Register

Hearing Information

May 19, 2000   Gleason Town Hall

Friday   (Located behind the Town of

1:00 PM   Russell Fire Dept. Bldg.)

  N5369 Highway 17

  Gleason, WI

(Parking is available for persons with disabilities)

The public record on this proposed rule making will be held open until close of business on the date of the hearing to permit the submission of written comments from persons unable to attend the public hearing or who wish to supplement testimony offered at the hearing. Any such written comments should be submitted to Ashwani K. Sharma, Traffic Operations Engineer, Bureau of Highway Operations, Room 501, P. O. Box 7986, Madison, Wisconsin, 53707-7986.

Analysis prepared by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: ss. 85.16(1) and 348.07(4)

STATUTE INTERPRETED: s. 348.07(4)

General Summary of Proposed Rule. This proposed rule amends s. Trans 276.07(4), Wis. Adm. Code, to add one segment of highway to the designated highway system established under s. 348.07(4), Stats. The actual highway segment that this proposed rule adds to the designated highway system is:

Hwy.	From	To
STH 17	STH 64 in Merrill	USH 8 in Rhinelander

Note: The proposed rule text often achieves these objectives by consolidating individual segments into contiguous segments with new end points. In order to determine the actual highway segment added, it is necessary to compare the combined old designations with the combined new designation.

The long trucks to which this proposed rule applies are those with 53-foot semitrailers, double bottoms and the vehicles which may legally operate on the federal National Network, but which exceed Wisconsin's regular limits on overall length. Generally, no person may operate any of the following vehicles on Wisconsin's highways without a permit: A single vehicle with an overall length in excess of 40 feet, a combination of vehicles with an overall length in excess of 65 feet, a semitrailer longer than 48 feet, an automobile haulaway longer than 66 feet plus allowed overhangs, or a double bottom. Certain exceptions are provided under s. 348.07(2), Stats., which implements provisions of the federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act in Wisconsin.

Note: 45-foot buses are allowed on the National Network and Interstate system by Federal law. Section 4006 (b) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991.

The effect of this proposed rule will be to extend the provisions of ss. 348.07(2)(f), (fm), (gm) and (gr), and 348.08(1)(e), Stats., to the highway segments listed above. As a result, vehicles which may legally operate on the federal National Network in Wisconsin will also be allowed to operate on the newly-designated highways. Specifically, this means there will be no overall length limitation for a tractor-semitrailer combination, a double bottom or an automobile haulaway on the affected highway segments. There also will be no length limitation for a truck tractor or road tractor when operated in a tractor-semitrailer combination or as part of a double bottom or an automobile haulaway. Double bottoms will be allowed to operate on the affected highway segments provided neither trailer is longer than 28 feet, 6 inches. Semitrailers up to 53 feet long may also be operated on these highway segments provided the kingpin to rear axle distance does not exceed 43 feet. This distance is measured from the kingpin to the center of the rear axle or, if the semitrailer has a tandem axle, to a point midway between the first and last axles of the tandem. Otherwise, semitrailers, including semitrailers which are part of an automobile haulaway, are limited to 48 feet in length.

These vehicles and combinations are also allowed to operate on undesignated highways for a distance of 5 miles or less from the designated highway in order to reach fuel, food, maintenance, repair, rest, staging, terminal or vehicle assembly or points of loading or unloading.

Fiscal Estimate

The Department estimates that there will be no fiscal impact on the liabilities or revenues of any county, city, village, town, school district, technical college district or sewerage district.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

The provisions of this proposed rule adding highway segments to the designated system have no direct adverse effect on small businesses, and may have a favorable effect on those small businesses which are shippers or carriers using the newly-designated routes.

Copies of Rules and Contact Person

Copies of this proposed rule are available without cost upon request to the office of the State Traffic Engineer, P. O. Box 7986, Room 501, Madison, Wisconsin, 53707-7986, telephone [phone]. For questions about this rule making, please call Ashwani Sharma, Traffic Operations Engineer at [phone]. Alternate formats of the proposed rule will be provided to individuals at their request.

Notice of Hearing

Transportation

[CR 00-72]

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to ss. 110.07, 110.075, 194.38, 194.43 and 227.11, Stats., and interpreting ss. 110.07 and 110.075, and ch. 194, Stats., the Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing in Room 551 of the Hill Farms State Transportation Building, 4802 Sheboygan Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin on the 11th day of May, 2000, at 10:00 AM, to consider the amendment of ch. Trans 327, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to motor carrier safety requirements.

An interpreter for the hearing impaired will be available on request for this hearing. Please make reservations for a hearing interpreter at least 10 days prior to the hearing.

The public record on this proposed rule making will be held open until close of business the day of the hearing, to permit the submission of written comments from persons unable to attend the public hearing or who wish to supplement testimony offered at the hearing. Any such comments should be submitted to Lyle Walheim, Department of Transportation, Division of State Patrol, Room 551, P. O. Box 7912, Madison, WI 53707-7912.

Parking for persons with disabilities and an accessible entrance are available on the north and south sides of the Hill Farms State Transportation Building.

Analysis Prepared by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: ss. 110.07, 110.075, 194.38, 194.43 and 227.11

STATUTES INTERPRETED: ss. 110.07 and 110.075, and ch. 194

General Summary of Proposed Rule. This rule making will amend ch. Trans 327, relating to intrastate motor carrier safety regulations, to bring it into compliance with the most recent changes to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations which go into effect on October 1, 2000. Amendment of this rule will assure State Patrol inspectors and troopers are enforcing the most recent Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations for intrastate carriers. The update of this rule will also keep the Department in compliance to qualify for continued Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) funding.

The Department annually updates ch. Trans 327 to keep current with the most recent changes to 49 CFR parts 390, 391, 392, 393, 396 and 397 which contains exceptions and hours-of-service requirements currently found in this chapter.

Fiscal Estimate

The Department estimates that there will be no fiscal impact on the liabilities or revenues of any county, city, village, town, school district, vocational, technical and adult education district or sewerage district. The Department estimates that there will be no fiscal impact on state revenues or liabilities.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

This proposed rule will have no adverse impact on small businesses.

Copies of Proposed Rule

Copies of the proposed rule may be obtained upon request, without cost, by writing to Lyle Waltham, Division of State Patrol, P. O. Box 7912, Room 551, Madison, WI 53707-7912, or by calling [phone]. Alternate formats of the proposed rule will be provided to individuals at their request.

Notice of Hearing

Workforce Development

(Economic Support,
Chs. DWD 11 to 59)

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to ss. 49.145(1), 227.11 and 227.24, Stats., the Department of Workforce Development proposes to hold a public hearing to consider the creation of the emergency rule s. DWD 12.28, relating to Wisconsin works disregard of year 2000 census income.

Hearing Information

May 15, 2000   Madison

Monday   GEF #1 Bldg.,

10:00 a.m.   Room 400X

  201 E. Washington Ave.

Interested persons are invited to appear at the hearing and will be afforded the opportunity to make an oral presentation of their positions. Persons making oral presentations are requested to submit their facts, views, and suggested rewording in writing.

An accessible entrance to the building is available via a ramp from the corner of Washington Avenue and Webster Street to the Butler Street entrance. If you have special needs or circumstances that may make communication or accessibility difficult at the hearing, please call [phone] at least 10 days prior to the hearing date. Accommodations such as ASL interpreters, English translators, or materials in audiotape format will be made available on request to the fullest extent possible.

Analysis Prepared by the Department of Workforce Development

Statutory authority: ss. 49.145(1) and 227.11

Statute interpreted: s. 49.145(1)

The rule excludes income earned from temporary employment with the U.S. Census Bureau in determining W-2 and child care eligibility and child care copayments. Hours of employment with the Census Bureau will be treated the same as other unsubsidized employment in determining hours required for a pro-rata W-2 community service job. Individuals who are working for the Census Bureau full-time will receive case management services.

The federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the Department of Health and Human Services has encouraged states to exempt the temporary income earned by individuals who work on the 2000 Census from eligibility determinations for programs funded by Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).

Information from ACF stated that “the [Census] Bureau has found that the most effective workers are those recruited from and working in their own neighborhoods." In addition, the Census Bureau web site located at the following web address (http://www.census.gov/jobs2000/www/faqs.html) contains the following information regarding their efforts to recruit temporary workers:

•   “The Census Bureau is working with individual states to encourage recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to apply for census positions; states could decide to let TANF recipients hold temporary census jobs without losing their benefits."

•   “Historically, the Bureau has always endeavored to hire individuals from the communities in which they live. As a result, the Bureau has always reached out to low income populations, including welfare recipients. While there are no special hiring preferences for welfare recipients, the Bureau works closely with state and local governments as well as community based organizations to actively recruit welfare recipients."

•   “The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has exempted temporary Census 2000 income from the determination of eligibility for subsidized housing residents and Section 8 tenants."

When the Census employment ends, the W-2 agency will be encouraged to work with the participant to find new unsubsidized employment. If appropriate, however, the W-2 agency could place the individual in a subsidized employment position.

Text of Rule

SECTION 1. DWD 12.28 is created to read:

DWD 12.28. Disregard of Year 2000 Census Income. Income earned from temporary employment with the United States Census Bureau shall not be included in determining financial eligibility for Wisconsin works under s. DWD 12.09(3)(b), a child care subsidy under s. DWD 12.26, or the amount of a child care copayment under s. DWD 56.08.

SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This rule shall take effect upon publication as provided in s. 227.24(1)(d), Stats.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

Privately-run W-2 agencies will be affected by the rule change, but the rule will not have a significant economic impact because there is no material change from current procedures.

Fiscal Impact

Employment with the Census Bureau is short-term and the employment is generally part-time. There is a potential for an increase in child care costs, although an exact estimate is difficult to obtain. There is also the potential that the state could experience decreased cash benefit costs for families taking advantage of this policy while working for the Census.

Written Comments

Written comments on the proposed rules received at the address below no later than May 19, 2000, will be given the same consideration as testimony presented at the hearing.

Elaine Pridgen

Office of Legal Counsel

Dept. of Workforce Development

P.O. Box 7946

Madison, WI 53707-7946

[phone]

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