Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Ninety-Ninth Regular Session
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date.
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The Chief Clerk makes the following entries dated Tuesday, September 14
, 2010.
The committee on Agriculture and Higher Education reports and recommends:
Relating to runoff pollution performance standards and prohibitions, the targeted runoff management grant program and the urban nonpoint source and storm water management grant programs, and affecting small business.
No action taken.
Kathleen Vinehout
Chairperson
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The committee on Environment reports and recommends:
Relating to phosphorus water quality standards criteria and limitations and effluent standards.
No action taken.
Mark Miller
Chairperson
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The committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing reports and recommends:
Relating to annual injured patients and families compensation fund fees and medical mediation panel fees for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010, and may have an effect on small business.
No action taken.
Lena Taylor
Chairperson
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The committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs reports and recommends:
Relating to the state apprenticeship program and affecting small businesses.
No action taken.
Spencer Coggs
Chairperson
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
September 8, 2010
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.
Sincerely,
janice mueller
State Auditor
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S861
University of Wisconsin System
September 9, 2010
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The attached document reflects the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA) activities of the University of Wisconsin System for the period of July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. This annual report fulfills Section
1.11 (2)(j) of the Wisconsin Statutes, in that it provides information on the number of Type I Environmental Impact Statements and Type II Environmental Impact Assessments completed during the past fiscal year.
Should you have any questions regarding this report, please direct them to Terri Reda, UW System Environmental Affairs Officer, at (608) 263-4410.
Sincerely,
kevin p. reilly
President
