Government Relations
Legislative Update
January 16, 2003
Legislative Session
(NOTE: The Legislative floor schedule begins Tuesday, Jan. 20)
The Assembly adopted Substitute Amendment 2 to AB-655, relating to Jobs/Regulatory Reform, during extraordinary session on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The measure passed 80-14.
Upcoming Senate Action
State senators will vote to override Gov. Doyle's veto of the bill authorizing permits to carry concealed weapons in Wisconsin on Wednesday, Jan. 21. The bill passed the Senate 24-8 on Oct. 23. It cleared the Assembly 64-35 on Nov. 5. Doyle vetoed the measure on Nov. 18. The UW System has consistently supported an exemption for university properties to protect UW student safety.
State of the Union
President Bush is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union address on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 8 p.m.
State of the State
Gov. Doyle will deliver his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature in the Assembly Chambers, State Capitol, beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21. The address will be carried live on Wisconsin Public Television.
Governor’s Town Hall Meetings
In preparation for his State of the State address, Gov. Doyle hosted a series of town hall meetings statewide, including Stevens Point, Chippewa Falls, Green Bay, Superior and Milwaukee.
Recent Committee Hearings
- On Thursday, Jan. 8, the Assembly Financial Institutions Committee held a public hearing on AB-683, a bill to increase the number of financial institutions to serve as vendors of the college savings program.
- On Tuesday, Jan. 13, the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee held a hearing on:
AB-686. The legislation updates language in the statutes regarding membership of the State Laboratory of Hygiene Board and deletes obsolete references to the transfer program at the UW Medical School. UW-Madison Vice Chancellor Darrell Bazzell testified in support of the legislation and was not asked any questions by the committee. There was no additional public testimony on AB-667. This legislation is designed to expand the income-tax deduction currently provided to Wisconsin’s section 529 college savings plan to the college savings plan of any state. The committee heard a good deal of public testimony, primarily by representatives of the financial community, who were supporting the bill. No university officials testified on the bill.
- The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee also held an executive session on two other bills:
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. UW System supported this bill, which was amended to address concerns raised regarding student-soldiers who are impacted by reciprocity agreements. The bill (as amended) was passed on an 11-0 vote. AB-497. Permits certain UW student orientation information to be given electronically. UW System supported this bill, which was passed on an 11-0 vote. The Senate Homeland Security, Veterans and Military Affairs and Government Reform Committee met on Wednesday, Jan. 14, and passed SB-268 with an amendment. The proposal creates an education tax credit for businesses. Sub (LRBs0287/2) recommended 3-0. Passage as amended recommended 3-0.
Upcoming Committee Hearings
- The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, to hold an executive session on AB-667 and AB-686 (see above).
- The Senate Committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care will meet at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, to vote on SB-388, a measure that increases bonding authority for the UW Hospitals and Clinics Authority.
Senate Calendar for Tuesday, Jan. 20
SB-360. (JCOER) Ratifies contract with program, project and teaching assistants at UW-Milwaukee. SB-362. (JCOER) State employee travel and expense reimbursement; supplemental credits for purchase of health insurance for dependents of state employees who die while employed by the state; use of earned annual leave under state civil service system; granting an additional paid personal holiday for non-represented state employees.
Extraordinary session:
AB-655 (Assembly Sub. 2 as amended by Assembly
Am. 1). Jobs/Regulatory Reform.
(NOTE: The Senate Select Committee on Jobs
Creation is expected to exec on the bill Thurs., Jan.22.)
Assembly Calendar for Tuesday, Jan. 20
- AB-717. (JCOER) Ratifies contract with program, project and teaching assistants at UW-Milwaukee.
- AB-721. (JCOER) State employee travel and expense reimbursement; supplemental credits for purchase of health insurance for dependents of state employees who die while employed by the state; use of earned annual leave under state civil service system; granting an additional paid personal holiday for non-represented state employees.
Legislation Introduced
- AB-712. MANUFACTURING (Shilling) Creates a Manufacturing Competitiveness Grant Program and board. The program would administer $9.5 million to the UW System, Wisconsin Technical College System and entities that assist manufacturers. To Assembly Economic Development Committee. This is a companion bill to Senator Hansen’s SB-319.
- SB-389. CONTRACT SERVICES (Robson) State procurement of foreign contractual services. To Homeland Security, Veterans and Military Affairs and Government Reform.
- SB-388. UW BONDING (Darling) Increases bonding authority for UW Hospitals and Clinics Authority. To Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care.
- SB-363. CHOICE (Moore) Changes affecting Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. To Senate Education, Ethics and Elections.
Election News
Rep. Luther Olsen (R-Berlin) has announced that he plans to run for the State Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Bob Welch (R-Redgranite), who is running for the U.S. Senate.
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.
- Tuition for Children of service members — Rep. Judy Krawczyk (R-Green Bay) is circulating LRB 3788/1, which will allow nonresident children of Wisconsin service members whose parents have maintained state residency to receive a nonresident tuition exemption if they return to Wisconsin to attend college.
Information on the Web
(For further information, contact Margaret
Lewis at (608) 262-4464 or Doug
Bradley at (608) 262-4463)
UW System Government Relations:
http://www.uwsa.edu/govrel/
UW System Budget:
http://www.uwsa.edu/budplan/
Wisconsin
Legislature:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/