Chief Clerk Reports
The Chief Clerk records:
Assembly Bill 36
Assembly Bill 227
Presented to the Governor on Tuesday, May 29.
Patrick E. Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
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Speaker's Communications
May 25, 2007
Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53708
Dear Patrick:
Pursuant to Assembly Rule
42 (3)(c), I am withdrawing
Assembly Bill 352 from the Assembly Committee on Education Reform and re‐referring it to the Assembly Committee on Education. I have the consent of Representative Pridemore, chairman of the Assembly Committee on Education Reform, to take this action.
Please call Jodi Jensen of my office if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Mike Huebsch
Assembly Speaker
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Communications
May 23, 2007
Patrick Fuller
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53708
Dear Patrick:
I respectfully request that my name be added as a co‐sponsor of Assembly Bill 341, relating to impact and parkland dedication fees. This bill was introduced by Representative Mark Gottlieb.
A203
I appreciate your assistance with this matter.
Sincerely,
Carol Roessler
State Senator
18th Senate District
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Secretary of State
Madison
To Whom It May Concern:
Acts, Joint Resolutions and Resolutions deposited in this office have been numbered and published as follows:
Jt. Res. Number Enrolled Number
Publication Date
Assembly Joint Res. 10 15 Not Published
Assembly Joint Res. 48 16 Not Published
Sincerely,
Douglas La Follette
Secretary of State
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Referral of Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health and Family Services
Madison
May 18, 2007
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
The Department of Health and Family Services is pleased to submit to the Governor and the Legislature the Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Control Program 2006 Annual Report. The report is required by s.
255.15(4) Wis. Stats as enacted under
2003 Wisconsin Act 33.
Sincerely,
Kevin R. Hayden
Secretary
Referred to committee on Health and Health Care Reform.
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Agency Reports
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
May 22, 2007
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
As requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, we have completed an evaluation of wetland regulatory programs administered by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). In fiscal year 2005‐06, estimated expenditures for wetland regulatory activities, including permitting, enforcement, and mapping, totaled $1.75 million, including $1.43 million in salaries and fringe benefits for an estimated 19.3 full‐time equivalent employees.
Most projects that disturb wetlands require approval from both DNR and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. From January 2001 through June 2006, DNR approved 3,582 permits, or 82.6 percent of the applications it received. However, the process is complicated and requires frequent communication with applicants. Although DNR generally issued permits within 120 days, as required by statute, 282 decisions took longer than one year from when the application was received.
Other states differ in the manner and extent to which they regulate wetlands. For example, local governments, rather than state agencies, approve permits for activities that disturb wetlands in Minnesota. Further, most midwestern states require compensation for permitted wetland losses, although Wisconsin does not. As a result, DNR approved only 52 compensatory mitigation projects from February 2002 through June 2006.
We make recommendations to simplify the permitting process and improve program management, including establishing categories of general permits, providing additional guidance to applicants, improving coordination with federal agencies, and tracking permitted wetland losses. We also include recommendations for DNR to report to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee by December 31, 2007, with options for increasing the use of mitigation banking, eliminating duplicative state and federal permits, and improving its wetland maps.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DNR and other state and federal agencies. DNR's response follows the appendices.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
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Representative Strachota moved that the Assembly stand adjourned until 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, May 31.
The question was: Shall the Assembly stand adjourned?
Motion carried.
The Assembly stood adjourned.
3:16 P.M.
