Monday, February 19, 2007
Ninety-Eighth Regular Session
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date.
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Read and referred:
Senate Joint Resolution 16
Relating to: honoring Wisconsin citizens who lost their lives in the war on terrorism.
By
Senator
Robson
.
To committee on Senate Organization.
Read first time and referred:
Senate Bill 47
Relating to: increasing the limit on policies issued by the state life insurance fund.
By
Senators
Lehman, A. Lasee, Erpenbach, Risser, Miller, Wirch and Coggs; cosponsored by Representatives Jeskewitz, Boyle, Turner, Berceau, Sheridan and A. Ott.
To committee on Transportation, Tourism and Insurance.
Senate Bill 48
Relating to: expanding types of volunteer health care providers to include pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
By
Senators
Robson, Lehman, Roessler, Wirch, Breske, Olsen, Risser, Schultz, Plale, Lassa, Erpenbach and Kreitlow; cosponsored by Representatives Vukmir, Benedict, Sheridan, Turner, Hahn, Black, Mursau, Musser, Seidel, Townsend, Berceau, F. Lasee, Hraychuck, Gronemus, Boyle, Nygren, Ballweg, Kleefisch, Hilgenberg, Molepske, Gunderson and Sinicki.
To committee on Health and Human Services.
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State of Wisconsin
Senate
February 19, 2007
The Honorable, The Senate:
I would like to request that per Senate Rule
20 (2) (c), Senator Mark Miller temporarily replace Senator Dave Hansen on the Committee on Senate Organization. This replacement would be effective for February 19th, 2007.
Thank you for your timely consideration.
Sincerely,
Judith B. Robson
Senate Majority Leader
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
February 16, 2007
The Honorable, The Legislature:
We have completed a financial audit of the State of Wisconsin Unemployment Reserve Fund for the years ended June 30, 2006 and 2005. We performed the audit at the request of the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and to meet our audit responsibilities under s.
13.94, Wis. Stats.
Our audit report contains our unqualified opinion on the financial statements and related notes. It does not discuss DWD's ongoing development of computer software to support the Unemployment Insurance program, which we will address in a future evaluation.
During the period of this audit, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was lower than in prior years and ranged between 4.5 percent and 5.0 percent. However, unemployment benefit payments and other expenses exceeded employer contributions and other revenues. Consequently, the Unemployment Reserve Fund's balance continued to decline from its high of $1.9 billion as of June 30, 2000. The Fund's balance was $971.0 million at the start of our audit period and $895.0 million as of June 30, 2006.
2005 Wisconsin Act 86 directed DWD to study the long-term financial stability of the Fund and report to the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council by July 1, 2007, on any measures required to maintain the Fund's stability.
As part of our audit, we matched data on unemployment benefit payments and individuals in the custody of the Department of Corrections. From this work, it was determined that two prisoners had inappropriately received $2,697 in unemployment benefits. We have therefore recommended in a separate audit communication that DWD work with the Department of Corrections to periodically identify any similar instances of inappropriate benefit payments.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by DWD staff during the audit.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Mueller
State Auditor
State of Wisconsin
Claims Board
February 15, 2007
The Honorable, The Senate:
Enclosed is the report of the State Claims Board covering the claims heard on December 13, 2006 and February 2, 2007.
S100
The amounts recommended for payment under $5,000 on claims included in this report have, under the provisions of s.
16.007, Stats., been paid directly by the Board.
The Board is preparing the bill(s) on the recommended award(s) over $5,000, if any, and will submit such to the Joint Finance Committee for legislative introduction.
This report is for the information of the Legislature. The Board would appreciate your acceptance and spreading of it upon the Journal to inform the members of the Legislature.
Sincerely,
John E. Rothschild
Secretary
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The committee on Commerce, Utilities and Rail reports and recommends:
Relating to cigarette and tobacco products tax bad debt deductions.
No action taken.
