February 3, 2006
“TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT” TO BE INTRODUCED
As part of the Senate and Assembly Republican spring agenda, legislation will be introduced next week to create a constitutional limit on the amount of revenue the state can collect. This “Taxpayer Protection Act” is the new version of TABOR (the “Taxpayers Bill of Rights” which would have limited spending. The anticipated effects on the UW are expected to be the same. For more information about TABOR, please visit the state relations web page at http://www.staterelations.wisc.edu/TABOR.html.
Also included in the Assembly Republican agenda are several other bills of interest to UW-Madison, including the following:
- Assembly Bill 297, which creates an income/franchise tax credit for businesses that pay tuition for an individual to attend a college, university or technical college.
- Senate Bill 435, which creates an income/franchise tax credit for sales/use taxes paid for tangible personal property used in research of manufacturing by a biotechnology business, an institution of higher education, or a governmental unit.
- Assembly Bill 976, which creates medical school loan forgiveness program for rural health care service.
LEGISLATURE FAILS TO OVERRIDE VETO OF CONCEALED CARRY BILL
On Tuesday the state Assembly fell two-votes short of the 66 needed to override Governor Doyle’s veto of Senate Bill 403, which allows the concealed carry of weapons. The bill will likely be introduced during the next legislative session in 2007-08.
In other legislative action this week, the Senate passed Assembly Bill 383, which requires criminal history background checks of persons who are offered state government jobs that have fiduciary responsibilities. The bill now goes to the Governor for his signature.
ASSEMBLY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COMMITTEE TO HAVE HEARING
The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee has scheduled a hearing and possible executive session (vote) for February 21, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. in room 225-Northwest of the State Capitol. Included on their agenda are the following bills:
- Assembly Bill 701, which requires the appointment to the Board of Regents at least one citizen member who resides in each of Wisconsin’s congressional districts.
- Assembly Bill 819, which directs the UW Law School to require students to complete a clinical practicum.
The committee is also expected to take up Senate Bill 338 as well. SB 338 would streamline the process to get start-up technology to the marketplace.
VETERAN TUITION REMISSION BILL ADVANCES
The Senate Veterans, Homeland Security, Military Affairs, Small Business and Government Reform Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 427 (companion to Assembly Bill 879), which expands the eligibility for fee remission for spouses and children of certain veterans. The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
Assembly Bill 976 - rural physicians loan forgiveness program
Representative Jeffrey Mursau (R-Crivitz) introduced legislation that creates a loan forgiveness program for medical students who agree to practice medicine in rural areas. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Public Health.
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