Government Relations
Legislative Update
April 8, 2005
Legislative Action
The Assembly passed AB 53, introduced by Rep. Debi Towns, by a vote of 70-26 on April 7. The bill provides funding for engineering instruction at UW-Rock County starting in 2005-06. The Governor’s budget includes funding for this initiative in 2006-07. http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AB-53.pdf
Joint Finance Committee Co-Chair Dean Kaufert will host a Fox Valley budget listening session on Monday, April 11 at the UW-Fox Valley Student Union from 4 – 7 p.m. Co-Chair Scott Fitzgerald is scheduled to attend, as are a number of Fox Valley legislators.
The Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs will meet at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19 in 417-N.
The public hearing agenda includes:
- LRB-2499/1, which exempts certain veterans from tuition and fees at the UW System and at technical colleges.
- LRB-2498/2, which exempts spouses, unremarried surviving spouses, and children of certain veterans from tuition and fees at the UW System and at technical colleges.
Senate Committee on Higher Education and Tourism
The Senate Committee on Higher Education and Tourism has scheduled a public hearing for April 6, at 10 a.m. in 300 Southeast. The Committee will discuss the following bills:
- SB 76, introduced by Sen. Fred Risser, changes the eligibility for academic excellence higher education scholarships. http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/SB-76.pdf
- SB 96, introduced by Sen. Alberta Darling, allows the creation of more independent charter schools established by UW System institutions.
- http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/SB-96.pdf
- SB 121, introduced by Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, adds another student member to the UW System Board of Regents.
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/SB-121.pdf
Sen. Rob Cowles, has introduced a substitute amendment to SB 53, a bill which requires the Department of Administration to create rules guiding the cost-benefit analyses of certain service procurement contracts, has offered a substitute amendment. The amendment will limit the number of procurements to be analyzed by state agencies to contract of more than $25,000, a move in response to concerns raised by UW System. Under the original bill, compliance would have required the UW System to employ the services of up to seven FTE.
Spirit Week begins April 10
Remember to wear your campus colors on Friday, April 15!
Timeline of State and Federal Budget Activities
| April | |
|---|---|
| 10 | Spirit Week Begins (community, alumni, legislator visits) |
| 12 | Alumni and mascots connect with legislators |
| 13 | President Reilly Roundtable at the UW-Madison campus |
| 15 | Spirit Day, all wear campus colors to work |
| May | |
| 11 | UW Colleges Legislative Breakfast |
End Note
Bills and Board of Regents positions are posted at:
www.uwsa.edu/execvp/govrel/pending/index.htm
For further information, contact Margaret Lewis at (608) 262-4464.
UW System's analysis of the Governor's 2005-07 Budget Proposal is available at:
http://www.wisconsin.edu/budget/
Information on the Web
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/