The Assembly met in the Assembly Chamber located in the State Capitol.
Representative Petrowski in the chair.
The Assembly dispensed with the call of the roll.
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Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 77 offered by joint committee on Finance.
Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 275 offered by Representative Bies.
Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 567 offered by Representative Lothian.
Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 697 offered by committee on Education.
Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 635 offered by Representative Moulton.
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Read first time and referred:
Assembly Bill 742
Relating to: licensure of dietitians and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority.
By
Representatives Moulton, Turner, Mursau, Nelson, Musser, A. Ott, Seidel, Pope-Roberts, Suder, Vruwink and Petrowski; cosponsored by Senators Carpenter, Vinehout, Kreitlow, Schultz, Taylor, Plale, Roessler, Darling, Kapanke and Lehman.
To committee on Health and Healthcare Reform
.
Assembly Bill 743
Relating to: permitting third-party testers to administer driving skills tests for certain noncommercial motor vehicle drivers.
By
Representatives Nerison, J. Fitzgerald, Albers, Ballweg, Gunderson, Hahn, Jeskewitz, Kerkman, LeMahieu, Nass, Nygren, A. Ott, Owens, Strachota, Tauchen, Townsend, Van Roy, Vos, Vukmir, M. Williams and Zipperer; cosponsored by Senators Leibham, Harsdorf, Kedzie and Lazich.
To committee on Transportation
.
Assembly Bill 744
Relating to: a delinquent child support payer Web site.
By
Representatives Wieckert, Mursau, Shilling, Hahn, Jeskewitz, Soletski, Davis, Musser, Vos, Strachota, Kleefisch, Townsend, Owens, Van Roy, Bies and A. Ott; cosponsored by Senators Darling, Olsen, Harsdorf, A. Lasee and Roessler.
To committee on Children and Family Law
.
Assembly Bill 745
Relating to: prohibiting the retention of certain information obtained in transactions using account access devices.
By
Representatives Davis, Newcomer, Albers, Ballweg, Bies, Boyle, Gronemus, Hahn, Hilgenberg, Hintz, Jeskewitz, Kaufert, Kerkman, F. Lasee, Montgomery, Mursau, Musser, Nelson, Nygren, A. Ott, Pridemore, Seidel, Sheridan, Suder, Tauchen, Turner, Van Akkeren, Vos, M. Williams, Zepnick and Ziegelbauer; cosponsored by Senators Wirch, Breske, Ellis, Hansen, A. Lasee, Lehman, Olsen, Roessler, Schultz and Sullivan.
To committee on Financial Institutions
.
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The joint committee on Finance reports and recommends:
Assembly Bill 232
Relating to: the amount of the exemption from income tax withholding requirements for employees of a county fair association.
Passage:
Ayes: 16 - Representatives Rhoades, Meyer, Stone, Kestell, Suder, Vos, Pocan and Colon; Senators
Miller, Hansen, Taylor, Lehman, Robson, Lassa, Darling and Olsen.
Noes: 0.
Kitty Rhoades
Assembly Chairperson
Joint Committee on Finance
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January 28, 2008
Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53708
Dear Chief Clerk Fuller:
Please remove my name as a co‐sponsor of 2007 Assembly Bill 651 relating to the statute of limitations for sexual contact with a child.
Sincerely,
Robin J. Vos
State Representative
63rd Assembly District
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January 29, 2008
Representative Mike Huebsch
Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker
Room 215 West
State Capitol
Madison, WI 53708
Speaker Huebsch:
Let us begin by thanking you for convening a task force charged to examine the state's recent Information Technology (IT) failures and to consider solutions aimed at preserving taxpayer dollars. The taxpayers of this state are justifiably frustrated by the tax dollars that have been wasted and misused. A closer look at these troubles was certainly in order.
The Speaker's Task Force on State Information Technology Failures, comprised of eight legislative members and eight private‐sector Information Technology experts, sought to examine these problems in more detail. The Task Force conducted case studies, interviews and hearings devoted to learning from past mistakes in order to protect tax dollars in the future.
A state audit of Information Technology Projects finished its work shortly before our Task Force convened. The various recommendations of the audit have been examined closely throughout the work of the Task Force, and the audit team has provided invaluable assistance as we worked to ensure every effort was taken to protect the state from the types of failures that have come to light.
During the Task Force process members presented testimonies, offered suggestions and the public also submitted concerns. In addition, the legislature voted on a biennial budget bill that contained provisions aimed at curbing the culture of mismanagement which facilitated the waste of tax dollars on IT projects.
After considering the many factors which contribute to state IT delays or failures, Task Force members were asked to identify final proposals within four broad categories: IT Project Needs Assessment and Identification; Project Development and Procurement; Implementation; and Oversight. The recommendations include:
• Standardized written policies for IT project procedures; increased IT staffing accountability; smaller project sizes; and vendor‐selection criteria that include a vendor's track record on similar projects.
• Uniform information technology policies and procedures across agency lines; use of off‐the‐shelf systems when possible, and required approval when project customization is necessary; vendor contracts that include classes that require vendors to complete projects without additional payments, or prior approval to exclude the clause; more aggressive upgrade and innovation cycles; and a greater emphasis on cross‐agency resource sharing.
• “Executive Sponsors" for all projects; reassigning ineffective project staff; education of human resources employees on the needs of the information technology staff; and providing an environment where employees can raise and resolve issues.
• Reinstating the Joint Committee on Information Policy and Technology (JCIPT) and the Information Technology Management Board; careful review of all ongoing information technology projects; and the creation of a more cohesive Project Management Office within DOA.
While the biennial budget bill directs the Department of Administration to address many of the items mentioned above, it is clear that the most glaring omission in the state's IT projects is consistent and careful oversight to ensure compliance with current state statutes prescribing effective management practices. Convening the JCIPT seems to be a necessary step to ensuring that provisions designed to preserve taxpayer funds directed toward state IT projects are not only conserved, but are utilized in a manner that provides effectual implementation of state IT projects.
Convening the Speaker's Task Force on State Information Technology Failures has been a key step in strengthening the state's IT procedures. Reconvening a standing legislative committee with the authority necessary to monitor and approve present and future IT projects will be the next important step in providing the taxpayers of the state with assurance that the state will continue to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.
Sincerely,
PHIL MONTGOMERY, CHAIR SUE JESKEWITZ
4th Assembly District 24th Assembly District
JOSH ZEPNICK DON PRIDEMORE
9th Assembly District 99th Assembly District
LOUIS MOLEPSKE JEFF WOOD
71st Assembly District 67th Assembly District
JIM OTT MIKE SHERIDAN
23rd Assembly District 44th Assembly District
Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53708
Dear Patrick:
I would like to be added as a co‐sponsor to Assembly Bill 732 regarding the creation of meat processing facility investment credits. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Lee Nerison
State Representative
96th Assembly District
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