Department of Commerce
March 31, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
In accordance with s.
560.38, Wis. Stats., I am please to provide the Department's evaluation of the Certified Capital Company (CAPCO) program as of December 31, 1999. As you are aware, the CAPCO program was created by
1997 Wisconsin Act 215 to stimulate the development of small high-growth businesses in Wisconsin by improving accesss to venture capital. The program went into effect July 1, 1999.
Sincerely,
Brenda J. Blanchard
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
March 29, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed an evaluation of the Special Needs Adoption program, as requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. The Department of Health and Family Services arranges adoptions for children determined to have special needs because of disability, age, ethnicity or other factors that may make placement difficult.
Since we last reviewed this program, the Department has increased the number of children placed for adoption from 273 in fiscal year 1993-94 to 415 in calendar year 1998. However, because of changes in federal law that are designed to reduce the amount of time children spend in foster care, caseloads of children awaiting placement are likely to increase in the future.
The Department has used available federal funding to hire project staff, contract with private agencies for placement services, and contract for aggressive promotional efforts to attract adoptive families. These efforts are positive and may eventually increase placements. Nevertheless, our audit identified a number of program inefficiencies that continue to hamper prompt, appropriate placement of children and equitable treatment of families. For example, the Department's process for evaluating potential adoptive families have not been applied consistently. Consequently, some families have been rejected while others have been approved despite receiving lower or identical scores. In addition, information about available qualified families and children in need of placement is not shared systematically among the Department's five regions to help speed placements.
Our report includes a number of recommendations to the Department for improving program management and increasing the efficiency with which children can leave foster care and be placed with families that meet the Department's standards.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Health and Family Services. The Department's response in Appendix IV.
Sincerely,
Jan Mueller
State Auditor
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 24, 2000
The Honorable, The Senate:
This is to inform you that I am withdrawing the nomination of Robert E. Morris for appointment to the Public Defender Board.
Mr. Morris has notified my office that he wishes his nomination to be withdrawn at this time.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Tommy G. Thompson
Governor
__________________
Relating to (1) identifying a youth's program needs; establishing a case management plan; and making appropriate decisions regarding extension, release, transfer and discharge of a youth; (2) conduct of juveniles placed under the supervision of the department of corrections in a type 1 secured correctional facility; (3) administrative confinement for youth in juvenile secured correctional facilities; (4) observation status for youth in type 1 secured correctional facilities; (5) security issues for a youth placed under the supervision of the department of corrections in a type 1 secured correctional facility; (6) resources for a youth placed under the supervision of the department of corrections in a type 1 secured correctional facility; (7) a complaint procedure for youth in type 1 secured correctional facilities; (8) furloughs and off-grounds and trial visits for youth in type 1 secured correctional facilities; (9) use of psychotropic medication for youth in type 1 juvenile secured correctional facilities; (10) conduct of drug testing by the department and county departments of youth adjudicated delinquents; (11) conduct of youth placed on juvenile parole following release from secured correctional services and revocation of a youth's juvenile parole for violation of a condition of parole; (12) designation of certain child-caring institutions as type 2 child-caring institutions and to treatment of youth who are placed in type 2 child-caring institutions by the courts; (13) youth who are in type 2 secured correctional facility status through placement in the corrective sanctions program, the community phase of the serious juvenile offender program or a type 2 secured correctional facility operated by a child welfare agency; (14) supervision programs for delinquent youth; (15) county intensive supervision program for delinquent youth; and (16) training of juvenile court intake workers.
Submitted by Department of Corrections.
Report received from Agency, March 31, 2000.
Referred to committee on Insurance, Tourism, Transportation and Corrections, April 4, 2000
.
__________________
The committee on Labor reports and recommends:
Relating to the proper reporting of creditable service, earnings and participating employes of instrumentalities of two or more units of government when the joint instrumentality does not qualify as a separate employer for WRS purposes.
No action taken.
Jim Baumgart
Chairperson
S580
State of Wisconsin
Revisor of Statutes Bureau
April 1, 2000
To the Honorable, the Senate:
The following rules have been published:
Sincerely,
GARY L. POULSON
Deputy Revisor
__________________
Senator Risser, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn until Thursday, April 6 at 10:00 A.M
.
Adjourned.
1:11 P.M.
__________________
Chief Clerk's Report
The Chief Clerk records:
Senate Bill 99
Senate Bill 146
Presented to the Governor on April 4, 2000.
__________________
Senate Enrolled Proposals
The Chief Clerk records:
Senate Bill 62
Senate Bill 145
Senate Bill 204
Senate Bill 264
Senate Bill 290
Report correctly enrolled on April 3, 2000.
__________________
Motions Under Senate Rule
98 and Joint Rule
7
for the Month of March 2000
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Darling, for Dr. Lewis Chamoy, on the occasion of being honored by the Congregation Agudas Achim Chabad for his support to the Milwaukee Jewish community.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Chvala, for Joe Chose, on the occasion of being the Division 1 Heavyweight Wisconsin State Wrestling Champion.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Schultz, for Katherine Clausius, on the occasion of earning and attaining the Girl Scout Gold Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Clausing, for LaFayette Marquis Connor, on the occasion of celebrating his 100th Birthday.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senators Rude and Schultz for Bernal W. Coy, on the occasion of his longstanding commitment to the people of Richland County and the State of Wisconsin.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Chvala, for Edward S. Delorey, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Darling, for Bettie Eisendrath, on the occasion of her outstanding commitment to public service.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Chvala, for Joylynn Fosdal, on the occasion of earning and attaining the Girl Scout Gold Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Roessler, for Carl Frazier, on the occasion of his 40 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Panzer, for Peter J. Gill, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Erpenbach, for Justin N. Grade, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Moore, for Pastor Alice Olivia Green, on the occasion of she is celebrating her 85th Birthday.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Roessler, for Chief Mate Robert Gregersen, on the occasion of being a great role model for the students of Evans School through the Adopt-A-Ship Program.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Roessler, for Captain Robert Groh, on the occasion of being a great role model for the students of Evans School through the Adopt-A-Ship Program.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Darling, for Madaline Halquist, on the occasion of celebrating her 90th Birthday shared with family and friends.
S581
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Roessler, for Fleet Manager Scott Hauck, on the occasion of being a great role model for the students of Evans School through the Adopt-A-Ship Program.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Burke, for Deb Harling, on the occasion of celebrating her 40th Birthday.
