The Groundwater Coordinating Council (GCC) is pleased to release its 2003 Report to the Legislature. The GCC was formed in 1984 to help state agencies coordinate non-regulatory activities and exchange information on groundwater. The GCC has served as a model for interagency coordination and cooperation among state government officials, the Governor, local government and the federal government. It is one of the few groups in the nation to effectively coordinate groundwater activities in its state from an advisory position.
This report summarizes GCC and agency activities related to groundwater protection and management in FY 03 (July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003) and provides an overview of the condition of the groundwater resource. See the
Executive Summary for highlights and the GCC's recommendations in
Future Directions for Groundwater Protection. This report is available online at
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/dwg/gcc/index.html.
Sincerely,
Todd Ambs
Chair
Referred to committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health and Family Services
August 29, 2003
The Honorable, The Senate:
Section
227.485(9) of the Wis. Stats. requires the Department to submit a report concerning decisions and resulting payments of attorney fees and related legal costs. Attorney fees and other legal costs are to be paid whenever the opposing party to an agency's Chapter
227 hearing prevails and it is determined the agency's position was not substantially justified. No payments were made during SFY 2003.
In addition, under 814.245(10) of the Wis. Stats. the Department is required to report any awards granted to the Department regarding frivolous motions brought against this Department. In SFY 2003, no motions of opposing parties were found to be frivolous. Consequently, the department has no awards to report.
Sincerely,
Helene Nelson
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
September 3, 2003
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed financial audits of the Mendota and Winnebago Mental Health Institutes for the period July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002. The audits were requested by the Department of Health and Family Services to comply with requirements of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. We are able to express an unqualified opinion on each Institute's financial statements.
The financial position of both Institutes improved significantly during fiscal year 2001-02: Mendota reported a net increase in assets of $2.5 million, and Winnebago reported a net increase of $1.0 million. In addition, the Institutes have significantly reduced the negative cash balances in their appropriations, which are reported as loans from the State of Wisconsin because the State's pool of cash covers the deficits. Higher billing rates and improved billing and collection procedures have contributed to the Institutes' improved financial positions.
For several years, the Department experienced technical problems in implementing its new billing and accounting system for the Institutes, which resulted in significant billing and collection delays and accounting problems. The department is taking reasonable steps to address implementation problems and to improve the timeliness and effectiveness of its billing and collection efforts. The Department also continues to improve its process for estimating patient revenues and receivables for financial reporting.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Health and Family Services staff during our audit.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
September 2, 2003
To the Honorable the Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2003 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
Hoven, Timothy Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
Schreiber, Martin Steamfitters Local 601
Stewart, James Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin
Stewart, James Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin Inc
Walsh, Kenneth Steamfitters Local 601
Also available from the Wisconsin Ethics Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
R. Roth Judd
Director
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
July 25, 2003
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Neubauer, Lisa,
of Racine, as a member of the Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2005.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Economic Development, Job Creation and Housing.
Relating to greyhound racing and pari-mutuel wagering.
Submitted by Department of Administration.
Report received from Agency, September 2, 2003.
Referred to committee on Homeland Security, Veterans and Military Affairs and Government Reform,
September 3, 2003.
__________________
The committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care reports and recommends:
Relating to dental specialties.
No action taken.
Carol Roessler
Chairperson
The committee on Homeland Security, Veterans and Military Affairs and Government Reform reports and recommends:
Relating to the hazardous materials transportation program and to reimbursement procedures for regional and local emergency response teams.
No action taken.
Relating to the imposition of rental charges at regional transitional housing sites under the veterans assistance program.
No action taken.
Ronald Brown
Chairperson
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Revisor of Statutes Bureau
September 1, 2003
To the Honorable, the Senate:
The following rules have been published:
Sincerely,
GARY L. POULSON
Deputy Revisor
__________________
Senate amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 204 offered by Senator Harsdorf.
Senate amendment 1 to Senate Bill 121 offered by Senator Harsdorf.
Senate amendment 1 to Senate Bill 212 offered by Senator Harsdorf.
__________________
Corrections In:
2003 Senate Bill 214
