State of Wisconsin
Department of Workforce Development
Madison
November 4, 1997
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
RE: Report on Alleged Worker's Compensation Fraud, Section
102.125, Wis. Stats.
The purpose of this letter is to report to the Governor and Legislature regarding allegations of worker's compensation fraud reported to the Department of Workforce development.
Section
102.125, Wis. Stats., created by
1993 Wisconsin Act 81, requires the Department to record allegations of worker's compensation fraud, and if there is a reasonable basis to believe that a violation of s.
943.395, Stats., (insurance fraud) has occurred, to refer the case for prosecution by the district attorney of the county in which the violation occurred. It also requires the Department to report annually to the Governor and Legislature regarding the number of allegations and referrals, and the results of the referrals.
This report shows that the program continues to be very effective at discharging its statutory duties and combating fraud, with a minimum of public expenditure. These achievements are founded on close partnerships with insurance carriers, prosecutors, and the employer community.
Sincerely,
LINDA STEWART
Secretary, DWD
Referred to committee on Labor and Employment.
__________________
Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Claims Board
Madison
November 3, 1997
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
Enclosed is the report of the State Claims Board covering the claims heard on October 14, 1997.
The amounts recommended for payment under $5,000 on claims included in this report have, under the provisions of s.
16.007, Stats., been paid directly by the Board.
The Board is preparing the bill(s) on the recommended award(s) over $5,000, if any, and will submit such to the Joint Finance Committee for legislative introduction.
This report is for the information of the Legislature. The Board would appreciate your acceptance and spreading of it upon the Journal to inform the members of the Legislature.
Sincerely,
Edward D. Main
Secretary, Claims Board
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
November 12, 1997
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
At the request of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, we have been monitoring construction of Miller Park, a new baseball stadium for the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club. Stadium construction is the responsibility of the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District, created in
1995 Wisconsin Act 56. This review provides the information about financial aspects of stadium construction.
In a memorandum of understanding signed by representatives of the State, Milwaukee County, the City of Milwaukee, and the Brewers before enactment of Act 56, the total cost of the stadium project was budgeted at $322 million. However, we estimate the project's current total cost is $397.6 million, consisting of $303.3 million for construction; $82.5 million for infrastructure improvements, such as improvements to the site, U.S. Highway 41, and the Stadium Interchange on Interstate 94; and $11.8 million for the District's day-to-day operating expenses, including expenditures associated with Milwaukee County Stadium.
A423
Through June 1997, a total of $32.7 million was expended on the stadium project, independent of revenue bond interest and fiscal charges: $17.9 million for stadium construction, $11.3 million for infrastructure improvements, and $3.5 million for day-to-day operations. The District expended $28.9 million of this amount directly. The remaining $3.8 million was expended by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
To fund its expenditures, the District has issued $160 million in revenue bonds supported by a 0.1 percent local sales and use tax that was imposed beginning January 1, 1996. More than $21.4 million in sales and use tax revenues was distributed to the District by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue through June 1997. Additional funds were generated through the issuance of $45.5 million in Lease Certificates of Participation in August 1997.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the staff of the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District, as well as by the District's outside service providers, in completing our monitoring responsibilities. The District's response in Appendix IV.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
__________________
Representative Green asked unanimous consent that the Assembly stand recessed. Granted.
The Assembly stood recessed.
9:40 A.M.
__________________
12:40 P.M.
The Assembly reconvened.
Speaker Pro Tempore Freese in the chair.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Resolution 10 be introduced and taken up at this time. Granted.
Assembly Resolution 10
Relating to: denouncing the hate-filled message of the Ku Klux Klan.
By
Representatives Robson, Freese, Turner, Coggs, Morris-Tatum, Williams, Riley, Wasserman and L. Young.
Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly Resolution 10 offered by Representative Freese.
The question was: Shall Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly Resolution 10 be adopted?
Motion carried.
The question was: Shall Assembly Resolution 10 be adopted?
The roll was taken.
The result follows:
Ayes - Representatives Ainsworth, Albers, Baldwin, Baumgart, Black, Bock, Boyle, Brandemuehl, Carpenter, Coggs, Cullen, Dobyns, Dueholm, Duff, Foti, Freese, Gard, Goetsch, Green, Gronemus, Grothman, Gunderson, Hahn, Handrick, Hanson, Harsdorf, Hasenohrl, Hebl, Hoven, Huber, Hubler, Huebsch, Hutchison, Jeskewitz, Johnsrud, Kaufert, Kedzie, Kelso, Klusman, Kreibich, Kreuser, Krug, Krusick, Kunicki, La Fave, Ladwig, F. Lasee, Lazich, J. Lehman, M. Lehman, Linton, Lorge, Meyer, Morris-Tatum, Musser, Nass, Notestein, Olsen, Ott, Otte, Ourada, Owens, Plale, Plouff, Porter, R. Potter, Powers, Reynolds, Riley, Robson, Rutkowski, Ryba, Schafer, Schneider, Seratti, Skindrud, Springer, Staskunas, Steinbrink, Sykora, Travis, Turner, Underheim, Urban, Vander Loop, Vrakas, Walker, Ward, Wasserman, Wieckert, Williams, Wood, L. Young, R. Young, Ziegelbauer, Zukowski and Speaker Jensen - 97.
Noes - None.
Absent or not voting - Representative Murat - 1.
Motion carried.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Joint Resolution 48 be withdrawn from the committee on Rules and taken up at this time. Granted.
Assembly Joint Resolution 48
Relating to: recognizing the importance of the Kettle Moraine.
Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly Joint Resolution 48 offered by Representative Duff.
Representative Black moved that Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly Joint Resolution 48 be laid on the table.
The question was: Shall Assembly amendment 1 to Assembly Joint Resolution 48 be laid on the table?
Motion carried.
The question was: Shall Assembly Joint Resolution 48 be adopted?
Motion carried.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Joint Resolution 48 be immediately messaged to the Senate. Granted.
__________________
By Donald J. Schneider, Senate Chief Clerk.
Mr. Speaker:
I am directed to inform you that the Senate has
Concurred in:
Assembly Joint Resolution
83
Concurred in as amended:
Assembly Bill 378
(Senate amendment 1 adopted)
Assembly Bill 532
(Senate amendment 2 adopted)
A424
Passed and asks concurrence in:
Senate Bill 359
__________________
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Senate Bill
359 be withdrawn and taken up at this time. Granted.
Senate Bill 359
Relating to: ratification of the agreement negotiated between the state of Wisconsin and the Teaching Assistants' Association, AFT, Local 3220, AFL-CIO, for the 1997-99 biennium, covering employes in the program, project and teaching assistants of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-Extension collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds.
By joint committee on Employment Relations.
The question was: Shall Senate Bill 359 be ordered to a third reading?
Motion carried.
Representative Foti asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Senate Bill
359 be given a third reading. Granted.
