The committee on Universities, Housing, and Government Operations reports and recommends:
Assembly Bill 373
Relating to: notice regarding ineligibility to vote.
Concurrence.
Ayes, 6 - Senators
M. Meyer, Grobschmidt, Hansen, Ellis, Huelsman and Zien.
Noes, 1 - Senator
Moore.
Senate Bill 288
Relating to: administration of student financial aid programs by the higher educational aids board and granting rule-making authority (suggested as remedial legislation by the higher educational aids board).
Passage.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
M. Meyer, Moore, Grobschmidt, Hansen, Ellis, Huelsman and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 347
Relating to: eliminating redundancy in statutes pertaining to license renewal requirements; limiting a credential issued by an examining board; use of the term "credential" in the statutes pertaining to the department of regulation and licensing; changing the definition of "licensing" as it relates to administrative procedure; the award of costs in a contested administrative case; persons exempt from regulation as private detectives or private security personnel; and renumbering and creating statutory titles for provisions pertaining to immunity from liability for testimony to the department of regulation and licensing and attached boards, advisory committees to the department of regulation and licensing and attached boards, and cemetery preneed sellers (suggested as remedial legislation by the department of regulation and licensing).
Passage.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
M. Meyer, Moore, Grobschmidt, Hansen, Ellis, Huelsman and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Senate Bill 350
Relating to: authorizing a town board to exercise village powers.
Passage.
Ayes, 7 - Senators
M. Meyer, Moore, Grobschmidt, Hansen, Ellis, Huelsman and Zien.
Noes, 0 - None.
Mark Meyer
Chairperson
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
January 23, 2002
The Honorable, The Legislature:
S524
As requested in
1999 Wisconsin Act 9 and directed by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, we have completed an evaluation of the activities and expenditures of Wisconsin's regional hazardous materials (hazmat) response teams. This evaluation was undertaken and largely completed before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In light of nationwide concerns about terrorist activity involving weapons of mass destruction, including biological or chemical agents, we have issued a separate letter to the Committee outlining the role of hazmat teams in responding to terrorist threats and the availability of federal funding to enhance state and local preparedness.
Wisconsin has a well-established response network of eight regional hazmat teams that are jointly funded by the State and by local fire departments. These teams are trained and equipped to respond to incidents requiring the highest level of skin and respiratory protection. Wisconsin's statewide response coverage, ongoing training of hazmat personnel, and established response protocols and procedures provide a solid base for current efforts to develop and implement additional plans to respond to potential terrorist threats from chemical or biological agents.
In fiscal year 2000-01, the State, through the Department of Military Affairs, provided $1.4 million in general purpose revenue to the regional hazmat teams. Wisconsin's hazmat expenditures have been significantly higher than those of other states. The Legislature may wish to review the roles of the hazmat teams and methods of allocating funds among them, as well as the possibility of developing alternative funding sources for their activities.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the eight regional response teams and the Department of Military Affairs. The Department's response is Appendix 4.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
January 22, 2002
The Honorable, The Senate:
I respectfully ask to be removed from cosponsorship of Senate Bill 379.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Tom Sykora
State Representative
State of Wisconsin
The Honorable, The Senate:
Recently we agreed to cosponsor LRB 4067/1 (Senate Bill 363), authored by Senator Baumgart and Representative Dean Kaufert.
We are concerned the cosponsorship memo that was distributed does not accurately reflect the intent of the bill. Thus, we respectfully request the removal of our names as coauthors.
If you have any questions related to this request, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Representative Stephen Freese
51st Assembly District
Representative Eugene Hahn
47th Assembly district
Representative J. A. Hines
42nd Assembly District
Representative Suzanne Jeskewitz
24th Assembly District
Representative Bonnie Ladwig
63rd Assembly District
Representative MaryAnn Lippert
70th Assembly District
Representative Dan Meyer
34th Assembly District
Representative Terry Musser
92nd Assembly District
Representative Luther Olsen
41st Assembly District
Representative Alvin Ott
3rd Assembly District
Representative Carol Owens
53rd Assembly District
Representative Jerry Petrowski
86th Assembly District
Representative Daniel Vraka
33rd Assembly District
__________________
Relating to consultation programs and licensure requirements.
Submitted by Department of Regulation and Licensing.
Report received from Agency, January 23, 2002.
Referred to committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs, January 24, 2002.
Relating to the commencement of a school term.
Submitted by Department of Public Instruction.
Report received from Agency, January 22, 2002.
Referred to committee on Education,
January 24, 2002.
