Secretary
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health Services
December 22, 2008
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The Department of Health Services is please to provide you this annual report of the Wisconsin Food Security Consortium's plans to address food insecurity, as required under s.46.76(4) and (5).
The Wisconsin Food Security Consortium continues making progress in strategies to end hunger and food insecurity in Wisconsin. Highlights include:
• The Consortium planned and hosted a statewide Hunger Summit on October 4, 2007 in Stevens Point. The purpose of the Summit was to bring partners from around Wisconsin to learn about food insecurity and hunger in the State, network and collaborate, and be inspired with ideas and action. Input was collected to draft a statewide action plan would serve as a blueprint for further action.
• During the first half of 2008, members of the Wisconsin Food Security Consortium processed the input from the Hunger Summit to write the statewide action plan, Ending Hunger in Wisconsin. This plan offers and extensive list of ideas to help eliminate food insecurity and hunger in Wisconsin - to ensure that all households are able to put food on the table. The Executive Summary of the Plan is enclosed. For a copy of the full version of Ending Hunger in Wisconsin, contact the Division of Public Health at
patti.herrick@wisconsin.gov.
• The Action Plan was the basis for further discussion at the four regional hunger forums held in 2008 in Racine, Rice Lake, Rhinelander, and Richaland Center. The goal of the regional forums was to further engage local partners - from state policymakers to local volunteers - in strategies to reduce hunger. The Forums were very successful, drawing anywhere from 60-100 attendees at the sessions.
• The Wisconsin Food Security Consortium will continue to meet and plan next steps in promotion and implementation of the Action Plan.
The Department, with the assistance of the Food Security Consortium, continues its commitment to fight hunger in Wisconsin.
Sincerely,
karen e. timberlake
Secretary
__________________
Medical College of Wisconsin
December 29, 2008
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Enclosed, please find the Medical College of Wisconsin's annual report for the Breast and Prostate Cancer Research Program funded through the income tax check-off programs created by 2003 Wisconsin ACT 176 and 2005 Wisconsin ACT 460. The document represents the annual report highlighting the fiscal reporting period of July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the report, please contact me at 414-456-8217.
Sincerely,
kathryn a. kuhn
Associate Vice President of Government Affairs
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Transportation
December 29, 2008
S20
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The department respectfully submits this report on the results of the study of Wisconsin's truck size and weight limit laws required by
2007 Act 20.
Consistent with the specific requirements of Act 20, the department contracted for the study and the study did identify changes in these laws that would have a net benefit to Wisconsin's economy. The study included review of items that were found to have net benefit in a similar Minnesota project report. The study was conducted with the assistance of an advisory committee, appointed by the department to meet the requirements of the Act.
Any questions about the study or this report may be directed to Rory Rhinesmith, Statewide Bureaus Operation Director, Division of Transportation Systems Development at 608-266-2392, or by email
Rory.Rhinesmith@dot.wi.gov.
Sincerely,
frank j. busalacchi
Secretary
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
December 30, 2008
The Honorable, The Legislature:
This report is transmitted as required by s.
20.002(11)(f), Wisconsin Statutes, (for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s.
13.172(3), Wisconsin Statutes) and confirms that the Department of Administration has found it necessary to exercise the "temporary reallocation of balances" authority provided by this section in order to meet payment responsibilities and cover resulting negative cash balances during the month of November 2008.
On November 1, 2008, the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund cash balance closed at a negative $137.0 million. This negative balance continued through November 30, 2008, when the fund's cash balance closed at a negative $124.7 million. The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund cash balance reached its intra-month low of a negative $137.4 million on November 14, 2008. The negative balance was due to the transfer of $200 million to the Medical Assistance Trust Fund per
2007 Wisconsin Act 20, and the pending liquidation of fund securities necessary to offset this shortfall.
On November 1, 2008, the Worker's Compensation Fund cash balance closed at a negative $2.5 million. This negative balance continued through November 30, 2008, when the fund's cash balance closed at a negative $2.6 million (its intra-month low). The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
On November 1, 2008, the Mediation Fund cash balance closed at a negative $3.0 thousand. This negative balance continued through November 14, 2008, when the fund's cash balance closed as a positive $209 thousand. The Mediation Fund cash balance reached its intra-month low of a negative $13 thousand on November 13, 2008. The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
On November 20, 2008, the Conservation Fund cash balance closed at a negative $2.7 million (its intra-month low). This negative balance continued through November 21, 2008, when the fund's cash balance closed at a positive $579 thousand. The negative balance was due to the difference in the timing of revenues and expenditures.
On November 20, 2008, the Utility Public Benefits Fund cash balance closed at a negative $1.6 million. This negative balance continued through November 30, 2008, when the fund's cash balance closed at a negative $4.0 million (its intra-month low). The negative balance was due to a delayed transfer to the fund.
The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund, Worker's Compensation Fund, Mediation Fund, Conservation Fund and Utility Public Benefits Fund shortfalls were not in excess of the statutory interfund borrowing limitations and did not exceed the balances of the funds available for interfund borrowing.
The distribution of interest earnings to investment pool participants is based on the average daily balance in the pool and each fund's share. Therefore, the monthly calculation by the State Controller's Office will automatically reflect the use of these temporary reallocations of balance authority, and as a result, the funds requiring the use of the authority will effectively bear the interest cost.
Sincerely,
michael l. morgan
Secretary
Referred to joint committee on Finance.
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health Services
December 31, 2008
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Section
46.03(26) of the statutes requires the Department of Health Services to report annually on information systems projects under development including the implementation schedule, estimate of costs, and methods of determining changes (if applicable).
The Department has two groups of systems now under development; (1) Public Health Information Network, and (2) the Vital Records Reengineering Project. The required information is included in the attached reports.
Sincerely,
karen e. timberlake
Secretary
Referred to joint committee on Finance.
__________________
The following Clearinghouse Rules were continued from the 2007-08 session and carried over to the 2009-10 session and referred to the following committees, pursuant to s.
227.19 (4)(b)6 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
Relating to regulation of fishing tournaments in inland, outlying, and boundary waters of Wisconsin.
Submitted by Department of Natural Resources.
Referred to committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources, January 8, 2009
.
Relating to ambient air quality standards and affecting small business.
Submitted by Department of Natural Resources.
Referred to committee on Environment,
January 8, 2009
.
Relating to administration of the forest crop law and managed forest law.
Submitted by Department of Natural Resources.
Referred to committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources, January 8, 2009
.
__________________
Relating to customer access to subscription video services and discriminatory practices by video service providers.
Submitted by Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Report received from Agency, January 5, 2009.
Referred to committee on Commerce, Utilities, Energy, and Rail, January 8, 2009
.
Relating to continued group health insurance coverage of an insured dependent after the death of the insured employee or annuitant.
Submitted by Department of Employe Trust Funds.
Report received from Agency, January 5, 2009.
