Wisconsin Legislature: S372

Section 46.03 (26) of the statutes requires the Department of Health and Family Services to report annually on information systems projects under development. The attached report is a summary of the departmental systems currently under development.

Sincerely,

Joe Leean

Secretary

State of Wisconsin

Council on Recycling

December 17, 1999

The Honorable, The Legislature:

On behalf of the Council on Recycling, I am pleased to send you our report and recommendations regarding the recycling of used oil filters in Wisconsin. After receiving our charge in 1997 Act 243, the Council formed a subcommittee made up of stakeholders and interested parties to do research and prepare alternatives. The subcommittee delivered its' report to the Council in October, 1999. The Council reviewed their findings and the following report is the culmination of over a year of involvement with this issue.

I would like to offer the Council's assistance in fulfilling the mission of the proposed Task Force by submitting the names of individuals and organizations to participate. Several private sector organizations, for example, have indicated support for the partnership and have expressed a willingness to serve. The Council would also like to share their expertise by having members take part in the Task Force and serving as a sounding board for Task Force ideas.

Thank you for this opportunity to contribute to the health of recycling in Wisconsin. We look forward to continuing to be a part of this important issue.

Sincerely,

Daniel P. Meyer

Chair

State of Wisconsin

Public Services Commission

December 16, 1999

The Honorable, The Legislature:

1997 Wisconsin Act 218 (1997 Senate Bill 351), hereafter Act 218, created Wis. Stat. § 196.199 entitled "Interconnection agreements." This statute sets forth the Public Service Commission's powers "to approve and enforce interconnection agreements and…do all things necessary and convenient to its jurisdiction." Wis. Stat. § 196.199(2). Enforcement procedures and penalties for failure to comply with interconnection agreements are found at Wis. Stat. §§ 196.199(3) and (4), respectively.

By definition, "interconnection agreement" does not include an interconnection agreement to which a commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) provider is a party. Wis. Stat. § 196.199(1). Section 50, Nonstatutory provisions, (2m) of Act 218 reads as follows:

The public service commission shall study the feasibility and desirability of enforcing interconnection agreements, that are subject to the approval of the public service commission under 47 USC 252(e), to which a commercial mobile radio service provider, as defined in section 196.01(2g) of the statutes, as created by this act, is a party in the same manner as interconnection agreements to which such a provider is not a party. The commission shall submit a report on the results of the study and any recommended proposals for legislation to the legislature in a manner provided in section 13.172(2) of the statutes no later than January 1, 2000.

Accordingly, the Commission submits this report to the Legislature for its consideration.

Act 218 became effective on January 1, 1999. To date, no complaints have been filed under Wis. Stat. § 196.199 wherein noncompliance of an existing interconnection agreement has been alleged. Consequently, the Commission does not have any actual experience by which to make comparisons as anticipated and directed in the study charge and reporting requirement of the Legislature. Nevertheless, the Commission has approved several new or revised interconnection agreements pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252(e) involving CMRS providers. On a few occasions, the Commission, by its staff, has mediated disputes over new agreements pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252(a)(2). All of these disputes resulted in voluntary interconnection agreements. None were arbitrated pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 252(b).

Although the Commission has federal law authority to mediate, arbitrate and approve new or revised interconnection agreements involving CMRS providers, it does not have state law authority to assess CMRS providers for costs associated with those proceedings. Ordinarily, the Commission assesses both parties to an interconnection dispute, whether that is a dispute over new or revised terms and conditions of an agreement, or a dispute over the interpretation and application of an existing agreement.

At this time, the Commission does not see an immediate need for legislation to apply Wis. Stat. § 196.199 to interconnection agreements to which a CMRS provider is a party. If such legislation is initiated, however, CMRS provider assessment of direct costs associated with Commission proceedings involving interconnection disputes of any description should be addressed.

If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact Nick Linden of the Commission staff at (608) 266-8950.

Sincerely,

Lynda L. Dorr

Secretary to the Commission

S372__________________

executive communications

State of Wisconsin

Office of the Governor

December 17, 1999

To the Honorable, the Senate:

The following bill(s), originating in the Senate, have been approved, signed and deposited in the office of the Secretary of State:

Sincerely,

TOMMY G. THOMPSON

Governor

State of Wisconsin

Office of the Governor

December 20, 1999

To the Honorable, the Senate:

The following bill(s), originating in the Senate, have been approved, signed and deposited in the office of the Secretary of State:

Sincerely,

TOMMY G. THOMPSON

Governor

__________________

referrals and receipt of committee reports concerning proposed administrative rules

Senate Clearinghouse Rule 99-066

Relating to the definition of physical therapy aide, the tests of English, written English and spoken English, general supervision of physical therapist assistants and direct supervision of physical therapist assistants and physical therapy aides.

Submitted by Department of Regulation and Licensing.

Report received from Agency, December 20, 1999.

Referred to committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs, December 22, 1999.

Senate Clearinghouse Rule 99-086

Relating to credentials and fire sprinkler systems.

Submitted by Department of Commerce.

Report received from Agency, December 22, 1999.

Referred to committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations, December 22, 1999.

Senate Clearinghouse Rule 99-122

Relating to the design and construction of public swimming pools.

Submitted by Department of Commerce.

Report received from Agency, December 22, 1999.