Finding of Emergency
The Department of Children and Families finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
In the Child and Family Services Review of Wisconsin's child welfare system this past year, the federal Administration for Children and Families found that Wisconsin is not operating in substantial conformity with a number of federal requirements. In response to this review, the department has submitted a program improvement plan that commits the department to complete implementation of the levels of care system and the child assessment tool throughout the first quarter of 2011. Implementation must begin immediately to meet this deadline and subsequent dependent deadlines in the remaining 2 years of the program improvement plan.
Publication Date:
January 1, 2011
Effective Dates:
January 1, 2011 through
May 30, 2011
Extension Through:
August 31, 2011
Hearing Date:
February 8, 15, 28, 2011
emergency_rules EmR1106
3. EmR1106 — Rule adopted to revise
Chapters DCF 52, 54, and 57, relating to regulation of rates charged by residential care centers for children and youth, child-placing agencies, and group homes.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Children and Families finds that an emergency exists and that the attached rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
2009 Wisconsin Act 28 directed the department to implement rate regulation effective January 1, 2011. Implementation was delayed and this rule is phasing-in rate regulation at the earliest feasible date.
Publication Date:
April 18, 2011
Effective Dates:
April 18, 2011 through
September 16, 2011
Hearing Date:
May 18, 2011
Government Accountability Board
Finding of Emergency
The Government Accountability Board amends s.
GAB 1.28 (3) (b), Wis. Adm. Code, relating to the definition of the term “political purpose." Section
GAB 1.28 as a whole continues to clarify the definition of “political purposes" found in s.
11.01 (16) (a)1., Stats., but repeals the second sentence of s.
GAB 1.28 (3) (b) which prescribes communications presumptively susceptible of no reasonable interpretation other than as an appeal to vote for or against a specific candidate.
This amendment to s.
GAB 1.28 (3) (b) is to the rule that was published on July 31, 2010 and effective on August 1, 2010, following a lengthy two year period of drafting, internal review and study, public comment, Legislative review, and consideration of U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Within the context of ch.
11, Stats, s.
GAB 1.28 provides direction to persons intending to engage in activities for political purposes with respect to triggering registering and reporting obligations under campaign financing statutes and regulations. In addition, the rule provides more information for the public so that it may have a more complete understanding as to who is supporting or opposing which candidate or cause and to what extent, whether directly or indirectly.
Pursuant to §
227.24, Stats., the Government Accountability Board finds an emergency exists as a result of pending litigation against the Board and two decisions by the United States Supreme Court:
Federal Election Commission (FEC) v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. (WRTL II),
550 U.S. 549 (2007) and
Citizens United v. FEC, 558 U.S. ___, (No. 08-205) (January 21, 2010). Following the effective date of the August 1, 2010 rule, three lawsuits were filed seeking a declaration that the rule was unconstitutional and beyond the Board's statutory authority: one in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, one in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and one in the Wisconsin Supreme Court. On August 13, 2010, the Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily enjoined enforcement of the August 1, 2010 rule, pending further order by the Court.
In the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, the parties previously executed a joint stipulation asking the Court to permanently enjoin application and enforcement of the second sentence of s.
GAB 1.28 (3) (b). On October 13, 2010, the Court issued an Opinion and Order denying that injunction request. In denying the injunction, the Court noted that “G.A.B. has within its own power the ability to refrain from enforcing, or removing altogether, the offending sentence from a regulation G.A.B. itself created" and emphasized that “removing the language — for example, by G.A.B. issuing an emergency rule — would be far more `simple and expeditious' than asking a federal court to permanently enjoin enforcement of the offending regulation."
Wisconsin Club for Growth, Inc. v. Myse, No. 10-CV-427, slip op. at 2 (W.D. Wis. Oct. 13, 2010). The Court further noted that staying the case would give the Board time to resolve some or all of the pending issues through further rulemaking.
Id., slip op. at 14.
In addition, the Board, through its litigation counsel, has represented to the Wisconsin Supreme Court that it does not intend to defend the validity of the second sentence of s.
GAB 1.28 (3) (b) and that it would stipulate to the entry of an order by that Court permanently enjoining the application or enforcement of that sentence.
This amendment brings s.
GAB 1.28 (3) (b) into conformity with the above stipulation, with the representations that have been made to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and with the suggestions made in the October 13, 2010, Opinion and Order of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. The Board finds that the immediate adoption of this amendment will preserve the public peace and welfare by providing a simple and expeditious clarification of the meaning of s.
GAB 1.28 for litigants, for the regulated community, and for the general public and by doing so in advance of the 2011 Spring Election and any other future elections.
Publication Date:
January 7, 2011
Effective Dates:
January 7, 2011 through
June 5, 2011
Extension Through:
October 3, 2011
Hearing Date:
February 16, 2011
Insurance (2)
Finding of Emergency
The Commissioner of Insurance finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. Facts constituting the emergency are as follows: the cost of implementing the Flesch scores and electronic access to policies significantly exceeded anticipated costs for the insurance industry; a review of state resources indicates insufficient staff to timely review the volume of health insurance policy filings resulting from the flesch score requirement; and it is anticipated the federal department of Health and Human Services (“HHS") will use National Association of Insurance Commissioners recommendations for the development of standards for a uniform summary of benefits and coverage explanation for all potential policyholders and enrollees. Repealing these provisions now before costly system overhauls will save both the industry and the state significant resources. Further, although it was anticipated that the National Association of Insurance Commissioners was planning to implement a national readability standard, such movement has stalled negating the amendment to prior Flesch readability scores.
The changes contained in this emergency rule will restore prior standards and ease financial constraints for the insurance industry.
Publication Date:
February 9, 2011
Effective Dates:
February 9, 2011 through
July 8, 2011
Extension Through:
September 6, 2011
Hearing Date:
May 3, 2011
Finding of Emergency
The Commissioner of Insurance finds that an emergency exists and that the attached rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. Facts constituting the emergency are as follows:
These changes must be in place with an effective date of July 1, 2011 for the new fiscal year assessments. The fiscal year fees were established by the Board of Governors at meeting on February 16, 2011. Although the permanent version is currently under review by the Legislature, it cannot be published in time to meet the necessary effective date.
Publication Date:
June 10, 2011
Effective Dates:
June 10, 2011 through November 6, 2011
Natural Resources (5)
Fish, Game, etc., Chs.
NR 1—
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
Section
227.24 (1) (a), Stats., authorizes state agencies to promulgate a rule as an emergency rule without complying with the notice, hearing and publication requirements under ch.
227, Stats., if preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare necessitates putting the rule into effect prior to the time it would take effect if the agency complied with the procedures. However, s.
23.22 (2t) (a), Stats., authorizes the department to promulgate emergency rules to identify, classify, or control an invasive species without having to provide evidence that an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare or to provide a finding of emergency.
In addition, such emergency rules may remain in effect until whichever of the following occurs first: the first day of the 25th month beginning after the effective date of the emergency rule, the effective date of the repeal of the emergency rule, or the date on which the permanent rule identifying, classifying, or controlling the invasive species, promulgated under s. 23.22 (2) (b) 6., Stats., takes effect.
Publication Date:
September 29, 2010
Effective Dates:
September 29, 2010 through See bold text above
Hearing Date:
October 25 to 29, 2010
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
Section
227.24 (1) (a), Stats., authorizes state agencies to promulgate a rule as an emergency rule without complying with the notice, hearing and publication requirements under ch.
227, Stats., if preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare necessitates putting the rule into effect prior to the time it would take effect if the agency complied with the procedures. However, s.
23.22 (2t) (a), Stats., authorizes the department to promulgate emergency rules to identify, classify, or control an invasive species without having to provide evidence that an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare or to provide a finding of emergency.
In addition, such emergency rules may remain in effect until whichever of the following occurs first: the first day of the 25th month beginning after the effective date of the emergency rule, the effective date of the repeal of the emergency rule, or the date on which the permanent rule identifying, classifying, or controlling the invasive species, promulgated under s. 23.22 (2) (b) 6., Stats., takes effect.
Publication Date:
November 3, 2010
Effective Dates:
November 3, 2010 through
See bold text above
Hearing Date:
November 29, 2010
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
Section
227.24 (1) (a), Stats., authorizes state agencies to promulgate a rule as an emergency rule without complying with the notice, hearing and publication requirements under ch.
227, Stats., if preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare necessitates putting the rule into effect prior to the time it would take effect if the agency complied with the procedures. However, s.
23.22 (2t) (a), Stats., authorizes the department to promulgate emergency rules to identify, classify, or control an invasive species without having to provide evidence that an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare or to provide a finding of emergency.
In addition, such emergency rules may remain in effect until whichever of the following occurs first: the first day of the 25th month beginning after the effective date of the emergency rule, the effective date of the repeal of the emergency rule, or the date on which the permanent rule identifying, classifying, or controlling the invasive species, promulgated under s. 23.22 (2) (b) 6., Stats., takes effect.
Publication Date:
December 13, 2010
Effective Dates:
December 13, 2010 through
See bold text above
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Natural Resources finds that an emergency exists and the foregoing rules are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
Commercial trap nets in Lake Michigan pose a hazard to the safety of recreational fishermen trolling submerged fishing lines. The preservation of public safety requires appropriate measures to assure that recreational boaters can know the location of trap nets and are able to release themselves from entanglement with the commercial nets. Accordingly, this NRB Order requires that 1) boat operators engaged in trolling with downriggers carry wire cutters on board capable of severing fishing line or downrigger cable, 2) the enhanced net marking requirements on Lake Michigan be applied to trap nets on Lake Superior, 3) all parts of trap nets set in Zone 3 of Lake Michigan between June 29 and Labor Day be within designated areas, and 4) the marking of trap nets in Lake Michigan be enhanced by the use of reflective tape on buoy staffs.
Publication Date:
May 23, 2011
Effective Dates:
May 23, 2011 through
October 19, 2011
Hearing Date:
June 27, 2011
Finding of Emergency
The emergency rule procedure, pursuant to s.
227.24, Stats., is necessary and justified in establishing rules to protect the public welfare. The rule is necessary in order to foster participation by hunters and landowners so they will continue to hunt and cooperate in CWD control and deer herd management. This rule proposal balances pressing social concerns about the quality of the deer hunt with the need for effective herd control measures such as additional antlerless deer harvest in management units that are more than 20% over population goals or simply over population goals in units that are part of the CWD Management Zone. This rule will increase harvest of bucks in the CWD zone which have a higher prevalence of CWD and, because of their greater dispersal distances, have a higher likelihood of spreading CWD. However, the rule retains a herd control tool which requires that antlerless deer be harvested before additional bucks (beyond the initial one) may be taken. The federal government and state legislature have delegated to the appropriate agencies rule-making authority to control and regulate hunting of wild animals. The State of Wisconsin must provide publications describing the regulations for deer hunting to more than 630,000 deer hunters prior to the start of the season. These regulations must be approved prior to printing nearly 1 million copies of the regulations publication.
Publication Date:
July 2, 2011
Effective Dates:
September 17, 2011 through February 13, 2012
Natural Resources
Environmental Protection — Air Pollution Control, Chs.
NR 400—
Finding of Emergency
The emergency rule procedure, pursuant to s.
227.24, Stats., is necessary and justified in establishing rules to protect the public welfare. Preservation of the public welfare necessitates putting the forgoing rules into effect prior to the time that it would take if the Department complied with normal procedures.
On April 1, 2010, the U.S. EPA promulgated the first emission standard for gases contributing to climate change, i.e., greenhouse gases or GHG, which will become effective on January 2, 2011. While these standards target automobile emissions, under the Clean Air Act, this action will unintentionally subject stationary sources across the country to complex prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) and Title V permitting and emission control requirements. U.S. EPA attempted to mitigate this unintended effect by promulgating additional rules, which became effective on June 3, 2010, limiting applicability of the permitting requirements. However, Wisconsin sources will not be affected by the new U.S. EPA rules since existing state statute and administrative code do not contain the same applicability limiting provisions. State rules consistent with those at the federal level must be in effect on January 2, 2011 in order to provide the relief U.S. EPA intended for Wisconsin sources. Without these proposed emergency rules, many sources, including municipal landfills, hospitals, asphalt plants, wastewater treatment plants, small wood fired boilers and agricultural digesters, will be considered major emissions sources of GHG, and therefore subject to the permit and emission control requirements for GHG. These permit and control requirements were never intended or designed to address the type or size of sources that could now be affected. Without the proposed changes, the existing rules would have the potential to overwhelm DNR permitting staff, divert resources away from significant environmental issues, and delay issuance of construction permits for critical projects for expanding businesses.
Therefore, the Department finds that the proposed emergency rules are necessary and appropriate for the preservation of the public welfare.
Publication Date:
December 15, 2010
Effective Dates:
December 15, 2010 through
May 15, 2011
Extension Through:
September 11, 2011
Hearing Date:
January 21, 2011
Revenue (3)
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Revenue finds that an emergency exists and that the attached rule order is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is:
The emergency rule is to reflect changes in Wisconsin's tax laws due to the creation of income and franchise tax credits and deductions for businesses that relocate to Wisconsin.
