Waukesha
October 19, 2000 Room 105
Thursday Eau Claire State Office Bldg.
11:00 a.m. 718 W. Clairemont Ave.
Eau Claire
October 20, 2000 Room 3C
Friday Thompson Commerce Center
10:00 a.m. 201 W. Washington Ave.
Madison
Interested persons are invited to appear at the hearings and present comments on the proposed rules. Persons making oral presentations are requested to submit their comments in writing. Persons submitting comments will not receive individual responses. The hearing record on this proposed rulemaking will remain open until November 3, 2000, to permit submittal of written comments from persons who are unable to attend a hearing or who wish to supplement testimony offered at a hearing.
These hearings are held in accessible facilities. If you have special needs or circumstances that may make communication or accessibility difficult at the hearing, please call (608) 266-8741 or TTY at (608) 264-8777 at least 10 days prior to the hearing date. Accommodations such as interpreters, English translators, or materials in audio tape format will, to the fullest extent possible, be made available upon request by a person with a disability.
A copy of the proposed rules may be obtained without cost from Roberta Ward, Department of Commerce, Program Development Bureau, P.O. Box 2689, Madison, Wisconsin 53701-2689, telephone (608) 266-8741 or (608) 264-8777 (TTY), or e-mail at
rward@commerce.state.wi.us. Copies will also be available at the public hearings.
Environmental Analysis
Notice is hereby given that the Department has considered the environmental impact of the proposed rules. In accordance with chapter Comm 1, the proposed rules are a Type III action. A Type III action normally does not have the potential to cause significant environmental effects and normally does not involve unresolved conflicts in the use of available resources. The Department has reviewed these rules and finds no reason to believe that any unusual conditions exist. At this time, the Department has issued this notice to serve as a finding of no significant impact.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
1. Types of small businesses that will be affected by the rules.
The rules will affect any business involved with the ownership or operation of a tramway, lift or tow.
2. Reporting, bookkeeping and other procedures required for compliance with the rules.
The rules require the owner of a tramway, lift or tow to notify the Department by October 1 of each year if the next required periodic inspection is to be performed by a third party independent inspector.
3. Types of professional skills necessary for compliance with the rules.
There are no types of professional skills necessary for compliance with the rules.
Fiscal Estimate
The Safety and Buildings Division is responsible for administering and enforcing chapter Comm 33. The proposed rules do not contain any changes in the Division's fees charged for administering and enforcing chapter Comm 33. Also, the proposed rules will not create any additional workload costs. Therefore, the proposed rules will not have any fiscal effect on the Division.
Notice of Hearing
Insurance
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the authority granted under s. 601.41(3), Stats., and the procedure set forth in under s. 227.18, Stats., OCI will hold a public hearing to consider the adoption of the attached proposed rulemaking order affecting s. Ins 3.39, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to Medicare+Choice, Medicare Supplement and Replacement Policies.
Hearing Information
October 24, 2000 Room 6, OCI
Tuesday 121 East Wilson St.
10:00 a.m., or as soon Madison, WI
thereafter as the matter
may be reached
Written comments on the proposed rule will be accepted into the record and receive the same consideration as testimony presented at the hearing if they are received at OCI within 14 days following the date of the hearing. Written comments should be addressed to: Julie E. Walsh, OCI, PO Box 7873, Madison WI 53707
Analysis Prepared by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
Statutory authority: ss. 600.01(2), 601.41(3), 601.42, 628.34(12), 628.38, 632.81
Statutes interpreted: ss. 600.03 (28p) and (28r), 632.81
These changes bring the Wisconsin regulations in compliance with changes in federal law under the Balanced Budget Refinement Act and the Ticket To Work And Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 that amend section 1882 of the Social Security Act which governs Medicare Supplement Insurance. Further, these changes are also necessary to conform with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Medicare Supplement Insurance Minimum Standards Model Act.
The changes specifically address the guaranteed issue provisions and the suspension of benefits and premiums. The changes also include the following: reference to a new federal program, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), created under the Social Security Act; provisions for notice and election rights of those whose Medicare + Choice plan is terminated; modification to the notice that is provided to applicants describing Part B benefits within Medicare Supplement policies; and clarification regarding the sale of Medicare + Choice plans by full-time employees.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
This rule does not impose any additional requirements on small businesses.
Fiscal Estimate
There will be no state or local government fiscal effect.
Contact Person
Tammi Kuhl
Services Section
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
at (608) 266-0110
or at 121 East Wilson Street
P. O. Box 7873
Madison WI 53707-7873
Notice of Hearing
Natural Resources
(Fish, Game, etc., Chs. NR 1-)
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to ss. 29.014, 29.041, 29.197, 227.11(2)(a) and 227.24, Stats., interpreting ss. 29.014, 29.041 and 29.197, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on Natural Resources Board Emergency Order No. WM-21-00(E) pertaining to the 2000 migratory game bird season. This emergency order took effect on September 1, 2000. The significant regulations are:
Ducks – The state is divided into two zones each with a 60-day season. The season in both duck zones begins at noon September 30 and continues through November 28. The daily bag limit in both zones is 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards of which only one may be a hen, one black duck, one pintail, one canvasback, 2 redheads, 2 wood ducks and 3 scaup.
Canada geese – The state is apportioned into three goose hunting zones: Horicon, Collins and Exterior. Other special goose management subzones within the Exterior Zone include Brown County, Burnett County, New Auburn, Rock Prairie and the Mississippi River.
The youth waterfowl hunt is established for two consecutive days and a daily bag and possession limit for geese is established.
The rule repeals and recreates baiting as it is defined under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service migratory game bird hunting prohibited methods. The non-toxic shot requirements are also amended to be consistent with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rules.
The rule also allows Canada goose hunters to attach goose kill permits to the neck or leg of a harvested goose within the Horicon and Collins zones.
Hearing Information
October 16, 2000 Room 717, GEF #2
Thursday 101 South Webster Street
at 1:00 p.m. Madison
Notice is hereby further given that pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request, Please call Jon Bergquist at (608) 266-8841 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.
Written Comments and Contact Information
Written comments on the emergency rule may be submitted to Mr. Jon Bergquist, Bureau of Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 no later than October 16, 2000. Written comments will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the hearing. A copy of the emergency rule [WM-21-00(E)]may be obtained from Mr. Bergquist.
Fiscal Estimate
There is no fiscal effect.
Notice of Hearings
Natural Resources
(Fish, Game, etc.,
Chs. NR 1-)
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to ss. 23.09(19), (20) and (20m), 23.0917, 23.092, 23.094, 23.096, 23.098, 23.17, 23,175, 23,197, 23,27, 23.20, 23,295, 30.24 and 30.277, Stats., interpreting ss. 23.09(19), (20) and (20m), 23.0917, 23.092, 23.094, 23.096, 23.098, 23.17, 23,175, 23,197, 23,27, 23.20, 23,295, 30.24 and 30.277, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on the creation of s. NR 1.445, the repeal of ss. NR 50.16, 50.165 and 50.22, and revisions to ch. NR 51, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to the stewardship program.
Section NR 1.445 is being created to implement the provisions of s. 23.091(8)(d), Stats., which requires county board approval if the department proposes to acquire land, using stewardship funds, in a county where 66% or more of the land is owned or under the jurisdiction of a governmental entity.
Three sections of ch. NR 50 pertaining to stewardship grants to local governments are being repealed and recreated in ch. NR 51. This will combine the rules for all stewardship grants into one chapter.
The key issues addressed by ch. NR 51 changes include: creation of programs for the acquisition of development rights, bluff protection, and the Baraboo Hills. Further, it limits grants for local governments to “nature-based outdoor recreation" purposes, makes shoreline enhancements eligible under the Urban Rivers program, and make protection of the Mid-Kettle Moraine and “wild lakes" a program priority. Nonprofit conservation organization eligibility has been expanded to all stewardship programs, including state park “friends" grants.
