In its second quarter of operation, BadgerCare Plus Basic continues to be an important and successful link to health care for thousands of Wisconsin residents.
Sincerely,
Karen E. Timberlake
Secretary
Referred to committee on Health.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Children and Families
Department of Health Services
Madison
December 29, 2010
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
A24
In
1997 Act 27, the 1997-99 Biennial Budget, the Legislature established requirements in state law intended to strengthen protections for children and vulnerable adults in organized care settings. The provisions require, among other things, that designated caregivers conduct background checks on all new and existing staff and bar them from employing anyone who has committed certain crimes or acts. Effective July 1, 2008, the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) became the Department of Health Services (DHS) and the DHFS Division of Children and Family Services became the Department of Children and Families (DCF) as a result of
2007 Act 20 (the 2007-09 biennial budget bill). DHS, DCF and (for certain child care providers) counties and local school boards must perform checks on a provider before issuing a license or other credential. Individuals who have committed prohibited crimes or acts may apply to DHS and/or DCF, counties, or school boards for a waiver of the employment or licensing bans upon evidence of rehabilitation.
Sections
48.685 (5g) and
50.065 (5g) of the Wisconsin Statutes direct DHS and DCF to submit an annual report to the legislature that specifies the number of persons who have sought waivers of employment or licensing bans by requesting to demonstrate that they have been rehabilitated. The report must also specify the number of requests that were approved and the reasons for the success or failure of the requests. DHS has continued to utilize the skills, support and knowledge of its personnel to process all rehabilitation review applications and we are, therefore, submitting a joint report. Attached is the report for 2010.
Questions about this report should be referred to the Department of Health Services, Diane Welsh, Chief Legal Counsel, at 608-266-9622.
Sincerely,
Karen E. Timberlake
Secretary, DHS
Sincerely,
Reggie Bicha
Secretary, DCF
Referred to committee on Health.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
December 30, 2010
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
This report is transmitted as required by s.
20.002 (11)(f), Wisconsin Statutes, (for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s.
13.172 (3), Wisconsin Statutes) and confirms that the Department of Administration has found it necessary to exercise the "temporary reallocation of balances" authority provided by this section in order to meet payment responsibilities and cover resulting negative cash balances during the month of November 2010.
On November 1, 2010, the Worker's Compensation Fund cash balance closed at a negative $1.6 million (its intra-month low). This negative balance continued through November 16, 2010, when the fund's cash balance closed at a positive $45 thousand. The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
On November 1, 2010, the Mediation Fund cash balance closed at a negative $35 thousand. This negative balance continued through November 19, 2010, when the fund's cash balance closed at a positive $300 thousand. The Mediation Fund cash balance reached its intra-month low of a negative $52 thousand on November 18, 2010. The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
On November 22, 2010, the Police and Fire Protection Fund cash balance closed at a negative $47.6 million (its intra-month low). This negative balance continued through November 30, 2010, when the fund's cash balance closed at a negative $43.3 million. The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
The Worker's Compensation Fund, Mediation Fund, and Police and Fire Protection Fund shortfalls were not in excess of the statutory interfund borrowing limitations and did not exceed the balances of the funds available for interfund borrowing.
The distribution of interest earnings to investment pool participants is based on the average daily balance in the pool and each fund's share. Therefore, the monthly calculation by the State Controller's Office will automatically reflect the use of these temporary reallocations of balance authority, and as a result, the funds requiring the use of the authority will effectively bear the interest cost.
Sincerely,
Daniel J. Schooff
Secretary
Referred to committee on Ways and Means and joint committee on Finance.