Government Relations
Legislative Update
December 19, 2003
Legislative Session
Legislative leaders said this week there will not be a pre-Christmas session of the Legislature on the Jobs Bill. They hope to have a bill ready in early January after negotiations with the Governor are completed.
Committee Hearings
The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee held
a hearing Tuesday, Dec. 16, and took testimony on:
AB-406.
Requires colleges and universities to reenroll a student who
was called into active duty military service in the semester
following discharge or the next succeeding semester.
AB-422.
Increases maximum amount of Indian student assistance grants.
AB-497.
Permits certain UW student orientation information to be given
electronically.
The following bills were scheduled for executive action:
AB-366.
Mandating the transfer of credits between and within the UW
System and technical college system. An amendment has
been introduced. The committee delayed a vote on this proposal.
AB-403.
This proposal regulates athlete agents. After satisfying some
concerns from Regulation and Licensing, the bill passed 11-0.
AB-543.
Expands the statutory notice of public meetings of certain
bodies within the UW System. A substitute
amendment was passed 11-0 to require the Board of Regents
to hold at least one meeting concerning the determination of
executive salary ranges and “allow members of the public
to comment at the meeting.”
AB-558.
Requires UW System Board of Regents to vote by roll call. No
vote was taken on this bill.
The next Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee hearing
is scheduled for January 13, 2004.
A hearing will be held on:
AB-667, providing tax credits for section
529 plans (EdVest, etc.). EdVest program manager Marty Olle
will give an update on recent expansion of options.
A vote will be held on AB-406, AB-422, and AB-497, described above.
On Thursday, Dec. 18, the Joint Committee on Employment
Relations met and unanimously passed a contract for
UW-Milwaukee Graduate Assistants Association, AFT-W/AFT, AFL-CIO,
covering employees in the program, project and teaching assistants.
In 2004-05, the contract provides a 1.74% “lift,” a
general wage adjustments of 1%, a $0.10/hour general wage increase,
a September 2004 $125 general wage lump sum payment, and a
September 2004 – $60 general wage lump sum payment funded
by UW-Milwaukee. The contract also includes the 3-Tier health
insurance model effective January 2004 and a 1.0% appointment
increase for Graduate Assistants teaching weekend and off campus
courses.
Upcoming Committee Hearings
The Dec. 17 Building Commission meeting has been canceled. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2004, at 3 p.m.
The Senate Education, Ethics and Elections held
a hearing on Wednesday, Dec. 17, on the following bills:
SB-9.
Allows counties to establish charter schools.
SB-253.
Allows any four-year or two-year campus of the UW System to
operate a charter school.
SB-321.
Appeals of decisions related to charter schools.
AB-29.
Allows counties to establish charter schools.
AB-183.
Eliminates mandatory nature of Youth Options Program; allows
schools to establish program.
No vote was taken on any of the bills.
New Legislation Circulating
Administrators — Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale) is circulating LRB 3636, which would prohibit University of Wisconsin System administrators from serving on the board of directors of corporations where a conflict of interest might exist.
EdVest — Rep. Mary Hubler (D-Rice Lake) 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.
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.