Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 573
Relating to: the definition of alcohol concentration.
Passage.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Huelsman, Welch, Darling, Risser and Adelman.
Noes, 0 - None.
Joanne Huelsman
Chairperson
The committee on State Government Operations and Corrections reports and recommends:
Assembly Bill 602
Relating to: the tax liability of formerly married persons.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 4 - Senators Drzewiecki, A. Lasee, Fitzgerald and Breske.
Noes, 1 - Senator Moen.
Assembly Bill 685
Relating to: amending various provisions of the statutes for the purpose of correcting errors (Revisor's Correction Bill).
Concurrence.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Drzewiecki, A. Lasee, Fitzgerald, Moen and Breske.
Noes, 0 - None.
Assembly Bill 78
Relating to: a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for adoption expenses.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Drzewiecki, A. Lasee, Fitzgerald, Moen and Breske.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 418
Relating to: the role of state agencies in emergencies resulting from enemy action or natural or man-made disasters.
Passage.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Drzewiecki, A. Lasee, Fitzgerald, Moen and Breske.
Noes, 0 - None.
Relating to: repealing, consolidating, renumbering, amending and revising various provisions of the statutes for the purpose of correcting errors, supplying omissions, correcting and clarifying references, eliminating defects, anachronisms, conflicts, ambiguities and obsolete provisions, deleting, replacing or otherwise modifying language which discriminates on the basis of sex, reconciling conflicts and repelling unintended repeals (Revisor's Correction Bill).
Passage.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Drzewiecki, A. Lasee, Fitzgerald, Moen and Breske.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 523
Relating to: suspending Huber law privileges for a breach of discipline or other violation of jail regulations.
Passage.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Drzewiecki, A. Lasee, Fitzgerald, Moen and Breske.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 526
Relating to: delivering articles to, or receiving articles from, inmates of a jail and providing a penalty.
Passage.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Drzewiecki, A. Lasee, Fitzgerald, Moen and Breske.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 543
Relating to: the tax on car line companies.
Passage.
Ayes, 4 - Senators Drzewiecki, A. Lasee, Fitzgerald and Breske.
Noes, 1 - Senator Moen.
Senate Bill 557
Relating to: property tax bills.
Passage.
Ayes, 5 - Senators Drzewiecki, A. Lasee, Fitzgerald, Moen and Breske.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Joint Resolution 51
Relating to: an advisory referendum on the question of enacting the death penalty in this state.
Adoption.
Ayes, 4 - Senators Drzewiecki, A. Lasee, Fitzgerald and Breske.
Noes, 1 - Senator Moen.
Gary Drzewiecki
Chairperson
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Secretary of State
To the Honorable, the Senate:
Sincerely,
Douglas La follette
Secretary of State
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
March 11, 1996
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed our evaluation of the State Group Health Insurance program, as requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. In 1995 $75,487 active and retired state employes participated in the program at a total cost of more than $310 million.
Since 1984, the State's contribution to employe health insurance premiums has been based on the lower of 90 percent of the Standard Plan, which is the State's self-insured indemnity plan, or 105 percent of the lowest-cost alternative plan. The policy was designed to encourage health care providers to compete for enrollees through a competitive bidding process, resulting in cost savings for the State. By 1995, as a result of financial incentives, almost 90 percent of state employes were enrolled in one of the alternative plans offered by 24 participating health maintenance organizations and one preferred provider plan.
Although the program's costs increased 255.7 percent between 1983 and 1994, it is likely costs increased at a slower rate than would have otherwise been expected had the change in the contribution formula not been made. Cumulative cost savings to the State are, however, difficult to quantify, given changes in benefit levels and in the number and type of services provided. Other effects of the State's focus on cost control are more evident.
Because the State's current policy sets premium levels on a county-by-county basis, employe contributions towards insurance premiums for the same coverage offered by the same plan can vary dramatically. In 1995, employe contributions for family coverage under Standard Plan varied from $62.16 per month to $224.93 per month, or almost $2,000 annually. In addition, because premiums are set on an annual basis, premiums within a county can vary widely from year to year, particularly if there is a change in the lowest-priced plan. In 1995, employes in Milwaukee, Outagamie, Waukesha, and Winnebago counties experienced increases in their contribution toward health insurance premiums of up to 382 percent compared to the previous year if they did not switch to the lowest-cost plan available.
Options are available to the Legislature for modifying the program to address these concerns. However, most options available to address perceived program inequities will likely affect the ability of the State to control costs. Therefore, the merits of any possible modification must be weighed against the potential effect on the State's cost-control efforts.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Employe Trust Funds and members of the Group Insurance Board. A response from the Department is Appendix II.
Respectfully submitted,
Sincerely,
dale cattanach
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
February 29, 1996
The Honorable, The Legislature:
S641
This report is transmitted as required by sec. 20.002(11)(f) of the Wisconsin Statutes, (for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under sec. 13.172(3) Stats.) and confirms that the Department of Administration has found it necessary to exercise the "temporary reallocation of balances" authority provided by this section in order to meet payment responsibilities and cover resulting negative balances during the month of January, 1996.
On January 1, 1996 the Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund balance was -$22 thousand. This shortfall continued until January 22, 1996 when the balance reached +$214 thousand. The shortfall was due to the timing of revenues.
On January 17, 1996 the University Trust-Principle Fund balance was -$14.2 million. This shortfall continued until January 22, 1996 when the balance reached +$14.2 million. This shortfall was due to a delayed transfer.
The Wisconsin Health Education Loan Repayment Fund and University Trust-Principle Fund shortfalls were not in excess of the $400 million ceiling and did not exceed the balance of the Funds available for interfund borrowing.
The distribution of interest earnings to investment pool participants is based on the average daily balance in the pool and each fund's share. therefore, the monthly calculation by the State Controller's Office will automatically reflect the use of these temporary reallocations of balance authority.
