Register

▶ (Reprinted from April 30, 1999 Wis. Adm. Register)

The State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection announces that it will hold public hearings on proposed revisions to ch. ATCP 160, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to County and District Fairs. The hearings will be held at the times and places shown below. The public is invited to attend the hearings and make comments on the proposed rule. Following the public hearings, the hearing record will remain open until May 28, 1999, for additional written comments.

A copy of this rule may be obtained free of charge, from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Division of Marketing, 2811 Agriculture Drive, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708, or by calling [phone] or [phone]. Copies will also be available at the public hearings.

An interpreter for the hearing impaired will be available on request for these hearings. Please make reservations for a hearing interpreter by May 3, 1999, either by writing to Cindy Rein, 2800 Agriculture Drive, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708, [phone]) or by contacting the message relay system (TTY) at [phone]. Handicap access is available at both locations for the hearings.

Hearing Information

Two hearings are scheduled:

May 13, 1999   State of Wisconsin

Thursday   WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade

9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.   & Consumer Protection Bldg.

  2811 Agriculture Drive

  Madison, WI 53718

  Room 172

May 13, 1999   Marathon County Courthouse

Thursday   500 Forest Street

3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.   Wausau, WI 54403

  Room 149

Analysis Prepared by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

Statutory Authority: ss. 93.07(1) and 93.23(1)(a)2.

Statute Interpreted: s. 93.23

This rule updates the department's current rules related to county and district fairs. Among other things, this rule establishes new and revised entry classes for county and district fair exhibits, and specifies uniform premium awards for various entry classes.

Background

Under s. 93.23, Stats., the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection (“department") is authorized to distribute state aid moneys to county and district fairs. Currently, about 76 county and district fairs receive state aids from the department. State aid moneys, appropriated under s. 20.115(4)(b) and (g), Stats., are used to reimburse county and district fairs for premiums awarded to fair exhibitors. In each year of the 1997-99 biennium, the Legislature earmarked $585,000 of the state's gaming revenues for that purpose.

Under s. 93.23, Stats., the department may reimburse a county or district fair for 95% of the first $8,000 in net premiums awarded by the fair, and 75% of all net premiums over $8,000. The maximum amount of reimbursement is $15,000. In order to qualify for state aids under s. 93.23, Stats., a county or district fair must award premiums according to a uniform premium list which the department adopts by rule.

The department's current rules under ch. ATCP 160, Wis. Adm. Code specify detailed entry classes for county and district fair exhibits. For each entry class, current rules specify uniform premiums for first place to fourth place premium awards. The department will pay state aids only on that portion of a premium award that is within the maximum amount specified by department rule. Under this rule, premiums for most exhibits range from $1.00 to $3.00, although higher amounts may be awarded for some classes of exhibits.

The department updates its county and district fair rules every 5 years, based on recommendations from the Wisconsin association of fairs. The Wisconsin association of fairs is a state association of organizations that sponsor county and district fairs in this state. This rule is adopted as part of the department's regular 5-year update cycle, and incorporates the most recent recommendations of the Wisconsin association of fairs.

Rule Contents

This rule specifies a number of new and revised entry classes for county and district fair exhibits. It also specifies a number of new and revised premium awards in various entry classes. This rule makes the following changes to current rules, among others:

•   It adds a specific department or entry class for computers and computer programs.

•   It changes the basis for entry classes in the junior fair division from the age of exhibitors to the academic grade level of exhibitors. Current rules specify that junior fair division exhibitors may be 8 to 19 years of age. This rule establishes entry classes for exhibitors who have completed kindergarten to grade 13 by June 30 in the year in which the fair is held.

•   It eliminates specific breeds as entry classes in the dairy goats, poultry and rabbits departments for both the open division and junior fair division. The new rules allow the local fair to establish entry classes comprised of a single breed, or a combined breed class consisting of two or more breeds within the same group, none of which are offered by the fair as a separate entry class.

•   It adds a poultry market entry class in the open class division.

•   It simplifies the rule by eliminating specific entry classes for departments 18 to 32 in the open fair division. The affected departments include exhibits such as flowers and house plants, clothing, home furnishings, and foods and nutrition. The new rules simply list the premium levels and authorize the local fair board to establish specific classes and groupings under each premium level.

•   It eliminates all bull calf entry classes from the dairy cattle department in the junior fair division. This change is made for safety reasons because of the potential for injury to youth exhibitors when showing a bull calf.

•   It amends the showmanship class in each department in which it occurs in the junior fair division by eliminating exhibitor classes for beginners, intermediates, and seniors. The revision also gives the local fair board discretion to establish specific entry classes and subdivisions of entry classes.

•   It creates an entry class for dairy sheep in the junior fair division's sheep department.

•   It repeals and recreates rules for departments 14 to 34 in the junior fair division. The affected departments include exhibits such as flowers and house plants, clothing, home furnishings, and foods and nutrition. The new rules simply list the premium levels and authorize the local fair board to establish specific classes and groupings under each premium level.

This rule also makes a substantial number of technical and drafting changes to current rules.

Fiscal Estimate

This rule will have not significant fiscal impact on the department or local units of government nor will it have any significant impact on small business.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

The proposed rule, ch. ATCP 160, Wis. Adm. Code, County and district Fairs, has been reviewed pursuant to s. 227.114, Wis. Stats., and it has been determined that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses.

Notice of Proposed Rule

Revenue

[CR 99-35]

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to ss. 73.029 and 227.11(2)(a), Stats., and interpreting ss. 71.01(8r), 71.42(3m), 71.63(1m) and (5m), 71.65(3)(a), 73.029, 77.58(1m), 77.61(14), 77.96(5m), 78.12(5), 78.55(5m), 139.01(5m), 139.30(8m) and 139.75(5m), Stats., and according to the procedure set forth in s. 227.16(2)(e), Stats., the Department of Revenue will adopt the following rules as proposed in this notice without public hearing unless, within 30 days after publication of this notice on May 15, 1999, it is petitioned for a public hearing by 25 natural persons who will be affected by the rule, a municipality which will be affected by the rule, or an association which is representative of a farm, labor, business or professional group which will be affected by the rule.

Contact Person

Please contact Mark Wipperfurth at [phone], if you have any questions regarding this proposed rule order.

Analysis by the Department of Revenue

Statutory authority: ss. 73.029 and 227.11(2)(a)

Statutes interpreted: ss. 71.01(8r), 71.42(3m), 71.63(1m) and (5m),
  71.65(3)(a), 73.029, 77.58(1m), 77.61(14), 77.96(5m), 78.12(5), 78.55(5m),
  139.01(5m), 139.30(8m) and 139.75(5m)

SECTION 1. Tax 1.12 is created to permit the Department of Revenue to require electronic funds transfer, or “EFT," to pay or deposit certain taxes and fees, including but not limited to corporate income and franchise tax; income tax withholding; general, county and special district, or “stadium," sales and use tax; fermented malt beverages tax; liquor, or “distilled spirits and wine," tax and administrative fee; cigarette tax; tobacco products tax; alternate fuels tax; general aviation fuel tax; motor vehicle fuel tax and petroleum inspection fee; and individual and fiduciary income tax, when the amounts due in the prior year equaled or exceeded a specified amount. The rule is being promulgated because it is the only method by which the department may require EFT as a payment method, as a result of the creation of s. 73.029, Stats., by 1997 Wis. Act 27.

In addition to providing for EFT payment requirements, the rule also provides information for taxpayers who elect to use EFT.

Text of Rule

SECTION 1. Tax 1.12 is created to read:

Tax 1.12 Electronic funds transfer. (1) SCOPE. This section applies to any person who is required to or elects to pay or deposit taxes or fees by electronic funds transfer, or “EFT."

(2) PURPOSE. The purpose of this section is to specify which taxes and fees are required to be paid or deposited using the EFT payment method, to provide that certain persons not required to use the EFT payment method may elect to do so and to explain the procedures for using EFT.

(3) DEFINITIONS. In this section:

(a) “ACH" means automated clearing house, a central clearing facility operated by a federal reserve bank or a private sector organization on behalf of depository financial institutions in which depository financial institutions transmit or receive ACH entries.

(b) “ACH credit" means the EFT payment option in which the payer initiates the transfer of funds by authorizing the payer's financial institution to transfer the payment amount to the department's depository bank.

(c) “ACH debit" means the EFT payment option in which the payer initiates the transfer of funds by authorizing the department's depository bank to transfer the payment amount from the payer's account.

(d) “Electronic funds transfer" or “EFT" means any transfer of funds initiated through a terminal, telephone, computer or magnetic tape authorizing a financial institution to debit or credit an account for next day settlement.

  Note: The EFT payment method allows funds to be transferred electronically from the payer's financial institution to the department's depository bank eliminating the need to prepare and process a paper check.

(e) “Entry" means an electronic item representing the transfer of funds in the ACH system.

(f) “Financial institution" means any bank, savings and loan, credit union, industrial bank or other institution organized under either national or state banking laws capable of both accepting deposits and making loans.

(g) “Payer" means any person who is required to or elects to pay or deposit taxes or fees by electronic funds transfer.

(h) “Settle" or “settlement" means to transfer funds, or a transfer of funds, between two parties in cash or negotiable items or on the books of a mutual depository to complete one or more prior transactions and made subject to a final accounting.

(i) “Settlement date" means the date on which an exchange of funds with respect to an entry or entries is reflected on the books of the department's depository bank.

(j) “Trace number" means a character code uniquely identifying each ACH entry.

(4) REQUIREMENT OR ELECTION TO USE EFT. (a) Except as provided in sub. (11), the department requires a person who owes taxes and fees as described in subds. 1. to 11. to pay or deposit the taxes and fees using the EFT payment method. The following taxes and fees are included in the EFT payment requirement:

  1. Corporate income and franchise tax estimated tax payments and tax due with the tax return when the net tax less refundable credits on the prior year's tax return was $40,000 or more.

  2. Income tax withholding payments when the required deposits were $10,000 or more in the prior calendar year.

  3. General, county and stadium sales and use tax when the aggregate amount due in the prior calendar year was $10,000 or more.

  Note: See s. Tax 11.001(4) for the definition of stadium tax.

  4. Fermented malt beverages tax when the tax due after the adjustment for any overpayment or additional amount due for a previous period was $40,000 or more in the prior calendar year.

  5. Liquor or “distilled spirits and wine" tax and administrative fee when the aggregate net amount of tax and fee due in the prior calendar year was $40,000 or more.

  6. Cigarette tax when the net tax due before printing and shipping costs was $40,000 or more in the prior calendar year.

  7. Tobacco products tax when the tax due in the prior calendar year was $40,000 or more.

  8. Alternate fuels tax when the total tax due in the prior calendar year was $40,000 or more.

  9. General aviation fuel tax when the tax due in the prior calendar year was $40,000 or more.

  10. Motor vehicle fuel tax and petroleum inspection fee when the aggregate amount due in the prior calendar year was $40,000 or more.

  11. Individual and fiduciary income tax estimated tax payments when the estimated tax payments as required under s. 71.09, Stats., were $40,000 or more in the prior taxable year.

(b) Any person not required to use the EFT payment method under par. (a) may elect to use the EFT payment method to pay or deposit the taxes or fees specified in par. (a).

(5) DATE FIRST EFT PAYMENT REQUIRED. The department shall notify a person when EFT payments or deposits are required. A 90-day EFT registration period shall follow the notification. The first required EFT payment or deposit shall be due on the first payment or deposit due date following the end of the registration period.

  Example: An employer required to make semi-monthly deposits of withholding tax is notified of the EFT requirement on November 10, 1999. The first EFT deposit is due February 15, 2000, which is the first deposit due date following the end of the 90-day registration period.