Report received from Agency, January 21, 1997.
To committee on Children and Families
.
Referred on January 30, 1997.
Relating to patient records.
Submitted by Department of Regulation and Licensing.
Report received from Agency, January 22, 1997.
To committee on Health.
Referred on January 30, 1997.
Relating to reimbursement procedures for regional and local hazardous materials emergency response teams when a person responsible cannot be found or when the person responsible is unable or unwilling to pay.
Submitted by State Emergency Response Board.
Report received from Agency, January 23, 1997.
To committee on Government Operations
.
Referred on January 30, 1997.
Relating to procedural rules concerning petition to and handling of cases by the labor and industry review commission.
Submitted by Labor and Industry Review Commission.
Report received from Agency, January 22, 1997.
To committee on Labor and Employment
.
Referred on January 30, 1997.
Relating to calibration of audiometric equipment and the use of support personnel.
Submitted by Department of Regulation and Licensing.
Report received from Agency, January 23, 1997.
To committee on Health.
Referred on January 30, 1997.
Relating to deadlines to apply for death benefits payable from the Wisconsin retirement system and timing of automatic distribution of these benefits.
A44
Submitted by
Department of Employe Trust Funds.
Report received from Agency, January 23, 1997.
To committee on Government Operations
.
Referred on January 30, 1997.
__________________
Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
December 18, 1996
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
We have completed a best practices review of local government operations as required by s.
13.94(8), Wis. Stats. Privatization of local government services was selected as the topic of our review with assistance of the Local Government Advisory Council, which consists of representatives of counties, cities, villages, and towns.
Nearly 50 percent of the local governments responding to our survey reported that within the past seven years, they had initiated at least one contract for services with a private vendor. Survey respondents most often reported contracts for solid waste collection, recycling, building maintenance, building inspection, and road and street repair services.
Local governments commonly consider contracting with private vendors as a way to reduce service costs; however, careful assessment is necessary to ensure desired benefits will be achieved. In particular, before entering a contract, the full costs of government service delivery must be measured and compared to estimated contracting costs. In addition, service delivery decisions need to take into account whether a delivery system is consistent with the local government's goals and objectives for the service, including quality, control, and long-term stability, as well as the requirements of existing laws and legal obligations.
Based on the contracting experiences of several counties and municipalities, as well as professional and academic literature, this report identifies best practices to follow when contracting for public services. Specific practices are identified for local governments to consider in selecting vendors, specifying service expectations and administrative responsibilities, and establishing monitoring procedures.
We thank the Local Government Advisory Council for its assistance in selecting the topic for our review, and we appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by local government staff.
Respectfully submitted,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
__________________
State of Wisconsin
State Historical Society
Madison
December 18, 1996
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
I'm pleased to send you the second annual report from the Electronic Records Program at the State Historical Society. The State Legislature established the program with a special appropriation in 1994.
The report includes a Preliminary Preservation Plan for statewide electronic records, a Strategic Plan for the Electronic Records Program, and a report on the attempt to take custody of historical data from the Sentencing Commission. Each of these documents identifies issues that must be addressed to ensure the preservation of Wisconsin's historically significant electronic records.
Information technology can help Wisconsin state and local agencies do more with less. However, they must also consider the responsibilities that come with creating, using, storing, and preserving electronic records. The State Historical Society and the Electronic Records Program look forward to working with state and local government employes to ensure that our valuable electronic resources are properly managed.
Please call me at 264-6480 if you have any questions about our second year report or would like further information on our work.
Sincerely,
Peter Gottlieb
State Archivist
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
December 20, 1996
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
We have completed a review of the policy and procedures used to reimburse legislators for travel expenses as detailed in the attachment to this letter. The per diem allowance paid for days spent in Madison on legislative business is structured in a manner that takes into account federal tax laws governing legislators who must establish a temporary residence outside their legislative districts.
We have included a series of alternatives that could be considered in any revision to current policy or practice, including establishing guidelines for eligible claims and strengthening oversight of claims by the presiding officer of each house, modifying the amount and form of reimbursement, or converting the current per diem allowance to an increase in salary.
We appreciate the cooperation of the Chief Clerk and the Legislative Reference Bureau in preparing this review.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
__________________
Representative Freese requested a Call of the Assembly. There were sufficient seconds.
The Sergeant-at-Arms was directed to close the doors and the Chief Clerk to call the roll.
The Chief Clerk called the roll.
All members being present or absent with leave, the Call of the Assembly was lifted.
__________________
Assembly Joint Resolution 12
Relating to: 4-year terms of office for, appointment of, vacancies in the offices of, and the restriction on holding any other office by, sheriffs (2nd consideration).
Representative Sykora asked unanimous consent to be made a coauthor of Assembly Joint Resolution 12. Granted.
The question was: Assembly Joint Resolution 12 having been read three times, shall the joint resolution be adopted?
The roll was taken.
The result follows:
Ayes - Representatives Ainsworth, Albers, Baldwin, Black, Bock, Boyle, Brandemuehl, Dobyns, Duff, Foti, Freese, Gard, Goetsch, Green, Gronemus, Grothman, Gunderson, Hahn, Handrick, Hanson, Harsdorf, Hasenohrl, Hebl, Hoven, Huber, Huebsch, Hutchison, Jensen, Jeskewitz, Johnsrud, Kaufert, Kedzie, Kelso, Klusman, Kreibich, Kreuser, Krusick, Kunicki, Ladwig, F. Lasee, Lazich, J. Lehman, M. Lehman, Linton, Lorge, Meyer, Murat, Nass, Notestein, Olsen, Ott, Otte, Ourada, Owens, Plale, Plouff, Porter, R. Potter, Powers, Reynolds, Riley, Rutkowski, Ryba, Schafer, Seratti, Skindrud, Springer, Staskunas, Steinbrink, Sykora, Travis, Turner, Underheim, Vander Loop, Vrakas, Walker, Ward, Wasserman, Wieckert, L. Young, Zukowski and Speaker Brancel - 82.
Noes - Representatives Baumgart, Carpenter, Cullen, Dueholm, Hubler, Krug, La Fave, Morris-Tatum, Musser, Robson, Schneider, Urban, Wood, R. Young and Ziegelbauer - 15.
Absent or not voting - Representatives Coggs and Williams - 2.
Motion carried.
Representative Lorge moved reconsideration of the vote by which Assembly Joint Resolution 12 was adopted.
Entered.
Representative Freese moved that the rules be suspended and that the motion for reconsideration of the vote by which Assembly Joint Resolution 12 was adopted be taken up at this time.
The question was: Shall the rules be suspended and that the motion for reconsideration of the vote by which Assembly Joint Resolution 12 was adopted be taken up at this time?
The roll was taken.
