Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Ninety-Eighth Regular Session
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date.
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State of Wisconsin
Senate Majority Leader
June
12
, 2008
Dear Senator Kreitlow,
I am writing to inform you that I am appointing you to fill the vacancy on the Senate Commerce, Utilities and Rail Committee that was created when Senator Breske resigned to become State Railroad Commissioner effective June 13, 2008.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
RUSS DECKER
Senator Majority Leader
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State of Wisconsin
Joint Legislative Council
June 19, 2008
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The mail ballots recommending appointment of legislative and citizen membership for 10 previously authorized study committees have been received and tabulated. The results are listed below.
1. Special Committee on Building Wisconsin's Workforce:
Sen. Wirch, Vice-Chair Rep. Strachota, Chair
Sen. Darling Rep. Hintz
Sen. Jauch Rep. Honadel
Approved, Ayes 21, Noes 0.
2. Special Committee on Differences in Laws Applicable to Cities and Villages:
Sen. Plale, Vice-Chair Rep. Gottlieb, Chair
Rep. Ballweg
Rep. Jeskewitz
Approved, Ayes 21, Noes 0.
3. Special Committee on Domestic Biofuels:
Sen. Kreitlow, Chair Rep. Suder, Vice-Chair
Sen. Cowles Rep. Friske
Sen. Jauch Rep. Sheridan
Approved, Ayes 21, Noes 0.
4. Special Committee on Emergency Management and Continuity of Government:
Sen. Jauch, Chair Rep. Ballweg, Vice-Chair
Rep. Kerkman
Rep. Schneider
5. Special Committee on Enhancing Recreational Trails for Non-Motorized Use:
Sen. Sullivan, Chair Rep. Ott, Vice-Chair
Rep. Black
Rep. Kaufert
Approved, Ayes 21, Noes 0.
6. Special Committee on High-Risk Juvenile Offenders:
Sen. Carpenter, Chair Rep. Zipperer, Vice-Chair
Rep. Grigsby
Rep. Roth
Approved, Ayes 21, Noes 0.
7. Special Committee on Performance-Based Disease Management Programs for Large Populations:
Sen. Lassa, Vice-Chair Rep. Wieckert, Chair
Rep. Benedict
Rep. Hines
Approved, Ayes 21, Noes 0.
8. Special Committee on Regional Transportation Authority:
Sen. Robson, Vice-Chair Rep. Ott, Chair
Sen. Lehman Rep. Stone
Rep. Toles
Rep. Vos
Approved, Ayes 20, Noes 1.
9. Special Committee on School Safety:
Sen. Lehman, Chair Rep. Pridemore, Vice-Chair
Sen. Olsen Rep. Pope-Roberts
Approved, Ayes 21, Noes 0.
10. Special Committee on Strengthening Wisconsin Families:
Sen. Taylor, Co-Chair Rep. Kestell, Co-Chair
Sen. Schultz Rep. Albers
Rep. Grigsby
Approved, Ayes 21, Noes 0.
Sincerely,
Terry C. Anderson
Director
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Government Accountability Board
May 13, 2008
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2007-2008 session of the legislature, visit the Government Accountability Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us/
Leonard, Ramie Rogers Memorial Hospital
McIntosh, Forbes Park Towne Management, Inc.
McIntosh, Forbes Wisconsin Psychological Association
Osbourne, Patrick Great Lakes Hemophilia Foundation
Riske, Laura Park Towne Management, Inc.
Also available from the Wisconsin Government Accountability 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,
Kevin Kennedy
Director and General Counsel
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
June 11, 2008
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed a review of overtime in state agencies, excluding the University of Wisconsin System, the Legislature, and the courts. During the last three years, state agencies paid a total of $187.3 million in overtime, an increase of 15.2 percent since 2005. The largest category is for premium overtime, which is 1.5 times the employee's regular hourly rate and is typically earned for working in excess of 40 hours per week.
From 2005 through 2007, more than 90.0 percent of all premium overtime payments were for employees in agencies that have 24-hour operations or must quickly respond to emergencies. Two agencies with the largest amounts of premium overtime - the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) - identify inadequate numbers of authorized positions as the most significant factor for increased use of overtime.
Overtime provisions in collective bargaining agreements and increases in the amount of leave time granted have also contributed to increased overtime costs.
A total of 59 state employees were paid more than $100,000 in premium overtime for the three-year period we reviewed: 49 were correctional officers and sergeants at DOC, and 10 were patient care staff at DOC or DHFS.
The extent to which the State is relying on overtime to meet continuing operational needs suggests that comprehensive analysis of the most cost-effective mix of additional authorized positions and overtime may be warranted. We include a recommendation for DOC and DHFS to analyze overtime use at their facilities and submit options for reducing overtime costs to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee by January 5, 2009.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff at the Office of State Employment Relations, DOC, and DHFS.
Sincerely,
janice mueller
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
