AB102: Bill Text

LRB-2121/1

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2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 102

February 15, 2005 - Introduced by Representative Kaufert, cosponsored by Senator S. Fitzgerald. Referred to Joint Committee on Finance.

AB102,1,7 An Act to repeal 20.003 (4) (f) of the statutes; relating to: decreasing an appropriation of general purpose revenues for the Badger Care health care program; increasing an appropriation of general purpose revenues for prescription drug assistance; increasing an appropriation of general purpose revenues for Medical Assistance; transferring moneys from the general fund to the Medical Assistance trust fund; required general fund statutory balance; and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Health and Family (DHFS) administers the Badger Care health care program (BadgerCare), a jointly funded federal-state program that provides health care services to low-income families and to low-income children who do not live with their parents. DHFS also administers another program, with joint federal and state funding, that provides prescription drug assistance for the elderly (commonly known as "Senior Care"). Lastly, under current law, DHFS administers the Medical Assistance (MA) program, a jointly funded federal-state program that provides health care services to persons with low income and few assets.

This bill, for fiscal year 2004-05, decreases a general purpose revenue appropriation account for BadgerCare by $9,500,000, and increases a general purpose revenue appropriation account for Senior Care by $12,234,000. Also for fiscal year 2004-05, the bill increases a general purpose revenue appropriation account for MA by $69,800,000 and transfers $50,000,000 from the general fund to the MA trust fund.

Current statutes contain a rule of procedure governing legislative action on certain bills. Generally, the rule provides that no bill directly or indirectly affecting general purpose revenues may be adopted if the bill would cause the estimated general fund balance on June 30 of any fiscal year to be less than a certain amount of the total general purpose revenue appropriations for that fiscal year. For fiscal year 2004-05, the amount is $40,000,000. This bill eliminates the required statutory balance for fiscal year 2004-05.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB102, s. 1 Section 1. 20.003 (4) (f) of the statutes is repealed.

AB102, s. 9130 Section 9130. Nonstatutory provisions; legislature.

AB102,2,5 (1) Exemption from certain legislative rules of proceeding. Section 20.003 (4m) of the statutes does not apply to the actions of the legislature in enacting this act.

AB102, s. 9221 Section 9221. Appropriation changes; health and family services.

AB102,2,11 (1) Badger Care Health Care Program. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of health and family services under section 20.435 (4) (bc) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2005, the dollar amount is decreased by $9,500,000 for fiscal year 2004-05 to decrease funding for the purpose for which the appropriation is made.

AB102,3,2 (2) Prescription drug assistance for elderly. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of health and family services under section 20.435 (4) (bv) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2005, the dollar amount is increased by $12,234,000 for fiscal year 2004-05 to increase funding for the purpose for which the appropriation is made.

AB102,3,7 (3) Medical Assistance. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the statutes for the appropriation to the department of health and family services under section 20.435 (4) (b) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 2005, the dollar amount is increased by $69,800,000 for fiscal year 2004-05 to increase funding for the purposes for which the appropriation is made.

AB102,3,11 (4) Medical Assistance; Medical Assistance trust fund. Notwithstanding the limitation under section 25.77 (intro.) of the statutes concerning content of the Medical Assistance trust fund, there is transferred in fiscal year 2004-05 from the general fund to the Medical Assistance trust fund $50,000,000.

AB102,3,12 (End)