December 26, 2000
The Honorable, The Senate:
Section
46.03(26) of the statutes requires the Department of Health and Family Services to report annually on information systems projects under development. The attached report is a summary of the departmental systems currently under development.
Sincerely,
Joe Leean
Secretary
Private Employer Health Care Coverage Board
December 28, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The Private Employer Health Care Coverage Board (Board) is required by statute to submit an annual report to the Governor and appropriate standing committees of the Legislature. This, the Board's first such report, covers the period from the enactment of
1999 Wisconsin Act 9 (October 1999) to the present. Since we were not able to obtain the services of a qualified vendor, coverage will not be available through the Program by the effective date set by the Legislature.
The Office of Private Employer Health Care Coverage (Office), as required by Act 9, issued a request for proposals for administrative services for the Program. The enclosed report summarizes the procurement process. The proposal submission deadline has passed, and, contrary to expectations, no proposals have been received. Program staff have begun to solicit feedback from potential administrators to identify barriers to their participation. The enclosed "Potential Vendor Feedback Regarding RFP# ETA0006" provides detailed comments from potential vendors.
The Department will carefully evaluate how to proceed in developing an actuarially sound program with coverage available as soon as possible. For a more thorough discussion of budget issues, please see Sections 1.3 and 4.1 of the enclosed report.
Please contact Phillip Borden, Director of the Office of Private Employer Health Care Coverage, if you would like additional information about the Private Employer Health Care Coverage Program or about the activities of the Private Employer Health Care Coverage Board.
Sincerely,
Eric O. Stanchfield
Chair
Secretary, Department of Employee Trust Funds
Referred to committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs.
State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority
January 2, 2001
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Pursuant to section 234.25, Wisconsin Statutes, the following is the Fiscal 2000 annual report of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). Please note that each of the housing programs described in the following pages are consistent with the goals, policies and objectives of the state housing plan. In addition, the report reflects Calendar 2000 data for those programs operating on a calendar year basis. The report contains the following information:
•
Fiscal 2000 Program Activity
•
Job Creation Report
•
WHEDA Strategic Plan
•
Calendar 1999 Annual Report
•
June 30, 2000 Financial Statement
Should you have any questions or comments, please call me or Jim Langdon at 266-3529. Thank you for your interest in WHEDA.
Sincerely,
Fritz RuF
Executive Director
Referred to committee on Universities, Housing and Government Operations.
State of Wisconsin
Public Service Commission
December 22, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Enclosed please find the "Report to the Legislature on Horizontal Market Power in Wisconsin Electricity Market." It is transmitted as required by Wis. Stat. s.
196.025(4)(b), for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under Wis. Stat. s.
13.172(3).
Pursuant to Wis. Stat. s.
196.025(5)(ar), the Commission contracted with an expert consultant in economics to study the potential for horizontal market power, including the horizontal market power of electric generators, to frustrate the creation of an effectively competitive retail electricity market in this state and to make recommendations on measures to eliminate such market power on a sustainable basis. The report provides results of an independent economic study which examined potential horizontal market power problems in Wisconsin electricity markets, comments from numerous industry participants on the commissioned report, and the Commission's initial commentary on the subject. At a later date, the Commission may offer additional guidance to the legislature concerning horizontal market power issues in Wisconsin electricity markets.
Sincerely,
Lynda L. Dorr
Secretary to the Commission
Referred to committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs.
State of Wisconsin
Public Service Commission
December 22, 2000
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We are pleased to provide the report of the Public Service Commission concerning "Horizontal Market Power in Wisconsin Electricity Markets." This report is transmitted as required by Wis. Stat. s.
196.025(5)b for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under Wis. Stat. s.
13.172(3).
The report provides results of an independent economic study which examined potential horizontal market power problems in Wisconsin electricity markers, comments from numerous industry participants on the commissioned report, and the Commission's initial commentary on the subject. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. s.
196.025(5)(ar), the Commission contracted with an expert consultant in economics to study the potential for horizontal market power, including the horizontal market power of electric generators, to frustrate the creation of an effectively competitive retail electricity market in this state and to make recommendations on measures to eliminate such marker power on a sustainable basis.
If you have any questions concerning this report please contact Mr. Randel Pilo of the Commission's Electric Division at (608) 267-1474.
Sincerely,
Ave. M. Bie
Chairperson
Referred to committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs.
State of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin - Extension
December 27, 2000
S15
The Honorable, The Legislature:
As required by section
1606m,
1999 Wisconsin Act 9, included here are model ordinances for a traditional neighborhood development and for a conservation subdivision. The principal author for these ordinances is Professor Brian Ohm, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Wisconsin - Madison/Extension, with much input and support from colleagues and independent reviewers. Brian joins me as a signatory to this letter.
University of Wisconsin - Extension thanks the Wisconsin Legislature for requesting our institution to help Wisconsin communities with implementation of the Smart Growth Law. The development of these model ordinances is but one of the many educational efforts regarding land use and smart growth which UW-Extension has undertaken statewide. As communities grapple with these important issues, we look forward to helping them by providing locally relevant education using the world class educational resources such as those evidenced by Professor Ohm's fine model ordinance development work.
Sincerely,
Kevin Reilly
Chancellor
Brian Ohm
Department of Urban and Regional Planning
Referred to committee on Universities, Housing and Government Operations.
State of Wisconsin
Department of Justice
January 8, 2001
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Section
165.90 of the Wisconsin Statutes requires the Department of Justice to report on the performance of cooperative county-tribal law enforcement programs receiving aid under this section. This letter constitutes our report.
For more than a decade, the Department has awarded grants for cooperative county-tribal law enforcement programs. The statutes require counties and tribes to develop joint program plans. The Department requires plans to include resolutions of support for the plan adopted by county boards and tribal governing bodies, to signify cooperation and mutual commitment.
This program pays for a variety of law enforcement services to Indian communities across Wisconsin. Grants have been used for the costs of patrol, investigation, crime prevention, law enforcement training, alternatives to drug abuse and gang involvement, diversity training and cultural awareness education, computer technology and water rescue and other emergency equipment. Several grants are awarded to programs that include tribal police departments, while most generally help pay for services provided by county sheriffs to Indian reservations and communities.
The Department restructured the allocation process for this program beginning in CY2000. A formula that includes factors that measure crime rate, tribal unemployment and tribal population of each county-tribal program area now assists us in arriving at eligible grant awards. The result has been a more even distribution of awards to county-tribal programs across the state.
The amount appropriated for this program inState Fiscal Year 2000 was $708,400, the same as the prior year's funding. Grant moneys come from Indian gaming receipts as appropriated in the biennial budget. In Calendar Year 2000, the Department issued 16 awards totaling $708,400.
The County-Tribal Law Enforcement Grant Program continues to help local law enforcement provide needed services in Indian communities. In addition, this program helps build a cooperative atmosphere and positive relationship between law enforcement and tribal governments and communities. Departmental staff is available to discuss this report and this important program.
Sincerely,
James E. Doyle
Attorney General
State of Wisconsin
Gathering Waters Conservancy
January 1, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
It is my pleasure to share with you a report on Gathering Waters' activities and accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2000. This report is being submitted in accordance with the statutory requirements (s.
23.0955(2)(b)5) of the state grant that Gathering Waters received in FY 2000. Gathering Waters had an extremely successful year, thanks to the ongoing support of the state legislature and the Department of Natural Resources.
We look forward to working with the Department and the state legislature on the projects outlined in the report and other initiatives that develop over the course of the year. Please do not hesitate to contact me for additional information. I have also attached Gathering Waters' financial reports for FY 2000 for your review.
Sincerely,
Vicki Elkin
Executive Director
