February 15, 2002

FINANCE COMMITTEE TO BEGIN VOTING ON BUDGET

The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee will begin voting on items in the Governor's budget reform bill (Special Session Assembly Bill 1) on Wednesday, February 27. Executive action will continue on Thursday, February 28, and continue the following Wednesday and Thursday (March 6 and 7). Co-chairs Brian Burke (D, Milwaukee) and John Gard (R, Peshtigo) hope to finish the committee's work on the bill that week.

Before they begin to take action on the bill, the committee will hold one more public hearing next Wednesday, February 20, at UW-Marathon County. The committee held its first public hearing this past Wednesday at the State Capitol. UW Regent Fred Mohs testified for information only about the proposed cuts to the UW System budget. His testimony is available at http://www.uwsa.edu/univ_rel/govrel/lupdate/2002/Mohs_testimony_u020215.doc.

On Tuesday the Assembly Health Committee passed Assembly Bill 615, which makes various changes to physical therapist and physical therapist assistant regulations. They also passed Senate Bill 356, which provides for disclosure of information about licensed nurses to the coordinated licensure system. Both bills now go to the full Assembly for consideration.

On Wednesday the Senate Universities Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 415, which renames UW-Madison's Institute for Environmental Studies (IES) in honor of Gaylord Nelson. IES Director Tom Yuill testified for information only about the bill, which now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

The Assembly Government Operations Committee will meet on Wednesday, February 20, at 10:00 a.m. in room 328-NW of the State Capitol. Included on their agenda is Assembly Bill 480, which would prohibit any state agency from designating a name for a state-owned building, structure, facility or property. Representative Steve Wieckert (R, Appleton) has introduced an amendment to the bill that would exempt the university from this prohibition. Also on their agenda is Assembly Bill 722, which would require performance audits of large state agencies, and Senate Bill 196, which makes changes to the consideration requirements for purchasing state fleet vehicles.

The Senate Labor and Agriculture Committee will meet on Wednesday, February 20, at 10:00 a.m. in room 411-South of the State Capitol. Included on their agenda is Senate Bill 401, which provides for certification of animal chiropractors, and Senate Bill 353, which makes Veterans Day a state holiday.

The Assembly Judiciary Committee will meet on Thursday, February 21, at 9:00 a.m. in the North Hearing Room of the State Capitol. Included on their agenda is Senate Bill 170, which makes changes to the notification requirements of the state regarding medical malpractice claims, and Senate Bill 193, which provides claims for loss of society and companionship in medical malpractice claims.

The Assembly Agriculture Committee is planning an executive session for Thursday, February 28, at 9:00 a.m. in room 417-North of the State Capitol. One of the bills they plan to vote on is Assembly Bill 679, which requires the Board of Regents to apply for any federal permits required for research involving "industrial hemp" and if the board obtains these permits, the university must conduct, and annually report on, research on growing and marketing industrial hemp.

Assembly Bill 795 - Wisconsin Retirement System
Representative Dan Vrakas (R, Hartland) introduced an omnibus bill related to the provision and administration of benefits provided to WRS participants. The bill, which is companion legislation to Senate Bill 418, was referred to the Joint Committee on Retirement Systems.

Senate Bill 442 - open records
Senator Jon Erpenbach (D, Middleton) introduced legislation that clarifies open records rules for accessing public employee records. The bill was referred to the Senate Privacy Committee.

The text and history of all legislation is available at www.legis.state.wi.us/billtext.html.

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Visit the State Relations Web Site at: http://www.staterelations.wisc.edu

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