289.67 (1) (h) Use of environmental repair fee. The fees collected under par. (b) shall be credited to the environmental fund for environmental management.
(End)
LRB-1114LRB-1114/2
RCT:kjf:nwn
2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Miner, BB0221 - Environmental repair bonding
For 2007-09 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2007 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Environment
Hazardous substances and environmental cleanup
Current law authorizes DNR to conduct or fund activities to investigate and remedy environmental contamination in some situations. This bill increases the authorized general obligation bonding authority to finance those activities by $3,000,000.
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. 20.866 (2) (tg) of the statutes is amended to read:
20.866 (2) (tg) Natural resources; environmental repair. From the capital improvement fund, a sum sufficient for the department of natural resources to fund investigations and remedial action under s. 292.11 (7) (a) or 292.31 and remedial action under s. 281.83 and for payment of this state's share of environmental repair that is funded under 42 USC 6991 to 6991i or 42 USC 9601 to 9675. The state may contract public debt in an amount not to exceed $51,000,000 $54,000,000 for this purpose. Of this amount, $7,000,000 is allocated for remedial action under s. 281.83.
(End)
LRB-1122LRB-1122/1
RLR:kjf:rs
2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Rhodes, BB0215 - Drug Abuse Program Improvement Surcharge
For 2007-09 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2007 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
courts and procedure
Circuit courts
Under current law, courts impose a drug abuse program improvement surcharge on persons who are fined for criminal violations relating to the manufacture, distribution, delivery, or possession of a controlled substance. This bill allocates moneys collected from the surcharge to DHFS and to the Office of Justice Assistance.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 961.41 (5) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act 25, is amended to read:
961.41 (5) (c) 1. Two-thirds The first $850,000 plus two-thirds of all moneys in excess of $1,275,000 collected in each fiscal year from drug surcharges under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (6) (gb).
2. One-third of all All moneys in excess of $850,000 and up to $1,275,000 plus one-third of moneys in excess of $1,275,000 collected in each fiscal year from drug surcharges under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (6) (ku).
SECTION 9407. Effective dates; Circuit Courts.
(1) DRUG ABUSE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT SURCHARGE. The treatment of section 961.41 (5) (c) of the statutes takes effect on July 1, 2007.
(End)
LRB-1140LRB-1140/2
PJK:jld:pg
2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Jablonsky, BB0223 - Chronic Disease Program
For 2007-09 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2007 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: the Chronic Disease Program.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Health and human services
Public assistance
Under current law, DHFS provides financial assistance for the cost of medical care to persons with chronic kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, and hemophilia. This assistance is collectively referred to as the Chronic Disease Program. This bill makes the following changes to the Chronic Disease Program:
1. Eliminates the requirement that rates paid by DHFS for services provided for the treatment of chronic kidney disease must be equal to or not exceed the allowable charges under the federal Medicare program.
2. Prohibits a provider of a service to a person under the Chronic Disease Program from billing the patient for any difference between the amount the state pays under the program and the provider's charge for the service. Currently this prohibition only applies with respect to services for the treatment of chronic kidney disease.
3. Authorizes DHFS to investigate suspected fraudulent activity and other abuses on the part of persons receiving benefits under the Chronic Disease Program.
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. 49.68 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.68 (3) (e) State aids for services provided under this section shall be equal to the allowable charges under the federal Medicare program. In no case shall state rates for individual service elements exceed the federally defined allowable costs. The rate of charges for services not covered by public and private insurance shall not exceed the reasonable charges as established by medicare fee determination procedures. A person that provides to a patient a service for which aid is provided under this section shall accept the amount paid under this section for the service as payment in full and may not bill the patient for any amount by which the charge for the service exceeds the amount paid for the service under this section. The state may not pay for the cost of travel, lodging, or meals for persons who must travel to receive inpatient and outpatient dialysis treatment for kidney disease. This paragraph shall not apply to donor related costs as defined in par. (b).
SECTION 2. 49.687 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
49.687 (title) Disease aids; patient requirements; rebate agreements; cost containment general provisions.
SECTION 3. 49.687 (2r) of the statutes is created to read:
49.687 (2r) A person that provides a patient with a service for which aid is provided under s. 49.68, 49.683, or 49.685 shall accept the amount paid under s. 49.68, 49.683, or 49.685 for the service as payment in full and may not bill the patient for any amount by which the charge for the service exceeds the amount paid for the service under s. 49.68, 49.683, or 49.685.
SECTION 4. 49.687 (5) of the statutes is created to read:
49.687 (5) The department may investigate suspected fraudulent activity and other abuses on the part of persons receiving benefits under the programs under ss. 49.68, 49.683, and 49.685. The activities of the department under this subsection may include comparisons of information provided to the department by an applicant with information provided by the applicant to other federal, state, and local agencies and the development of an advisory welfare investigation prosecution standard. The department shall cooperate with district attorneys regarding fraud prosecutions.
(End)
LRB-1169LRB-1169/P2
MES:wlj:jf
2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Pawasarat, BB0230 - Populous county pension obligation fund
For 2007-09 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
2007 BILL
AN ACT ...; relating to: unfunded pension liability financing in populous counties.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Local government
This bill authorizes a county with a population of 500,000 or more (currently only Milwaukee County) to issue appropriation bonds on a one-time basis, other than refunding bonds, to pay all or any part of the county's unfunded prior service liability with respect to an employee retirement system of the county. "Appropriation bonds" are defined as any bond, note, or other obligation of a county issued as provided in the bill to evidence the county's obligation to repay borrowed money that is payable from various sources, including the following:
1. Moneys annually appropriated by the county for debt service due with respect to the appropriation bonds.
2. Proceeds of the sale of the appropriation bonds.
3. Investment earnings on the items listed above.
Before the county may issue appropriation bonds, however, the county must enact an ordinance to implement a five-year strategic and financial plan related to the payment of unfunded employee retirement benefits. The financial plan shall provide that future annual pension liabilities are funded on a current basis, and the financial plan must contain quantifiable benchmarks to measure compliance with the plan. Annually, the county board must report to the legislature and the governor on a number of issues related to the appropriation bonds, including the county's progress in meeting the benchmarks.
The bill states that a populous county is not generally liable for appropriation bonds, and appropriation bonds are not a debt of the county for any purpose whatsoever. Appropriation bonds, including the principal and interest payments, are payable only from amounts that the county board may, from year to year, appropriate.
Because this bill relates to public employee retirement or pensions, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill.
For further information see the 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. 59.605 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
59.605 (1) (a) "Debt levy" means the county purpose levy for debt service on loans under subch. II of ch. 24, bonds issued under s. 67.05 and, promissory notes issued under s. 67.12 (12), and appropriation bonds issued under s. 59.85, less any revenues that abate the levy.
SECTION 2. 59.85 of the statutes is created to read:
59.85 Appropriation bonds for payment of employee retirement system liability in populous counties. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section:
(a) "Appropriation bond" means a bond issued by a county to evidence its obligation to repay a certain amount of borrowed money that is payable from all of the following:
1. Moneys annually appropriated by law for debt service due with respect to such appropriation bond in that year.
2. Proceeds of the sale of such appropriation bonds.
3. Payments received for that purpose under agreements and ancillary arrangements described in s. 59.86.
4. Investment earnings on amounts in subds. 1. to 3.
(b) "Board" means the county board of supervisors in any county.
(c) "Bond" means any bond, note, or other obligation of a county issued under this section.
(d) "County" means any county having a population of 500,000 or more.
(e) "Refunding bond" means an appropriation bond issued to fund or refund all or any part of one or more outstanding appropriation bonds.
(1m) LEGISLATIVE FINDING AND DETERMINATION. Recognizing that a county, by prepaying part or all of the county's unfunded prior service liability with respect to an employee retirement system of the county, may reduce its costs and better ensure the timely and full payment of retirement benefits to participants and their beneficiaries under the employee retirement system, the legislature finds and determines that it is in the public interest for the county to issue appropriation bonds to obtain proceeds to pay its unfunded prior service liability.
(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION BONDS. (a) A board shall have all powers necessary and convenient to carry out its duties, and to exercise its authority, under this section.
(b) Subject to pars. (c) and (d), a county may issue appropriation bonds under this section to pay all or any part of the county's unfunded prior service liability with respect to an employee retirement system of the county, or to fund or refund outstanding appropriation bonds issued under this section. A county may use proceeds of appropriation bonds to pay issuance or administrative expenses, to make deposits to reserve funds, to pay accrued or funded interest, to pay the costs of credit enhancement, to make payments under other agreements entered into under s. 59.86, or to make deposits to stabilization funds established under s. 59.87.
(c) Other than refunding bonds issued under sub. (6), all bonds must be issued simultaneously.
(d) 1. Before a county may issue appropriation bonds under par. (b), its board shall enact an ordinance that establishes a 5-year strategic and financial plan related to the payment of all or any part of the county's unfunded prior service liability with respect to an employee retirement system of the county. The strategic and financial plan shall provide that future annual pension liabilities are funded on a current basis. The strategic and financial plan shall contain quantifiable benchmarks to measure compliance with the plan. The board shall make a determination that the ordinance meets the requirements of this subdivision and, absent manifest error, the board's determination shall be conclusive. The board shall submit to the governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2), a copy of the strategic and financial plan.