Noes, 0 - None.
Cathy Stepp
Chairperson
The committee on Labor and Election Process Reform reports and recommends:
Senate Bill 42
Relating to: requiring certain identification in order to vote at a polling place or obtain an absentee ballot, verification of the addresses of electors, and the fee for an identification card issued by the Department of Transportation.
Introduction of Senate Substitute Amendment 1.
Ayes, 4 - Senators
Reynolds, Lazich, Kanavas and Carpenter.
Noes, 1 - Senator
Hansen.
Adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1.
Ayes, 4 - Senators
Reynolds, Lazich, Kanavas and Carpenter.
Noes, 1 - Senator
Hansen.
Passage as amended.
Ayes, 4 - Senators
Reynolds, Lazich, Kanavas and Carpenter.
Noes, 1 - Senator
Hansen.
Thomas Reynolds
Chairperson
Assembly Bill 63
Relating to: requiring certain identification in order to vote at a polling place or obtain an absentee ballot, verification of the addresses of electors, and the fee for an identification card issued by the Department of Transportation.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 4 - Senators
Reynolds, Lazich, Kanavas and Carpenter.
Noes, 1 - Senator
Hansen.
Senate Bill 119
Relating to: funding for identification cards provided without charge by the Department of Transportation and making appropriations.
Passage.
Ayes, 4 - Senators
Reynolds, Lazich, Kanavas and Carpenter.
Noes, 1 - Senator
Hansen.
The committee on Natural Resources and Transportation reports and recommends:
Senate Bill 51
Relating to: the cutoff time for receipt of documents for filing and recording with a register of deeds, federal tax lien forms, and maintenance of county highway registers.
Adoption of Senate Amendment 1.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Kedzie, Stepp, Kapanke, Wirch and Breske.
Noes, 0 - None.
Passage as amended.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Kedzie, Stepp, Kapanke, Wirch and Breske.
Noes, 0 - None.
Green
, Jerry D.,
of Black River Falls, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreational Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2005.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Kedzie, Stepp, Kapanke, Wirch and Breske.
Noes, 0 - None.
Nelson
, Elwyn,
of Oshkosh, as a member of the Fox River Navigational System Authority to serve for the term ending July 1, 2007
Confirmation.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Kedzie, Stepp, Kapanke, Wirch and Breske.
Noes, 0 - None.
Quackenbush, William,
of Black River Falls, as a member of the Kickapoo Reserve Management Board, to serve for the term ending May 1, 2008.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Kedzie, Stepp, Kapanke, Wirch and Breske.
Noes, 0 - None.
Van De Hey, Ron ,
of Kaukauna, as a member of the Fox River Navigational System Authority, to serve the term ending July 1, 2008.
Confirmation.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Kedzie, Stepp, Kapanke, Wirch and Breske.
Noes, 0 - None.
Neal Kedzie
Chairperson
__________________
State of Wisconsin
April 6, 2005
The Honorable, The Senate:
Pursuant to Senate Rule
46(2)(c), I am writing to direct that
Senate Bill 155 be withdrawn from the committee on
Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care and rereferred to the committee on
Labor and Election Process Reform.
I have obtained the consent of the appropriate chairperson.
Sincerely,
ALAN LASEE
Senate President
State of Wisconsin
April 6, 2005
The Honorable, The Senate:
Pursuant to Senate Rule
46(2)(c), I am writing to direct that
Senate Bill 9 be withdrawn from the committee on
Veterans, Homeland Security, Military Affairs, Small Business and Government Reform and rereferred to the committee on
Job Creation, Economic Development and Consumer Affairs.
I have obtained the consent of the appropriate chairperson.
Sincerely,
ALAN LASEE
Senate President
Legislative Audit Bureau
April 7, 2005
The Honorable, The Senate:
We have completed an evaluation of the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program, as requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. W-2 is designed to help participants achieve economic self-sufficiency through employment. It is administered at the state level by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and at the local level through 52 contracts with public and private agencies. From the program's inception through June 2004, expenditures have totaled $1.5 billion. In June 2004, there were 15,539 participants, 79.8 percent of whom were in Milwaukee County.
The program's success in helping participants achieve economic self-sufficiency has been mixed. We examined Wisconsin income tax returns and quarterly wage data reported to DWD for 9,958 participants who left W-2 from 1999 through 2002. Approximately 20.0 percent of these former participants earned more than the poverty level in the year after they left the program; the majority likely did not. When tax credits are included, approximately 33.0 percent had incomes above the poverty level.
We identified concerns with DWD's management of the program and its oversight of W-2 agencies. For example, the number of work hours assigned to many participants has declined over time; some participants received payments when they were not eligible to receive them; participants are not consistently screened to determine whether they have potential barriers to employment; and sanctions are not applied consistently statewide. We make a number of recommendations for DWD to improve its management and oversight, and we identify issues the Legislature will need to consider as it debates the future funding and structure of the W-2 program.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DWD and the W-2 agencies we contacted during our evaluation. DWD's response follows the appendices.
Sincerely,
JANICE MUELLER
State Auditor
executive order #94
Relating to the Creation of the Autism Advisory Council
WHEREAS, Wisconsin serves over 1,500 children with autism through the Children's Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid Waivers; and
WHEREAS, children with autism benefit from early and intensive treatment and have capabilities and competencies, and make a contribution to the community; and
WHEREAS, families are the greatest resource for their children with autism and benefit from supports and services to meet their children's needs; and
WHEREAS, family members and members of the community play a central role in enhancing the lives of children with autism; and
