Legislative Audit Bureau
December 5, 2001
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed a best practices review of local government operations, as directed by s.13.94(8), Wis. Stats. This report describes the development and implementation of electronic government services by local governments in Wisconsin.
Most local governments have already met a recommendation of the Blue-Ribbon Commission on State-Local Partnerships for the 21st Century, commonly known as the Kettl Commission, that all local governments serving populations of more than 25,000 have Web sites by June 30, 2002. Only 2 of 71 local governments with this population do not currently have Web sites. Further, 54 of 77 local governments with populations between 10,000 and 25,000 have Web sites.
E-government holds the potential to improve government services by making them less costly, more convenient, and more accessible to the public. Of the Web sites we reviewed, two-thirds are used primarily to publish information such as agendas and minutes of government meetings on line.
Increasingly, however, communities are developing features that allow interaction between residents and the government by allowing residents to send e-mail to local officials; print forms and applications; and in some cases, pay parking tickets or other fees on line using credit cards.
Our report highlights best practices for communities to use in making their Web sites as widely accessible as possible, making them easy to use, and addressing security and privacy concerns.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the many Wisconsin county and municipal officials who responded to an electronic survey we conducted, as well as to additional questions.
Sincerely,
Janice mueller
State Auditor
Department of Administration
November 15, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
In fulfillment of the requirements set forth under s. 9101(26n), I am notifying the Joint Committee on Finance of the Department of Administration's (DOA) action taken to lapse funding related to vacant positions in state government. This lapse plan totals $7,948,300 in each fiscal year. The nonstatutory provision gives the DOA secretary the latitude to determine each agency's lapse amount and requires each agency to lapse the amount identified. I have apportioned the reduction on the same basis as the five percent state operations reductions were determined, with certain exclusions.
Agencies were informed of the amounts that they were required to lapse in my September 24, 2001, memorandum relating to the implementation of budget cuts and lapses. The reduction for the vacancy lapse amounts to a 1.47% state operations reduction for most state agencies. Positions in the Division of Care and Treatment Facilities in the Department of Health and Family Services, small agencies and the Circuit Courts have been exempted from this reduction. The lapse amount for each agency is listed in the attachment.
Sincerely,
george Lightbourn
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
November 20, 2001
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Chapter
34, Laws of 1979, requires that when the Department of Administration maintains an office in Washington, DC, for the purpose of promoting federal/state cooperation, it should submit a report detailing the activities of the office and reporting the status of federal legislation of concern to the Legislature and other state agencies (Wis. Stats. 16.548(2)).
The report for the period July, 2001, through September, 2001, is attached.
Sincerely,
george Lightbourn
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
November 26, 2001
The Honorable, The Senate:
Included with this correspondence, I am submitting the report of the Department of Administration, Division of Gaming(Gaming), for the first quarter of fiscal year 2002 (July 1, 2001 through September 30, 2001). As required by s.562.02(1)(g), Wis. Stats., the attached materials contain pari-mutuel wagering and racing statistical information, as well as the revenues for the program areas of Racing, Charitable Gaming and Indian Gaming. Bingo revenues are now captured in a new appropriation (836) and therefore are shown on a separate chart form the rest of Charitable Gaming.
Please note that the final day of racing at St. Croix Meadows was August 9, 2001. The track is now closed. If you have any questions or comments regarding this report, please do not hesitate to contact Richard Pedersen at (608) 270-2546.
Sincerely,
F. Scott Scepaniak
Administrator
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State of Wisconsin
Revisor of Statutes Bureau
December 1, 2001
To the Honorable, the Senate:
The following rules have been published:
Sincerely,
GARY L. POULSON
Deputy Revisor
__________________
Relating to control of communicable diseases.
Submitted by Department of Health and Family Services.
Report received from Agency, December 3, 2001.
Referred to committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs, December 6, 2001.
Relating to early intervention services for children with developmental needs in the age group from birth to 3.
Submitted by Department of Health and Family Services.
Report received from Agency, December 5, 2001.
Referred to committee on Human Services and Aging, December 6, 2001.
Relating to licensing of emergency medical technicians-intermediate and approval of emergency medical technician-intermediate operational plans.
Submitted by Department of Health and Family Services.
Report received from Agency, December 5, 2001.
Referred to committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs, December 6, 2001.
__________________
The committee on Human Services and Aging reports and recommends:
Relating to course descriptions for students applying for social worker training certificates.
No action taken.
Relating to the minimum number of hours to be required in a social worker training certificate internship.
No action taken.
Relating to the social worker temporary certificate to conform to a new procedure for computerized examinations.
No action taken.
Relating to aid to families with dependent children.
No action taken.
Judith Robson
Chairperson
The committee on Labor and Agriculture reports and recommends:
Relating to meat and meat food products.
No action taken.
David Hansen
Chairperson
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Chief Clerk's Report
The Chief Clerk records:
Senate Bill 70
Senate Bill 259
Senate Bill 275
Presented to the Governor on November 28, 2001.
__________________
for the Month of November 2001
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator George, for the American Society for Quality (ASQ), on the occasion of the dedication of its new building and its years of service to the Milwaukee community.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Risser, for Irene "Rene" Beryl Walter Anderson, on the occasion of celebrating her 95th Birthday shared with family and friends.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Ellis, for Barbara Bender, on the occasion of her 30 years of dedicated service with Cuna Credit Union National Association.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Darling, for Robert W. Braeger, on the occasion of being a distinguished World War II veteran at the 38th Annual Veterans Day Parade.
