Friday, May 19, 2006
Ninety-Seventh Regular Session
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date:
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Chief Clerk Reports
The Chief Clerk records:
Assembly Bill 426
Assembly Bill 432
Assembly Bill 784
Assembly Bill 856
Assembly Bill 942
Assembly Bill 1186
Presented to the Governor on Friday, May 19.
Patrick E. Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
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Executive Communications
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
Madison
May 19, 2006
To the Honorable Members of the Assembly:
The following bill, originating in the Assembly, has been approved, signed and deposited in the office of the Secretary of State:
Bill Number Act Number Date Approved
Assembly Bill 1209409May 18, 2006
Respectfully submitted,
JIm Doyle
Governor
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Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
Madison
May 1, 2006
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
In compliance with Wisconsin statute 16.548, please find the Wisconsin Office of Federal/State Relations quarterly report to be submitted to the Legislature for the first quarter of 2005. This report provides information on the activities of the office and the status of federal legislation of concern to the State of Wisconsin.
Please contact me if you have any questions about this material.
Sincerely,
Stephen E. Bablitch
Secretary
Referred to committee on State-Federal Relations.
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State of Wisconsin
Department of Health and Family Services
Madison
May 17, 2006
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Enclosed is the Department's annual report for the Community Options Program (COP) and the Home and Community-Based Waivers (COP-W/CIP II), as required by s.
46.27(11g) and s.
46.277(5m). The attached report describes the persons served, program expenditures, and services delivered through the COP, COP-Waiver and CIP II programs in calendar year 2004. I am pleased to report that the number of individuals receiving community-based long-term care through COP and all waivers continues to grow, reaching 26,923 individuals in 2004.
The Community Options Program provides services to people who are elderly or who have a physical, developmental or mental disability, and is closely coordinated with all of Wisconsin's Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waivers.
A1149
As you know, Wisconsin's successful Family Care Waiver has built on the learning and success of COP and CIP waivers. Working together, we will expand Family Care to provide comprehensive and individualized long-term care to individuals, helping keep more people healthy and independent in communities.
Sincerely,
Helene Nelson
Secretary
Referred to committee on Aging and Long-Term Care.
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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
May 17, 2006
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
As requested by the Public Service Commission (PSC), we have completed a financial audit of the Universal Service Fund, which was established to ensure that all state residents receive essential telecommunications services and have access to advanced telecommunications capabilities. It is funded primarily through assessments on telecommunications providers, which totaled $28.3 million in fiscal year (FY) 2004-05. Our audit report contains our unqualified opinion on the Universal Service Fund's financial statements for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004 and 2005.
The largest program supported by the Universal Service Fund is the Educational Telecommunications Access Program, which is administered by the Department of Administration. This program subsidizes data lines and video links to eligible educational institutions. In FY 2004-05, expenditures for these activities totaled $16.8 million, or 60.3 percent of the Universal Service Fund's total expenditures and transfers. In January 2006, the conversion to a new statewide data and video network began for program participants, as well as for the State and other public-sector users. The conversion to the new network is expected to be completed in August 2006.
Eight of the 13 programs supported by the Universal Service Fund are operated by the PSC. The Legislature limited the amount the PSC could assess telecommunications providers for the PSC-operated programs to $5.0 million in FY 2003-04 and $6.0 million in FY 2004-05 and thereafter. However, increasing expenditures are now presenting budgetary challenges for these programs. In response, the PSC reduced benefits and deferred decisions about certain payment requests to subsequent fiscal years. Based on expenditure projections, the PSC believes it can limit expenditures to its spending authority during FY 2005-06. However, if the growth in program demand and expenditures continues, the Legislature may be asked to reconsider the statutory limits on the PSC's annual assessment levels or to eliminate some programs.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff at the PSC; the departments of Administration and Public Instruction; and the Universal Service Fund's administrator, Wipfli LLP.
Sincerely,
Janice Mueller
