Carol Roessler
Chairperson
__________________
Read first time and referred:
Senate Bill 296
Relating to: electronic voting system standards.
By
Senators
Plale, Carpenter, Erpenbach, Grothman, Hansen, A. Lasee, Olsen, Reynolds and Risser; cosponsored by Representatives Pocan, Freese, Ainsworth, Berceau, Black, Grigsby, Gunderson, Kessler, Lehman, Lothian, Molepske, Musser, Nelson, Parisi, Pope-Roberts, Richards, Seidel, Sheridan, Sherman, Shilling, Sinicki, Townsend, Travis and Wood.
To committee on Labor and Election Process Reform.
Senate Bill 297
Relating to: the powers of tribal law enforcement officers under state law.
By
Joint Legislative Council.
To committee on Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy.
Senate Bill 298
Relating to: cooperative county-tribal law enforcement programs.
By
Joint Legislative Council.
To committee on Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy.
Senate Bill 299
Relating to: conservation wardens employed by the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.
By
Joint Legislative Council.
To committee on Natural Resources and Transportation.
Senate Bill 300
Relating to: providing benefits to tribal schools and tribal school pupils similar to those provided to private schools and private school pupils and making an appropriation.
By
Joint Legislative Council.
To committee on Education.
Senate Bill 301
Relating to: providing state aid to tribal schools for certain pupils and making an appropriation.
By
Joint Legislative Council.
To committee on Education.
Relating to: the creation of the Tribal Charter School Authorizing Board, the establishment of charter schools by the board, and making an appropriation.
By
Joint Legislative Council.
To committee on Education.
Senate Bill 303
Relating to: an exemption for certain tribal officials under the lobbying law.
By
Joint Legislative Council.
To committee on Campaign Finance Reform and Ethics.
Senate Bill 304
Relating to: creating a property tax exemption for real property owned by an American Indian tribe or band and used exclusively for a governmental purpose.
By
Joint Legislative Council.
To joint survey committee on Tax Exemptions.
Senate Bill 305
Relating to: child safety restraint systems, safety belt use requirements in motor vehicles, and providing a penalty.
By
Senators
Roessler, Robson, Risser, Brown, A. Lasee, Lassa, Olsen and Wirch; cosponsored by Representatives Petrowski, Suder, Wasserman, Ainsworth, Bies, Jensen, Kreibich, Lehman, McCormick, Molepske, Musser, Nass, Ott, Pope-Roberts, Shilling, Sinicki, Stone and Van Roy.
To committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care.
Senate Bill 306
Relating to: designation of state aviation facilities at the Dane County Regional Airport as the Fritz E. Wolf Aviation Center.
By
Senators
Miller and Erpenbach; cosponsored by Representatives Hebl, Berceau and Davis, by request of the family of Fritz E. Wolf.
To committee on Natural Resources and Transportation.
Senate Bill 307
Relating to: payment of a 1st class city police officer's salary after discharge.
By
Senators
Coggs, Grothman and Taylor; cosponsored by Representatives Colon, Toles, Richards, A. Williams, Parisi, Grigsby, Fields, Berceau, Townsend, Wood, Jeskewitz and Wasserman.
To committee on Veterans, Homeland Security, Military Affairs, Small Business and Government Reform.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
August 19, 2005
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed a review of the worker's compensation benefits paid to state employees from fiscal year (FY) 1999-2000 through FY 2003-04. During that five-year period, benefit payments for physical and mental injuries that resulted from accidents or illnesses sustained during the course of employment totaled $59.2 million. The worker's compensation program is managed by the Department of Administration and funded through premiums that are paid by state agencies, based primarily on their claims experience.
Although the number of paid claims declined by more than 16.0 percent during our review period, benefit payments increased 30.0 percent, from $10.0 million in FY 1999-2000 to $13.0 million in FY 2003-04. The average cost per paid claim increased 43.0 percent from its low of $2,005 in FY 2000-01 to $2,867 in FY 2003-04. Costs per claim increased primarily because of rising health care costs, which include hospital and physical therapy charges and prescription drugs. Three agencies-the University of Wisconsin System, the Department of Health and Family Services, and the Department of Corrections accounted for 72.4 percent of FY 2003-04 payments.
The types and severity of on-the-job injuries sustained by state employees varied substantially, from twisted ankles caused from falls to life-threatening injuries sustained in automobile accidents. The most costly injury category was lifting, moving, or restraining a load, which led to strained or pulled muscles. Benefit payments related to these injuries increased from $1.2 million in FY 1999-2000 to $3.5 million in FY 2003-04.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by Department of Administration staff in conducting this review.
Sincerely,
JANICE MUELLER
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Ethics Board
August 23, 2005
The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2005 session of the legislature, visit the Ethics Board's web site at
http://ethics.state.wi.us
Broydrick, William Hertz Rent-a-Car
Christianson, Peter C eFunds Corp.
Driessen, Anthony Dell, Inc.
Fassbender, Robert I National Paint & Coatings Association
Fonfara, Thomas Dell, Inc.
Fuglie, Paul Verizon Communications
Hough, James E National Paint & Coatings Association
Manley, Scott Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
Petersen, Eric J Primerica Financial Services
Also available from the Wisconsin Ethics Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
R. Roth Judd
Executive Director
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
August 19, 2005
