Monday, April 4, 2011
One-Hundredth Regular Session
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date.
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Read and referred:
Senate Joint Resolution 19
Relating to: declaring April 2011 as esophageal cancer awareness month.
By
Senators
Cowles, Ellis, Galloway and Lassa; cosponsored by Representative Spanbauer
.
To committee on Senate Organization.
Senate Joint Resolution 20
Relating to: declaring April 2011 Donate Life Month.
By
Senators
Olsen, Cowles, Darling, Harsdorf, Holperin, Kedzie, Lassa, Lazich, Leibham, Moulton, Risser, Schultz and Taylor; cosponsored by Representatives Ballweg, Barca, Berceau, Bernard Schaber, Bewley, Bies, Brooks, Hebl, Jorgensen, Kerkman, Marklein, Milroy, Mursau, A. Ott, Petryk, Pope-Roberts, Rivard, Roys, Shilling, Sinicki, Spanbauer, Strachota, Thiesfeldt, Williams, Ringhand and Loudenbeck.
To committee on Senate Organization.
Read first time and referred:
Senate Bill 54
Relating to: certain controlled substances and providing a penalty.
By
Senators
Harsdorf, Jauch, Darling, Wanggaard, Olsen, Leibham, Holperin, Lassa and Schultz; cosponsored by Representatives Bies, Knilans, Kleefisch, Jorgensen, Bernard Schaber, Brooks, Kaufert, Kerkman, Mason, Meyer, Mursau, Nass, Petersen, Rivard, Severson, Sinicki, Spanbauer, Steineke, Strachota, Thiesfeldt and Wynn.
To committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations.
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The committee on Senate Organization reports:
Placed the following proposals on the Senate Calendar of Tuesday, April 5, 2011:
Senate Joint Resolution
17
Senate Joint Resolution
18
Assembly Bill 4
Ayes: 5 - Senators Fitzgerald, Ellis, Grothman, Miller and Hansen.
Noes: 0 - None.
SCOTT FITZGERALD
Chairperson
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
March 31, 2011
The Honorable, The Legislature:
In response to a 2010 request by the co-chairpersons of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, we have completed a limited-scope review of the Public Sector Safety Program, which, under authority granted by s.
101.055, Wis. Stats., establishes and enforces occupational safety and health standards for state and local government employees in Wisconsin. The standards are to provide protections at least equal to those granted to private sector employees under the federal law that created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). During the three year period we reviewed, the program was operated by the Department of Commerce. The Legislature is currently considering a proposal to reassign program responsibilities to the Department of Safety and Professional Services as part of the 2011-13 biennial budget bill.
In fiscal year (FY) 2009-10, the program was allocated 3.2 full-time equivalent inspection staff positions and spent a total of $436,200 to investigate workplace safety and health complaints, provide consultations related to workplace safety and health, and perform periodic inspections of public employees' workplaces. From FY 2007-08 through FY 2009-10, program staff investigated 30 of 44 complaints received and issued orders to correct concerns ranging from asbestos exposure and noncompliance with fire department safety and health standards to hazardous chemical exposure. Complaint investigations were generally timely, and program staff verified compliance with their correction orders.
S205
Only limited data were available for assessing the frequency of workplace safety inspections or consultations that were not associated with complaints. Available data indicate that during the three-year period we reviewed, program staff conducted inspections or other visits to 102 public employers' workplaces, but the reason for each inspection or visit, its outcome, and the nature of any follow-up activity were not readily available. Based on our review, we believe program efficiency could be improved by using the existing information systems more effectively to record complete information on complaint status, timing, follow-up actions, and inspections.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by the Department of Commerce during the course of our review.
Respectfully submitted,
janice mueller
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
March 31, 2011
The Honorable, The Legislature:
audit satisfies state agencies' audit requirements under the federal Single Audit Act of 1984, as amended, and federal Office of Management and Budget Circular A-133. It also assists us in meeting audit requirements under s.
13.94, Wis. Stats.
This audit covers $15.5 billion in federal financial assistance that state agencies administered in fiscal year 2009-10, including more than $3.5 billion in assistance received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. We tested internal controls and a selection of expenditures for compliance with laws and regulations for 31 federal programs that were chosen for review using risk-based assessment criteria established by the federal government.
Our report contains the auditor's reports on internal control over financial reporting and on compliance with program requirements, and our unqualified audit opinion on the State of Wisconsin Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. We also discuss the results of our follow-up to prior audit findings. Overall, state agencies have complied with federal grant requirements and have taken steps to address findings included in last year's single audit report. However, we report several new and continuing internal control deficiencies and areas of federal noncompliance. The federal government will contact state agencies to resolve the findings and questioned costs included in our report.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by state agency staff during our audit. Agencies' comments on individual findings, along with their corrective action plans to address our concerns, are included within the agency narratives.
Respectfully submitted,
janice mueller
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
