400 Main Street
Brooklyn at 6:30 p.m.
Monday, September 27, 2004
Chippewa Valley Technical College
620 W. Clairemont Ave.
Eau Claire at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
UW Extension Ag Research Station
W6646 Hwy. 70 East
Spooner at 5:30 p.m.
Mercer Community Center
2648 W. Margaret Street
Mercer at 6:30 p.m.
Lower Level West Meeting Room
Rusk Co. Community Library
418 W. Corbett Avenue
Ladysmith at 6:30 p.m.
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 Kurt Thiede at (608) 267-2452 with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.
Fiscal Estimate
The only fiscal impact, outside of minor costs associated with updating regulations and maps, is the potential agricultural damage and associated claims and abatement costs. However, these impacts would be negligible. All of the proposed increases are 5 or less deer per square mile of deer range. Most are in northern units where there is little agriculture and the few in the southwest are going from 15 to 20 deer per sq. mi., which is similar to the populations have been in recent years.
The proposed rule may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted at the following Internet site:
http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. Mail to Mr. Brad Koele, Bureau of Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until September 30, 2004. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. A personal copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Mr. Kurt Thiede, Bureau of Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707.
Notice of Hearing
Public Instruction
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That pursuant to ss.
119.23 (7) (am) 2. and
(d) 2.,
(10) (a) 3., and
(11), Stats., and
227.11 (2) (a), Stats., and interpreting s.
119.23 (7) and
(10), Stats., the Department of Public Instruction will hold a public hearing as follows to consider the amending of ch.
PI 35, relating to financial reporting requirements under the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. The hearing will be held as follows:
Date, Time and Location
September 13, 2004
3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee Public Schools District Office
5225 W. Vliet Street
Auditorium
The hearing site is fully accessible to people with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation to access any meeting, please contact Tricia Collins, Consultant, Milwaukee Parental Choice Program,
tricia.collins@dpi.state.wi.us, (608) 266-2853, or leave a message with the Teletypewriter (TTY), (608) 267-2427 at least 10 days prior to the hearing date. Reasonable accommodation includes materials prepared in an alternative format, as provided under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Copies of Rule and Contact Person
Lori Slauson, Administrative Rules and Federal Grants Coordinator
Department of Public Instruction
125 South Webster Street
P.O. Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707
Written comments on the proposed rules received by Ms. Slauson at the above mailing or email address no later than September 17, 2004, will be given the same consideration as testimony presented at the hearing.
Analysis by the Department of Public Instruction
Explanation of agency authority: Section
119.23 (7) (am) 2. and
(d) 2., Stats., requires private schools participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) to provide evidence of sound fiscal practices and financial viability as prescribed by the department by rule.
Section
119.23 (10) (a) 3., Stats., allows the department to specify by rule the date by which a participating private school must refund the department of any overpayment made to it.
Section
119.23 (11), Stats., gives the department authority to promulgate rules to implement and administer the entire program.
Court Decisions Directly Relevant: There are pending civil and criminal cases in Milwaukee county related to financial issues addressed in this rule.
Related statute or rule: None.
Plain language analysis:
2003 Wisconsin Act 155 made a number of changes to the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP), under which certain low-income pupils who reside in the city of Milwaukee may attend participating private schools in the city at state expense. The Act requires participating private schools to:
Provide the department with evidence of financial viability.
Provide the department with evidence of sound fiscal practices.
Provide proof that the administrator has participated in a fiscal management training program approved by the department.
The Act also gives the state superintendent the authority to:
Withhold aid if a participating private school is not in compliance with program requirements.
Under certain circumstances, issue an order prohibiting a private school from participating in the program in the current year.
Immediately terminate a private school's participation in the program if conditions at the school present an imminent threat to the health and safety of pupils.
Whenever the state superintendent issues an order terminating a school's participation, he or she must notify the parent or guardian of each pupil.
The proposed rules set forth the process by which the department will implement the provisions under the Act, which is effective starting in the 2004-05 school year. The proposed rules also specify the responsibilities of auditors and the department in determining if the school is meeting the requirements under the Act.
Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulations: None.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states: None.
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies: The rule was developed based on a review of fiscal practices contained in policy manuals for non-governmental organizations affiliated with MPCP private schools, recommended practices by national organizations, requirements that other state agencies have for private and non-profit organizations, and internal control practices contained in professional accounting and auditing literature. Financial practices and audit requirements included in the rule are similar to those required for school districts, charter schools, other state agency requirements for non-profit and for-profit organizations, and are consistent with generally accepted national standards. An overview of rule items was provided to interested parties, but discussion was limited due to the short implementation timeframe imposed under
2003 Wisconsin Act 155.
Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small business or in preparation of economic impact report: N/A
Anticipated costs incurred by private sector: The proposed rules establish how private schools participating in the MPCP program will meet the new financial reporting requirements established under
2003 Wisconsin Act 155.
In January 2004, there were 106 private schools participating in the MPCP, with a total enrollment of 12,231 students in the program. It is anticipated that the private school financial audit requirements will have a slight fiscal effect since many of the participating schools currently have limited audit procedures in place. Auditing costs for small public school districts range from $2,000 - $5,000 annually. It is assumed that auditing costs to participating private schools will fall within the higher end of the $2,000 - $5,000 range and are not considered significant. The actual costs will vary depending on the number of financial transactions and expertise of the private school's accounting staff. The status of the financial records maintained by the private school staff will directly affect the time involved in auditing those records.
Effect on small business: See “Anticipated costs incurred by private sector."
Agency contact person: (including email and telephone)
Dennis Hanson, School Finance Auditor
(608) 267-1291
Tricia Collins, Consultant
Milwaukee Parental Choice Program
(608) 266-2853
Description of any forms (attach copies if available): Milwaukee Parental Choice Program Budget and Anticipated Cash Flow Form.
Fiscal Estimate
The proposed rules establish how private schools participating in the MPCP program will meet the new financial reporting requirements established under
2003 Wisconsin Act 155.
In January 2004, there were 106 private schools participating in the MPCP, with a total enrollment of 12,231 students in the program. It is anticipated that the private school financial audit requirements will have a fiscal effect since many of the participating schools currently have limited audit procedures in place. Auditing costs for small public school districts range from $2,000 - $5,000 annually. It is assumed that auditing costs to participating private schools will fall within the higher end of the $2,000 - $5,000 range and are not considered significant. The actual costs will vary depending on the number of financial transactions and expertise of the private school's accounting staff. The status of the financial records maintained by the private school staff will directly affect the time involved in auditing those records.
The Act and the rules have additional administration requirements for the program that will have a fiscal effect on the department. It is assumed such costs could be absorbed within the agency's operating budget.
The rules will not have a fiscal effect on the Milwaukee Public Schools.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
The proposed rules are not anticipated to have a significant fiscal effect on small businesses as defined under s.
227.114 (1) (a), Stats.
Notice of Hearing
