AB673: Bill Text

LRB-3179/1

MED:cjs:jf

2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

2013 Assembly BILL 673

January 24, 2014 - Introduced by Representatives August, Kulp, Craig, Bies, Czaja, Jacque, Kooyenga, Murphy, Murtha, Nass, Pridemore, Sanfelippo and Skowronski. Referred to Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations.

AB673,1,2 An Act relating to: fees charged for credentials administered by the department of safety and professional services.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) and its attached boards administer credentials required for various occupations and businesses. Most credentials require the payment of an initial fee as a prerequisite to issuance and require a fee each time the credential is renewed, generally every two years. Under current law, no later than January 31 of each odd-numbered year, DSPS must propose adjustments to the initial and renewal fees for each such credential for the succeeding fiscal biennium, if an adjustment is necessary to reflect the approximate administrative and enforcement costs attributable to the regulation of the particular occupation or business. DSPS must then submit the proposed fee adjustments to the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) for approval under the passive review process.

This bill requires DSPS, when proposing adjustments to credential fees for the 2015-17 fiscal biennium, to instead submit to JCF for approval under the passive review process adjustments to the credential fees that reflect a 25 percent reduction in the amount of each fee.

For further information see the state 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:

AB673,1 Section 1. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB673,2,2 (1) Department of safety and professional services; credential fees.

AB673,2,3 (a) In this subsection:

AB673,2,4 1. "Credential" has the meaning given in section 440.01 (2) (a) of the statutes.

AB673,2,6 2. "Reciprocal credential" has the meaning given in section 440.01 (2) (d) of the statutes.

AB673,2,10 (b) Notwithstanding section 440.03 (9) (a) 1. and 2. of the statutes, the department of safety and professional services shall do all of the following when adjusting the fees for credentials prior to the January 31, 2015, deadline imposed under section 440.03 (9) (a) 2. of the statutes:

AB673,2,13 1. Reduce by 25 percent each fee charged for an initial credential for which an examination is not required, for a reciprocal credential, and, subject to section 440.08 (2) (a) of the statutes, for a credential renewal.

AB673,2,16 2. Send a report detailing the proposed fee adjustments under subdivision 1 . to the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance for review in the manner provided in section 440.03 (9) (d) of the statutes.

AB673,2,17 (End)