Rules adopted revising chs. Comm 2, 5 and 18, relating to inspection of elevators and mechanical lifting devices.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Commerce finds that an emergency exists and that a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is:
The Department inspects elevators and mechanical lifting devices to ensure these units are installed and operating in accordance with the elevator safety rules. The Department is required to inspect both new and existing elevator installations. Due to the increased number of elevators and mechanical lifting devices installed in new construction, the Department has not been able to keep up with all of its required inspections. To ensure that the citizens of Wisconsin are safe when using elevators and other mechanical lifting devices, the Department must increase the number of people performing these safety inspections.
The Department rules relating to fees, certification, and inspection procedures are being modified to permit additional individuals to perform inspections of elevators and other mechanical lifting devices. The Department proposes to fund additional inspections by amending its fees to match Department expenses. Plan review and certificate of operation fees would be lowered. Inspection fees would be raised.
Publication Date:
May 4, 1997
Effective Date:
June 1, 1997
Expiration Date:
October 30, 1997
Hearing Date:
July 29, 1997
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT (3)
Department of Corrections
1. Rules adopted creating ch. DOC 304, relating to inmate secure work groups.
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:
Effective June 1, 1997, appropriations will be made available to the Department of Corrections for the establishment of secure work groups. Section 303.063 (2), Stats. requires that if the Department establishes a secure work program, the Department shall, before implementing the program, promulgate rules specifying the procedures and regulations relating to the program. The Department has just begun the permanent rule process for establishing the administrative rules for the secure work program. It typically takes nine months for a permanent administrative rule to be promulgated from the time the permanent rule making process begins.
The Department needs to adopt administrative rules regarding the organization and operation of the secure work group program in order to have rules in place which will comply with Sec. 303.063 (2), Stats. The rules will provide for the protection of the public, the correctional officers and the inmates by providing the requirements for participation in the program as well as providing for safety and security concerns.
An emergency currently exists as the prison population is idle and needs secure work groups to provide inmates work opportunities, to prepare inmates for work opportunities upon release to the community, and to reintegrate inmates into the community.
Publication Date:
May 30, 1997
Effective Date:
May 30, 1997
Expiration Date:
October 28, 1997
Hearing Dates:
August 25, 28 & 29, 1997
2. Rules adopted creating ch. DOC 332, relating to registration and community notification of sex offenders.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Corrections finds that an emergency exists and that a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public safety. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is: The legislature has directed the department to implement programs for sex offender registration and community notification by June 1, 1997. Emergency rules are necessary to implement the June 1, 1997, timeline mandated by the legislature, inform sex offenders of registration procedures, and inform law enforcement, victims and the public of the right to access information under the procedures designed by the department. Emergency rules are necessary to implement the June 1, 1997, timeline established by the legislature while permanent rules are developed and promulgated.
Publication Date:
June 1, 1997
Effective Date:
June 1 , 1997
Expiration Date:
October 30, 1997
Hearing Dates:
August 27, 28 & 29, 1997
3. Rules adopted revising ch. DOC 310, relating to inmates complaint review system.
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 and welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is:
There is a Corrections Complaint Examiner with two investigator positions and a program assistant position at the Department of Justice. The number and placement of these Corrections Complaint Examiner positions have been in effect for years. At the present time there is a substantial backlog of approximately 3,000 inmate complaints which need to be reviewed by the Corrections Complaint Examiner. The Department of Justice's position is that it will no longer do the Corrections Complaint Examiner function.
The Department must change its administrative rule to reflect the placement of the Corrections Complaint Examiner function from the Department of Justice to the Department of Corrections. The Department must also change its administrative rule regarding inmate complaints to make the system more efficient as a substantial backlog now exists, and there will be no new positions at the Department of Corrections to do the work of the Corrections Complaint Examiner.
The Department's purpose in the inmate complaint review system is to afford inmates a process by which grievances may be expeditiously raised, investigated, and decided. An efficient inmate complaint review system is required for the morale of the inmates and the orderly functioning of the institutions. An emergency exists due to the current backlog and the proposed moving of the function which will require the Department of Corrections to do the work of the Corrections Complaint Examiners with no new positions.
Publication Date:
August 4, 1997
Effective Date:
August 4, 1997
Expiration Date:
January 2, 1998
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT
Health and Family Services
(Health, Chs. HSS 110--)
Rules adopted revising ch. HSS 163, relating to certification for lead abatement work and lead management activities.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Health and Family Services finds that an emergency exists and rules are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. The facts constituting the emergency are as follows:
Exposure to lead in paint, dust or soil is known to have both short term and long term deleterious effects on the health of children, causing learning disabilities, decreased growth, hyperactivity, impaired hearing, brain damage, and even death. Occupational exposure in adults may result in damage to the kidneys, the central nervous system in general, and the brain in particular, and to the reproductive system. Children born of a parent who has been exposed to excessive levels of lead are more likely to have birth defects, mental retardation or behavioral disorders, or to die during the first year of childhood. About one child in six has a level of lead in the blood that exceeds the threshold for risk.
A residential dwelling or other building built before 1978 may contain lead- based paint. When lead-based paint on surfaces like walls, ceilings, windows, woodwork and floors is broken, sanded or scraped down to dust and chips, the living environment can become a source of poisoning for occupants. When it becomes necessary or desirable to identify lead hazards in order to determine the appropriate method of hazard reduction or abatement, it is imperative that persons who provide lead hazard evaluation and other lead management services be properly trained to ensure accurate lead inspection or assessment results. A reliable lead inspection or assessment is necessary to ensure a lead-safe environment for building occupants, especially children under the age of six, who are the most vulnerable population affected by lead-based paint and lead- contaminated dust and soil.
Under s. 254.176, Stats., the Department may establish training and certification requirements for any person who performs or supervises lead hazard reduction or lead management. In addition, s. 254.178, Stats., states that no person may advertise or conduct a training course in lead hazard reduction or lead management that is represented as qualifying persons for state certification unless the course is accredited by the Department.
In 1993, the Department created ch. HSS 163, Wis. Adm. Code, Certification for Lead Abatement and Other Lead Hazard Reduction, to regulate the training and certification of lead abatement workers and supervisors and to accredit the corresponding training courses. Rules were needed to meet eligibility requirements for a $6 million federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant to fund lead hazard reduction in low and moderate income housing where children under the age of six are found to have elevated blood lead levels.
Development of rules for training and certifying lead management professionals, including lead inspectors, risk assessors, and project designers, and for accrediting the corresponding courses, was postponed pending publication of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lead training and certification regulations. Initially expected in June 1994, these EPA regulations were not published until August 29, 1996.
Since most lead management work to date has been associated with elevated blood lead level investigations conducted by state and local government employes who received appropriate training from EPA regional lead training centers, the delay in lead management rules was not a health hazard. The creation of the private inspection and risk assessment service market resulting from new federal HUD/EPA disclosure regulations, however, poses a health hazard if that market is not properly regulated.
Joint HUD/EPA regulations (24 CFR Part 35 and 40 CFR Part 745) now require that landlords and home sellers disclose the known presence of lead in rental units and homes being sold. These regulations took effect September 6, 1996, for owners of more than four dwelling units and December 6, 1996, for owners of four or fewer dwelling units. In addition, a home buyer is allowed 10 days to obtain a lead inspection or risk assessment before final obligation to purchase a home under a signed offer to purchase.
Due to the lack of state-accredited training courses and state-certified lead management professionals to fill the demand, lead management services are being offered by persons who may not possess appropriate education, experience or training. Unqualified lead inspectors and risk assessors can have an adverse effect on the state's residential marketplace. Based on an inaccurate inspection, a mortgage company could deny a mortgage loan, a home sale could fall through, or a property owner could expend large sums of money for unnecessary lead abatement actions. Even worse, the health of children may be jeopardized by erroneous findings that a lead hazard is not present, which can result in improper handling of lead-based paint materials.
HUD recently announced it was awarding the State of Wisconsin and the City of Milwaukee additional lead hazard reduction grants totaling over $6.5 million. The grants require that money be disbursed only for lead-based paint activities performed by state-certified persons who have completed state- accredited lead training courses. Since Wisconsin does not yet certify lead inspectors, risk assessors, or project designers, grant mandates cannot be fully met, which could lead to funding difficulties and delay vital abatement activities.
This emergency order amends ch. HSS 163 to require accreditation of lead inspector, risk assessor and project designer training courses and, beginning April 19, 1 997, certification of lead inspectors, risk assessors and project designers. In addition, references to “lead abatement or HUD-funded lead hazard reduction” have been changed to add lead management services. The order also adds accreditation and certification fees.
These rule changes are being published by emergency order to ensure, through Department certification and accreditation, that persons providing lead management services, including lead inspections, risk assessments and project design, are appropriately trained and qualified.
Publishing these rules as emergency rules also enables the State of Wisconsin and the City of Milwaukee to implement the federal grants which require that only trained and certified lead professionals perform lead hazard evaluations and lead hazard reduction and abatement.
Publication Date:
February 18, 1997
Effective Date:
February 18, 1997
Expiration Date:
July 18, 1997
Hearing Date:
March 18, 1997
Extension Through:
September 15, 1997
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT (3)
Commissioner of Insurance
1. Rule was adopted revising s. Ins 18.07 (5) (bg), relating to an increase in 1997-98 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.
Analysis Prepared by the Commissioner of Insurance
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 July 1, 1997 to June 30, 1998 for persons entitled to a premium reduction under s. Ins 18.07 (5) (bg). The reduced premium rates are calculated by applying the percentages mandated by s. 619.165 (1) (b), Wis. Stats., to the rate that a standard risk would be charged under an individual policy providing substantially the same coverage and deductibles as provided under the plan. This adjustment represents an average 5.8% increase in premium payments over the most recent rates.
Publication Date:
May 16, 1997
Effective Date:
July 1, 1997
Expiration Date:
November 29, 1997
Hearing Date:
June 30, 1997
2. Rules adopted revising ch. Ins 17, relating to annual patients compensation fund and mediation fund fees calculation of adding certain physician specialties and UW hospital and clinics residents' fees.
Finding of Emergency
The deputy commissioner of insurance (commissioner) finds that an emergency exists and that promulgation of this emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. The facts constituting the emergency are as follows:
The deputy commissioner was unable to promulgate the permanent rule corresponding to this emergency rule, clearinghouse rule no. 97-71, in time for the patients compensation fund (fund) to bill health care providers in a timely manner for fees applicable to the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997. The permanent rule was delayed pending legislative action on Senate Bill 145 which, if passed, will require a lowering of the fund fees originally proposed by the fund's board of governors. Senate Bill 145 may still reach the Senate floor this legislative session but, in all likelihood not before July 1, 1997, when this fee rule must be in effect. Assembly Bill 248, the Assembly bill which mirrors Senate Bill 145, passed the Assembly overwhelmingly.
The commissioner expects that the permanent rule will be filed with the secretary of state in time to take effect September 15, 1997. Because the provisions of this rule first apply on July 1, 1997, it is necessary to promulgate the rule on an emergency basis. A hearing on the permanent rule, pursuant to the published notice was held on May 30, 1997.
Publication Date:
June 20, 1997
Effective Date:
June 20, 1997
Expiration Date:
November, 18, 1997
3. Rules adopted revising ch. Ins 17, relating to annual patients compensation fund and mediation fund fees for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, adding certain physician specialties to those currently listed in the rule and providing that UW hospital and clinics residents' fees be calculated on a full-time-equivalent basis in the same manner as medical college of Wisconsin resident fees are currently calculated.
Finding of Emergency
The deputy commissioner of insurance (commissioner) finds that an emergency exists and that promulgation of an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. The facts constituting the emergency are as follows:
1997 Wis. Act 11 was signed into law on July 14, 1997, but by its terms made effective July 1, 1997. Act 11 increased the required primary limits for health care providers subject to the fund from $400,000 to $1,000,000 for each occurrence and from $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 for an annual aggregate limit. A prior emergency rule effective June 20, 1997, set fund fees for the current fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, based on the lower liability limits then in effect. The enactment of Act 11 on July 14, 1997, increasing the primary limits made this emergency rule necessary to reduce fund fees as of July 1, 1997, the effective date of that Act.
The commissioner expects that the revised permanent rule corresponding to this emergency rule, clearinghouse rule No. 97-71, will be filed with the secretary of state in time to take effect November 15, 1997. A hearing on the permanent rule, pursuant to published notice thereof, was held on May 30, 1997.
Publication Date:
August 12, 1997
Effective Date:
August 12, 1997
Expiration Date:
January 10, 1998
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT
