January 5, 2006
ASSEMBLY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COMMITTEE HEARING SET
The Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities is scheduled to hold a public hearing on Senate Bill 338 which would streamline the process to get start-up technology to the marketplace. The bill was unanimously approved by the Senate and is expected to be approved by the Assembly committee before being considered by the full Assembly later this month. The hearing is set for Tuesday, January 10 at 10 a.m. in room 412 East the capitol.
The committee will also hear testimony on Assembly Bill 835 which extends tuition remissions to include children and spouses of ambulance drivers, correctional officers, emergency medical services technicians, fire fighters, and law enforcement officers who develop a permanent work-related disability (qualifying disability) and forced to retire or reduce his/her work assignment and later dies from the qualifying disability. This bill is the Assembly companion to Senate Bill 414 authored by Senator David Zein (R-Wheaton).
Legislation authored by Representative Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) to be heard include Assembly Bills 882 and 895. AB 882 would not allow the Governor to appoint to the Board of Regents the same student member to consecutive two-year terms. The bill also would not allow the student member to be from the same institution as the previous student member. AB 895 would increase the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant maximum amount from $2,500 to $3,000.
SENATE PASSES SAME SEX MARRIAGE BAN
Senate Joint Resolution 53 authored by Senator Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) proposing a constitutional amendment which requires recognized marriages in Wisconsin is between one man and one woman was approved by the State Senate on a 19-14 vote. The Assembly version of the proposed constitutional amendment, Assembly Joint Resolution 67 authored by Representative Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin) is expected to be taken up by the full Assembly in the spring session.
The resolutions are constitutional amendments that are up for second consideration in the Legislature. Last session, both resolutions were approved by the Legislature and must be approved again before going to a statewide ballot for consideration by the voters. The resolutions must be passed by May 2006 for the questions to be included on the November 2006 ballot.
CONCEALED WEAPONS BILL ONE STEP CLOSER TO LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL The Assembly passed an amended version of Senate Bill 403, which authorizes the carrying of concealed weapons on a vote of 64-32. The Assembly amended the bill to expand the area around schools where guns are not permitted; requires recertification of permit holders; and makes it a felony to lie on applications. An amendment offered by Reps. Molepske, Shilling, and Black to prohibit the carrying of a concealed weapon in buildings and grounds of a private or public university, college or technical college, was tabled. Currently, the bill only prohibits weapons in buildings on campus, but the not grounds. The bill now goes back to the Senate for action on the Assembly amendment in two weeks.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
Assembly Bill 869 - Nursing School Faculty
Representative Gregg Underheim (R- Oshkosh) has introduced legislation that prohibits the Board of Nursing from requiring that more than 75 percent of the faculty at nursing schools hold masters or doctoral degrees in nursing. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Health. A public hearing is expected early in February.
Assembly Bill 877 -- Academic Excellence Higher Education Scholarship
Representative Debi Towns (R-Janesville) has introduced legislation that limits eligibility for an Academic Excellence Higher Education Scholarship to pupils who have earned, or who by the time of graduation are expected to have earned, at least four credits of mathematics and four credits of science. The bill would take effect beginning with seniors in the 2009-10 school year. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Education Committee.
Assembly Bill 879 -- Veteran’s Tuition Remission
Representative Terry Musser (R- Black River Falls) has introduced legislation that removes the requirement that the veteran incurred the service-connected disability while a resident of this state to qualify for a spouse or dependent tuition remission. This bill adds eligibility to spouses, surviving spouses, or children of veterans if the veteran was a resident of the state for at least ten continuous years before the student registers and the veteran had incurred a service-connected disability that is 30 percent or more. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Military Affairs Committee.
Assembly Bill 895 -- WHEG Cap Increase
Representative Joan Ballweg has introduced legislation that increases the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant maximum amount from $2,500 to $3,000. The bill was referred to the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee and is scheduled for a public hearing and possible vote January 10.
Assembly Bill 882 - Student Regents
Reprsentative Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) has introduced legislation that would not allow the Governor to appoint to the Board of Regents the same student member to consecutive two-year terms. The bill also would not allow the student member to be from the same institution as the previous student member. The bill was referred to the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee and is scheduled for a public hearing and possible vote January 10.
For the complete text of all bills and their current status, please visit
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/ab_list.html (Assembly bills) or
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/sb_list.html (Senate bills).
For more information on state related issues contact,
Kristi Thorson or Don Nelson
Assistant Directors, State Relations
608/262-8967