Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
State government
Public utility regulation
This bill establishes maximum late payment charges that telecommunications utilities are allowed to charge retail consumers. Under current law, a telecommunications utility is an entity that provides local calling service to consumers, except for entities that provide such service on a resale basis.
With two exceptions, the bill prohibits a telecommunications utility from imposing on retail consumers a late payment charge at a rate greater than 1.5 percent per month computed upon the declining principal balance of any amount that is not paid when due. The first exception applies to retail consumers that are not residential consumers. For any month in which the maximum late payment charge otherwise allowed under the bill is less than $5, the bill allows the telecommunications utility to impose a late payment charge of $5 for that month. Under the bill's second exception, the PSC may allow a telecommunications utility to impose a late payment charge that is greater than that otherwise allowed under the bill, but only if the PSC determines that the greater charge is consistent with factors specified under current law for determining whether a charge is just and reasonable.
The bill also requires telecommunications utilities that impose late payment charges on consumers to pay to the PSC, on a semiannual basis, 5 percent of the charges they collect from consumers that are not residential consumers. The PSC must use the money for consumer education purposes as determined by the PSC.
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. 20.155 (1) (Ls) of the statutes is created to read:
20.155 (1) (Ls) Late payment charges. All moneys received from telecommunications utilities under s. 196.219 (3m) (b) for consumer education purposes as determined by the commission.
SECTION 2. 196.219 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
196.219 (3m) LATE PAYMENT CHARGES. (a) Maximum allowed. 1. Except as provided in subds. 2. and 3., a telecommunications utility may not impose a late payment charge on a retail consumer at a rate that exceeds $1.50 upon $100 for each month computed upon the declining principal balance of any amount that is not paid when due.
2. Except as provided in subd. 3., if the maximum late payment charge for any month that is allowed under subd. 1. is less than $5 for that month, the telecommunications utility may impose a late payment charge that does not exceed $5 for that month. This subdivision does not apply to residential retail consumers.
3. The commission may allow a telecommunications utility to impose a late payment charge at a rate that is greater than that allowed under subd. 1. or 2. if the commission determines that the greater amount is consistent with the factors specified in s. 196.03 (6).
(b) Payments to commission. 1. A telecommunications utility that imposes late payment charges that are subject to par. (a) shall pay to the commission, on a semiannual basis, 5 percent of such charges that are collected from nonresidential retail consumers.
2. The payments required under subd. 1. are due to the commission no later than 60 days after the conclusion of a semiannual period.
(c) Commission jurisdiction. The commission does not have jurisdiction over late payment charges except as may be necessary to enforce the requirements of this subsection.
SECTION 9339. Initial applicability; public service commission.
(1) LATE PAYMENT CHARGES. The treatment of section 196.219 (3m) (b) 2. of the statutes first applies at the conclusion of the semiannual period that begins on the effective date of this subsection.
(End)
LRB-1788LRB-1788/P1
MDK:jld:jf
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Dombrowski, BB0444 - Utility Public Benefits Fund 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
Public utility regulation
This bill transfers $18,185,300 in fiscal year 2005-06 and $16,949,400 in fiscal year 2006-07 from the utility public benefits fund to the general fund.
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 9201. Appropriation changes; administration.
(1) UTILITY PUBLIC BENEFITS FUND TRANSFER. There is transferred from the utility public benefits fund to the general fund $18,185,300 in fiscal year 2005-06 and $16,949,400 in fiscal year 2006-07.
(End)
LRB-1789LRB-1789/1
GMM:kjf:jf
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Binau, BB0447 - Wisconsin higher education grant increase
For 2005-07 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2005 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
education
Other educational and cultural agencies
Under current law, the Higher Educational Aids Board awards Wisconsin higher education grants (WHEG grants) to undergraduates enrolled at least half time at nonprofit public institutions of higher education or tribally controlled colleges in this state. Currently, a WHEG grant may not exceed $2,500 for any academic year. This bill increases that maximum grant amount to $3,000 for any academic year.
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. 39.435 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
39.435 (3) Grants under sub. (1) shall not be less than $250 during any one academic year, unless the joint committee on finance approves an adjustment in the amount of the minimum grant. Grants under sub. (1) shall not exceed $2,500 $3,000 during any one academic year. The board shall, by rule, establish a reporting system to periodically provide student economic data and shall promulgate other rules the board deems necessary to assure uniform administration of the program.
SECTION 9322. Initial applicability; higher educational aids board.
(1) WISCONSIN HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS. The treatment of section 39.435 (3) of the statutes first applies to Wisconsin higher education grants awarded by the Higher Educational Aids Board for the 2005-06 academic year.
(End)
LRB-1795LRB-1795/4
RAC:jld:jf
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Kraus, BB0448 - Conflict of interest provisions affecting Lottery Division employees
For 2005-07 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2005 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Gambling
Current law prohibits any employee in the Lottery Division of DOR (division) or the executive assistant or secretary or deputy secretary of revenue from having a direct or indirect interest in, or being employed by, any lottery vendor while serving as an employee in the division or as the executive assistant or as secretary or deputy secretary of revenue or for two years following the person's termination of service.
This bill provides that an employee in the division who terminates employment with DOR on or after the bill's effective date may be employed by a vendor at any time after his or her date of termination if DOR has entered into a contract with the vendor to perform lottery functions that were previously performed by the employee while he or she was employed in the division.
In addition, the bill provides that no employee in the division may discuss with a vendor who is attempting to obtain a major procurement contract any matter relating to the future employment of the employee with the vendor unless the discussion relates to employment with a vendor that is entering into a contract to perform the employee's services and the division administrator provides prior written consent.
Finally, the bill provides that, if a contract for a major procurement is for services that were performed by employees in the division, the contract may not be entered into unless the contract requires the vendor to offer employment to those employees in the division who performed those services and whose position was terminated.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 565.05 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
565.05 (1) (intro.) No Except as provided in sub. (1m), no employee in the lottery division of the department or the executive assistant or the secretary or deputy secretary of revenue may do any of the following:
SECTION 2. 565.05 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
565.05 (1m) An employee in the lottery division of the department who terminates employment with the department may be employed by a vendor at any time after his or her date of termination if the department has entered into a contract, on or after the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date], with the vendor to perform lottery functions that were previously performed by the employee while he or she was employed in the lottery division.
SECTION 3. 565.05 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
565.05 (3) No employee in the lottery division may discuss with a vendor who is attempting to obtain a major procurement contract under s. 565.25 any matter relating to the future employment of the employee with the vendor unless the discussion relates to employment under s. 565.25 (3) (cm) and the administrator provides prior written consent.
SECTION 4. 565.25 (3) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
565.25 (3) (cm) If a contract for a major procurement is for services that were performed by employees in the lottery division before the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], the contract may not be entered into unless the contract requires the vendor to offer employment to those employees in the lottery division who performed those services and whose positions were terminated on or after the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date].
SECTION 9341. Initial applicability; revenue.
(1) MAJOR PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS. The treatment of section 565.25 (3) (cm) of the statutes first applies to major procurement contracts entered into on the effective date of this subsection.
(End)
LRB-1796LRB-1796/4
JK:lmk&cjs:pg
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Koskinen - Sales and use tax on electronic versions of certain tangible personal property
For 2005-07 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2005 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
taxation
Other taxation
This bill imposes the sales tax and the use tax on audiovisual works, finished artwork, literary works, and audio works that are delivered electronically to a purchaser.
This bill will be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a detailed analysis, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
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. 77.51 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 77.51 (1d).
SECTION 2. 77.51 (1bk) of the statutes is created to read:
77.51 (1bk) "Audio works" means works that result from the fixation of a series of musical, spoken, or other sounds, including prerecorded or live music, prerecorded or live readings of books or other written materials, prerecorded or live speeches, and digitized sound files that are downloaded to a telephone handset. "Audio works" does not include broadcast radio services or sounds accompanying an audiovisual work.
SECTION 3. 77.51 (1bm) of the statutes is created to read:
