Senate Bill 11
Relating to: an overtime pay exemption for providers of companionship services.
No recommendation pursuant to s.
227.19 (6)(b), Wisconsin Statutes.
Carol Roessler
Chairperson
The committee on Labor and Election Process Reform reports and recommends:
Senate Bill 12
Relating to: the state minimum wage.
No recommendation pursuant to s.
227.19 (6)(b), Wisconsin Statutes.
Thomas Reynolds
Chairperson
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
February 14, 2005
The Honorable, The Senate:
Please withdraw the nomination of Jeffrey Knaus to the Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers and Land Surveyors.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
State of Wisconsin
Department of Workforce Development
February 17, 2005
The Honorable, The Senate:
Pursuant to s.
109.12(2) and
(3), Wis. Stats., I hereby submit the Department of Workforce Development's (DWD) 2002 annual report on the administration and enforcement of s.
109.07 and
109.075, Wis. Stats. The report contains three sections. The first section lists all employers in 2002 that notified DWD of business closings and mass layoffs planned in Wisconsin. The second section of the report lists employers against whom DWD has received business closing or mass layoff notification complaints and the current status or outcome of those complaints. The third section of the report lists employers against whom DWD has received healthcare cessation notification complaints, DWD's actions and the current status or outcome of those complaints.
Business Closing or Mass Layoff Notifications:
On January 1st, 2004 the department had 27 business closing or mass layoff cases pending either within the department [DWD] or at the Department of Justice [DOJ]. Since January 1st, 2004 nine of those cases have been settled. Six cases have been found dismissed with a finding the complaint was invalid. One case has been dismissed because the employer was insolvent. The remaining eleven cases remain with the DOJ in various stages of litigation.
During 2004 and thus far in 2005 the department has received 24 new cases. One of these cases has been settled. One case has been dismissed due to the insolvency of the employer. Ten complaints were found to be invalid and dismissed. The remaining twelve complaints remain under investigation at this time.
S88
Overall in 2004 the department collected more than $5.85 million in increased wages for more than 1100 employees due to a combination of employers' failures to provide employees with advance notices of business closures and unpaid final wages for these employees.
Healthcare Plan Cessation Notifications:
On January 1st, 2004 there were six healthcare plan cessation cases pending either at DWD or DOJ. Since then one of these cases has been settled, one case closed because the wages involved were uncollectible and one case closed because the complaint was invalid. The three remaining cases are currently involved in litigation by DOJ.
In 2004 five new complaints were filed with DWD. One of these cases has been settled with approximately $1,000,000 being paid to 230 former workers [this settlement was both a business closing and healthcare plan cessation settlement]. In one case DWD's investigation found no violation and dismissed the case. The remaining three cases are under investigation at this time.
If you have any questions regarding the information contained in this report please contact Lucia Nunez, Administrator of the Equal Rights Division, at (608) 266-0946.
Sincerely,
ROBERTA GASSMAN
Secretary
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
February 14, 2005
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Williams, Jay,
of Mequon, as a member of the Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District Board, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2007.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Job Creation, Economic Development and Consumer Affairs.
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
February 15, 2005
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Bohacek, Linda,
of Eau Claire, as a member of the Dentistry Examining Board, for the term ending July 1, 2008.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care.
__________________
Relating to charitable gaming and crane games.
Submitted by Department of Administration.
Report received from Agency, February 15, 2005.
Referred to committee on Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy, February 17, 2005.
Relating to criminal background investigations and fingerprinting of applicants.
Submitted by Department of Regulation and Licensing.
Report received from Agency, February 16, 2005.
Referred to committee on Labor and Election Process Reform, February 17, 2005.
Relating to the adjustment of thresholds for application of prevailing wage rates.
Submitted by Department of Workforce Development .
Report received from Agency, February 16, 2005.
Referred to committee on Labor and Election Process Reform, February 17, 2005.
__________________
By Patrick E. Fuller, chief clerk.
Mr. President:
I am directed to inform you that the Assembly has passed and asks concurrence in:
Assembly Bill 5
Assembly Bill 58
Assembly Bill 102
Adopted and asks concurrence in:
Assembly Joint Resolution
11
Assembly Joint Resolution
14
Concurred in:
Senate Joint Resolution
2
Senate Joint Resolution
4
