Economic Development
Under the Enterprise Development Zone Program, the Department of Commerce (department) is authorized to allocate tax credits to eligible businesses that conduct certain economic activities in areas designated as enterprise development zones. Under current law, the department may not designate more than 79 enterprise development zones unless it obtains the approval of the Joint Committee on Finance.
This bill eliminates the cap on the number of enterprise development zones the department may designate without the approval of the Joint Committee on Finance. The bill caps the total amount of tax benefits the department may allocate under the program at $243,000,000.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 560.797 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.797 (2) (d) The department may not designate more than 79 enterprise development zones unless the department obtains the approval of the joint committee on finance to do so. Of the enterprise development zones that the department designates, at least 10 shall be designated under par. (bg).
SECTION 2. 560.797 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.797 (5) (b) When the department designates an area as an enterprise development zone under this section, the department shall establish a limit, not to exceed $3,000,000, for tax benefits for the enterprise development zone. The total amount of tax benefits authorized under this paragraph for all enterprise development zones may not exceed $243,000,000.
(End)
LRB-0734LRB-0734/1
RAC:jld:ch
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Dombrowski, BB0236 - Electronic funds transfers
For 2005-07 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2005 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
State government
State finance
The bill provides that payments to the state may be made by electronic funds transfer, unless such a payment method for a state program or activity is specifically prohibited by law. In addition, the bill permits the state to charge a person a fee, set by the Depository Selection Board, who attempts to make a payment to the state by electronic funds transfer but the transfer does not take place because of insufficient funds.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 20.905 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
20.905 (1) MANNER OF PAYMENT. Payments to the state may be made in legal tender, postal money order, express money order, bank draft, or certified check. Payments to the state may also be made by personal check or individual check drawn in the ordinary course of business unless otherwise required by individual state agencies. Payments to the state made by a debit or credit card approved by the depository selection board may be accepted by state agencies. Prior to authorizing the use of a card, the depository selection board shall determine how any charges associated with the use of the card shall be paid, unless the method of payment of such charges is specified by law. Unless otherwise specifically prohibited by law, payments to the state may be made by electronic funds transfer.
SECTION 2. 20.905 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
20.905 (2) PROTESTED PAYMENT. If a personal check tendered to make any payment to the state is not paid by the bank on which it is drawn, if an electronic funds transfer does not take place because of insufficient funds, or if a demand for payment under a debit or credit card transaction is not paid by the bank upon which demand is made, the person by whom the check has been tendered, the person whose funds were to be electronically transferred, or the person entering into the debit or credit card transaction shall remain liable for the payment of the amount for which the check was tendered, the amount that was to be electronically transferred, or the amount agreed to be paid by debit or credit card and for all legal penalties, additions and a charge set by the depository selection board which is comparable to charges for unpaid drafts made by establishments in the private sector. In addition, the officer to whom the check was tendered, to whom the electronic funds transfer was promised, or to whom the debit or credit card was presented may, if there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed, provide any information or evidence relating to the crime to the district attorney of the county having jurisdiction over the offense for prosecution as provided by law. If any license has been granted upon any such check, any such electronic funds transfer, or any such debit or credit card transaction, the license shall be subject to cancellation for the nonpayment of the check, the failure to make the electronic funds transfer, or failure of the bank to honor the demand for payment authorized by debit or credit card.
(End)
LRB-0736LRB-0736/1
RAC:jld:pg
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Dombrowski, BB0238 - Vacant position report
For 2005-07 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2005 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
State government
State employment
Under current law, each state agency must submit an annual report to the secretary of administration identifying each position for that state agency that became vacant during the preceding fiscal year. The bill eliminates this duty.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 16.505 (3m) of the statutes is repealed.
(End)
LRB-0738LRB-0738/2
MJL:wlj:rs
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Dombrowski, BB0251 - Low-income home energy assistance program funding
For 2005-07 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2005 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
commerce and economic development
Economic development
Currently DOA may not allocate more than $3.2 million of federal funds for the payment of assistance to meet weather-related or fuel supply shortage emergencies. This bill eliminates this $3.2 million restriction.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 16.27 (3) (e) 2. of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 2. 16.27 (3) (e) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
16.27 (3) (e) 3. Except as provided under subd. 6., allocate the balance of funds received under 42 USC 8621 to 8629 in a federal fiscal year, after making the allocations under pars. (c) and (d) and subds. 1. and 2. subd. 1., for the payment of heating assistance or for the payment of crisis assistance under sub. (6).
SECTION 3. 16.54 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
16.54 (2) (b) Upon presentation by the department to the joint committee on finance of alternatives to the provisions under s. 16.27, the joint committee on finance may revise the eligibility criteria under s. 16.27 (5), or benefit payments under s. 16.27 (6) or the amount allocated for crises under s. 16.27 (3) (e) 2., and the department shall implement those revisions. Benefits or eligibility criteria so revised shall take into account and be consistent with the requirements of federal regulations promulgated under 42 USC 8621 to 8629. If funds received under 42 USC 8621 to 8629 in a federal fiscal year total less than 90% of the amount received in the previous federal fiscal year, the department shall submit to the joint committee on finance a plan for expenditure of the funds. The department may not use the funds unless the committee approves the plan.
(End)
LRB-0745LRB-0745/2
RCT:wlj:rs
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Dombrowski, BB0250 - Waste facility siting board changes
For 2005-07 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2005 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Environment
Other environment
Under current law, the Waste Facility Siting Board (WFSB) facilitates negotiation and arbitration between local governments and persons who want to establish or expand solid waste disposal facilities. WFSB is attached to DOA for administrative purposes. Current law authorizes WFSB to appoint an executive director in the unclassified service.
This bill authorizes WFSB to appoint the executive director in the classified service or in the unclassified service. The bill authorizes WFSB to contract with any state agency to provide assistance necessary for WFSB to fulfill its duties. The bill also provides for the lapse of the unencumbered balance in WFSB's appropriation to the general fund at the end of the fiscal year. The appropriation is funded by a fee imposed on persons who dispose of solid and hazardous waste.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 15.105 (12) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
15.105 (12) (e) Executive director. The board shall appoint an executive director under or outside of the classified service to serve at its pleasure.
SECTION 2. 15.105 (12) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
15.105 (12) (f) Assistance. The executive director board may request contract with any state agency to provide assistance necessary for the board to fulfill its duties.
SECTION 3. 20.505 (4) (k) of the statutes is amended to read:
20.505 (4) (k) Waste facility siting board; general program operations. The amounts in the schedule for the general program operations of the waste facility siting board. All moneys transferred from the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (2) (eg) shall be credited to this appropriation account. Notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (a), the unencumbered balance of this appropriation account at the end of each fiscal year shall lapse to the general fund.
SECTION 4. 230.08 (2) (x) of the statutes is amended to read:
230.08 (2) (x) The executive director of the waste facility siting board, unless the board chooses to appoint the executive director under the classified service.
(End)
LRB-0746LRB-0746/4
DAK:wlj:rs
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Blaine, BB0247 - Remove sunset on supplemental MA payments made from community aids
For 2005-07 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2005 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
health and human services
Medical Assistance
Under current law, DFHS administers Medical Assistance (MA), which is a joint federal-state program under which persons with low income and few assets are provided health care services. The Community Aids Program (CAP) is funded from state general purpose revenues and federal block grant moneys; under it, DHFS distributes to county departments of social services, human services, community programs, and developmental disabilities services moneys for community social, mental health, developmental disabilities, and alcohol and other drug abuse services and certain other services. Until January 1, 2006, DHFS may make, from general purpose revenues for CAP, payment for MA services provided by the county departments and by local health departments. The MA services for which these payments may be made include early and periodic screening and diagnosis; home health services; services and supplies for family planning; physical and occupational therapy; speech, hearing, and language disorder services; medical day treatment services; certain mental health and alcohol and other drug abuse services; certain nursing services; personal care services; respiratory care services; care coordination for high-risk pregnancies; prenatal, postpartum, and young child care coordination; lead poisoning and lead exposure services; mental health crisis intervention services; and certain case management services. Also until January 1, 2006, DHFS may make, from the general purpose revenues for CAP, MA payments to providers of personal care, home health, and respiratory care services.
This bill eliminates the January 1, 2006, sunset on the payment, from general purpose revenues for CAP, of MA payments to county departments and local health departments and to providers of personal care home health, and respiratory care services.
Under current law, during 2006, DHFS must make payments from the MA trust fund to hold county departments and local health departments harmless for the elimination, from July 26, 2003, to January 1, 2006, of the community services deficit reduction benefit (CSDRB), under which counties and local health departments could claim federal Medicaid matching funds to cover costs for MA services provided that were not fully reimbursed.
This bill eliminates the requirement that DHFS make payments in 2006 from the MA trust fund to hold county departments and local health departments harmless for the elimination of CSDRB during the period from July 26, 2003, to January 1, 2006, authorizes payments from the general purpose revenues for CAP to city health departments for this purpose, and eliminates the recommencement of CSDRB.