B. Records of Fires -- Section 101.141, Stats.
Estimate of the amount of time that state employes will spend to develop the rule and of other resources necessary to develop the rule:
The rule will be developed with the assistance of a citizen advisory Fire Safety Code Council and 2 Task Groups. Time will be spent forming the Council and Task Groups, meeting with the Council and Task Groups, and then drafting and processing 2 rule packages through public hearings and legislative review. An estimate of the time that state employes will spend to develop the rule is as follows:
Research and Council/Task Group meetings time 430 hours
Rule drafting time 80 hours
Rule promulgation time 240 hours
Total 750 hours
Commerce
Subject:
S. Comm 108.21 (1) (f) - Relating to funding emergency grants under the Community Development Block Grant Program.
Description of policy issues:
Description of the objective of the rule:
This rule will allow the Department of Commerce to award emergency grants to communities experiencing a natural disaster or catastrophic event, such as a flood or tornado, using other state or federal grants as a match.
Description of existing policies relevant to the rule and of new policies proposed to be included in the rule and an analysis of policy alternatives:
Earlier this year, the Department revised the rules related to the Community Development Block Grant Program which take effect on November 1, 1997. The proposed rule will allow the Department to use grants from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and the state Division of Emergency Management (DEM) for emergency projects and respond in a more timely manner to the needs of the citizens of this state in times of an emergency.
Statutory authority for the rule:
SS. 16.54, 560.02 (4), and 560.04 (2) (j), Stats., and 42 USC 5301 to 5319
Estimate of the amount of time that state employes will spend to develop the rule and of other resources necessary to develop the rule:
An estimate of the time state employes will spend to develop the rule is as follows:
Rule Drafting Time and Internal Processing Time
to Announce a Public Hearing 8 hours
Conducting Public Hearing and Summarizing
Comments 10 hours
Preparing Rules in Final Draft Form for
Legislative Review 8 hours
Meet with Legislators on Proposed Rule 12 hours
Prepare Rule for Adoption and File Adopted Rule 4 hours
Total 42 hours
Health and Family Services
Subject:
Ch. HFS 138 - Relating to subsidy of health insurance premiums for people with HIV infection.
Description of policy issues:
Description of objectives:
Chapter HSS 138 is being modified for the purpose of incorporating changes to ss. 252.16 and 252.17, Stats., included in 1997 Wis. Act 27.
Description of policies:
Provisions of the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) of 1986, PL 99-272, require employers to allow certain individuals to continue coverage under group health insurance plans. Under these provisions, certain individuals can maintain their coverage for up to 29 months after leaving work. This group health insurance extension requirement is commonly referred to as the COBRA continuation provision.
The Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) currently administers a program under ss. 252.16 and 252.17, Stats., that pays the premium costs for COBRA continuation coverage for individuals who have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and who are unable to continue work due to their illness. To be eligible for the program, an individual must:
(a) Be a state resident;
(b) Have a family income that does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL);
(c) Submit to DHFS certification from a physician that the individual has HIV infection and has had employment terminated or hours of work reduced because of an illness or medical condition arising from or related to the HIV infection; and
(d) Be eligible for continuation coverage.
Individuals who are eligible for Medicare are not eligible for the continuation program. DHFS is authorized to pay premiums until the individual's continuation coverage ceases or until the expiration of 29 months after his or her continuation coverage began, whichever occurs first.
Changes to the program made by the 1997-99 biennial budget act include the following:
Coverage for Policies Other than Continuation Coverage. DHFS is directed to pay the premium costs for any health insurance coverage, including individual or group policies and Medicare supplement policies, but not for Medicare replacement policies and long-term care insurance policies. In addition, the revised statutes specify that eligible group and individual health insurance policies will be subsidized, regardless of whether they are single or family plans.
Delete Time Limits of Premium Subsidy Benefits. DHFS is directed to pay premium subsidies for an individual as long as he or she remains eligible for the program and has coverage. This will lift the current 29 month time limit on premium subsidy benefits.
Income Eligibility. The revised statutes expand participation in the program to individuals with income up to 300% of the federal poverty line (FPL) for a family of that size. The current income eligibility standard is 200% of the FPL. The revised statutes direct DHFS to establish a premium contribution schedule for individuals participating in the program in families with income between 200% and 300% of the FPL. In developing the premium contribution schedule, the amended statute directs DHFS to take into consideration both income and family size.
Statutory authority:
Sections 252.16 and 252.17, Stats.
Staff time needed to develop rules:
80 hours.
Natural Resources
Subject:
NR Code - Relating to developing rules for the administration of a forest fire protection grant program.
Description of policy issues:
Description of policy issues to be resolved, include groups likely to be impacted or interested in the issue:
To codify a fire organizations (Fire Departments/County Fire Associations, etc.) grant administration process. The rules will identify the application process, the eligibility criteria and records required for accountability purposes for the grants.
This action does not represent a change from past policy.
Explain the facts that necessitate the proposed change:
The rules are being developed to administer a statutory grant program that is as part of the 97/99 budget. Now with legislative approval, the Department proposes to initiate a new voluntary grant program for those fire organizations (Fire Departments/County Fire Associations, etc.) who have signed Memorandums of Understanding with the DNR to help in the fighting of forest fires. These grants will be for the purchase of various types of equipment that can be used for various types of forest firefighting services.
Statutory authority:
S. 26.145, Stats.
Anticipated time commitment:
The anticipated time commitment is 1,106 hours. Two public hearings shall be held in January, 1998 at Black River Falls and Rhinelander.
Natural Resources
Subject:
Ch. NR 45 - Relating to needs of Parks Automated Camping Reservations and Reporting Systems (PARRS).
Description of policy issues:
Description of policy issues to be resolved, include groups likely to be impacted or interested in the issue:
In 1995, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism was created. The statutory language that accompanied the creation required the Department of Tourism and the DNR to jointly develop an automated camping reservation system. The governor's budget proposal for FY 97-99 includes proposed funding and statutory changes repealing language that defines current manual system and creates statutory language requiring the DNR to promulgate rules for a new automated system beginning April 1, 1998. The new administrative rules must be approved by the DNR Board within 90 days of the signing of the state budget to meet the timetable for the PARRS installation software development.
This action represents a change from past policy.
Explain the facts that necessitate the proposed change:
The current statute and resulting administrative rules require state parks to use a paper-based, mail-in reservation form that can be submitted beginning January 10th of each year. To automate, the DNR must have the ability to accept telephone and electronic reservations (Worldwide Web). For better customer service and to better meet the tourism industry expectations, the new system would allow customers to make reservations up to 11 months in advance of their arrival rather than the seasonal restriction that currently exists.
Statutory authority:
Chapter 27, sections 30-37 as proposed in Biennial Budget '97-99.
Anticipated time commitment:
The anticipated time commitment is 23.5 hours. Three public information/listening sessions will be held in November, 1997 at Madison, Stevens Point and Eau Claire.
Natural Resources
Subject:
Ch. NR 487 - Relating to revision of the implementation date for ch. NR 487, Wis. Adm. Code. The objective of the proposed rule is to delay the implementation date of the Clean Fuel Fleet Program from model year (MY) 1998 to model year (MY) 1999 vehicles.
Description of policy issues:
Description of policy issues to be resolved, include groups likely to be impacted or interested in the issue:
The proposed rule revision is in response to U.S. EPA's decision to allow states to delay the implementation of the Clean Fuel Fleet Program by one model year due to non-availability of an adequate model-mix and volume of certified vehicles which meet the Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) tailpipe emission standards. These vehicles are to be acquired by the covered fleets as a certain percentage of their new vehicle acquisitions to comply with the program.
The groups likely to be impacted or interested in the issue are alternative fuel providers and fleet operators with 10 or more vehicles operating in the six southeastern Wisconsin counties covered by this program (Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington and Waukesha).
This action does not represent a change from past policy.
Explain the facts that necessitate the proposed change:
The proposed rule will not impose requirements on any previously unregulated sources. It only delays the implementation of the program by one year.
