Addressing the need for effective performance measures is important given that the initial five-year ECPP agreements will expire in 2006 and 2007. DNR anticipates renewing all seven agreements for a second five-year period, and performance information will help DNR ensure the agreements are structured to promote program success.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DNR and the ECPP companies we contacted during our review.
Sincerely,
JANICE MUELLER
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
February 28, 2006
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am writing regarding Assembly Bill 69 (AB 69), relating to the authority of the Justice Department.
As those who are familiar with this bill, I have steadfastly maintained my opposition to this legislation. However, my vote on final passage Feb. 23 was somehow recorded as supporting AB 69. As this is in error, I would like to be recorded as voting no on this bill.
Please take whatever steps necessary so that the record reflects my true position on AB 69 in the appropriate publications.
Sincerely,
SPENCER COGGS
State Senator
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
February 28, 2006
The Honorable, The Legislature:
At your request, we have completed a review of the number of University of Wisconsin (UW) System employees convicted of felonies, as part of a comprehensive evaluation of UW System personnel policies and practices approved by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. That evaluation will be completed later this year.
Using Department of Corrections' felony data and UW System's payroll data, we identified 40 felons employed by UW System in September 2005 and under state supervision in November 2005. UW-Madison employed 27 of the 40 felons we identified, including 4 who are incarcerated.
Section
111.321, Wis. Stats., generally prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of arrest or conviction record, but under s.
111.335(1)(c), Wis. Stats., employment can be terminated when a conviction is substantially related to the circumstances of an individual's job. The decision to terminate is typically determined by an internal investigation. Because UW institutions were unaware of most of the 40 felons and could not provide complete information on how many internal investigations had been conducted, we have recommended that internal investigations be conducted to determine whether the convictions of any of the felons we identified are substantially job-related and any action is appropriate.
Terminating employment is often a lengthy process. In February 2006, the Board of Regents approved changes to expedite the termination of faculty who are convicted of serious criminal misconduct. We have recommended that it also clarify its termination process for academic staff and discuss the process for classified staff.
Finally, we found great variation in how UW institutions conduct background checks of candidates for employment. We have recommended that the Board of Regents promulgate uniform policies to identify the types of jobs for which background checks should be conducted.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by UW System during the course of our review.
Sincerely,
JANICE MUELLER
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
March 17, 2006
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
Christianson, Peter C Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
Hubbard, Gregory American Resort Development Association (ARDA)
Jentz, Robert Wisconsin Dells Visitors and Convention Bureau
King, Nathaniel Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin
Petersen, Eric J American Resort Development Association (ARDA)
Stenger, Scott Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort
Strohl, Joseph Coalition Against Bigger Trucks
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2005 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
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
Executive Director
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
March 7, 2006
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
Blumenfeld, Michael Wisconsin Association of Family & Childrens Agencies
Broehm, John Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
Kammer, Peter Epilepsy Foundation
Neumann-Ortiz, Christine Voces de la Frontera
Plautz, Jolene Insurance Auto Auctions
Ronnie, Kevin Hunger Task Force
Schimming, Brian National Association of Professional Employer
Speerschneider, Timm Arjo Wiggins Appleton Limited
Strohl, Joseph Bank of America Corporation/Bank of America, N.A.
Tyre, Scott American Petroleum Institute
Vickerman, Michael RENEW Wisconsin
S752
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2005 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
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
Executive Director
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
March 14, 2006
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Included with this correspondence, I am submitting the reports from the Department of Administration, Division of Gaming (Gaming), for the first quarter of fiscal year 2006 (July 1, 2005 through September 30, 2005) and the second quarter of fiscal year 2006 (October 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005). As required by s.562.02(1)(g), Wis. Stats., the attached materials contain pari-mutuel wagering and racing statistical information, as well as the revenues for the program areas of Racing, Charitable Gaming, Bingo, and Indian Gaming.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this report, please do not hesitate to contact Rachel Meek at (608) 270-2535.
Sincerely,
ROBERT W. SLOEY
Administrator
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health and Family Services
March 17, 2006
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The 1983-85 budget act,
1983 Wisconsin Act 27, created the Community Integration Program (CIP) for Residents of State Centers under s.
46.275. The intent of this program "is to relocate persons from the state centers for the developmentally disabled into appropriate community settings with the assistance of home and community-based services and with continuity of care. The intent of the program is also to minimize its impact on state employees through redeployment of employees into vacant positions." S.
46.275(5m) requires the Department to submit a report to the Joint Committee on Finance and to the Chief Clerk of each house of the Legislature describing the program's impact during the preceding calendar year on state employees, including the Department's efforts to redeploy employees into vacant positions and the number of employees laid off.
The 2003-05 biennial budget provided for the phasedown of long term care services at Northern Wisconsin Center and the placement of residents in community settings. Southern and Central Wisconsin Centers continued to relocate individuals under the CIP program as well during CY05. For the period of January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005, 68 center residents were placed into the community. In this same period, calendar year 2005, 51 employees were redeployed to vacant positions and 133 employees were laid off.
Sincerely,
HELENE NELSON
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Department of Regulation and Licensing
February 17, 2006
The Honorable, The Legislature:
It is with great pleasure that I submit the 2003-2005 Biennial Report for the Department of Regulation and Licensing (DRL).
The Department's achievements and successes of the past two years reflect the dedicated effort of a conscientious workforce, committed to providing an efficient and effective regulatory program that provides safety and protection for the public and quality service for the professionals we regulate. In the 2005-2007 biennium, the Department will strive to generate even greater efficiencies and further improve the way we do business.
