On behalf of the Board of governors of the Health Insurance risk Sharing Plan (HIRSP), I am pleased to submit the calendar year 1999 annual report. This submission is in accordance with the statutory requirements set forth in s.
149.15(2m).
As reflected in the report, throughout 1999 the Department and HIRSP Board have made significant progress toward strengthening HIRSP. Highlights of our accomplishments are noted below:
HIRSP's Financial Position Is Strong: The plan maintains a healthy cash balance, allowing HIRSP to maintain stable premiums, assessments and provider payment rates.
Premiums Paid By Policyholders Remain As Low As Possible: Premiums have remained at the lowest level permitted by law, i.e., 150% of the industry standard rate, since 1998. Premiums paid by policyholders of HIRSP's Plan 2 (the "Medicare supplement" policy) have been gradually increased to balance the increasing costs of Plan 2 without imposing drastic premium hikes.
Enrollment Levels Are Rising For The First Time in Years: DHFS has reversed a six-year trend of steadily declining enrollment from a high of 12,707 in 1992 to a low of 7,248 in 1998. Enrollment as of May 1, 2000, was 8,653.
We will continue to work with the Board to further streamline and strengthen HIRSP. In particular, over the course of the next year we will focus on developing additional cost-containment strategies to reduce overall HIRSP costs wherever possible.
We appreciate the continuing support of the Legislature. Please contact me if I may provide additional information.
Sincerely,
Joe Leean
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
June 27, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
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This report is transmitted as required by sec. 20.002(11)(f) of the Wisconsin Statutes, (for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under sec. 13.172(3) Stats.), and confirms that the Department of Administration has found it necessary to exercise the "temporary reallocation of balances" authority provided by this section in order to meet payment responsibilities and cover resulting negative balances during the month of May, 2000.
On May 1, 2000 the Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund balance was -$13 thousand. This shortfall increased to -$20 thousand on May 11, 2000, decreased to -$8 thousand on May 26, 2000 and continued into the month of June. As of the date of this letter, it is expected to be resolved soon. This shortfall is due to the timing of revenues.
On May 18, 2000 the Wisconsin Petroleum Inspection Fund balance was -$4.53 million. This shortfall continued until May 23, 2000 when the balance reached $12.15 million. This shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
On May 1, 2000 the Wisconsin Lottery Fund balance was -$24.79 million. This shortfall decreased to -$16.64 million on May 12, 2000, to -$9.06 million on May 25, 2000, and to -$7.71 million on My 31, 2000. This shortfall continued until June 16, 2000 when the balance reached $1.36 million. This shortfall was due to a timing difference between the distribution of property tax credits and the receipt of Lottery revenues.
The Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund, Wisconsin Petroleum Inspection Fund, and Wisconsin Lottery Fund shortfalls were not in excess of the statutory interfund borrowing limitation and did not exceed the balances of the funds available for interfund borrowing.
The distribution of interest earnings to investment pool participants is based on the average daily balance in the pool and each fund's share. Therefore, the monthly calculation by the State Controller's Office will automatically reflect the use of these temporary reallocations of balance authority.
Sincerely,
George Lightbourn
Secretary
Referred to the joint committee on Finance.
State of Wisconsin
Department of Public Instruction
June 29, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Under s.
118.38, States., local school boards may request the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to waive, with some exceptions, any school board or school district requirement in chs.
115 to
121, Stats., or in the administrative rules promulgated by the DPI.
Section
118.38(4), Stats., requires the DPI to report to the governor and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s.
13.172(3), Stats., the number of waivers requested, a description of each waiver request, the reason given for each waiver request, and the educational and financial effects on the school district of each waiver that was granted. This report must be submitted by July 1, 2000. In response to s. 11838(4), Stats., attached is the department's
Waivers Impact Report, which presents the requested information from October 1995 through April 2000.
If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact Lawrence Allen, Director, Education Options Team, at (608) 267-2402.
Sincerely,
John T. Benson
State Superintendent
State of Wisconsin
Department of Corrections
June 27, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
As required under Section
301.03(6r) of the Wisconsin State Statutes, I am submitting information relative to the number of prisoners that the Department of Corrections considers violent and the total number of prisoners.
On December 31, 1999 the Department had 20,408 adult inmates assigned to Type "1" prisons in state and in contract facilities out of state. Out of the 20,408 inmates, 12,506 or 61.3 percent had assaultive offenses.
Sincerely,
Jon E. Litscher
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin System
Wisconsin Technical College System Board
June 30, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We are pleased to share with you the attached report in compliance with section 9154 Nonstatutory Provisions
1999 Wisconsin Act 9. This provision of the 1999-2001 biennial budget requires the President of the University of Wisconsin System and the Director of the Wisconsin Technical College System to submit a report to the legislature on "efforts made to coordinate transfer of credits from the technical college system to the University of Wisconsin System, including a plan to coordinate the transfer of credits for additional programs, and timetable for implementation of the plan."
In addition, the Transfer Study Committee has proposed a number of specific initiatives to implement its major recommendations, to share information about transfer between the two systems, and to facilitate progress toward further efforts to improve transfer opportunities for WTCS students. It is our intention that the two systems will continue to work together over the next several years to implement these initiatives to improve transfer opportunities for technical college students in the UW System. As requested, a timeline indicating target dates for the completion of specific activities is included in the report.
If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact Larry Rubin, UW System Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, at (608) 262-6717 or James Urness, WTCS Assistant State Director, at (608) 266-1739.
Sincerely,
Katharine C. Lyall Edward Chin
President State Director
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Revisor of Statutes Bureau
July 1, 2000
To the Honorable, the Senate:
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The following rules have been published:
Sincerely,
GARY L. POULSON
Deputy Revisor
__________________
Relating to eligible disability applicants.
Submitted by Department of Employe Trust Funds.
Report received from Agency, June 29, 2000.
Referred to committee on Privacy, Electronic Commerce and Financial Institutions, July 5, 2000
.
Relating to electronic reporting for the Wisconsin retirement system.
Submitted by Department of Employe Trust Funds.
Report received from Agency, June 29, 2000.
Referred to committee on Privacy, Electronic Commerce and Financial Institutions, July 5, 2000
.
Relating to allowing the operation of double bottoms and certain other vehicles on certain specified highways.
Submitted by Department of Transportation.
Report received from Agency, July 3, 2000.
Referred to committee on Insurance, Tourism, Transportation and Corrections, July 5, 2000
.
__________________
The committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations reports and recommends:
Relating to homestead credit administrative provisions; qualification for credit; household income and income; property taxes accrued; gross rent and rent constituting property taxes accrued; and marriage, separation or divorce during a claim year.
No action taken.
Relating to defining gross receipts for the recycling surcharge.
No action taken.
Relating to assessment of agricultural land.
No action taken.
Robert Wirch
Chairperson
