September 26, 2005
VOTE ON CLONING BILL SET FOR TOMORROW
Tomorrow the State Senate is scheduled to vote on Assembly Bill 499, which prohibits cloning both to create humans as well as also an avenue of research related to embryonic stem cell research known as "therapeutic cloning." The bill has already passed the Assembly and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee last week on a 3-2 vote.
The University supports amending the bill to allow the promising area of stem cell research and therapeutic cloning to continue while prohibiting human cloning. It is expected that this kind of amendment will be offered for consideration tomorrow. A recent memo describing UW-Madison’s position on the bill will be available soon at http://www.staterelations.wisc.edu/stemcells.html.
Tomorrow’s Senate debate on the bill will be available over the internet at http://www.legis.state.wi.us/insession/senate/index.htm. The session is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m.
TUITION GIFT CERTIFICATE BILL MOVES FORWARD
Last week the Assembly passed, on a 71-23 vote, Assembly Bill 27, which authorizes a program for tuition gift certificates within the UW System. The bill now goes to the State Senate for consideration.
JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE ACTION
Last week the Joint Finance Committee took action on two bills of interest to the University. First, on a 16-0 vote, the Committee passed Substitute Amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 105/Senate Bill 56, which requires an analysis of any outside contract over $25,000. The amended bill is available at http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AB105-SSA1.pdf.
Second, on a 9-7 vote the Committee passed Senate Bill 336, which creates a non-refundable income tax credit for amounts contributed to any section 529 college tuition program. Also on a 9-7 vote the Committee passed an amendment to Assembly Bill 31, substituting language identical to SB 336.
ASSEMBLY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COMMITTEE TO MEET
The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee is scheduled to meet next Tuesday, October 4, at 10:00 a.m. in room 225-Northwest of the State Capitol. During their hearing the Committee may vote on Assembly Bill 387, which would expand the nursing student loan program to include nurse educators, and Assembly Bill 595, which would expand the college parallel programs to include any technical college district in the Wisconsin Technical College System in which there is not located a UW two-year campus.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
Senate Bill 336 - college savings program tax credit
Senator Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) and Representative Scott Jensen (R-Waukesha) have introduced legislation that would create a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for amounts contributed to any section 529 college tuition program account. The bill was referred to the Joint Finance Committee, where it passed out of committee last week (see above).
Senate Bill 338 - Streamlining the start-up technology process
At the request of UW-Madison and the Governor, Senators Ted Kanavas (R- Brookfield) and Fred Risser (D-Madison) and Representatives Andy Lamb (R-Menomonie) and Therese Berceau (Madison) introduced legislation that would create an exemption for certain campus spin-off companies that contract with the university for the purchase of goods or services if the contract evaluated by a campus review process, independent of the faculty or staff member involved with the company, shows there is not a conflict of interest. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Job Creation, Economic Development and Consumer Affairs.
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<