Effective Date:
October 9, 1996
Expiration Date:
March 8, 1997
Hearing Date:
November 15, 1996
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT
Department of Commerce
Rules adopted repealing ch. DOD 13 and creating ch. Comm 113, relating to the annual allocation of volume cap.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Commerce finds that an emergency exists and that rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is:
Historically, s. 560.032, Stats. has been interpreted by the legislature and certain legislative attorneys to provide that the annual allocation for the distribution of volume cap established by the Department of Commerce expires at the end of each calendar year. To comply with this interpretation, the Department is required to repeal and recreate the volume cap rule annually. The proposed permanent rule for 1997 is in process. Without this emergency rule, which is effective upon publication in the official state newspaper and filing with the Secretary of State and Revisor of Statutes, there will be several months during which Wisconsin will be unable to take advantage of the approximately $260 million of volume cap and thus risk losing the jobs and investment that would be created by Wisconsin businesses that otherwise would make use of the federally subsidized financing during the period. Adoption of the rule will insure that there is no gap in the use of this development tool and that the jobs and investment occur.
Publication Date:
December 30, 1996
Effective Date:
December 30, 1996
Expiration Date:
May 29, 1997
Hearing Date:
February 13, 1997
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
Hearing Dates:
January 10, 13 & 14, 1997
Extension Through:
March 12, 1997
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT
Health & Family Services
(Management, Policy and Budget, Chs. HSS 1--)
Rules adopted revising ch. HSS 1, relating to parental liability for the cost of care for children in court-ordered substitute care.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
The Legislature in s. 9126 (2z) of 1993 Wis. Act 481 directed the Department to promulgate rules required under s. 46.25 (9) (b), Stats., by using emergency rulemaking procedures but exempted the Department from the requirement under s. 227.24 (1) and (3), Stats., to make a finding of emergency.
Analysis
Section 46.10 (14) (b), Stats., as created by 1993 Wis. Act 481, requires that parental support for court-ordered placements under s. 48.345, Stats., for children found to be in need of protection or services, and s. 938.183 (2), 938.34, 938.345 or 938.357, Stats., for youth adjudged delinquent, be established according to the child support percentage of income standard in ch. HSS 80, and s. 46.25 (9) (b), Stats., as created by Wis. Act 481, directs the Department to promulgate rules, separate from ch. HSS 80, for the application of the child support percentage of income standard to court-ordered substitute care cases. The rules are to take into account the needs of any person, including dependent children other than the child going into care, whom either parent is legally obligated to support. The rules proposed here will address these and other issues related to support for children in court-ordered substitute care.
This order creates s. HSS 1.07 relating to parental support for children in court-ordered substitute care and makes related changes in ss. HSS 1.01 to 1.06. However, if a child in care has income or assets, the payment requirements will continue to be assessed according to s. HSS 1.03.
Publication Date:
January 22, 1997
Effective Date:
January 22, 1997
Expiration Date:
June 21, 1997
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT
Health and Family Services
(Health, Chs. HSS 110--)
Rules adopted creating ch. HFS 125, relating to do-not-resuscitate bracelets to alert emergency health care personnel.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Health and Family Services finds that an emergency exists and that the adoption of the rules is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. The facts constituting the emergency are as follows:
A recent session law, 1995 Wis. Act 200, created ss. 154.17 to 154.29, Stats., relating to a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order written by the attending physician for a patient who requests the order and who has a terminal condition or a medical condition such that, if the patient were to suffer cardiac or pulmonary failure, resuscitation would be unsuccessful or would cause significant physical pain or harm that would outweigh the possibility of successful restoration of the function for an indefinite period of time. A DNR order directs emergency health care personnel not to attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a patient for whom the order is issued if that person suffers cardiac or respiratory arrest. Emergency health care personnel will know if there is a do-not-resuscitate order in effect if the patient has on his or her wrist a do-not-resuscitate bracelet which has been affixed there by the patient's attending physician or at the direction of the patient's attending physician. Emergency health care personnel are expected to follow a do-not-resuscitate order unless the patient revokes the order, the bracelet appears to have been tampered with or the patient is known to be pregnant.
Section 154.19 (3) (a), Stats., created by Wis. Act 200, permits the Department to establish procedures by rule for emergency health care personnel to use in following do-not-resuscitate orders, and s. 154.27, Stats., as created by Wis. Act 200, requires the Department to establish by rule a uniform standard for the size, color and design of do-not-resuscitate bracelets.
These rules are being published by emergency order because while most Wis. Act 200 provisions have taken effect and do-not-resuscitate orders are being written for patients who are qualified, as defined in s. 154.17 (4), Stats., as created by Wis. Act 200, and request the order, without rules that establish a uniform standard for the bracelets the Department cannot approve bracelets. If the bracelet is not approved by the Department, it cannot be affixed. In the absence of a DNR bracelet on the wrist of a person in cardiac or respiratory arrest, emergency health care personnel ordinarily cannot know that a DNR order is in effect, and so must initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation which in some cases will contravene a DNR order.
The rules establish a uniform standard for do-not-resuscitate bracelets and a procedure for emergency medical technicians (EMTs), first responders and emergency health care facility personnel to use in following do-not-resuscitate orders.
Publication Date:
January 18, 1997
Effective Date:
January 18, 1997
Expiration Date:
June 17, 1997
Hearing Date:
March 19, 1997
[See Notice this Register]
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT
Health & Social Services
(Economic Support, Chs. HSS 200-)
Rules adopted creating s. HSS 201.135, relating to time limits on benefits for AFDC recipients participating in the JOBS program.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
The Legislature in s. 275 (3) of 1995 Wis. Act 289 directed the Department to promulgate the rule required under s. 49.145 (2) (n), stats., as created by Wis. Act 289, by using emergency rulemaking procedures but without having to make a finding of emergency. The rule will take effect on October 1, 1996.
Analysis Prepared by the Department of Workforce Development
Under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program an individual may apply and be determined eligible for AFDC benefits with no regard to whether the individual has received benefits in the past or the number of months an individual may have already received benefits. Wisconsin Works (W-2), the replacement program for AFDC, as created by 1995 Wis. Act 289, includes a provision limiting the amount of time an individual may receive AFDC benefits, W-2 employment position benefits or a combination thereof. Under s. 49.145 (2) (n), Stats., as created by 1995 Wis. Act 289, the total number of months in which an adult has actively participated in the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program under s. 49.193, Stats., or has participated in a W-2 employment position or both may not exceed 60 months. The months need not be consecutive. Extensions to the 60 month time limit may be granted only in unusual circumstances in accordance with rules promulgated by the Department. Section 49.141 (2) (b), Stats., as created by 1995 Wis. Act 289, provides that if a federal waiver is granted or federal legislation is enacted, the Department may begin to implement the W-2 program no sooner than July 1, 1996. Participation in JOBS under s. 49.193, Stats., begins to count toward the 60-month limit beginning on October 1, 1996.
The federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) was signed into law by President Clinton on August 22, 1996. It creates the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program which proves that a state may not use any part of the TANF grant to provide assistance to a family that includes an adult who has received assistance for 60 months, whether consecutive or not, under a state program funded by the TANF block grant. Wisconsin submitted its TANF Block Grant State Plan to the Federal Administration for Children and Families on August 22, 1996. The Department will implement time limits October 1, 1996, for AFDC recipients who are actively participating in the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) Training Program. Implementation of the time limits is part of the continuing transition from AFDC to the W-2 program. W-2 will be implemented statewide in September 1997.
Time limits reinforce the idea that AFDC is a temporary support for families, rather than a long-term source of income. Wisconsin's Work Not Welfare (WNW) demonstration project which is operating in Fond du Lac and Pierce Counties, has shown that time limits create a sense of urgency for families to actively seek alternatives to AFDC. Time limits stress mutual responsibility: government provides support and services designed to promote employment and participants who are able must prepare for and enter employment.
The rule defines the term “actively participating” in the JOBS program and includes criteria county or tribal economic support agency would use to determine whether an extension of the 60 month time limit should be granted. The Department retains the right to review an economic support agency's decisions related to extensions.
Publication Date:
September 30, 1996
Effective Date:
October 1, 1996
Expiration Date:
February 28, 1997
Hearing Date:
November 19, 1996
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT (2)
Commissioner of Insurance
1. Rule adopted revising s. Ins 18.07 (5) (b), relating to a decrease in 1996-97 premium rates for the health insurance risk-sharing plan.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
Pursuant to s. 619.14 (5) (e), Stats., the commissioner is not required to make a finding of an emergency to promulgate this emergency rule.
1996-97 Premium Adjustments
The Commissioner of Insurance, based on the recommendation of the Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan (“HIRSP”) board, is required to set the annual premiums by rule. The rates must be calculated in accordance with generally accepted actuarial principles and must be set at 60% of HIRSP's operating and administrative costs. This rule adjusts the premium rates for the period of October 1, 1996 through June 30, 1997, based upon a recalculation of costs and subsidy payments for the 1996-1997 fiscal year. This adjustment represents a 12% reduction in premium payments for the both the non-subsidized major medical and medicare plans for person under age 65. The rates for low-income persons entitled to a premium reduction under s. Ins 18.07 (5) (b) are not affected.
Publication Date:
September 4, 1996
Effective Date:
October 1, 1996
Expiration Date:
February 28, 1997
Hearing Date:
November 8, 1996
2. A rule adopted creating s. Ins 3.46 (18), relating to the requirements for tax deductible long term care insurance.
Finding of Emergency
The Commissioner of Insurance finds that an emergency exists and that a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. Facts constituting the emergency are as follows:
The recently passed federal “Kassebaum-Kennedy” law, P.L. 104-191, set certain standards for allowing favorable tax treatment of long term care insurance policies. The existing Wisconsin administrative rules pertaining to long term care do not meet these criteria and require changes. These changes will allow tax deductible long term care insurance policies to be sold to Wisconsin residents as soon as possible.
Publication Date:
December 20, 1996
Effective Date:
January 1, 1997
