On October 14, 1997, 1997 Wis. Act 27 took effect. That act created s. 560.13, Stats., which appropriated $5.0 million in funds for each of the state fiscal years of the biennium that can be distributed by the Department of Commerce in the form of grants for brownfields redevelopment or associated environmental remediation. The act requires the department to promulgate administrative criteria for issuing grants for brownfields redevelopment and associated environmental remediation, prescribing the amounts of grants that may be awarded, and including criteria for the awarding of grants on the basis of projects that promote economic development, positive effects on the environment, the total of and quality of the recipient's contribution to their project and innovative proposals for remediation and redevelopment. The act directs the department to promulgate an emergency rule to begin implementing the Brownfields Grant Program before permanent rules may be promulgated under ch. 227, Stats., and exempts the department from making a finding of emergency. This emergency rule was developed in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Administration.
Publication Date:
December 31, 1997
Effective Date:
December 31, 1997
Expiration Date:
May 30, 1998
Hearing Date:
February 12, 1998
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT (2)
Department of Corrections
1. 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
Hearing Dates:
October 15, 16 & 17, 1997
Extension Through:
May 1, 1998
2. Rules adopted revising chs. DOC 328 and 332, relating to polygraph examinations for sex offenders.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Corrections finds that an emergency exists and that rules included in this order are necessary for the immediate preservation of public safety. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is: A recent session law, 1995 Wis. Act 440, created s. 301.132, Stats., which directs the department to establish a sex offender honesty testing program. Section 301.132, Stats., became effective June 1, 1997. Lie detector testing of probationers and parolees is recognized as an effective supervision tool for determining the nature and extent of deviant sexual behavior and developing appropriate intervention strategies. In addition, it is anticipated that testing will improve treatment outcomes by overcoming offender denial and by detecting behaviors that lead to re-offending.
The testing program cannot be implemented without rules. The permanent rule process has been started. However, the permanent rule process will take approximately nine months to complete. Emergency rules are necessary to implement the program for the safety of the public while permanent rules are being developed.
This order:
1. Creates definitions for offender, probation and parole agent, and lie detector examination process.
2. Adopts the statutory definitions of lie detector, polygraph, and sex offender.
3. Establishes the authority, purpose and applicability of the lie detector examination process.
4. Requires an offender who is a sex offender to submit to a lie detector test if required by the department.
5. Establishes criteria for the selection of offenders who are required to participate in the lie detector examination process.
6. Requires that the department provide notice to the offender who is required to participate in the lie detector examination process of the lie detector program requirements, instructions to complete any necessary questionnaires and of the date, time and location of the scheduled test.
7. Provides that an agent and an examiner shall determine the questions the offender may be asked during the lie detector examination process.
8. Allows an agent to consult with a treatment provider regarding the questions the offender may be asked during the lie detector examination process.
9. Provides that the department may administer the lie detector tests or contract with an outside vendor to administer the tests.
10. Provides for sanctions if a sex offender refuses to participate in the lie detector examination process.
11. Provides that an offender's probation or parole may not be revoked based solely on a finding of deception as disclosed by a lie detector test.
12. Identifies the circumstances under which the department may disclose information regarding the lie detector tests or the information derived from the lie detector examination process.
13. Provides that the department may not use the lie detector examination process as a method of punishment or sanction.
14. Provides that an offender shall pay the costs of the lie detector test and a $5.00 administrative fee with each payment. The cost of the lie detector test may vary depending on the type of test used.
15. Establishes procedures for the collection of lie detector fees.
16. Provides for sanctions for an offender's failure to pay the lie detector fees.
17. Provides the criteria for lie detector fee deferrals.
18. Provides for the reporting and notice to the offender when payment of lie detector fees is not received.
The order provides for including the rules for the lie detector program in the same chapter of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, ch. DOC 332, as the rules for registration and community notification of sex offenders, which were published as emergency rules on June 1, 1997.
Publication Date:
December 15, 1997
Effective Date:
December 15, 1997
Expiration Date:
May 14, 1998
Hearing Date:
March 16, 1998
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT
Dentistry Examining Board
A rule was adopted revising s. DE 2.04 (1) (e), relating to examination requirements for applicants licensed as dentists in other states.
Finding of Emergency
These rules are promulgated under s. 227.24 (1) (a), Stats. The Governor vetoed a provision in the budget bill which would have permitted dentists licensed in other states to obtain a license in Wisconsin, despite their not having passed a clinical licensing examination with a periodontal part. In doing so, the Governor requested the board adopt an emergency rule to permit these dentists to obtain licenses in Wisconsin under other reasonable and appropriate methods. The concern for the public health, safety and welfare is that this state's citizens are currently being deprived of necessary dental services from qualified dentists who, themselves, are experiencing substantial and perhaps unnecessary hardship in becoming licensed in Wisconsin. These rules are put into effect prior to the time they would be effective under routine rulemaking procedures to assure that the public is not deprived of necessary dental services from qualified dental professionals and that adequate safeguards for protecting the health and safety of dental patients are part of the licensing process.
Publication Date:
October 18, 1997
Effective Date:
October 18, 1997
Expiration Date:
March 17, 1997
Hearing Date:
January 7, 1998
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT (3)
Insurance
1. A rule was adopted revising s. Ins 18.07 (5) (b), relating to a decrease in premium rates for the Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan (HIRSP), effective January 1, 1998.
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 Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
January 1, 1998 Premium Adjustments
The Commissioner of Insurance, based on the recommendations 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. This rule adjusts the non-subsidized premium rates effective January 1, 1998. This change in rates will result in a reduction of approximately 14.5%, and is mandated by plan financing changes in 1997 Wis. Act 27.
Publication Date:
November 20, 1997
Effective Date:
January 1, 1998
Expiration Date:
May 31, 1998
Hearing Date:
December 30, 1997
2. Rules were adopted amending s. Ins 18.07 (5) (b), published as an emergency rule relating to a decrease in premium rates for the health insurance risk-sharing plan under s. 18.07 (5) (b), and correcting errors in the published rate table.
January 1, 1998 Premium Adjustment Correction
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. An emergency rule, already promulgated and published, adjusts the non-subsidized premium rates effective January 1, 1998. This emergency amendment corrects 4 errors in the published rate table.
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 amendment to an emergency rule.
Publication Date:
December 12, 1997
Effective Date:
January 1, 1998
Expiration Date:
May 31, 1998
3. Rules were adopted amending s. Ins 18.07 (intro.), (5) (a) and (5) (br) and creating s. Ins 18.07 (5) (bm), relating to the creation of a $2500 deductible alternative to the health insurance risk-sharing plan effective January 1, 1998.
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 Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
Statutory authority: ss. 227.24, 601.41 (3), 619.11, 619.14 (5)(a) and (e), 619.17 (2) and 619.146
Statutes interpreted: s. 619.146
January 1, 1998 health insurance risk sharing plan with $2500 deductible.
This change is mandated by 1997 Wis. Act 27 which created s. 619.146, Stats. This section requires that an alternative major medical expense coverage plan be offered with a $2500 deductible as described in section 2744 (a) (1) (C) of P.L. 104-191. Under s. 619.146 (2) (a) premium reductions do not apply to this alternative plan. Section 619.146 (2) (b) prescribes how the rates for the alternative plan are to be determined. Since the alternative plan is required by law to be offered by January 1, 1998 this emergency rule sets out the rates for that plan.
Publication Date:
December 31, 1997
Effective Date:
January 1, 1998
Expiration Date:
May 31, 1998
EMERGENCY RULES NOW IN EFFECT (4)
Natural Resources
(Fish, Game, etc., Chs. NR 1--)
