The Honorable, The Senate:
The following lobbyists have been authorized to act on behalf of the organizations set opposite their names.
For more detailed information about these lobbyists and organizations and a complete list of organizations and people authorized to lobby the 2011-2012 session of the legislature, visit the Government Accountability Board's web site at
http://gab.wi.gov/.
Barhorst, Bettsey Madison Area Technical
College
Casper, Tim Madison Area Technical
College
Elsdon, Mark Pres House - Presbyterian
Student Center Foundation
Fonfara, Thomas Pres House - Presbyterian
Student Center Foundation
Gardner, Brent National Rifle Association of America
Handrick, Joe C & N Corporation
Kahn, Carrie Wisconsin Association of
Health Plans
Kussow, Michelle Wisconsin Health and
Educational Facilities Authority (WHEFA)
O'Connor, Alice Pres House - Presbyterian
Student Center Foundation
Potts, Michael Orion Energy Systems
Scholz, Brandon Wisconsin Health and
Educational Facilities Authority (WHEFA)
Venskus, Katherine Metropolitan Milwaukee
Association of Commerce
Webb, Terrance Madison Area Technical
College
Zastrow, Katja Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc
Zavos, Nicholas City of Madison
Also available from the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board are reports identifying the amount and value of time state agencies have spent to affect legislative action and reports of expenditures for lobbying activities filed by organizations that employ lobbyists.
Sincerely,
kevin kennedy
Director and General Counsel
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Department of Health Services
June 2, 2011
The Honorable, The Legislature:
The Department of Health Services (DHS) is submitting the attached State Annual Performance Report for the Birth to 3 Program to meet the requirement in s.
51.44 (5) (c) to report on the Department's progress in implementing this program. The report, which covers federal fiscal year 2009, was submitted to the federal government to meet grant requirements.
The report highlights the very positive outcomes produced by the Birth to 3 Program. The vast majority, over 95 percent, of children are served in their homes or other settings for typically developing children, such as child care centers. Parent satisfaction with the program remains high. In addition, required compliance with federal indicators identified by the Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) demonstrated compliance between 88 and 100 percent.
S318
In the past year, the state and counties have engaged in a broad array of evidence-based practices to improve the quality of the program. These efforts will continue to ensure that children with disabilities and their families are well served by Wisconsin's Birth to 3 Program. Of particular interest was an intensive collaborative effort with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) that includes ongoing improvement of transition processes for children leaving the Birth to 3 Program and beginning special education services provided by local school districts. These efforts have improved the successful transition to schools from 47 percent of children in federal fiscal year 2007 to 88 percent of children in 2009.
Wisconsin's Birth to 3 Program is recognized nationally as an innovative and exemplary program in support of families during their child's dynamic period of development.
Please contact Darsell Johns at (608) 267-3270 if you have questions regarding this report.
Sincerely,
dennis g. smith
Secretary
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
June 2, 2011
The Honorable, The Legislature:
As the first phase of our comprehensive evaluation of the Medical Assistance program requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, we have completed a review of the Enrollment Services Center established by the Department of Health Services (DHS) in 2008 to centrally manage day-to-day operations of certain public assistance programs. As of March 2011, the center was staffed by 482 individuals, 432 of whom were employed by Hewlett-Packard (HP) Enterprise Services, Inc., under amendments to its contract as the State's fiscal agent for Medical Assistance. Since fiscal year (FY) 2008-09, HP Enterprise Services and another private contractor - Automated Health Systems, Inc. - have been paid nearly $27.6 million for services related to the BadgerCare Plus plans that expand health care services to adults without dependent children, as well the FoodShare program for low-income, childless adults.
DHS appears to have established and rapidly expanded the Enrollment Services Center with little organized planning, limited legislative oversight, and no formal efforts to determine the appropriate mix of contract and state staff. We identified a number of concerns the Legislature may wish to consider as it deliberates a proposal that would create operations similar to those at the Enrollment Services Center for all BadgerCare Plus plans. For example, we noted a lack of quality assurance activities prior to 2011, the potential loss of federal funding under program rules that require public employees to make eligibility determinations, and mixed success in other states' efforts to implement similar initiatives. The extent to which DHS has used an existing contract to staff the Enrollment Services Center also raises questions about the transparency of its contracting practices.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff of DHS, HP Enterprise Services, and Automated Health Systems in completing this review.
Sincerely,
janice mueller
State Auditor
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
June 3, 2011
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Townsend, John,
of Fond Du Lac, as a member of the Board of Veterans Affairs to serve for the term ending May 1, 2013.
Respectfully submitted,
SCOTT WALKER
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Economic Development and Veterans and Military Affairs.
__________________
The committee on Economic Development and Veterans and Military Affairs reports and recommends:
Relating to certification of disabled veteran-owned businesses, and affecting small businesses.
No action taken.
Randy Hopper
Chairperson
__________________
The committee on Transportation and Elections reports and recommends:
Relating to temporary operation plates or permits.
No action taken.
Mary Lazich
Chairperson
