WEDNESday, September 15, 2010
Ninety-ninth Regular Session
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date:
__________________
Relating to Wisconsin Works sanction good cause exceptions and notice of payment reductions and affecting small businesses.
Submitted by Department of Workforce Development.
Report received from Agency, August 30, 2010.
To committee on Children and Families
.
Referred on September 14, 2010.
Relating to electric rate changes due to the cost of fuel.
Submitted by Public Service Commission.
Report received from Agency, August 30, 2010.
To committee on Energy and Utilities
.
Referred on September 14, 2010.
Relating to the siting of wind energy systems.
Submitted by Public Service Commission.
Report received from Agency, August 31, 2010.
To committee on Energy and Utilities
.
Referred on September 14, 2010.
Relating to child care subsidy program integrity and affecting small businesses.
Submitted by Children and Families.
Report received from Agency, August 30, 2010.
To committee on Children and Families
.
Referred on September 14, 2010.
Relating to payday lending.
Submitted by Department of Financial Institutions.
Report received from Agency, August 31, 2010.
To committee on Financial Institutions
.
Referred on September 15, 2010.
__________________
Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Public Service Commission
Madison
September 13, 2010
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Enclosed is a copy of the annual report the Public Service Commission (Commission) is required to submit to the legislature as provided for in Wis. Stat. §
1.11 (2)(j). It reports on the number and type of proposed actions requiring the preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement by the Commission between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010.
If you have any questions about this report, please contact our Environmental Analysis and Review Coordinator, Kathleen Zuelsdorff, at (608) 266-2730.
Sincerely,
Eric Callisto
Chairperson
Referred to committee on Natural Resources.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources
Madison
September 15, 2010
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
We at the Department of Natural Resources are pleased to provide you with a copy of our annual Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA) report. In fulfillment of Section
1.11 (2)(j) of the state statutes, this document provides information on the numbers of environmental assessments (EAs) and environmental impact statements (EISs) completed by the Department in the past fiscal year.
Questions about the report can be directed to me at 6-0426
Sincerely,
James D. Pardee
Environmental Policy Act Coordinator, DNR Office of Energy and Environmental Analysis
Referred to committee on Natural Resources.
Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
September 8, 2010
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
At the request of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, we have completed an evaluation of participation by minorities and women in construction trade apprenticeships, which are regulated by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD). An apprenticeship is a contract between DWD, the apprentice, and a local trade committee made up of employer and employee representatives. In exchange for his or her labor, an apprentice receives paid on-the-job training and classroom instruction. An apprenticeship must last at least one year but typically lasts four to five years.
The number of minorities participating in apprenticeships increased from 431 in fiscal year (FY) 1999-2000 to 568 in FY 2008-09, but the number of women decreased from 228 to 136. Many minorities and women have been unable to find employment as apprentices, even though local trade committees have determined them to be eligible.
We identified several concerns with DWD's oversight. For example, while DWD approves local trade committees' affirmative action plans, which are required to detail efforts to increase participation, it has allowed committees to develop plans that do not describe specific activities. In addition, DWD has not always reviewed committees' affirmative action efforts consistently or in a timely manner.
Executive Order 108 requires apprentices to be employed on certain state construction and highway projects. We found that enforcement action was taken against only one firm for noncompliance with the order from 2006 through 2009. We include a recommendation for increased attention to this issue.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DWD. Its response follows the appendices.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
