Wisconsin Legislature: S221

The committee on Energy and Utilities reports and recommends:

Senate Bill 194

Relating to: powers and duties of transmission company with responsibilities for electric transmission in this state.

Passage.

Ayes, 5 - Senators Cowles, Lazich, Leibham, Wirch and M. Meyer.

Noes, 0 - None.

Robert Cowles

Chairperson

The committee on Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy reports and recommends:

Assembly Bill 71

Relating to: threats to release or disseminate harmful chemical, biological, or radioactive substances and providing a penalty.

Concurrence.

Ayes, 5 - Senators Zien, S. Fitzgerald, Stepp, George and Carpenter.

Noes, 0 - None.

Senate Bill 104

Relating to: prohibiting the use of fireworks at certain indoor venues and providing a penalty.

Passage.

Ayes, 5 - Senators Zien, S. Fitzgerald, Stepp, George and Carpenter.

Noes, 0 - None.

Senate Bill 128

Relating to: the disclosure of public library records.

Passage.

Ayes, 3 - Senators Zien, S. Fitzgerald and Stepp.

Noes, 2 - Senators George and Carpenter.

Senate Bill 131

Relating to: access for sheriffs and jailers to reports regarding the competency of criminal defendants.

Passage.

Ayes, 5 - Senators Zien, S. Fitzgerald, Stepp, George and Carpenter.

Noes, 0 - None.

S221 Senate Bill 75

Relating to: creating a civil liability exemption for certain municipalities and their agents that issue fireworks permits.

Passage.

Ayes, 4 - Senators Zien, S. Fitzgerald, Stepp and Carpenter.

Noes, 1 - Senator George.

David Zien

Chairperson

__________________

petitions and communications

State of Wisconsin

Department of Health and Family Services

June 9, 2003

The Honorable, The Senate:

Pursuant to Section 50.04(5)(fr), Wis. Stats., effective June 17, 1998, the Department is required to submit an annual report to the Legislature related to Class A violations committed by nursing homes (including facilities for the developmentally disabled) and forfeitures assessed on nursing homes for those violations.

The Department issued 18 Class A violations to nursing homes between April 22, 2002 and May 19, 2003. The attached chart details these Class A violations, including the original forfeiture amount assessed and the status of payment. A second chart is enclosed showing the violations reported to the Legislature in May, 2002. At the time of the last submission, the majority of forfeitures had not been assessed. The enclosed chart shows the eventual forfeiture and its status.

It is the Department's goal to assess nursing home forfeitures within 120 days of the survey's exit. The Department briefly met that goal in 2000 and sustained it for a period of 60 days. At that time, both enforcement specialist positions became vacant and remained vacant for four months. After two people were hired for the positions, they completed extensive training over a six month period. This caused a large backlog. In addition, shortly after the positions were filled, there were a couple of litigative cases that took an extensive amount of these positions' time so they were not able to assess new forfeitures at that time.

In addition to the two permanent positions, the Department has temporarily reassigned one position and will be hiring a LTE to work on the backlog. Because both of the people chosen for this project are former employees of the Bureau of Quality Assurance, they are familiar with the forfeiture process, philosophy and goals, This should minimize the time needed to train them. The process is continuously reviewed for effectiveness and efficiency. The Department is working diligently to bring current this backlog.

Sincerely,

Helene Nelson

Secretary

__________________

referrals and receipt of committee reports concerning proposed administrative rules

Senate Clearinghouse Rule 02-143

Relating to commercial fishing in Lake Michigan.

Submitted by Department of Natural Resources.