June 11, 2008
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed a review of overtime in state agencies, excluding the University of Wisconsin System, the Legislature, and the courts. During the last three years, state agencies paid a total of $187.3 million in overtime, an increase of 15.2 percent since 2005. The largest category is for premium overtime, which is 1.5 times the employee's regular hourly rate and is typically earned for working in excess of 40 hours per week.
From 2005 through 2007, more than 90.0 percent of all premium overtime payments were for employees in agencies that have 24-hour operations or must quickly respond to emergencies. Two agencies with the largest amounts of premium overtime - the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) - identify inadequate numbers of authorized positions as the most significant factor for increased use of overtime.
Overtime provisions in collective bargaining agreements and increases in the amount of leave time granted have also contributed to increased overtime costs.
A total of 59 state employees were paid more than $100,000 in premium overtime for the three-year period we reviewed: 49 were correctional officers and sergeants at DOC, and 10 were patient care staff at DOC or DHFS.
The extent to which the State is relying on overtime to meet continuing operational needs suggests that comprehensive analysis of the most cost-effective mix of additional authorized positions and overtime may be warranted. We include a recommendation for DOC and DHFS to analyze overtime use at their facilities and submit options for reducing overtime costs to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee by January 5, 2009.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff at the Office of State Employment Relations, DOC, and DHFS.
Sincerely,
janice mueller
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
June 12, 2008
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have reviewed the Office of the State Treasurer's administration of unclaimed property that financial institutions and certain other businesses are required by statute to remit to the State on behalf of owners. As of March 2008, the Office held an estimated $354.2 million in unclaimed cash and unliquidated securities, as well as the unliquidated contents of safe deposit boxes.
In fiscal year (FY) 2006-07, the Office received $84.3 million in unclaimed cash and liquidated assets; paid more than $22.0 million in claims, primarily to individuals; and deposited $50.0 million in unclaimed property to the Common School Fund, which provides low-interest loans to municipalities and helps to support school libraries. The program's FY 2006-07 administrative expenditures - which are funded with program revenue - totaled $4.7 million. Most administrative expenditures were payments to a private contractor, Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., which identifies and collects unclaimed property and provides other services to assist 7.75 full-time equivalent employees of the Office in administering the program.
As part of our annual financial audit of the State of Wisconsin, we reviewed the Office's internal controls over the unclaimed property program and performed limited testing. Overall, we found the Office's internal controls to be reasonable. We did, however, identify several areas for improvement, which are summarized in this letter report.
In addition, we identified policy issues the Legislature may wish to consider related to allowing a portion of unclaimed property to be deposited to the General Fund and altering the treatment of gift certificates and gift cards as unclaimed property.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff of the Office of the State Treasurer during our review.
Sincerely,
janice mueller
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Department of Corrections
June 23, 2008
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The following information is provided to you pursuant to 301.03(6m) Wi Stats. The figures below pertain to calendar year 2007.
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1) There were seventy-one Chapter
51 mental health commitments within the Department of Corrections. Of these, thirty-one were initial commitments and forty were extensions of commitments from previous years.
Sixty of the seventy-one commitments were obtained at the Wisconsin Resource Center (male inmates). Of these, twenty-seven were initial commitments and thirty-three were renewals of commitments from previous years. Eleven of the seventy-one commitments were obtained at Taycheedah Correctional Institution (female inmates). Of these, four were initial commitments and seven were recommitments from previous years.
After a Chapter
51 commitment, male inmates were treated at the Wisconsin Resource Center (WRC). The average length of stay for WRC inmates was 309 days. One male inmate was transferred from WRC to Mendota Mental Health Institute on an involuntary basis.
After a Chapter
51 commitment, four female inmates were transferred to Winnebago Mental Health Institute (WMHI) and seven were treated at Taycheedah. In addition, two females were transferred to WMHI and received treatment on a voluntary basis. The average length of stay was 26.5 days.
2) The total number of inmates who were treated with psychotropic medication in 2007 was 8022. This number includes inmates who were incarcerated for short-term stays as well as long-term stays. The number of inmates who were treated with psychotropic medication on any specific date is estimated at approximately 4200. Of these, the number treated on an involuntary basis was the same as the number of involuntary commitments (seventy-one). Major classes of medication included antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers.
3) Mental Health Services are available at all of the major institutions. Services include crisis intervention, individual counseling, and group therapy. Specific programs include sex offender treatment, anger management, domestic violence, substance abuse treatment, and cognitive interventions. Psychiatrists are available at all major institutions to provide evaluations for psychotropic medication and management of these medications. In addition, consultation is available from both psychologists and psychiatrists to evaluate competency to consent to psychotropic medication and/or medical treatment.
If you have any questions or need further information, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Rick Raemisch
Secretary
Referred to committee on Judiciary, Corrections and Housing.
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
June 17, 2008
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Canter, Richard,
of Milwaukee, as a member of the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority, to serve for the term ending July 1, 2015.
Sincerely,
JIM DOYLE
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Health, Human Services, Insurance, and Job Creation.
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Relating to diesel truck idling reduction grants and affecting small business.
Submitted by Department of Commerce.
Report received from Agency, June 24, 2008.
Referred to committee on Commerce, Utilities and Rail, June 25, 2008
.
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The committee on Education reports and recommends:
Relating to grants for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs.
No action taken.
John Lehman
Chairperson
The committee on Transportation and Tourism reports and recommends:
Relating to motor vehicle dealer franchise operations, record keeping and trade practices.
No action taken.
Jeffrey Plale
Chairperson
The committee on Veterans and Military Affairs, Biotechnology and Financial Institutions reports and recommends:
Relating to the start date for phasing out funds under the Wisconsin deferred compensation plan and to emergency withdrawals for beneficiaries.
No action taken.
Jim Sullivan
Chairperson
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Motions Under Senate Rule 98 and Joint Rule 7
for the Month of May 2008
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Breske, for Thor Wayne Anderson, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Darling, for James Ansley, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Risser, for the American Legion Auxiliary, on the occasion of all participants of the Badger Girls State.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Darling, for Amanda Armstrong, on the occasion of receiving the Rotary International 2008 Service Above Self Award.
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A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Harsdorf, for Derek Bauer, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Grothman, for Benjamin Baumann, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Darling, for the Bavarian Inn, on the occasion of celebrating its 40th anniversary.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Kanavas, for Donald Behrens, on the occasion of his 11 years of dedicated service to the Hamilton School District.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Grothman, for Nicholas Bell, on the occasion of his successful completion of the Youth Apprenticeship Program.
