Current law requires Commerce to facilitate arrangements between investors
of venture capital and entrepreneurs seeking to obtain venture capital. Commerce
must also develop programs in metropolitan areas for supporting persons who
arrange venture capital for entrepreneurs. The bill repeals these requirements.
Current law requires Commerce to enter into an agreement with a recipient of
a grant, loan, or specified tax incentives (incentive) that requires the recipient to
repay the incentive if, within five years, the recipient ceases to conduct in this state
the economic activity for which the incentive was provided and commences
substantially the same economic activity outside the state. The bill transfers this
requirement to WEDC.
The bill deletes the current State Main Street Program, which generally
requires Commerce to assist municipalities with programs to revitalize local,
downtown business areas.
The bill eliminates the Small Business Environmental Council, which
generally assists small businesses in complying with federal and state laws
regulating air and water pollution.
Under current law, Commerce administers programs to certify disabled
veteran-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses, and minority businesses
that are designed to promote such Wisconsin businesses. A business certified under
one of these programs may be eligible to receive certain benefits including
advantages bidding on public projects. This bill transfers the administration of those
certifications to DSPS.
Under current law, WHEFA may issue a bond to finance certain projects
undertaken by a participating health or research institution or educational facility,
or refinance the debt of a participating institution, and may engage in other
contractual relations with participating institutions incident to its project financing
or debt refinancing. This bill specifies that WHEFA may also contract with an
affiliate entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, an
entity organized under the laws of Wisconsin or authorized by Wisconsin law to
provide or operate certain facilities. The bill also authorizes WHEFA to issue a bond
for a project located outside of Wisconsin if that project includes a substantial
component located in Wisconsin, as determined by WHEFA's executive director.
Buildings and safety
Under current law, Commerce administers various laws, including laws that
promote safety in public and private buildings and in the subsystems of those
buildings, including building codes. Commerce issues various licenses, permits,
registrations, and other credentials (licenses) to persons engaged in occupations
regulated by Commerce, such as electricians and plumbers, and in connection with
the administration of other laws relating to public health and safety such as those
regulating private sewage systems, fireworks, and the storage of flammable liquids.
This bill transfers these functions to DSPS.
Financial institutions
Under current law, a person may apply to be a notary public to the Office of the
Secretary of State (OSOS). If OSOS determines that the applicant is qualified, OSOS
issues a certificate of appointment as a notary public. This bill transfers notary
public functions from the OSOS to DFI.
Under current law, a person may file for state trademark or service mark
registration with OSOS. If applicable requirements are met, OSOS issues a
certificate of registration of the mark. This bill transfers these trademark functions
from OSOS to DFI.
Under current law, a person cannot transact business in this state as an
investment adviser unless the person registers with DFI or is exempt from
registration. This bill eliminates registration exemptions for entities of institutional
character with assets of more than $10,000,000 and for private business
development companies, trusts with assets of more than $5,000,000, and entities in
which all of the equity owners are accredited investors.
Housing
Under current law, Commerce makes grants and loans to defray housing costs
for persons and families of low and moderate income; awards grants to various
entities to support independent living of, mental health services to, and shelter for,
homeless persons; awards grants to supplement the operating budgets of
administers housing programs funded by federal block grants and other federal
moneys; and administers a program to transfer surplus state-owned real estate. The
bill transfers Commerce's duties under these programs to WHEDA, except that the
bill eliminates the program for the transfer of surplus state-owned real estate.
Under current law, Commerce must prepare and annually update a state
housing strategy plan to inform review of bills and rules affecting housing and
generally guide WHEDA's housing-related activities. The bill transfers Commerce's
duties related to the plan to WHEDA.
Other commerce
Commerce currently may contract with the Board of Regents of the UW System
for services to assess and educate businesses regarding hazardous substances and
waste, and must work with DNR to promote pollution prevention among businesses
in the state. The bill deletes these provisions.
Currently, Commerce must prepare a report on any introduced bill, which is
printed as an appendix to the bill, that directly or substantially affects the
development, construction, cost, or availability of housing in the state and must
prepare a similar report on any proposed rule that directly or substantially affects
the development, construction, cost, or availability of housing in the state. The bill
transfers Commerce's duties with respect to bills to WHEDA and repeals
Commerce's duties with respect to proposed rules.
correctional system
Adult correctional system
The 2009-11 biennial budget act (Act 28) made several changes to the adult
correctional system, most of which took effect on October 1, 2009. Before the effective
date of these provisions (pre-Act 28), a person who was imprisoned for a felony
committed before December 31, 1999, could petition the parole commission in DOC
to be released to parole after the person served 25 percent of his or her sentence, or
six months, whichever was greater. The parole commission determined whether, and
under what conditions, the person should be released to parole. A person who
committed a felony on or after December 31, 1999, was sentenced to a bifurcated
sentence, with the first portion of the sentence served in confinement and the second
portion served under extended supervision in the community. A person serving a
bifurcated sentence was generally required to serve the entire confinement portion
of his or her sentence, which could be extended for violation of a prison regulation,
before being released to extended supervision. If a person's confinement portion was
extended for a prison regulation violation, his or her extended supervision portion
had to be reduced so that the total length of the person's sentence remained
unchanged.
The law pre-Act 28 allowed a person serving a bifurcated sentence for certain
felonies to petition the sentencing court to adjust his or her sentence and release the
person from prison to extended supervision if he or she had served 85 percent (for
Class C to Class E felonies) or 75 percent (for Class F to Class I felonies) of the
confinement portion of the sentence. If a person's confinement portion was reduced
by the sentencing court, his or her extended supervision portion had to be extended
so that the total length of the person's sentence remained unchanged. The law
pre-Act 28 required a person released to extended supervision to serve his or her
entire sentence before extended supervision terminated.
Most persons incarcerated for a Class C to Class I felony may earn "positive
adjustment time" toward early release from confinement. Current law allows DOC
to release a person to extended supervision when he or she serves his entire period
of confinement, minus "positive adjustment time" earned, subject to court review.
If a person's period of confinement is reduced by "positive adjustment time," his or
her period of extended supervision is increased so that the length of the sentence does
not change. Also under current law, the sentencing court may, at the time of
sentencing, order a person to serve a risk reduction sentence making the person
eligible for early release to extended supervision under certain circumstances.
Generally, pre-Act 28, a person who had committed a felony could petition the
sentencing court for release to extended supervision if the person had a terminal
condition, reached age 65 after serving at least five years of the confinement portion
of the sentence, or reached age 60 after serving at least ten years of the confinement
portion of the sentence. Under current law, a person with any serious health
condition may file such a petition with ERRC instead of the sentencing court. In
addition, DOC may release to extended supervision any person serving the
confinement portion of a bifurcated sentence if the person is not confined following
a violent offense and other conditions are satisfied. If DOC releases a person, his or
her term of extended supervision must be extended by the length of time he or she
was originally sentenced to confinement so that the total length of the sentence does
not change.
Pre-Act 28, if a person sentenced to a bifurcated sentence violated any
condition of his or her release to extended supervision, the person's extended
supervision was revoked and he or she was returned to prison for a period of time
determined by the court that convicted the person not to exceed the time remaining
on the person's bifurcated sentence. Under current law, DOA's Division of Hearings
and Appeals or DOC determines how long to imprison the person whose extended
supervision is revoked not to exceed the time remaining on his or her bifurcated
sentence.
This bill eliminates "positive adjustment time" and risk reduction sentences,
restores the parole commission, eliminates the ERRC, and returns the sentencing
provisions and most of the provisions relating to early release from confinement to
pre-Act 28 law. Under the bill, a person may petition the sentencing court for release
to extended supervision for the remaining term of his or her sentence if the person
has an extraordinary health condition, reaches age 65 after serving at least five years
of his or her term of confinement portion, or reaches age 60 after serving at least ten
years of his or her term of confinement portion.
Under the bill, a person sentenced after October 1, 2009, but before the effective
date of the bill, and who earned positive adjustment time during that period may
petition the sentencing court for an early release to extended supervision. If the
sentencing court agrees to reduce the confinement portion of the person's sentence
by the number of positive adjustment time days he or she earned, the sentencing
court must increase the term of extended supervision by the same number of days.
Under the bill, a person who was sentenced to a risk reduction sentence after October
1, 2009, but before the effective date of the bill and who complied with the program
plan developed by DOC may be released to extended supervision after he or she
serves at least 75 percent of the confinement portion of his or her sentence.
Juvenile correctional system
Under current law, DOC must allocate various state and federal moneys to
counties to pay for state-provided juvenile correctional services and local
delinquency-related and juvenile justice services. DOC charges counties for the
costs of services provided by DOC according to per person daily cost assessments
specified by law (the "daily rate").
This bill increases the daily rates for care in a juvenile correctional facility and
for care for juveniles transferred from a juvenile correctional institution and
decreases the daily rates for corrective sanctions and after care services. The bill
eliminates the statutory daily rates for care for juveniles in a residential care center
for children and youth, group home, or foster home, and instead provides that the
daily rate is the amount the provider of that care charges DOC.
This bill also decreases by 10 percent from the 2009-11 fiscal biennium the total
amounts that DOC must allocate to counties for state-provided juvenile correctional
services and local delinquency-related and juvenile justice services in the 2011-13
fiscal biennium.
Under current law, sum certain amounts are appropriated to DOC for juvenile
correctional services, juvenile residential aftercare services, and juvenile corrective
sanctions services. This bill provides that, if there is a deficit in the juvenile
correctional services appropriation account at the end of a fiscal year, certain
unencumbered balances in the juvenile residential aftercare services and juvenile
corrective sanctions services appropriation accounts, up to the amount of the deficit
and less any amounts required to be remitted to counties or deposited in the general
fund, are transferred to the juvenile correctional services appropriation account.
courts and procedure
Circuit courts
Under current law, with a few exceptions, a person who files a civil action, a
small claims action, or a wage garnishment action, or against whom a civil forfeiture
is assessed pays a $21.50 justice information surcharge. Of that amount, some
moneys remain in the general fund and some moneys are credited for certain specific
purposes.
Under the bill, $700,000 of the moneys from the justice information surcharge
remain in the general fund. The balance is credited to an appropriation account and
DOA is required to transfer the balance to various agencies for the following
purposes: to provide grants for law enforcement officers; to fund child advocacy
centers; to provide victim notification services; to pay for court interpreters; to pay
for assistant district attorney positions; to fund state and local information and
technology and administrative costs associated with traffic stop data collection; to
administer an interoperable public safety communications system; and to
administer an automated justice information system.
The bill eliminates the funding for the OJA to gather and analyze statistics and
for the provision of civil legal services to indigent persons; and requires district
attorney offices to work with the Office of State Employment Relations to allocate the
money transferred for assistant district attorneys.
Education
Primary and secondary education
Under current law, each school district must hold school for 180 days each
school term and must schedule at least 437 hours of direct pupil instruction in
kindergarten, at least 1,050 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades one to six, and
at least 1,137 hours of direct pupil instruction in grades seven to twelve. With some
exceptions, the state superintendent of public instruction must withhold state aid
from a school district if the school district fails to hold school for 180 days.
This bill eliminates the requirement that a school district hold school for 180
days each year and requires the state superintendent to withhold state aid from a
school district that fails to provide the hours of direct pupil instruction specified
above.
Under current law, the board of Milwaukee Public Schools determines the
school calendar and vacation periods for the regular day school period each school
year, but may not schedule more than 200 teaching days in that period in any school
year. This bill eliminates the requirement that no more than 200 teaching days be
scheduled in the regular day school period.
Current law generally limits the increase in the total amount of revenue per
pupil that a school district may receive from general school aids and property taxes
in a school year to the amount of revenue increase allowed per pupil in the previous
school year increased by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index. In the
2011-12 school year, the increase is limited to $275 and in the 2012-13 school year
to the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index. This bill reduces the revenue
limit for all school districts by 5.5 percent in the 2011-12 school year. For the
2012-13 school year, a school district may not increase its per pupil revenues above
the amount it received in the 2011-12 school year.
Current law exempts a school district from the revenue limit if its per pupil
revenue is less than a statutory revenue ceiling, which is set at $9,000 in 2010-11
and $9,800 thereafter. This bill decreases the per pupil revenue ceiling to $8,900 for
the 2011-12 school year and for any subsequent school year.
Current law provides that, if a school district's revenue limit, as calculated
before any adjustments, is less than the district's base revenue from the previous
school year, the district's initial revenue limit is set at the prior year's base revenue.
This bill eliminates this provision.
Current law permits a school board to increase its revenue limits by the amount
spent by the school district in the second previous school year to pay the salary and
fringe benefit costs of school nurses, by the costs of school safety equipment and the
compensation costs of security officers, and for pupil transportation costs. This bill
eliminates these revenue limit adjustments.
Effective July 1, 2012, this bill eliminates a number of categorical school aid
programs, including the Preschool to Grade 5 Program; grants for alcohol and other
drug abuse prevention and intervention programs; the Children at Risk Program;
grants for nursing services; supplemental aid; grants for advanced placement
courses; grants for English instruction for Southeast Asian children; grants for
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs; grants to
Milwaukee Public Schools for improving pupil academic achievement; and grants for
alternative education programs.
Under current law, each school year a school district is guaranteed an amount
of general state aid equal to at least 85 percent of the amount it received in the
previous school year. This bill guarantees a school district in the 2011-12 school year
an amount equal to at least 90 percent of the amount it received in the 2010-11 school
year. The percentage reverts to 85 percent in each school year thereafter.
Under the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP), a pupil who resides
in the city of Milwaukee may attend a participating private school (MPCP school) in
the city at state expense if, among other requirements, the pupil is a member of a
family that has a total family income that does not exceed 175 percent of the federal
poverty level. A pupil attending an MPCP school whose family income increases up
to not more than 220 percent of the poverty level may continue to attend the school
under the MPCP.
This bill eliminates the family income requirement for a pupil who wishes to
attend an MPCP school beginning in the 2011-12 school year if the pupil did not
attend an MPCP school in the 2010-11 school year. Also under the bill, an MPCP
school may charge tuition and fees to a pupil admitted under the MPCP over and
above the payment the private school receives for the pupil from the state, but only
if the pupil's family income does not exceed 325 percent of the poverty level.
Under current law, only private schools located in the city of Milwaukee may
participate in the MPCP and the number of pupils who may attend a private school
under the MPCP is capped at 22,500. This bill provides that any private school
located in Milwaukee County may participate in the MPCP and eliminates the cap.
Under current law, MPCP schools must annually administer examinations
approved by the state superintendent to pupils attending the school under MPCP
and enrolled in grades four, eight, and ten and examinations in reading and
mathematics required under the federal No Child Left Behind Act to pupils enrolled
in grades three to eight and grade ten. This bill requires, instead, that MPCP schools
annually administer a nationally normed standardized test in reading,
mathematics, and science to pupils attending the school under the MPCP and
enrolled in grades four, eight, and ten.
Under current law MPCP schools must annually submit to DPI evidence of
sound fiscal practices and financial viability, as prescribed by DPI by rule. This bill
establishes circumstances that would indicate that an MPCP school does not possess
sound fiscal practices or the financial ability to continue educational programming
operations.
This bill requires DPI to notify each MPCP school, and the parents and
guardians of pupils attending a private school under the MPCP, of any changes to the
MPCP prior to the school year in which the change is to take effect.
Generally, under current law the state pays MPCP schools the lesser of the
private school's educational costs per pupil or the sum of the amount paid per pupil
in the previous school year increased by the percentage change in the amount of
general state school aids. However, for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years, the
state's per pupil payment is equal to the lesser of the private school's educational
costs per pupil or $6,442. This bill extends this payment exception through the
2012-13 school year.
Under current law, school boards may enter into contracts with individuals,
groups, businesses, or governmental bodies to establish charter schools, which
operate with fewer constraints than traditional public schools. Current law also
permits UW-Milwaukee, UW-Parkside, the Milwaukee Area Technical College, and
the city of Milwaukee to operate charter schools (independent charter schools)
directly or to contract for the operation of charter schools. Currently, and through
the 2010-11 school year, the operator of an independent charter school receives per
pupil state aid in an amount equal to the amount paid per pupil in the previous school
year, increased by an amount that is tied to the increase in the per pupil state aid
received by an MPCP school. Under current law, beginning in the 2011-12 school
year, the per pupil payment made to independent charter schools is tied to the per
pupil revenue limit adjustment for public schools. Under this bill, the per pupil
payment to independent charter schools through the 2012-13 school year remains
tied to the method for determining the per pupil payment received by an MPCP
school.
This bill allows any four-year institution within the UW System to operate or
contract for the operation of a charter school with the approval of the Board of
Regents. The bill also allows the UW-Madison to operate or contract for the
operation of a charter school.
Currently, if UW-Milwaukee establishes a charter school, it must be located in
the city of Milwaukee. UW-Parkside may establish only one charter school and it
must be located in the Racine school district or in an adjacent county, it may not enroll
more than 480 pupils, and it may not operate high school grades. This bill eliminates
all of these restrictions.
Currently, the Racine school district receives additional state aid if
UW-Parkside establishes a charter school. This bill eliminates this payment.
Currently, any person who seeks to teach in a public school, including a charter
school, must hold a license or permit issued by DPI. This bill exempts teachers in
independent charter schools from this requirement and instead requires such a
teacher to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher
education.
Under current law, state aid to independent charter schools is funded by a
reduction in general school aid, applied on a prorated basis to all school districts.
Beginning in the 2011-12 school year, instead of reducing general school aid by the
amount of charter school aid paid in the same school year, general school aid is
reduced by the amount of charter school aid paid in the 2010-11 school year. This
bill eliminates this cap on the reduction in general school aid.
This bill prohibits a school board from requiring, as a condition of employment,
that a teacher reside within the school district.
Current law requires that each school district employ a reading specialist to
develop and coordinate a comprehensive reading curriculum. This bill eliminates
this requirement.
Under current law, moneys are appropriated from the normal school fund to
DPI for an environmental education consultant. This bill eliminates this
appropriation.
Under current law, DPI must award to each person employing an initial
educator a grant for providing a mentor for the initial educator. This bill eliminates
the initial educator grant program beginning in the 2012-13 fiscal year.
Under current law, the Indoor Environmental Quality in Schools Task Force
must make recommendations to DPI for the development of a model management
plan for maintaining indoor environmental quality in public and private schools.
DPI must, in turn, establish a model management plan and practices. Each school
board and the governing body of each MPCP school must implement such a plan.
This bill eliminates the requirement that DPI establish a model management
plan and practices and also the requirements that each school board and the
governing body of each MPCP school implement such a plan.
Current law directs DPI to award grants to nonprofit organizations,
cooperative educational service agencies, and the Milwaukee Public Schools for
gifted and talented pupils.
This bill allows DPI to award grants to the UW-Madison as well, but requires
that all grants must provide services and activities not ordinarily provided in a
regular school program to allow gifted and talented pupils to fully develop their
capabilities.
Under current law, no more than 5,250 pupils may attend virtual charter
schools under the Open Enrollment Program (OEP) in any school year. This bill
eliminates this limit.
Under the OEP, a pupil may apply to attend a public school in a school district
other than the pupil's resident school district (nonresident school district) if certain
conditions are met. Current law establishes a time line for filing and processing an
application under the OEP. An application to attend a school in a nonresident school
district is due between the first Monday in February and the third Friday following
the first Monday in February and the resident and nonresident school boards must
take certain actions to review and accept or reject the application within a specified
time period. By June 30, the nonresident school board must report the name of each
pupil accepted under the OEP to the pupil's resident school board.
This bill extends the time line for filing and processing applications under the
OEP. Under the new time line, an application is due between the first Monday in
February and the last weekday in April. The pupil must inform the nonresident
school board whether he or she will attend a school in the nonresident school district
by the last Friday in June. By July 7, the nonresident school board must report the
name of each pupil accepted under the OEP to the pupil's resident school board. The
bill requires a resident school district to provide to a nonresident school district
records pertaining to disciplinary proceedings involving a pupil who has applied
under the OEP.
The bill also requires the resident school district to forward a copy of the
individualized education program (IEP) prepared for a child with a disability who
applies to the nonresident district under the OEP. If the resident school district fails
to comply with this requirement, the nonresident school district may charge the
resident school district for any actual, additional costs incurred by the school district
to provide the special education and related services to the child. The nonresident
school district must prepare an estimate of the costs to implement an IEP prepared
for a child with a disability who applies to the nonresident school district, and to
provide the resident school district with a copy of the estimate. If the nonresident
school district fails to provide the information, the nonresident school district may
not charge the resident school district for the costs to provide the special education
and related services to the child.
The bill also creates an alternative application process, with a separate time
line, under the OEP for a pupil who satisfies one of the following criteria: 1) the pupil
has been the victim of a violent criminal offense; 2) the pupil is or has been a homeless
pupil; 3) the pupil has been the victim of repeated bullying or harassment; 4) the
place of residence of the pupil's parent or guardian and of the pupil has changed as
a result of military orders; 5) the pupil has moved into this state; 6) the place of
residence of the pupil has changed as a result of a court order or custody agreement
or placement in or removal from a foster home; or 7) the parent of the pupil and the
nonresident school board agree that attending school in the nonresident school
district is in the best interests of the pupil.
A nonresident school district that receives an application under the alternative
time line must immediately forward a copy to the resident school board and must
notify the applicant, in writing, whether it has accepted the application no later than
20 days after receiving it.
This bill permits a school district to increase the revenue limit applicable to the
school by the amount of any reduction to the school district's payment from DPI in
the previous year for a pupil who was not included in the calculation of the number
of pupils enrolled in that school district in the previous year.
Current law generally requires a school district to provide transportation to
and from school for a pupil attending a private school that is located at least two miles
from the pupil's residence. If the estimated cost of transporting a pupil to a private
school is more than 1.5 times the school district's average cost per pupil for bus
transportation, the school board may contract with the pupil's parent or guardian.
Except in a first class city school district (currently, only the Milwaukee Public
Schools), the contract must provide for an annual payment for each pupil. In a first
class city school district, if two or more pupils reside in the same household and
attend the same private school, the contract may provide for a total annual payment
of the amount described above for all of the pupils instead of for each of the pupils.
This bill extends this provision to all school districts.
Under current law, no school bus driver, school district employee, or volunteer
may administer medications, including prescription and nonprescription drug
products, unless the person has received training approved by DPI. This bill
eliminates the requirement that DPI approve the training.
Under current law, a school nurse is defined to mean a registered nurse licensed
either under state law or in a party state under the Nurse Licensure Compact who
also meets qualifications established by DPI by rule. This bill eliminates the
requirement that a school nurse meet qualifications established by DPI.
This bill directs DPI, working with the office of the governor, to establish a
student information system to collect and maintain information about public school
pupils, including their academic performance and demographic information,
aggregated by school district, school, and teacher. DPI may not spend any moneys
appropriated for the system unless its annual expenditure plan is approved by the
governor. The bill requires DPI to charge a fee to any school district that uses the
system and authorizes DPI to charge a fee to any other person that uses the system.
This bill creates an appropriation to fund the work of a task force to be created
by the governor to assess and improve literacy in elementary school children.
Higher education
Currently, the UW System consists of 13 four-year institutions, including the
UW-Madison, 13 two-year colleges, and the UW-Extension. The UW System is
governed by the Board of Regents, which consists of the state superintendent of
public instruction, the president of the technical college system, 14 citizen members,
and two students. The latter 16 members are appointed by the governor and
confirmed by the senate. There is a shared, hierarchical system of governance for
the UW System: the Board of Regents has primary responsibility, followed by the UW
System president, the chancellors of the institutions, the faculty, and the academic
staff and students. Three boards are created in or attached to the UW System: the
Environmental Education Board, the Laboratory of Hygiene Board, and the
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
This bill creates an authority called the University of Wisconsin-Madison,
consisting of the current UW-Madison. The board of Trustees, which governs the
authority, consists of 21 members, 11 of whom are appointed by the governor, and the
chancellor, who serves as a nonvoting member. The Board of Trustees appoints the
chancellor to serve at its pleasure as the chief executive officer of the authority. The
bill establishes a shared, hierarchical governance system for the authority,
consisting of the Board of Trustees, followed by the chancellor, the faculty, and the
academic staff and students.
The bill transfers all assets and liabilities of the current UW-Madison,
including real property, and all incumbent UW-Madison employees to the authority.
Until July 1, 2012, the authority must adhere to the terms of any collective
bargaining agreement covering the employees, and the authority is considered an
agency under the state employment relations laws for all purposes. Beginning July
1, 2012, the authority must implement its own personnel system. Tenured faculty
at UW-Madison retain their tenure at the authority. The authority remains a
participating employer in the Wisconsin Retirement System and authority
employees retain health insurance and other benefits they had as state employees.
All contracts entered into by the Board of Regents that are primarily related to the
operation of the current UW-Madison, including the contracts with the Board of
Directors of the UW Hospitals and Clinics Authority, are transferred to the
authority's Board of Trustees.
The bill requires the Board of Trustees to adopt rules relating to conduct on
university property and authorizes the Board of Trustees to condemn property.
Current law prohibits the Board of Regents of the UW System from increasing
resident undergraduate tuition beyond an amount sufficient to fund certain
specified costs and activities. This bill does not impose these restrictions on the
establishment of tuition by the Board of Trustees.
The bill appropriates general purpose revenue, program revenue, and moneys
from segregated funds to the authority. The authority is not required to deposit
moneys that it receives, such as tuition, gifts, grants, and federal revenue, into the
state treasury and may transfer gifts, grants, and donations to the UW Foundation.
However, it must transfer daily to the state treasurer for deposit into the local
government pooled-investment fund the collected cash balance from all sources
except gifts, grants, and donations.
The bill abolishes the Laboratory of Hygiene Board and the Veterinary
Diagnostic Laboratory Board and transfers their functions to the authority. The bill
directs the Board of Trustees to appoint the director of the laboratory of hygiene, the
director of the psychiatric institute, the state geologist, and the state cartographer.
