Wisconsin Legislature: 2021-03-29 Senate Journal

Furthermore, the bill ignores the funding difference of these pupils for a school district. While a resident school district does not pay an open enrollment payment for homeschooled students, it does pay one to a nonresident virtual charter school for any resident pupil that attends the charter school. Fees a resident school district might collect for interscholastic athletics and extracurricular activities are insufficient to cover the full cost of participation, particularly when you factor in such open enrollment payments.

Finally, in 2017, the member schools of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, a private, member-driven organization which is comprised of public and private schools, voted 52 to 334 against allowing a student attending a nonresident virtual charter school to be eligible in the student’s district of residence.

Respectfully submitted,

TONY EVERS

Governor

_____________

State of Wisconsin

Office of the Governor

March 29, 2021

The Honorable, the Senate:

hist130728I am vetoing Senate Bill 183 in its entirety.

The bill provides a role for the Legislature in the expenditure of federal funds related to COVID-19 received b the state from the effective date of the bill until June 30, 2022. Specifically, the bill requires the Governor to submit a plan to the Joint Committee on Finance for any federal funds received by the state related to COVID-19 activities, subject to a 14+day passive review process.

I am vetoing the bill because it is critical to get the federal COVID-19 relief funds in the hands of Wisconsinites and businesses that need it as quickly as possible, and I have concerns that the process outlined in the bill will prevent that from happening. Under the bill, and objection by any committee member could hold up funding for an indeterminate amount of time, as happens not infrequently under the current 14-day passive review process. This would unnecessarily delay the distribution of these funds, many of which have to be distributed according to federal law and using existing formulas.

In Wisconsin, the role of the Governor to oversee use of federal funds under Section 16.54 of the Wisconsin Statutes is clearly established and has been in place for decades, a fact that as confirmed by legislative leadership in a letter they send to me in April 2020. At the same time, I understand the Legislature’s desire to know how the funding is being distributed and I am committee to transparency about our effort to meet the needs to Wisconsin’s citizens and businesses as quickly as possible.

Respectfully submitted,

TONY EVERS

Governor

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Referrals and Receipt of Committee Reports Concerning Proposed Administrative Rules

The joint committee for review of Administrative Rules reported and recommended:

Senate Clearinghouse Rule 19-110

Relating to certification for identification, removal, and reduction of lead-based paint hazards.

hist130707No action taken on March 29, 2021.

Senate Clearinghouse Rule 19-126

Relating to technical changes to update ETF rules.

hist130724No action taken on March 29, 2021.