April 25, 2005
2005-07 PAY PLAN PROPOSAL ANNOUNCED
Last week the Wisconsin State Journal reported that Karen Timberlake, director of the Office of State Employment Relations, said that the administration is proposing 2005-07 pay raises for UW System faculty and academic staff and non-represented state employees of 2 percent in July of this year, 2 percent in July 2006, and 1 percent in April 2007. She also indicated that state employee required contributions to health insurance premiums would not increase in the first year of the biennium, but could increase in the second year. The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Employment Relations, which must take action on the recommendations, could hold hearings in early May on the proposal. The Wisconsin State Journal article is available on-line at http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=36770&ntpid=5.
JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE CONTINUES BUDGET WORK
Last week the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance began considering portions of the Governor’s 2005-07 state budget. Voting on the budget continues tomorrow at 1:30 and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. The committee’s proposed schedule and related papers from which the members will be voting are available at http://www.legis.state.wi.us/../lfb/jfc.html. (Look under "schedule" on the left side of the page.) The UW System budget is not expected to be considered until early or mid-May.
For more information on the 2005-07 biennial budget, please visit the state relations web site at www.staterelations.wisc.edu/0507budget.html.
ASSEMBLY MAY SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
Assembly Majority Leader Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) announced that the Assembly will be in session at 11:00 a.m. on both Tuesday, May 3, and Tuesday, May 10. They will not be in session on May 4, 5, 11 and 12 so that the Joint Finance Committee can continue its work on the budget.
VETERANS TUITION BILLS TO RECEIVE VOTES
The Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs will meet in executive session at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3, in room 400-Northeast of the State Capitol. Included on their agenda are the following two bills that received public hearings last week:
- Assembly Bill 317 - which would provide a tuition waiver at any UW System institution or Wisconsin Technical College System school for dependent children or the spouse of a veteran with at least a 30 percent service-connected disability.
- Assembly Bill 318 - which would provide a 50 percent tuition waiver for all veterans deemed eligible for state veterans benefits.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
Assembly Bill 343 - emergency contraception
Rep. Dan LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) introduced legislation that would prohibit UW System campuses from advertising the availability of, prescribing or dispensing the "morning after pill" and prohibits persons from advertising, prescribing or dispensing the medication on UW System property. The bill was originally referred to the Assembly Committee on Children and Families, but was pulled and referred to the Assembly Committee on Family Law, where it is expected to have a hearing next month.
Assembly Bill 349 - transfer of certain health program credits within the UW System
Rep. Steve Wieckert (R-Appleton) introduced legislation that would require the UW Board of Regents to, within five years, ensure that all credits in nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and medical technology programs are fully transferable between institutions within the UW System. The bill was referred to the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities.
Assembly Bill 350 - nursing credit transfer
Rep. Wieckert also introduced a bill that would require the UW Board of Regents to work with technical college district boards to ensure that, within 5 years, credits earned in UW System nursing courses are accepted for transfer by technical colleges. The bill also requires each technical college district board to work with the UW System to ensure that, within 5 years, credits earned in technical college nursing courses are accepted for transfer by the UW System. The bill was referred to the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities.
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