Noes, 2 - Senators
Risser and Wirch.
Assembly Bill 235
Relating to: failure to pay owners of raw forest products and providing a penalty.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 4 - Senators
Kedzie, Stepp, Zien and Wirch.
Noes, 1 - Senator
Risser.
Assembly Bill 9
Relating to: authorizing the establishment of a program for the suppression of gypsy moths, specifying areas eligible for aerial insecticide treatment for the suppression of gypsy moths, and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Kedzie, Stepp, Zien, Risser and Wirch.
Noes, 0 - None.
Neal Kedzie
Chairperson
__________________
executive order #22
Relating to the Creation of the Governor's Task Force on Educational Excellence
WHEREAS, a high-quality public education system is an essential public good and the pathway to opportunity in a challenging and complex world; and
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has declared that every child in Wisconsin has a constitutional right to a sound, basic education, and Wisconsin aspires to provide an outstanding education to every child; and
WHEREAS, Wisconsin's citizens must balance many legitimate competing interests in order to provide our children the greatest educational opportunities possible, including the desire of parents to have the best education for their children, the concerns of taxpayers who fund the public educational system, and the need for education to spur economic growth; and
WHEREAS, the most important ingredient of a great education and high student achievement is a great teacher, and, while Wisconsin public schools employ many of the best and brightest teachers in the world, many Wisconsin teachers are leaving the profession, many prospective teachers leave Wisconsin to go to other states, many of our state's most difficult teaching assignments are being handled by our least experienced teachers, and current Wisconsin laws hinder our ability to attract and retain many more world class educators; and
WHEREAS, the refusal of the federal government to live up to its commitment to fund forty percent of special education costs has created significant financial challenges for all school districts, particularly smaller school districts with smaller budgets and districts that establish outstanding special education programs and attract more families with special needs children; and
WHEREAS, while Wisconsin students are nationally renowned for academic attainment, an unacceptable number of students, particularly those in low income areas, perform below state and national standards and fail to graduate from high school; and
WHEREAS, research clearly demonstrates that high-quality early childhood education yields significant results throughout children's lives, including improved academic performance, reduced special education placements, higher graduation rates, and reduced involvement with the criminal justice system.
NOW, THEREFORE, I , JIM DOYLE, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of this state, and specifically by Section
14.019 of the Wisconsin Statutes, do hereby:
Create the Governor's Task Force on Educational Excellence ("Task Force"); and
2.
Provide that the Task Force shall consist of not more than thirty one members appointed by the Governor to serve at the pleasure of the Governor; and
3.
Provide that the Governor shall designate one member of the Task Force as chairperson to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the governor; and
4.
Provide that the Task Force shall have the following mission in reviewing the state of education in Wisconsin and identifying measures to positively reform Wisconsin's education delivery system:.
a.
Study and make recommendation regarding the cost of providing a great education to every child in Wisconsin and determine the level at which Wisconsin citizens are prepared to fund that education; and
b.
Review how the state funds education through a combination of state and local taxes, and make recommendations regarding what proportion of these two taxes is fair and reasonable to fund public education. In making recommendations, consider the constitutional requirement for equal opportunity, local control in decision making, and the effect of financing systems on property and other tax rates; and
c.
Study and make recommendations on how to improve the state's ability to attract, recruit, train, and retain high quality teachers so that every child and every classroom has a highly qualified teacher, including ways to increase compensation to attract our best young students to the profession, keep our experienced teachers in the profession, and align our best teachers with the toughest challenges; and
S349
d.
Consider and recommend ways to adequately fund special education, including ways to share special education costs more evenly across the state, while assuring that public education is available to all; and
e.
Review existing barriers to academic achievements in Wisconsin and make recommendations to ensure that every student has an equal opportunity to a great education, regardless of location, disability, language barriers, and economic situation; and
f.
Study Wisconsin's current investments in early childhood education and recommend ways to make other early investments in education to increase student achievement and accomplish other positive long-term results.
5.
Direct the Department of Administration, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Public Instruction, and other state agencies to assist the Task Force with administrative and support services; and
6.
Direct the Department of Administration to provide the Task Force with such sums of money as are necessary for travel and operating expenses in accordance with Section
20.505(4)(ba) of the Wisconsin Statutes; and
7.
Require the Task Force to submit a final report on its findings and recommendations to the Governor and that the Task Force shall dissolve when its final report is accepted by the Governor.
IN TESTIMONY WHERE OF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the city of Madison this twenty-second day of August, 2003.
JIM DOYLE
Governor
By the governor:
DOUGLAS LA FOLLETTE
Secretary of State
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
August 20, 2003
To the Honorable, the Senate:
The following bill(s), originating in the Senate, have been approved, signed and deposited in the office of the Secretary of State:
Sincerely,
Jim Doyle
Governor
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Secretary of State
To the Honorable, the Senate:
Sincerely,
Douglas La follette
Secretary of State
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Secretary of State
To the Honorable, the Senate:
Sincerely,
Douglas La follette
Secretary of State
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Department of Natural Resources
August 19, 2003
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Attached to this letter is the Environmental Improvement Fund Biennial Finance Plan for the 2003-2005 biennium.
Environmental Improvement Fund program legislation (s.
281.59(3), Wis. Stats.) requires the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Administration to submit the final version of the Biennial Finance Plan to the Legislature and to the State Building Commission following enactment of the biennial budget. The purpose of the plan is to provide information on loan, loan subsidy, and bonding levels for program operations in the 2003-2005 biennium.
Also attached is the Environmental Improvement Fund Biennial Report for the 2001-2003 biennium. The report provides information on the activities and operations of the program during the previous biennium. This report is submitted in accordance with s.
281.59(3)(j), Wis. Stats.
If you have any questions regarding the Biennial Finance Plan, please contact Kathryn A. Curtner at 266-0860 or Michael Wolff at 267-2734.
Sincerely,
Kathryn A. Curtner, Director
Bureau of Community Financial Assistance
Department of Natural Resources
Michael Wolff
Finance Program Administrator
Department of Administration
Referred to committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
Department of Commerce
August 22, 2003
The Honorable, The Legislature:
As specified in 101.122, we are submitting 2002 year's annual report for the Rental Weatherization Program. This program began on January 1, 1985. Additional copies of the report are available by contacting the Program Manager at:
Rental Weatherization Program
Commerce-Safety and Buildings Division
Telephone: (608) 266-5649
Sincerely,
Cory L. Nettles
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
