Hearing Dates:
March 17, March 31,
April 8, 2010
Commerce
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Commerce finds that an emergency exists within the state of Wisconsin and that adoption of an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, safety and welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is as follows.
1. Implementation of the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act necessitates most existing public swimming pools and water attractions to undergo physical modifications to reduce the risk of entrapment at suction outlets.
2. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act has a compliance date of December 19, 2008.
3. The department estimates that 3,700 existing pools and water attractions will need to be modified in order to comply with the federal act. As of December 1, 2009, approximately 1,800 pool modifications have been submitted to the department for review and approval.
4. There are claims that the availability of parts to make the necessary modifications is limited.
5.
The current department plan review fees and inspection fees under s.
Comm 2.68 reflect an estimated average time and cost to provide those services. For the types of pool and water attraction modifications necessary to comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, the department believes that the time and cost to provide the service will be below the averages reflected under the current fee structure of section
Comm 2.68.
6.
The department believes that a fee reduction to facilitate plan review and inspection relative to the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act is in alignment with the direction provided under s.
101.19, Stats., of keeping fees consistent with the costs of providing service.
Publication Date:
January 1, 2010
Effective Dates:
January 1, 2010 through
May 30, 2010
Hearing Date:
January 21, 2010
Commerce (3)
Financial Resources for Businesses and Communities, Chs.
Comm 104—
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
The Legislature, by section 9110 (4) in
2009 Wisconsin Act 2, exempts the Department from providing evidence that this emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare; and exempts the Department from providing a finding of emergency for the adoption of this rule.
Publication Date:
June 30, 2009
Effective Dates:
June 30, 2009 through
July 1, 2010 or the date
permanent rules take
effect, whichever is sooner
Hearing Date:
September 15, 2009
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Commerce finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of public welfare. The facts constituting the emergency are as follows.
Between June 14 and July 9, 2008, thirty Wisconsin counties were declared major disaster areas by the President as a result of severe storms, tornados or flooding in 2008 that caused extensive damage to communities, residents, businesses, the economy and critical infrastructure. Subsequently, the federal Heartland Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008 was enacted, authorizing the Governor of Wisconsin to designate up to $3,830,112,000 in Qualified Midwestern Disaster Area Bonds, which must be issued before January 1, 2013, for the purpose of encouraging economic development and recovery in the 30 counties.
To implement the provisions this federal Act, Governor Jim Doyle issued Executive Order #288, directing the Department to promulgate rules for allocating Wisconsin's Qualified Midwestern Disaster Area Bonding Authority, and including the necessary provisions to ensure that bonds are allocated to eligible projects on the basis of providing assistance to areas in the order in which the assistance is most needed. This rule is the result of that directive.
Publication Date:
November 9, 2009
Effective Dates:
November 9, 2009 through
April 7, 2010
Hearing Date:
January 25, 2010
emergency_rules EmR1006
3.
EmR1006— Rule adopted to create
Chapter Comm 137, relating to reallocations for recovery zone facility bonds as established under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and affecting small businesses.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
The Legislature, by Section 5 (1) (b) in
2009 Wisconsin Act 112, exempts the Department from providing evidence that this emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety or welfare; and exempts the Department from providing a finding of emergency for the adoption of this rule.
Publication Date:
March 5, 2010
Effective Dates:
March 5, 2010 through
August 1, 2010
(subject to 2009 Wis. Act 112, s. 5)
Corrections (2)
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Corrections finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, safety and welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
Under
2009 WI Act 28, an increased number of inmates are being considered for release. In addition, the department has developed a number of release initiatives to address an inmate's successful transition from incarceration to community life. As part of those initiatives, there are costs associated with that transition, including acquiring housing, employment, and transportation. For example, an inmate must have a social security card, a driver's license or state identification card, the first months rent and security deposit for an apartment, and civilian clothing.
Under the current rule, an inmate may only use release account funds for “adequate clothing for release" and for “out-of-state release transportation." In addition, the rule limits the maximum amount of money which can be saved in the release account to $500.00. The emergency rule immediately permits the use of release account money for a wide variety of purchases, including fees associated with obtaining a driver's license or state identification card, housing, and a mode of transportation (bus tickets, vehicle, bicycle, etc.). In the past the Department has borne some of these costs, despite an inmate having the money in his or her release account. Given the initiatives of reentry and release, an inmate should be responsible for these expenditures.
In addition, the emergency rule raises the limit on release accounts from $500.00 to $5,000.00. Since the current limit was established, the cost of living in the community has risen. The department seeks this change to reflect the significant costs of housing, transportation, and food and other necessities.
If the rule is not created promptly and immediately, the department will not be able to use inmate release account funds to pay for items which inmates need in preparation for their release to the community. The purpose of the emergency rule is to permit inmates to use release account funds for a greater range of expenditures related to their release from incarceration and transition back into the community. The permanent rule process has been started. However, the permanent rule process will take approximately nine months to complete. Emergency rules are necessary to respond promptly to the need to use inmate funds, not state funds, while permanent rules are being developed.
Publication Date:
September 10, 2009
Effective Dates:
September 10, 2009
through February 6, 2010
Extension Through:
April 7, 2010
Hearing Date:
October 14, 2009
emergency_rules EmR0939
2.
EmR0939 — Rule adopted revising
Chapter DOC 302, relating to sentence calculations and prison release and to administrative review of inmate classification decisions.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Corrections finds that an emergency exists and that emergency rules are necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, safety and welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
Under
2009 Wisconsin Act 28, the legislature provides for the release of inmates from prison if certain criteria are met. The Department is responsible for implementing several of those procedures. Specifically, the department is responsible for implementing the early release programs under: (1) s PAT (2) ERP/CIP (3) CER (4) Risk reduction (5) 75%/85%. In addition, the department is revising section 302.18 to facilitate the review of inmates for purposes of early release.
If the rule is not created promptly and immediately, the Department will not be able to proceed in reviewing inmates under these various release procedures. This could result in significant delay in the implementation of the statutory provisions which will negatively impact the ability of the Department to manage the inmate population in a safe and effective manner. In addition, a delay will affect the management and control of inmate population levels of correctional facilities with the resources necessary to maintain public safety.
The purpose of the emergency rule is to implement newly created statutory provisions providing for release of inmates under specified circumstances. The permanent rule process has been started. However, the permanent rule process will take approximately nine months to complete. Emergency rules are necessary for a prompt implementation of the legislative mandates concerning the release of inmates meeting established criteria while the permanent rules are being developed.
Publication Date:
December 31, 2009
Effective Dates:
December 31, 2009
through May 29, 2010
Hearing Date:
February 25, 2010
Earned Release Review Commission
(Formerly Parole Commission)
Finding of Emergency
The Wisconsin Earned Release Review Commission finds that an emergency exists and that emergency rules are necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, safety and welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
Under
2009 Wisconsin Act 28, the legislature provides for the release of inmates from prison if certain criteria are met. The Earned Release Review Commission (formerly the Parole Commission) is responsible for implementing several of those procedures. Specifically, the commission is responsible for considering the early release of inmates under: (1) section
304.06 (1) (bg)1. and
2., Stats., after the inmate has served the term of confinement of their bifurcated sentence less positive adjustment time, (2) section
304.06 (1) (bg) 3. and
4., Stats., after the inmate has served either 75 % or 85 % of their term of confinement, depending on the offense for which the inmate was sentenced, and (3) section
302.1135 (2) (a),
(b), and
(c), Stats., based on age or extraordinary health.
If the rule is not created promptly and immediately, the commission will not be able to proceed in reviewing inmates under these various release procedures. This could result in significant delay in the implementation of the statutory provisions which will negatively impact the ability of the department of corrections to manage the inmate population in a safe and effective manner. In addition, a delay will affect the management and control of inmate population levels of correctional facilities with the resources necessary to maintain public safety.
The purpose of the emergency rule is to implement newly created statutory provisions providing for release of inmates under specified circumstances. The permanent rule process has been started. However, the permanent rule process will take approximately nine months to complete. Emergency rules are necessary to respond the legislatively recognized need to review inmates who meet the requirements under the statutes for potential release while the permanent rules are being developed.
Publication Date:
December 31, 2009
Effective Dates:
December 31, 2009
through May 29, 2010
Hearing Date:
February 23, 2010
Employee Trust Funds
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Employee Trust Funds finds that an emergency exists and that emergency rules are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is:
ETF cannot promulgate a permanent rule in compliance with the mandated changes by January 1, 2010, which is the effective date of the domestic partnership and the health insurance provisions of
2009 Wisconsin Act 28. Without an emergency rule in place, the ability of ETF to enroll and cover participants' domestic partners and to provide health insurance to adult dependents would be seriously impaired. ETF would be unable to provide health insurance and other benefits to domestic partners and adult dependents.
Publication Date:
December 28, 2009
Effective Dates:
January 1, 2010
through May 30, 2010
Hearing Date:
February 12, 2010
Health Services
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
The legislature by
2009 Wis. Act 28, Section
9122 (2), provides an exemption from a finding of emergency to adopt these emergency rules.
Publication Date:
December 16, 2009
Hearing Date:
February 3, 2010
Health Services (2)
emergency_rules EmR0928
1.
EmR0928 — Rule adopted to revise
Chapter DHS 163, relating to requirements for conducting lead-safe renovation activities in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities, and affecting small businesses.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Health Services (department) finds that an emergency exists and that the adoption of an emergency rule is necessary for the continuity of regulations relating to lead hazard exposure in Wisconsin. The facts constituting the emergency are as follows:
Under ch.
DHS 163, the department, as Wisconsin's public health agency, regulates lead hazard reduction and lead management activities in pre-1978 housing (target housing) and child-occupied facilities. The rules include standards for certification of individuals and companies conducting these activities, accreditation of lead training courses and approval of instructors, and work practices. In addition to the department's authority under chs.
250 and
254, Stats., to regulate lead hazards, the department has authorization from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate lead hazard reduction and management activities in lieu of the EPA administering federal regulations in Wisconsin.