State of Wisconsin
Department of Health and Family Services
Madison
August 13, 2007
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
The Department of Health and Family Services is pleased to submit to you, as required by s.
253.115 of the Wisconsin Statutes, the annual report on the status of Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) in Wisconsin. Once again I am pleased to note that in 2006 Wisconsin hospitals have exceeded the legislative directive that at least 88% of all deliveries be performed in hospitals with a UNHS program. In 2006, 99.9% of Wisconsin babies born in birthing hospitals were born in hospitals with a universal newborn hearing screening program. Including children born at home, 96% of all Wisconsin newborns were screened for hearing disorders in 2006.
Hearing loss is the most common congenital birth defect affecting Wisconsin infants. If hearing loss is left undetected, it will impede speech, language, cognitive and social development. Working in collaboration with other public and private agencies, the Department has developed an exemplary program of early hearing detection and intervention. The Department looks forward to continuing to provide a sound beginning for Wisconsin babies.
With warm regards,
Kevin R. Hayden
Secretary
Referred to committee on Children and Family Law.
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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
August 1, 2007
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
We have completed an evaluation of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, as directed by s.
25.17(51m), Wis. Stats. As of December 31, 2006, the Investment Board managed a total of $88.4 billion in investments that included assets of the Wisconsin Retirement System, the State Investment Fund, and five smaller insurance and trust funds.
The retirement funds provided mixed returns for periods ending December 31, 2005 and 2006. The Core Fund exceeded all of its benchmarks. The Variable Fund met or exceeded all of its benchmarks in 2005 but lagged its three‐ and five‐year benchmarks at the end of 2006. We include a recommendation for the Investment Board to re‐evaluate its policies and procedures for making decisions affecting the Variable Fund's performance.
The Core Fund's performance ranked in the middle in comparison to nine other public pension funds surveyed as of December 2006. A relatively lower allocation to private equity and real estate and underperformance of its domestic equities contributed to this ranking.
In past years, the Investment Board encountered difficulties in the management of private markets investments. It has made organizational, staffing, and procedural changes to address these concerns. Correspondingly, its private markets investments have provided strong returns in recent years.
The Investment Board manages two private markets portfolios with a Wisconsin emphasis. The Wisconsin private debt portfolio is providing solid returns. However, it is too early to assess the long‐term success of the Wisconsin private equity portfolio, which was established in 2000.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Investment Board. A response from the Board's Executive Director follows the appendices.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
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Representative Honadel moved that the Assembly stand adjourned until 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, August 16.
The question was: Shall the Assembly stand adjourned?
Motion carried.
The Assembly stood adjourned.
12:16 P.M.
