Emergency Rules Now in Effect
Under s. 227.24, Stats., state agencies may promulgate rules without complying with the usual rule-making procedures. Using this special procedure to issue emergency rules, an agency must find that either the preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare necessitates its action in bypassing normal rule-making procedures.
Emergency rules are published in the official state newspaper, which is currently the Wisconsin State Journal. Emergency rules are in effect for 150 days and can be extended up to an additional 120 days with no single extension to exceed 60 days.
Occasionally the Legislature grants emergency rule authority to an agency with a longer effective period than 150 days or allows an agency to adopt an emergency rule without requiring a finding of emergency.
Extension of the effective period of an emergency rule is granted at the discretion of the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules under s. 227.24 (2), Stats.
Notice of all emergency rules which are in effect must be printed in the Wisconsin Administrative Register. This notice will contain a brief description of the emergency rule, the agency finding of emergency or a statement of exemption from a finding of emergency, date of publication, the effective and expiration dates, any extension of the effective period of the emergency rule and information regarding public hearings on the emergency rule.
Copies of emergency rule orders can be obtained from the promulgating agency. The text of current emergency rules can be viewed at www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/code.
Beginning with rules filed with the Legislative Reference Bureau in 2008, the Legislative Reference Bureau will assign a number to each emergency rule filed, for the purpose of internal tracking and reference. The number will be in the following form: EmR 0801. The first 2 digits indicate the year of filing and the last 2 digits indicate the chronological order of filing during the year.
Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection (2)
1.   Rules adopted revising ch. ATCP 10, relating to diseases of fish and farm-raised deer.
Finding of Emergency
(1) The Wisconsin department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection (“DATCP") administers Wisconsin's animal health and disease control programs, including programs to control diseases of fish and farm-raised deer.
Disease Testing of Fish
(2) DATCP regulates fish farms, including fish farms operated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (“DNR"). DATCP also regulates the import, movement and disease testing of fish.
(3) Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) is a serious disease of fish. VHS was first reported in Wisconsin on May 11, 2007, after the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed positive samples from freshwater drum (sheepshead) in Little Lake Butte des Mortes (part of the Lake Winnebago system). VHS was subsequently found in Lake Winnebago, and in Lake Michigan near Green Bay and Algoma. The source of VHS in these wild water bodies is not known. VHS has not yet been reported in any Wisconsin fish farms. VHS can be fatal to fish, but is not known to affect human beings.
(4) Current DATCP rules require health certificates for fish and fish eggs (including bait) imported into this state, for fish and fish eggs stocked into waters of the state, and for fish and fish eggs (including bait species) moved between fish farms in this state. Import health certificates must include VHS testing if the import shipment includes salmonids (salmon, trout, etc.) or originates from a state or province where VHS is known to occur. VHS testing is not currently required for fish or fish eggs stocked into waters of the state from Wisconsin sources, for bait fish or eggs originating from Wisconsin sources, for fish or fish eggs moved between fish farms in Wisconsin, or for non-salmonids imported from states where VHS has not yet been found.
(5) Because VHS has now been found in waters of the state, it is necessary to expand current VHS testing requirements. Because of the urgent need to minimize the spread of VHS in this state, it is necessary to adopt VHS testing requirements by emergency rule, pending the adoption of a “permanent" rule.
Disease-Free Herd Certification of
Farm-Raised Deer Herds
(6) DATCP registers farm-raised deer herds in this state. DATCP also regulates the import, movement and disease testing of farm-raised deer. Under current DATCP rules, DATCP may certify a deer herd as brucellosis-free or tuberculosis-free, or both, based on herd test results provided by the deer keeper. Certification is voluntary, but facilitates sale and movement of deer.
(7) Under current rules, a tuberculosis-free herd certification is good for 3 years, but a brucellosis-free herd certification is good for only 2 years. There is no compelling veterinary medical reason for the difference. A rule change (extending the brucellosis-free certification term from 2 to 3 years) is needed to harmonize the certification terms, so that deer farmers can conduct simultaneous tests for both diseases. Simultaneous testing will reduce testing costs and limit stress on tested deer. An emergency rule is needed to avoid some unnecessary costs for deer farmers this year, pending the adoption of permanent rules.
Publication Date:   October 31, 2007
Effective Date:   October 31, 2007
Expiration Date:   March 29, 2008
Hearing Date:   January 14, 2008
Extension Through:   April 7, 2008
2.   EmR 0804 - Creating subch. IV of ch. ATCP 161, relating to the “buy local" grant program created under s. 93.48, Stats.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
DATCP has general authority under s. 93.07 (1), Stats., to interpret laws under its jurisdiction. Section 93.48 (1), Stats., specifically requires DATCP to adopt rules for the “buy local" grant program. Section 9103(3i) of 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 (biennial budget act) authorizes DATCP to adopt temporary emergency rules without the normal “finding of emergency," pending the adoption of “permanent" rules. This temporary emergency rule implements the “buy local" grant program on an interim basis, pending the adoption of “permanent" rules.
Publication Date:   February 22, 2008
Effective Date:   February 22, 2008
Expiration Date:   May 1, 2009
Commerce
Licenses, Certifications, etc., Ch. Comm 5
Rules adopted revising ch. Comm 5, relating to licensing of elevator contractors and installers.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
Under the nonstatutory provisions of 2005 Wis. Act 456, the Department of Commerce was directed to issue emergency rules that implement provisions of the Act. The Act specifically states: “Notwithstanding section 227.24 (1) (a) and (3) of the statutes, the department of commerce is not required to provide evidence that promulgating rules under this subsection as emergency rules is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for the rules promulgated under this subsection."
The Act mandates the licensing of elevator contractors and installers. Under the Act no person may engage in the business of installing or servicing conveyances or working on a conveyance unless licensed as of June 1, 2007. These emergency rules are being adopted in order to provide the elevator industry the ability to comply with licensing aspects of the Act and continue working until permanent rules are implemented.
Publication Date:   June 1, 2007
Effective Date:   June 1, 2007
Expiration Date:   See section 7 (2), 2005 Wis.
  Act 456
Hearing Date:   June 27, 2007
Commerce
Financial Resources for Businesses and Communities, Chs. Comm 104-135
EmR 0802 - Creating ch. Comm 132, relating to implementing a program for certifying applicants and allocating dairy manufacturing facility investment tax credits, and affecting small businesses.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Commerce finds that an emergency exists and that adoption of the rule included in this order is necessary for the immediate preservation of public welfare.
The facts constituting the emergency are as follows. Under sections 71.07 (3p) (b), 71.28 (3p) (b), and 71.47 (3p) (b) of the Statutes, as created in 2007 Wisconsin Act 20, a taxpayer may claim a dairy manufacturing facility investment credit for dairy manufacturing modernization or expansion during taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006. Sections 71.07 (3p) (a) 3., 71.28 (3p) (a) 3., and 71.47 (3p) (a) 3. of the Statutes define dairy manufacturing modernization or expansion as “constructing, improving, or acquiring buildings or facilities, or acquiring equipment, for dairy manufacturing . . . if acquired and placed in service in this state during taxable years that begin after December 31, 2006, and before January 1, 2015." Section 71.07 (3p) (c) 2m. a. of the Statutes states that the maximum amount of credits that may be claimed in fiscal year 2007-08 is $600,000.
Section 560.207 of the Statutes, as likewise created in 2007 Wisconsin Act 20, requires the Department to (1) implement a program for certifying taxpayers as eligible for the dairy manufacturing facility investment credit, (2) determine the amount of credits to allocate to those taxpayers, and (3) in consultation with the Department of Revenue, promulgate rules to administer the program. No other provisions are established in the Statutes regarding the specific process for taxpayers to use in applying for the credits, and for the Department of Commerce to use in certifying eligible taxpayers and in allocating the credits.
Because of enactment of 2007 Wisconsin Act 20, a number of entities that may be eligible for the tax credits have contacted the Department with inquiries concerning the process for applying for the credits, for expenditures that have been incurred during taxable years that began after December 31, 2006.
Entities that may be eligible for the tax credits for the 2007-08 fiscal year face near-term time constraints for filing their tax returns with the Department of Revenue. Although the Department of Commerce has begun promulgating the permanent rule that is required by 2007 Act 20, the time periods in chapter 227 of the Statutes for promulgating permanent rules preclude the permanent rule from becoming effective in time to readily accommodate claiming the tax credits for the 2007-08 fiscal year. This emergency rule will enable the Department of Commerce to establish an application, certification, and tax credit allocation process for the entities that need to soon file their tax returns for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006.
Publication Date:   February 4, 2008
Effective Date:   February 4, 2008
Expiration Date:   July 3, 2008
Employment Relations Commission
Rule adopted amending s. ERC 10.08 (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5), relating to increased filing fees.
Finding of Emergency
The Employment Relations Commission finds that an emergency exists and that the attached rules are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is as follows:
1. The Employment Relations Commission has a statutory responsibility in the private, municipal and state sectors for timely and peaceful resolution of collective bargaining disputes and for serving as an expeditious and impartial labor relations tribunal.
2. 2003 Wisconsin Act 33 eliminated $400,000 in General Program Revenue (GPR) and 4.0 GPR supported positions from the Commission's 2003-2005 budget and increased the number of Program Revenue (PR) filing fee supported positions by 2.0, from 3.0 to 5.0. The same legislation also abolished the Personnel Commission and transferred certain of that agency's former responsibilities to the Employment Relations Commission, without additional staff or funding.
3. The 2005-07 budget maintained the same reduced GPR funding and position levels and the additional PR positions as authorized in 2003 Wisconsin Act 33. The Governor's proposed budget for 2007-09 maintains the same number of GPR and PR funded positions as the previous two budgets.
4. In order to support the 5.0 PR positions provided in the state budgets since 2003, the Employment Relations Commission doubled its filing fees in August, 2003. Despite that increase, filing fee income has averaged $381,359 over the past four fiscal years, an amount that was approximately $130,350 less each year than the average budget-authorized PR position expenditures for those same years. As a result the Commission's PR fund balance has been reduced to a level that is wholly insufficient to meet current PR expenditures.
5. Unless the emergency rule making procedures of s. 227.24, Stats., are utilized by the Employment Relations Commission to provide the increased filing fee revenue needed to support the 5.0 positions provided in the PR portion of the Commission's budget, the Commission's ability to provide timely and expeditious dispute resolution services will be significantly harmed.
Publication Date:   December 19, 2007
Effective Date:   January 2, 2008
Expiration Date:   May 31, 2008
Hearing Date:   November 12, 2007
Government Accountability Board
EmR 0803 - Repealing s. Eth 3.01, relating to the filing of all written communications and documents intended for the former Ethics Board; repealing s. Eth 3.04, relating to transcripts of proceedings before the former Ethics Board; and amending s. ElBd 10.01, relating to procedures for complaints with the former State Elections Board.
Finding of Emergency
The Government Accountability Board adopts this rule to clarify the complaint procedure applicable to complaints that will be filed with the Board under ethics, lobbying, contract- disclosure and campaign finance law and the separate complaint procedure applicable to complaints filed under elections law and the Help America Vote Act.
The Government Accountability Board finds that an emergency exists in the 2007 change in Wisconsin law that establishes the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (effective January 10, 2008). Under 2007 Wisconsin Act 1, a statutory procedure or framework for investigation of complaints related to ethics, lobbying, contract disclosure and campaign finance, was established. That framework does not include the necessity of the filing of a complaint. Under the rules of the former Elections Board, Chapter ElBd 10, however, an investigation will not be commenced without the filing of a verified complaint. The Government Accountability Board finds that an emergency exists in the possible confusion that potential complainants may find in attempting to file a complaint with the Government Accountability Board and, as a result of that confusion, those complainants may be dissuaded from filing a complaint over which the Board has jurisdiction, or, because of that confusion, may fail to file that complaint in a timely fashion.
Publication Date:   February 10, 2008
Effective Date:   February 10, 2008
Expiration Date:   July 19, 2008
Health and Family Services
Health, Chs. HFS 110
Rules adopted revising s. HFS 115.04, to include the condition known as Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and related conditions of immunodeficiency to the list of disorders and disorder types found under s. HFS 115.04.
Finding of Emergency
The early identification of particular congenital and metabolic disorders that are harmful or fatal to persons with the disorders is critical to mitigating the negative effects of such disorders. Therefore, s. 253.13, Wis. Stats., requires that every infant born be subjected to blood tests for congenital and metabolic disorders, as specified in administrative rules promulgated by the Department; however, parents may refuse to have their infants screened for religious reasons. The Department has issued ch. HFS 115, Screening of Newborns for Congenital and Metabolic Disorders, to administer this statutory requirement. Currently, s. HFS 115.04 lists 13 congenital and metabolic disorders and types of disorders, for a total of 47 different disorders, for which the state hygiene laboratory must test newborn blood samples.
In determining whether to add or delete disorders from the list under s. HFS 115.04, s. HFS 115.06 directs the Department to seek the advice of persons with expertise and experience concerning congenital and metabolic disorders. For this purpose, the Department has established the Wisconsin Newborn Screening Umbrella Advisory Group. Section HFS 115.06 also lists 6 criteria on which the Department must base its decision to add or delete disorders from s. HFS 115.04. These criteria are as follows:
1.   Characteristics of the specific disorder, including disease incidence, morbidity, and mortality.
2.   The availability of effective therapy and potential for successful treatment.
3.   Characteristics of the test, including sensitivity, specificity, feasibility for mass screening and cost.
4.   The availability of mechanisms for determining the effectiveness of test procedures.
5.   Characteristics of the screening program, including the ability to collect and analyze specimens reliably and promptly, the ability to report test results quickly and accurately and the existence of adequate follow-up and management programs.
6.   The expected benefits to children and society in relation to the risks and costs associated with the testing for the specific condition.
In consideration of these criteria, the Wisconsin Newborn Screening Advisory Umbrella Advisory Group has recently recommended the Department add the condition known as Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and related conditions of immunodeficiency to the 13 disorders and types of disorders currently screened for and listed in s. HFS 115.04. Persons with SCID are extremely vulnerable to infections, to the degree that the condition is universally fatal without treatment within the first year of life. With an estimated prevalence of 1 in 66,000, and a Wisconsin annual birth rate around 71,000, the failure to screen for SCID could result in the death of 1-2 infants in the state every year.
The Advisory Group also recommended the Department begin screening newborns for SCID and related conditions of immunodeficiency as soon as possible. Before the screening can begin, the Department needs to add these conditions to the list in s. HFS 115.04. Therefore, it is proposed to put an emergency rule in effect first, to be followed by an identical proposed permanent rule to replace the emergency rule.
The Department will immediately promulgate identical permanent rules to replace these emergency rules.
Publication Date:   December 27, 2007
Effective Date:   January 1, 2008
Expiration Date:   May 30, 2008
Hearing Date:   March 6, 2008
Natural Resources
Fish, Game, etc., Chs. NR 1
Rules adopted affecting chs. NR 19 and 20, relating to control of fish diseases and invasive species.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Natural Resources finds that an emergency exists and rules are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
The World Health Organization for Animal Health (OIE) lists Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) as a "notifiable" disease, meaning that outbreaks must be reported immediately. On May 11, the Department received notice that freshwater drum collected from Little Lake Butte des Morts (part of the Lake Winnebago system) were infected with the VHS virus. On May 23, May 24, and June 1, respectively, the Department learned that brown trout from Lake Michigan, smallmouth bass from Sturgeon Bay, and lake whitefish from Lake Michigan had tested positive for the virus.
Earlier, VHS had been discovered in the Great Lakes, and was known to be moving from the lower lakes (Ontario and Erie), where it has already caused large-scale fish kills, via Huron, where it has been present since 2005, to the upper lakes (Michigan and Superior). Lake Michigan is connected to the Mississippi River by the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and Illinois River, allowing fish and fish diseases to reach the Mississippi drainage basin. Information obtained pursuant to an emergency rule that took effect May 17 revealed that 88 bait dealers harvest live wild minnows from a large number of state waters, including waters that are near or connected to the Mississippi river, the Lake Winnebago system, Green Bay and Lakes Michigan and Superior.
Twenty-seven species of Wisconsin fish have been identified as susceptible by the OIE or USDA APHIS, including most of our most important recreational and commercial species. It is expected the USDA APHIS will soon expand its emergency order limiting the interstate transportation of these species to apply to all fish species. The VHS virus can be transported from infected areas to areas where it is not yet present via live fish, fish eggs, refrigerated or frozen dead fish, or water where infected fish have been present. The presence of VHS virus in Wisconsin is therefore a threat to the public health or safety or to the environment.
Publication Date:   November 2, 2007
Effective Date:   November 2, 2007
Expiration Date:   March 31, 2008
Hearing Date:   December 3, 2007
Natural Resources
Environmental Protection - Water Regulation,
Chs. NR 300
Rules adopted revising chs. NR 320, 323, 328, 329, 341, 343 and 345, relating to general permit criteria requiring decontamination of equipment for invasive species and viruses.
Finding of Emergency
The emergency rule procedure, pursuant to s. 227.24, Stats., is necessary and justified in establishing rules to protect the public health, safety and welfare. The Wisconsin Legislature enacted 2003 Wisconsin Act 118 to streamline the regulatory process for activities in public trust waters. The state has an affirmative duty to administer the law in a manner consistent with the public trust responsibilities of the State of Wisconsin under Article IX, Section I of the Wisconsin Constitution.
Act 118 identifies certain activities that may be undertaken under a general permit. There are no statutory general permits standards that require decontamination of equipment for invasive species and viruses. Without emergency rules to create new general permit standards, any condition imposed would be limited to individual permits only with an automatic 30-day public notice. The required 30-day comment period will unnecessarily delay projects that otherwise could go ahead with prescribed conditions established in a general permit. To carry out the intention of Act 118 to speed decision-making but not diminish the public trust in state waters, these emergency rules are required to establish general permits standards to be in effect for the 2007 summer season, with specific standards that require decontamination of equipment for invasive species and viruses.
In addition, The Department of Natural Resources finds that an emergency exists and the foregoing rules are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is: The World Health Organization for Animal Health (OIE) lists viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) as a “notifiable" disease, meaning that outbreaks must be reported immediately. VHS has been discovered in the Great Lakes, and is moving from the lower lakes (Ontario and Erie), where it has already caused large-scale fish kills, via Huron, where it has been present since 2005, to the upper lakes (Michigan and Superior). Lake Michigan is connected to the Mississippi River by the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and Illinois River, allowing fish and fish diseases to reach the Mississippi drainage. Twenty-seven species of Wisconsin fish have been identified as susceptible by the OIE or USDA APHIS, including most of our most important recreational and commercial species. The VHS virus can be transported from affected areas to areas where it is not yet present via live fish, fish eggs, refrigerated or frozen dead fish, or water where infected fish have been present. The presence of VHS virus in the Great Lakes is therefore a threat to the public health or safety or to the environment.
Publication Date:   July 12, 2007
Effective Date:   July 12, 2007
Expiration Date:   December 9, 2007
Hearing Date:   August 13, 2007
Extension Through:   April 5, 2008
Natural Resources
Environmental Protection - Air Pollution Control,
Chs. NR 400
Rules adopted creating s. NR 462.015, relating to national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for industrial, commercial and institutional boilers and process heaters and potentially affecting small business.
Finding of Emergency
The emergency rule procedure, pursuant to s. 227.24, Stats., is necessary and justified in establishing rules to protect the public welfare. Preservation of the public welfare necessitates putting the rule into effect prior to the time that it would take if the department complied with the normal procedures. Federal regulations that are the basis for ch. 462, Wis. Adm. Code, were vacated on July 30, 2007 by the U.S. Court of Appeals. Both the vacated federal regulations and ch. NR 462 contain a date for compliance of September 13, 2007. This order is designed to bring state rules into conformity with the court-ordered vacatur of the federal regulations. Normal rule-making procedures will not allow implementation of ch. NR 462 to be stayed before September 13, 2007.
Publication Date:   September 13, 2007
Effective Date:   September 13, 2007
Expiration Date:   February 10, 2008
Hearing Date:   October 26, 2007
Extension Through:   June 9, 2008
Public Instruction (3)
1.   A rule is adopted creating ch. PI 33, relating to grants for nursing services.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Public Instruction finds that an emergency exists and that the adoption of an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public welfare. The facts constituting the emergency are as follows:
The school nursing grant program under s. 115.28 (47), Stats., was created under 2007 Wisconsin Act 20. The Act became effective October 27, 2007, and appropriated $250,000 annually beginning in the 2007-08 school year. In order for school districts to develop applications and for the department to review the applications and grant awards in time for the program to operate in the second semester of the school year, rules must be in place as soon as possible to establish application criteria and procedures.
Publication Date:   November 24, 2007
Effective Date:   November 24, 2007
Expiration Date:   April 23, 2008
Hearing Date:   February 21, 2008
2.   EmR 0801 - Creating ch. PI 31, relating to grants for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Public Instruction finds that an emergency exists and that the adoption of an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public welfare. The facts constituting the emergency are as follows:
The STEM program under s. 115.28 (46), Stats., was created under 2007 Wisconsin Act 20. The Act became effective October 27, 2007, and appropriated $61,500 annually beginning in the 2007-08 school year. In order for school districts to develop applications and for the department to review the applications and grant awards in time for the program to operate in the second semester of the school year, rules must be in place as soon as possible to establish application criteria and procedures.
Publication Date:   January 30, 2008
Effective Date:   January 30, 2008
Expiration Date:   June 28, 2008
Hearing Dates:   March 18 and 21, 2008
3.   EmR 0805 - Creating ch. PI 16, relating to four-year-old kindergarten grants.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Public Instruction finds that an emergency exists and that the adoption of an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public welfare. The facts constituting the emergency are as follows:
The 4-year-old kindergarten grant program under s. 115.445, Stats., was created under 2007 Wisconsin Act 20. The Act became effective October 27, 2007, and appropriated $3 million annually beginning in the 2008-09 school year. In order for school districts to develop application criteria and procedures in time for the program to operate in the upcoming school year, rules must be in place as soon as possible.
Publication Date:   February 25, 2008
Effective Date:   February 25, 2008
Expiration Date:   July 24, 2008
Hearing Date:   April 17, 2008
  [See Notice this Register]
Revenue (2)
1.   Rules adopted amending s. Tax 2.505, relating to the computation of the apportionment fraction by multistate professional sports clubs.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Revenue finds that an emergency exists and that the rule order is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is:
The emergency rule is to prescribe the method to be used for apportioning the apportionable income of interstate professional sports clubs.
It is necessary to promulgate this rule order to provide the method of apportionment to be used by interstate professional sports clubs.
Publication Date:   October 12, 2007
Effective Date:   October 12, 2007
Expiration Date:   March 10, 2008
Extension Through:   May 9, 2008
2.   A rule was adopted revising s. Tax 8.63, interpreting s. 125.54 (7), Stats., relating to liquor wholesale warehouse facilities.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Revenue finds that an emergency exists and that a rule order is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is:
The emergency rule is to change the amount of floor space that a liquor wholesaler warehouse facility described in a wholesalers' permit is required to be from 4,000 to 1,000 square feet of floor space. It also creates a provision that allows the minimum square footage requirement to be waived when it is determined that a waiver is fair and equitable.
It is necessary to promulgate this rule order to remove the threat of revenue loss to bona fide liquor wholesalers as a result of having applications for issuance or renewal of permits denied solely because they do not meet the square footage requirement in the existing rule.
This rule is therefore promulgated as an emergency rule and shall take effect upon publication in the official state newspaper. Certified copies of this rule have been filed with the Secretary of State and Revisor of Statutes, as provided in s. 227.24, Stats.
Publication Date:   October 29, 2007
Effective Date:   October 29, 2007
Expiration Date:   March 27, 2008
Hearing Date:   January 2, 2008
Extension Through:   May 26, 2008
Transportation
Rule adopted creating ch. Trans 178, relating to the Unified Carrier Registration System.
Analysis
This chapter establishes in the Wisconsin Administrative Code the fees to be charged under the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) system, and establishes a method for counting the number of vehicles so that an entity knows whether it is required to register under UCR and, if so, which fee bracket applies to the entity.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
The Legislature, by Section 2927, as created by 2007 Wis. Act 20, provides an exemption from a finding of emergency for the adoption of the rule.
Publication Date:   December 19, 2007
Effective Date:   December 19, 2007
Expiration Date:   May 18, 2008
Hearing Date:   March 5, 2008
Workforce Development (2)
Family Supports, Chs. DWD 12 to 59
1.   Rule adopted amending s. DWD 56.06 (1) (a) 1. and creating s. DWD 56.06 (1) (a) 1. r., relating to child care rates.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Workforce Development finds that an emergency exists and that the attached rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
2007 Wisconsin Act 20 reflects that child care rates will not be increased for the 2008-2009 biennium. Chapter DWD 56 currently provides that child care rates shall be set annually in accordance with a market rate survey and procedures described in s. DWD 56.06 (1). Historically, the rate adjustments have been effective January 1 of the new year. This emergency rule is necessary to provide that child care rates will not be adjusted for 2008 in accordance with 2007 Wisconsin Act 20. A corresponding permanent rule will provide that child care rates will not be adjusted for 2008 and 2009.
Publication Date:   December 27, 2007
Effective Date:   January 1, 2008
Expiration Date:   May 30, 2008
Hearing Date:   March 10, 2008
2.   EmR 0806 - Rule adopted amending s. DWD 56.08 (1) and (2) (a), (e), and (f) and repealing and recreating Table DWD 56.08, relating to child care copayments and affecting small businesses.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Workforce Development finds that an emergency exists and that the rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
The federal Department of Health and Human Services is requiring that Wisconsin eliminate different copayment amounts for families who receive child care services from a certified provider and families who receive child care services from a licensed provider. The change to the copayment schedule must be implemented by April 1, 2008, or Wisconsin risks losing $82 million annually from the Child Care Development Fund.
Publication Date:   February 27, 2008
Effective Date:   March 30, 2008
Expiration Date:   August 27, 2008
Hearing Date:   April 11, 2008
Workforce Development
Public Works Construction Contracts,
Chs. DWD 290 to 294
Rule adopted amending ss. DWD 290.155 (1) and 293.02 (1) and (2), relating to the adjustment of thresholds for application of prevailing wage rates and payment and performance assurance requirements and affecting small businesses.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Workforce Development finds that an emergency exists and that the attached rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
Adjusting the thresholds for application of the prevailing wage rate requirements by emergency rule ensures that the adjustments are effective on a date certain that is prior to the time of year that project requests are generally submitted to the Department and applicability of the prevailing wage law is determined. The adjustment avoids imposing an additional administrative burden on local governments and state agencies caused by an effective decrease of the thresholds due solely to inflation in the construction industry. The adjustment of the thresholds for the application of the payment and performance assurance requirements avoids imposing an additional administrative burden on contractors for the same reason. If these new thresholds are not put into effect by emergency rule, the old thresholds will remain effective for approximately six to seven months, until the conclusion of the permanent rule-making process. The thresholds are based on national construction cost statistics and are unlikely to be changed by the rule-making process.
Publication Date:   December 27, 2007
Effective Date:   January 1, 2008
Expiration Date:   May 30, 2008
Hearing Date:   February 14, 2008
Links to Admin. Code and Statutes in this Register are to current versions, which may not be the version that was referred to in the original published document.