Secretary of State
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August 18, 2005
Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
Dear Clerk Fuller:
Please add my name as a co-sponsor to 2005 Assembly Bill 81, which relates to creditable military service under the Wisconsin Retirement System.
Thank you for your consideration of my request.
If you have any questions regarding this request, please feel free to contact my office.
Sincerely,
Jeff fitzgerald
State Representative
39th Assembly District
August 17, 2005
Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
Dear Chief Clerk Fuller:
I would like to request a change in my vote of June 23, 2005, concerning tabling of Amendment 1 of Assembly Bill 499. I wish to request the change from "No" to "Yes" on tabling Amendment 1 of Assembly Bill 499.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Terri McCormick
State Representative
56th Assembly District
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Reference Bureau Corrections
Assembly Bill 280
1. Page 3, line 6: delete "discharge" and substitute "discharge,".
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Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Office of State Employment Relations
Madison
June 2005
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
I am pleased to present the 26th Affirmative Action Report for Wisconsin state government. Its purpose is to provide an overview of the state's workforce, reflect the progress made in the past year, and identify priority issues for the future.
Agencies continued to reduce their permanent classified workforce in fiscal year 2004, with minimal impact on the number and percentage of racial/ethnic minorities, women, and persons with disabilities in the permanent classified workforce. The state Division of Affirmative Action undertook many initiatives which ensured the continued representation of targeted group members in the state workforce.
The Office of State Employment Relations will continue to review the status of affirmative action in the State of Wisconsin and will assist agencies in the development of programs to accomplish their AA/EEO goals.
Sincerely,
Karen Timberlake
Director
Referred to committee on Labor.
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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
August 19, 2005
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
We have completed a review of the worker's compensation benefits paid to state employees from fiscal year (FY) 1999-2000 through FY 2003-04. During that five-year period, benefit payments for physical and mental injuries that resulted from accidents or illnesses sustained during the course of employment totaled $59.2 million. The worker's compensation program is managed by the Department of Administration and funded through premiums that are paid by state agencies, based primarily on their claims experience.
Although the number of paid claims declined by more than 16.0 percent during our review period, benefit payments increased 30.0 percent, from $10.0 million in FY 1999-2000 to $13.0 million in FY 2003-04. The average cost per paid claim increased 43.0 percent from its low of $2,005 in FY 2000-01 to $2,867 in FY 2003-04. Costs per claim increased primarily because of rising health care costs, which include hospital and physical therapy charges and prescription drugs. Three agencies-the University of Wisconsin System, the Department of Health and Family Services, and the Department of Corrections-accounted for 72.4 percent of FY 2003-04 payments.
The types and severity of on-the-job injuries sustained by state employees varied substantially, from twisted ankles caused from falls to life-threatening injuries sustained in automobile accidents. The most costly injury category was lifting, moving, or restraining a load, which led to strained or pulled muscles. Benefit payments related to these injuries increased from $1.2 million in FY 1999-2000 to $3.5 million in FY 2003-04.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by Department of Administration staff in conducting this review.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
