(1) On June 2, 1995, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued a final rule prohibiting the use of HC-12a, a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant containing liquified petroleum gas, as a refrigerant in mobile air conditioning systems. EPA prohibited HC-12a, and a predecessor product called OZ-12, because of safety risks associated with the use of flammable refrigerants in mobile air conditioning systems. According to EPA, the manufacturer of HC-12a did not provide adequate information to demonstrate that the product was safe when used in a mobile air conditioning system.
(2) Despite the current EPA rule, at least one company is currently engaged in manufacturing and distributing HC-12a for use in motor vehicle air conditioning systems. The Idaho manufacturer argues that EPA lacks jurisdiction to regulate the sale of its product. HC-12a is currently being offered, distributed or promoted for sale at wholesale and retail outlets in Wisconsin and surrounding states, for use as a refrigerant in mobile air conditioning systems.
(3) HC-12a is a highly flammable substance, as defined by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard test procedure for refrigerants, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and Underwriter's Laboratories. Use of HC-12a or its predecessor, OZ-12, in mobile air conditioning systems is inconsistent with standards adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers. According to those standards, refrigerants used in mobile air conditioning systems must be of low toxicity, and must be nonflammable and nonexplosive.
(4) At least 13 states have enacted legislation prohibiting the sale of refrigerants for use in air conditioning or refrigeration systems unless those refrigerants meet flammability standards or are specifically approved for their intended use.
(5) HC-12a and other hydrocarbon-based refrigerants, when sold for use in motor vehicle air conditioning systems, present a serious risk to public health and safety for the following reasons:
(a) Motor vehicles and mobile air conditioning systems are not currently designed to use flammable refrigerants, or to prevent hazards associated with flammable refrigerants.
(b) Refrigerants in mobile air conditioning systems commonly leak into the engine compartments or passenger compartments of motor vehicles. Leaking refrigerant is often routed into the passenger compartment through the air distribution system from the evaporator. Hydrocarbon refrigerants, which are heavier than air, will tend to accumulate in low or confined spaces of a motor vehicle.
(c) Hydrocarbon refrigerants are flammable at low concentrations.
(d) Internal components of a motor vehicle provide many potential sources of ignition for flammable refrigerants. Passenger activities, such as smoking, may also create ignition sources.
(e) Fires or explosions resulting from the ignition of leaked flammable refrigerant may cause serious bodily injury or death to motor vehicle passengers. Automotive technicians who test for leaks, or who repair or service mobile air conditioning systems containing flammable refrigerants, are also at risk.
(6) The risk to public health and safety cannot be adequately addressed by product packaging or labeling, for the following reasons:
(a) The use of flammable hydrocarbon-based products in motor vehicle air conditioning systems is inherently hazardous. That hazard will not be materially altered by mere packaging or labeling.
(b) Use is hazardous to persons who are not aware that the refrigerant is present, and have not have seen or read the product label.
(c) Current product labels for HC-12a already contain a warning statement that the contents are under pressure and are extremely flammable. Current labels direct use by qualified personnel only, and list other cautions and instructions when recharging a mobile air conditioning system with this substitute refrigerant. These label statements do not materially alter the hazard inherent in the use for which the product is sold. There are few if any protective actions which a customer or technician could take to reduce the hazards associated with use of the product.
(d) There are no automotive industry standards which would allow a flammable refrigerant to be used in a motor vehicle air conditioning system as currently designed.
(7) Flammable hydrocarbon-based refrigerants, including HC-12a, OZ-12, and other refrigerants containing butane, propane, mixtures of butane and propane, or other gaseous hydrocarbons, pose a serious risk to public health and safety when sold for use as refrigerants in mobile air conditioners. At this time, the public health and safety can only be protected by keeping these products out of the channels of commerce in this state. The department can and should adopt rules, under ss. 93.07(1) and 100.37(2), Stats., prohibiting the sale of such products in this state.
(8) Pending the adoption of rules according normal administrative rulemaking procedures, it is necessary to adopt emergency rules under s. 227.24, Stats., to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
Publication Date:
October 9, 1996
Effective Date:
October 9, 1996
Expiration Date:
March 8, 1997
Hearing Date:
November 15, 1996
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT
Department of Corrections
Rules adopted creating s. DOC 309.05 (2)(d), relating to inmate mail.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Corrections finds an emergency exists and that a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is:
Wisconsin state prison inmates outgoing mail is generally not reviewed or censored. Inmates have used mail to:
1. Contact the victims of their crimes, which has caused severe emotional distress;
2. Threaten and harass elected officials, law enforcement officers, and other persons; and
3. Defraud mail order and other businesses.
Since November 1, 1993, pursuant to Internal Management Procedure #35, the department has stamped outgoing inmate mail to indicate that the mail was sent from the Wisconsin state prison system. IMP #35 was adopted to protect victims of crime, the public, and businesses from inmate harassment and fraud.
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled in an unpublished decision that IMP #35 had to be promulgated as an administrative rule.
In order to protect the public welfare of the state, it is necessary for the department to adopt the following emergency rule to ensure that victims of crime are not further victimized by inmate mail, that members of the public are not threatened or harassed, and that businesses are not defrauded.
Publication Date:
August 15, 1996
Effective Date:
August 15, 1996
Expiration Date:
January 12, 1997
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT (3)
Health and Social Services
(Community Services, Chs. HSS 30--)
1. Rules were adopted revising ss. HSS 55.70 to 55.76, relating to administration of child care funds.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
The Legislature in s. 275 (2) of 1995 Wis. Act 289 directed the Department to promulgate rules relating to public assistance required under chs. 46, 48 and 49, Stats., as affected by the Acts of 1995, before July 1, 1996, for the period before permanent rules take effect, by using emergency rulemaking procedures but without having to make a finding of emergency. These are public assistance-related rules. They are for administration of health care funds. They will take effect on July 1, 1996.
Analysis
The Department's rules for county agency, tribal agency and other child care administrative agency administration of funds for child day care under s. 46.98, Stats., are revised by this order to bring the rules into compliance with statute changes made by 1995 Wis. Acts 27 and 289 and changes in federal regulations, including federal regulations for child care and development block grant funding, 45 CFR Parts 98 and 99, and at-risk child care, 45 CFR Part 257, since the rules were last revised in late 1991; to made policies relating to eligibility for low-income child care more like child care eligibility policies under the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) training program under 42 USC 682 and s. 49.193, Stats.; to prevent and deal with fraud; and to clarify the applicability of certain policies.
Key changes are the following:
1. Income Eligibility
Income eligibility for low income child care is changed to be in compliance with changes made in s. 46.98 (4), Stats., by Act 289.
2. Costs Charged to Parents
Parent co-payment responsibilities are revised to be those established in state law based on family income and the cost of care.
3. Eligibility for Parents in Training or Educational Programs
Parent eligibility to received low-income child care funds when the parents are in training or educational programs is modified so that only parents under 20 years of age enrolled in high school or an equivalent program are eligible, in compliance with Act 289 changes in the statutes.
4. Loss of Eligibility
A local agency is permitted to determine that a parent is no longer eligible for child care funds if the parent fails to make required co-payments or provides false information to the agency about income or other matters affecting eligibility.
5. Recovery of Funds
Rules are added in compliance with 1995 Wis. Act 27 to provide for recovery of funds from a parent if the parent was not eligible for child care funds, and for recovery of an overpayment made to a provider when the provider is responsible for the overpayment.
6. Reimbursement
Local agencies are permitted to reimburse parents under certain circumstances for the cost of health care services or to make funds available to parents for the purchase of child care services, and local agencies are directed when to reimburse child care providers on the basis of authorized units of service or for days of attendance.
7. Authorized Child Care Providers
Local agencies are permitted to make payments, under certain conditions, to child care providers who are not licensed or certified, including:
a. When an AFDC recipient is involved in orientation, enrollment or initial assessment in the JOBS program.
b. When child care is on-site and short-term for parents in training or education programs.
c. When short-term care is needed for a child who is ill and not allowed to receive care from a regulated provider.
8. Higher Rates for Higher Quality Care
Local agencies are required to pay higher for child care to providers who meet higher quality of care standards, as allowed under federal regulations.
9. Reimbursement Rate Categories
Reimbursement rates are required to two age categories and five provider types, a change from earlier policy.
10. Elimination of Rules for Respite Child Care
Rules for respite child care are eliminated, now that there is no longer a separate fund program. The 1995-97 state budget folded funding for respite child care into general community aids allocations for counties.
Publication Date:
June 29, 1996
Effective Date:
July 1, 1996
Expiration Date:
November 28, 1996
2. Rules adopted revising ss. HSS 55.55 to 55.63, relating to certification of child care providers.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
The Legislature in s. 275 (2) of 1995 Wis. Act 289 directed the
Department to promulgate rules relating to public assistance required under chs. 46, 48 and 49, Stats., as affected by the Acts of 1995, before July 1, 1996, for the period before permanent rules take effect, by using emergency rulemaking procedures but without having to make a finding of emergency. These are public assistance-related rules. They are for certified child care. They will take effect on July 1, 1996.
Analysis
The Department's current rules for certification of family day care providers, in-home day care providers and school-age day care programs are amended by this order to bring the rules into compliance with recent statute changes, in particular the changes made by 1995 Wis. Act 289 in establishing Wisconsin Works (W-2), a new system of assistance for families with dependent children which will replace Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and to add needed protections for children, reduce or eliminate unnecessary requirements and clarify the authority of certifying agencies.
Key changes include:
1. Provisional Certification
Modifying standards for provisional certification so that no training is required, in compliance with Act 289 changes in the statutes.
2. Limited Certification
Deleting the category of limited certification, in compliance with Act 289 changes in the statutes.
3. Training for Regular Certification
Deleting the optional requirement to add 5 hours of initial training for regular certification, in order to standardize regulation statewide.
4. Criminal Records Check
Adding requirements for state criminal records checks and FBI criminal record check under certain circumstances, as required by Act 289 changes in the statutes.
5. Certification Fee
Permitting counties and tribal agencies to charge certification fees, as allowed under Act 289, not to exceed licensing fees for family day care centers plus the cost of criminal record checks.
6. Acceptance of Certification
Providing that certification issued by one certifying agency is to be accepted as valid by other certifying agencies.
