__________________
State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Legislative Council Staff
March 19, 1999
The Honorable, The Senate:
Enclosed is a copy of the
1998 Annual Report on the Legislative Council Rules Clearinghouse, submitted to the Legislature pursuant to s.
227.15 (5), Stats. Copies have been distributed to the offices of each member of the Legislature.
The report covers the 19th full calendar year of operation of the Rules Clearinghouse. I trust that it will be found to be informative.
Sincerely,
David J. Stute
Director
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health and Family Services
March 18, 1999
The Honorable, The Senate:
S106
1995 Wisconsin Act 27 created s.
46.27 (11g) of the statutes, which requires the Department of Health and Family Services to submit an annual report on its Community Options Program. The attached report describes the persons served, program expenditures and services delivered through the Community Options Program in calendar year 1997.
Community Options is designed to relocate or divert people who need long term care from nursing homes. This is accomplished by offering an alternative package of community services to elderly and disabled persons who are otherwise eligible for Medicaid-funded nursing home care.
The Department allocates funds to county human service agencies to deliver these community services. In providing services, the county agency may not expend more, on average, than the state portion (about 40%) of the Medicaid cost for nursing home care. The county agency must also maximize funds by accessing any federal funds (Waiver and other Medicaid) available for an individual before using Regular Community Options funds. These are two of the mechanisms that the counties, with Department oversight, utilize to ensure the prudent, cost effective use of the Community Options funds while maintaining program flexibility and integrity.
The annual report examines program activity for the Community Options Program and the Community Options Program-Waiver in calendar year 1997.
Sincerely,
Joe Leean
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Department of Revenue
March 18, 1999
The Honorable, The Legislature:
As you know,
1997 Act 27 created a Shared Revenue Task Force. As chairman of the Shared Revenue Task Force, I am hereby submitting the report of the Task Force to you.
The Shared Revenue Task Force was charged with recommending legislation that would replace the formulas for the Shared Revenue program, the Expenditure Restraint program, and the Small Municipalities Shared Revenue program. After study and discussion, we are recommending changes to the existing formulae, and to request increased funding for shared revenue programs. We took this path for several reasons.
The Task Force found that the basic formulae of the shared revenue program work largely as intended, and are reasonably well-matched to the goals of the program. The Task Force also discovered that the amount of time and resources dedicated to its work, was not truly sufficient to accomplish a comprehensive study of new formulae and new programs. Given these findings, the Task Force felt it best to recommend only modest changes. The report also calls for additional study of some proposals for the shared revenue program. Finally, the report does call for additional funding for the shared revenue programs, should funding become available.
Thank you for the opportunity to present this report.
Sincerely,
John W. Rader, Chairman
Shared Revenue Task Force
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
March 23, 1999
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 1999 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
Bartolomei, Michelle L Wisconsin Tourism Federation
Braun, Robert C. Jury Peers
Broydrick, William ARDA - WI
Broydrick, William Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc
Broydrick, William Irgens Development Partners, LLC
Christian, Robert Wisconsin School Bus Association
Cook, Sharon Wisconsin Wholesale Beer Distributors Association Inc
Croysdale, Donald American Subcontractors Association of Greater Milwaukee, Inc
Currier, Whistle B. Jury Peers
Dodge, Larry Jury Peers
Fitzgerald, Moira E Waste Management Inc.
Gross, Dianne Wisconsin Education Association Council
Knoll, Doris Madison Abortion Clinic
Kruger, Dennis Wisconsin Troopers' Association, Inc.
Mitchell, Brian Wisconsin Wholesale Beer Distributors Association Inc
Oakley, Kara ARDA - WI
Olson, Richard L Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group
Perry, Casey Wisconsin Troopers' Association, Inc.
Ramirez, Nicola Madison Abortion Clinic
Rettke, Brandon Wisconsin Education Association Council
Steinbergs, Jan Wisconsin Troopers' Association, Inc.
Swandby, Janet R Wisconsin Association of Home Inspectors
Williams, Steven Wisconsin Troopers' Association, Inc.
Also available from the Wisconsin Ethics Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by the organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
Roth Judd
Director
__________________
Relating to printed material exemptions and the sales and use tax treatment of advertising agencies.
Submitted by Department of Revenue.
Report received from Agency, March 18, 1999.
Referred to committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations, March 23, 1999
.
Relating to requirements for joint local water authorities.
Submitted by Public Service Commission.
Report received from Agency, March 22, 1999.
Referred to committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs, March 23, 1999
.
Relating to valuation of life insurance policies model regulation.
Submitted by Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.
Report received from Agency, March 22, 1999.
Referred to committee on Insurance, Tourism, Transportation and Corrections, March 23, 1999
.
__________________
By Charles Sanders, chief clerk.
Mr. President:
I am directed to inform you that the Assembly has adopted and asks concurrence in:
Assembly Bill 35