Government Relations
Legislative Update
November 14, 2003
Legislative Session
The Senate this week passed the final version of SB-214—the proposal to allow persons to carry concealed weapons (with an exemption for higher educational buildings, but not all property)—with modification from the Assembly. Gov. Jim Doyle has said he will veto the bill. The Legislature will almost certainly attempt a veto override.
The Assembly passed the following bills Thursday:
AB-342. (Rep. Kreibich) The bill makes students convicted of possessing (with intent to manufacture, distribute, or deliver) or of manufacturing, distributing or delivering, a controlled substance ineligible for state financial aid. AB-342 passed 68-28.
AB-656. Ratifies labor contract for District 1199W/United Professionals for Quality Health Care, SEIU, AFL-CIO for the 2003-05 biennium. The contract covers state employees who work at health care facilities. AB-656 passed, 96-0.
AB-657. Ratifies labor contract for Wisconsin Science Professionals, AFT, Local 3732 for the 2003-05 biennium. AB-657 passed, 96-0.
The Assembly will hold an extraordinary session of the Legislature beginning at 9 a.m., Monday, Dec. 1, to consider AB-655 and SB-313, the jobs creation bills introduced earlier this week. Additional state employee contracts and the attempt to override the veto of SB-214, the carry concealed bill, are expected to be added. The Senate is expected to vote to hold an extraordinary session as well.
Committee Hearings
The Senate Higher Education and Tourism Committee this week passed SB-247, a measure allowing certain orientation information for UW System students to be provided electronically, on a vote of 5-0.
New Legislation Introduced
AB-667. (Rep. Nass) This bill would allow Wisconsin residents to claim a state income tax deduction for investing in out-of-state 529 college tuition savings programs. Referred to the Colleges and Universities Committee and Jt. Committee on Tax Exemptions. [Note: During a vote on AB-209 on 11/10/03, the Joint Finance Committee voted 3-10 against Motion #914, which was similar to this bill.]
AB-670. (Rep. Wasserman) The bill exempts medical residents and fellows from health care information data annual assessments. Referred to the Health Committee.
AB-674. (Rep. Jeskewitz) The bill permits a person who is a Wisconsin Retirement System annuitant to become a state employee and become eligible for employer contributions toward the payment of the cost of health insurance coverage. To Insurance.
New Legislation Circulating
Chancellors/Deans—Sen. Hansen is circulating LRB-3571/2, which would require the president and chancellors (including deans of the two-year UW Colleges campuses) of the UW System to obtain the approval of the Ethics Board before accepting compensation for serving on a corporation's board of directors.
EdVest—Rep. Montgomery is circulating draft legislation for co-sponsors (LRB 3672/1). The bill would allow more than one financial institution to be named as a vendor for the EdVest program and require the Department of Administration to consider specific criteria when evaluating vendors to ensure the integrity of the EdVest program.
EdVest—Rep. Hubler is circulating LRB 3671/1, which would allow an individual income tax deduction for contributions to any section 529 college tuition program. This draft is similar to AB-667 above.
Grants—Sen. Hansen is circulating LRB 3665/1. This draft bill would create a "Manufacturing Competitiveness Grant Program." The bill would create a Manufacturing Competitiveness Board to administer $9,500,000 GPR in grants to the UW System Board of Regents, the Wisconsin Technical College System Board, and certain entities that assist manufacturers. A grant may be used to fund any project that assists a manufacturer in accomplishing improved productivity, reduced costs of operation, the use of new technology in the manufacturing process, the improvement of skills within its workforce, the creation of new products, sales in new markets, or any other goal approved by the board that benefits manufacturing in this state. The bill also provides $500,000 to the WTC System Board to contract for surveys to determine manufacturers' needs and provide technical assistance.
Information on the Web
New bill positions approved by the Board of Regents are posted on the web site above.
UW System Government Relations:
http://www.uwsa.edu/govrel/
UW System Budget:
http://www.uwsa.edu/budplan/
Wisconsin
Legislature on the Web:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/
For further information, contact Margaret Lewis at (608) 262-4464 or David Miller at (608) 262-4463.