Assembly Joint Res. 82 22 Not Published
Assembly Joint Res. 86 23 Not Published
Assembly Joint Res. 88 24 Not Published
Sincerely,
Douglas La Follette
Secretary of State
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Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
January 18, 2008
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Please find enclosed the Service Award Program 2007 Annual Report. The Service Award Board developed the report with support from Department of Administration staff. The report provides an overview of the program and outlines the accomplishments for the program year.
Wisconsin State Statute 16.25(6) requires the Department to submit the report to the Chief Clerk of each house annually describing the activities of the board.
If you have any questions regarding the report, please contact Terri Lenz at the Department of Administration, Division of Enterprise Operations, at 608‐261‐6580.
Sincerely,
James M. Langdon
Secretary, Service Award Board
Referred to committee on Urban and Local Affairs.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health and Family Services
Madison
January 28, 2008
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Wis. Stats. s.
46.03(26) requires the Department of Health and Family Services to report annually on information systems projects under development including the implementation schedule, an estimate of costs, and proposed methods of determining charges where applicable.
The Department currently has the following three systems under development: (1) Public Health Information Network ‐Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS), (2) the Vital Records Reengineering Project, and (3) the Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) and related subsystems. The required information is provided in the attached report.
With warm regards,
Kevin R. Hayden
Secretary
Referred to committee on Health and Health Care Reform.
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
January 22, 2008
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
I write in response to questions raised by several legislators concerning the content and timing of our statutorily required analysis of the standardized test score data received from the School Choice Demonstration Project. Section
119.23 (7)(e) 2, Wis. Stats., requires the Bureau to report to the Legislature, in 2007 and annually thereafter until 2011, on the results of the standardized tests administered to pupils participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program and those who attend Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). As you are aware, our first report to the Legislature will be delayed because we did not receive the baseline test score data from the Project until December 28, 2007.
We have completed a preliminary examination of the baseline test score data, which contain the results of the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination tests that were administered during the 2006‐07 school year to a sample of 2,727 pupils who attended, schools participating in the Choice program, a sample of 2,727 MPS pupils who were selected based on their similarity to the sample of Choice pupils, and a random sample of 2,727 MPS pupils. Demographic and other information was also provided for these pupils.
With the data given to us, we anticipate that we can provide the Legislature with a report that analyzes the average baseline test score data, for reading and mathematics at each grade level, for each of the three groups of pupils and determine whether any differences in average test scores are statistically significant. We also anticipate providing summary demographic information for the three groups. However, because the test score data do not identify individual pupils or the schools where they were enrolled, we will be unable to report on the average test scores of pupils at individual Choice schools or determine whether pupils at some Choice schools scored significantly differently than those at other schools.
We will begin analyzing the test score data in earnest in the weeks ahead and anticipate releasing our first report to the Legislature later in 2008.
We appreciate the cooperation of the School Choice Demonstration Project in providing us with the baseline test score data and explaining its research methodology. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
January 29, 2008
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
We have completed a review of food and dairy safety program funding, which is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). The program's expenditures totaled $8.4 million in fiscal year (FY) 2006‐07 and supported 97.6 full‐time equivalent positions. In FY 2006‐07, 54.9 percent of the program was funded with fees charged to regulated entities, 41.6 percent with general purpose revenue, and 3.5 percent with federal revenue.
During our review period, fee revenue increased 20.8 percent, but fee‐funded expenditures increased by 43.2 percent. As a result, the program's appropriation account balance has decreased each year since FY 2002‐03, and in FY 2006‐07 ended with a negative balance of $51,800. To address the program's current funding shortfall, DATCP has proposed increasing food and dairy fees by approximately 30 percent beginning July 1, 2008. This proposal is currently under review by the Legislature.
We compared Wisconsin's fee structure with those of six other states and found substantial variation in funding levels, staffing levels, and inspector workloads. While Wisconsin is near the average of the states we reviewed in terms of funding and staffing, it has the highest inspector workload.
In FY 2006‐07, DATCP had contracts with 34 local health departments to conduct food safety inspections at retail food establishments such as grocery stores and delicatessens within their boundaries. We compared DATCP's retail food licensing fees with fees charged by 26 local programs and found that local fees were frequently higher than those charged by DATCP.
Our comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of DATCP's food and dairy regulatory activities will be released later in the year. We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DATCP in conducting this review.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
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Representative Vos moved that the Assembly stand adjourned until 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, January 31.
The question was: Shall the Assembly stand adjourned?
Motion carried.
The Assembly stood adjourned.
10:33 A.M.
