Relating to: access to public records containing social security account numbers of individuals.
Introduction and adoption of Senate amendment 1 to Senate substitute amendment 1.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Erpenbach, Jauch, Plache, Rude and Fitzgerald.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate substitute amendment 1 adoption.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Erpenbach, Jauch, Plache, Rude and Fitzgerald.
Noes, 0 - None.
Passage as amended.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Erpenbach, Jauch, Plache, Rude and Fitzgerald.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 7
Relating to: transferring toll-free calls to pay-per-call services or international numbers, creating certain disclosure and reporting requirements and providing a penalty.
Introduction and adoption of Senate amendment 1.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Erpenbach, Jauch, Plache, Rude and Fitzgerald.
Noes, 0 - None.
Passage as amended.
Ayes, 5 - Senators
Erpenbach, Jauch, Plache, Rude and Fitzgerald.
Noes, 0 - None.
Jon Erpenbach
Chairperson
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
February 22, 1999
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed a review of Wisconsin Works (W-2) program expenditures, based on our preliminary work to complete a comprehensive program evaluation by July 2000. W-2 is a time-limited employment assistance program that replaced the cash entitlements through Aid to Families with Dependent Children on September 1, 1997. It is administered by the Department of Workforce Development, which has contracted with 75 counties, private agencies, and tribes for local program implementation. From September 1997 through August 1998, expenditures for statewide implementation of W-2 totaled $188.4 million. Contractors expended an additional $28.7 million in state and federal funding on start-up activities to prepare for program implementation.
Program implementation expenditures were only 59.7 percent of the amount the Sate agreed to pay contractors for the first year, primarily because of lower-than-expected caseloads. While the Department estimated there would be 41,402 W-2 cases statewide in September 1997, the total enrollment in that month was only 23,182, which was 56.0 percent lower than anticipated. During the program's first year, caseloads declined 55.2 percent statewide, and 77.9 percent outside of Milwaukee County.
W-2 contracts allow unspent funds to be distributed to contractors as profits, to be used without restriction, and as community reinvestment funds, to be used for additional services for eligible low-income individuals. Because of the lower-than-expected caseloads, W-2 contractors have the potential to receive $33.0 million in profits and $47.2 million in community reinvestment funds. Actions by the Legislature and the Department have increased the amount of potential profits and community reinvestment funds for some agencies. We include options the Legislature may wish to consider to reduce future program costs, including restricting profits to more reasonable levels.
S80
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Workforce Development and the staff of W-2 agencies we contacted during our review. The Department's response is Appendix VII.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
__________________
executive order #364
Relating to the Creation of the Governor's Wisconsin Works and Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Task Force
WHEREAS, the underlying goal of Wisconsin Works (hereinafter "W-2") is to help people become self-sufficient; and
WHEREAS, alcohol and other drug abuse (hereinafter "AODA") signigicantly prevent people from becoming self-sufficient; and
WHEREAS, there is a need for all the people and groups working with W-2 participants to partner and work collaboratively to more effectively address the AODA needs fo W-2 participants;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, TOMMY G. THOMPSON, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of this State, and specifically by Section
14.019 of the Wisconsin Statutes, do hereby:
1. Create the Governor's Wisconsin Works and Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Task Force (hereinafter "Task Force") to study and make recommendations regarding the AODA program needs of W-2 recipients; and
2. Provide that the Task Force shall be composed of seventeen (17) members appointed by the Governor to serve at the pleasure of the Governor; and
3. Provide that the Governor shall designate one (1) member of the Task Force as its chair to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the Governor; and
4. Provide that the Task Force shall have the following purpose and mission:
a. Develop an up-front AODA screening process for W-2 recipients and a corresponding training program for caseworkers; and
b. Measure the availability of treatment placement slots in communities having 50 or more W-2 employment program participants and, where necessary, develop strategies to increase the number of treatment placement slots; and
c. Develop a guide that encourages AODA providers to develop innovative, outcome-based out-patient treatment programs that can be combined with job training; and
5. Require the Task Force to submit a report to the Governor on its findings and recommendations; and
6. Direct the Secretary of the Department of Workforce Development to provide the Task Force with administrative and support services; and
7. Direct the Secretary of the Department of Administration to provide the Task Force with such sums of money as are necessary for travel and operating expenses in accordance with section 20.505(3)(a) of the Wisconsin Statutes; and
8. Provide that the Task Force shall disband once the governor has accepted its report.
IN TESTIMONY WHERE OF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the city of Madison this nineteenth day of February in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.
TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Governor
By the governor:
DOUGLAS LA FOLLETTE
Secretary of State
__________________
__________________
The committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs reports and recommends:
Relating to the licensure, examinations and practice of barbering and cosmetology practitioners, managers, manicurists, electrologists, aestheticians and apprentices, and renewal and reinstatement of licenses.
No action taken.
Relating to techniques, ancillary procedures or instruments prohibited in the practice of chiropractic.
No action taken.
Relating to searches of the persons and of the rooms and personal belongings of patients residing in a secure mental health unit under s.980.065, Stats., or the maximum security facility at the mendota mental health institute.
No action taken.
Relating to the expenditure limitation for dentures under the health care aid grant program.
No action taken.
Rodney Moen
Chairperson
Chief Clerk's Report
The Chief Clerk records:
Senate Joint Resolution 4
Senate Joint Resolution 5
Deposited in the office of the Secretary of State on February 25, 1999.
