the account is terminated for one of the following reasons: (a) the beneficiary has not graduated from high school; (b) the beneficiary has decided not to attend an institution of higher education; and (c) the beneficiary attended an institution of higher education but voluntarily withdrew prior to completing his or her program.
[Bill Sections: 56, 58, 60 and 61]
5. TRANSFER THE COLLEGE TUITION PREPAYMENT PROGRAM TO THE OFFICE OF THE STATE TREASURER
Funding Positions
SEG - $1,492,800 - 4.00
Governor: Delete $746,400 annually and 4.0 positions to reflect the transfer of the college tuition prepayment program, which is currently administered by DOA, to the Office of the State Treasurer on the effective date of the bill. EdVest is a college savings program that allows parents and others to purchase "tuition units" on behalf of a beneficiary for the future payment of college tuition. Funds used to purchase the tuition units are placed in a tuition trust fund
and invested by the State of Wisconsin Investment Board. The program's administrative costs are currently funded from the tuition trust fund.
[Bill Sections: Shown under "State Treasurer"]
6. TRANSFER STATE NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD
Funding Positions
FED - $3,338,600 - 2.00
Governor: Provide a reduction of $1,669,300 FED annually and 2.0 positions to reflect the transfer of the National and Community Service Board (NCSB), except the Badger Challenge grant program, from DOA to DHFS. The Board is currently statutorily attached to DOA for administrative purposes. The statutory responsibilities and appropriations for the Board would be relocated under DHFS.
Provide that the transfer of the following items, that are determined by the Secretary of DOA as primarily related to the administration of the National and Community Service Board, except the Badger Challenge grant program, would be handled as follows on the effective date of the budget bill: (a) all assets and liabilities (including tangible public property and records), would be transferred from DOA to DHFS; (b) all positions and incumbent employees primarily related to the NCSB would be transferred from DOA to DHFS and the employees would retain their employment status and rights and be exempt from any probationary period; and (c) all existing contracts entered into by DOA would be transferred to DHFS and remain in effect after the transfer until modified or rescinded by DHFS to the extent allowed under the contract.
The Board is responsible for providing an annual plan for the provision of national service programs in this state and for awarding grants (from federal funds received from the Corporation for National and Community Services) to persons providing national service programs in the state, with priority being given to youth corps programs.
In November, 1997, DOA, the Department of Commerce and the Board entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that temporarily transferred the Board and its employes to Commerce, although funding remained in DOA and the transferred employes were still payrolled from the appropriations in DOA. At this time, a similar MOU is under development between DOA, DHFS, and the Board to transfer the activities of the Board to DHFS for the remainder of this fiscal year. The budget provision would statutorily attach the Board to DHFS and transfer the Board’s position authority and budget to DHFS. The base budget for the Board is $1,674,900 FED (of which $174,900 is for administration and $1,500,000 is for grants).
[Bill Sections: 20 thru 24, 46 thru 49, 51, 397, 533 thru 535, 2009, 3158 and 9101(1)]
7. PROMISE CHALLENGE GRANT PROGRAM
GPR - $848,000
Governor: Reduce base level funding by $424,000 annually to reflect deletion of one-time funding provided in 1998-99 for the promise challenge grant program. A provision of 1997 Wisconsin Act 237 provided $424,000 in 1998-99 for promise challenge grants to countywide consortia to assist in youth development activities. Act 237 further provided that the administration of the program be assigned to the National and Community Service Board (NCSB) which is currently attached to DOA for administrative purposes and provided that the program sunset on January 1, 2000). Under the Governor's budget, DOA would become responsible for the promise challenge grant program until its expiration on January 1, 2000, while the rest of the NCSB activities would be transferred to DHFS.
[Bill Sections: 50, 511, 532, 3265 thru 3268, 9101(1) and 9401(1)]
8. GLASS CEILING BOARD
Funding Positions
GPR $135,500 1.0043
Governor: Provide $60,500 in 1999-00 and $75,000 in 2000-01 and 1.0 position to the Women's Council to staff a Glass Ceiling Board. Create a Glass Ceiling Board which would have the following duties:
· Administer an annual "Governor's Glass Ceiling Award Program" to recognize Wisconsin businesses and organizations that advance, or promote the advancement of, women and minority group members to upper-level management positions;
