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Legislative Update

June 3, 2005

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Joint Finance Committee Action

The Joint Finance Committee voted this week on the UW System budget and the Higher Education Aids Board (HEAB). Please go to the budget website link at http://www.wisconsin.edu/budget/ for a complete summary of actions, motions, and changes from the Governor’s budget. The bottom line is that the committee action reduced the Governor’s proposed budget by $40 million, leaving a $9 million increase over the next two years. See what our neighbors in Minnesota say about this meager investment: http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/editorial/11800203.htm

Legislative Activity

On Tuesday, March 31, the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee heard testimony on AB-439, a proposal requiring the Board of Regents to hold a public hearing when determining the salary and other compensation paid to University of Wisconsin System senior executives. Here is a link to Associate Vice President of University Relations Margaret Lewis’ testimony on the bill: http://www.uwsa.edu/execvp/govrel/pending/testimon/t_ab439.htm

A substitute amendment to AB-87 passed in the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee on Tuesday. The amendment creates a non-resident tuition exemption for dependents of certain active members of the armed forces. It passed 10-0-2. The substitute amendment may be found at:

http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AB87-ASA1.pdf The committee also heard testimony on AB-297, a proposal which creates income/franchise tax credit for businesses that pay tuition for an individual to attend a college, university or technical college.

The Assembly Family Law Committee heard testimony on AB 343 on May 26, 2005. The bill prohibits the University of Wisconsin System from advertising the availability, dispensing or prescribing certain birth control medications. Another hearing on the measure will be held Thursday, June 9, 2005, at which time a committee vote is expected.

The Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs passed AB 317 and AB 318 on May 24, 2005.

AB-317 exempts spouses, un-remarried surviving spouses and children of killed or 30% disabled veterans from tuition and fees at the UW System and at technical colleges, and AB-318 exempts certain veterans from 50% tuition and fees at UW System and technical colleges. Both these bills were incorporated in the biennial budget provisions for the UW System (see motion #348).

New Legislation

AB 438 will increase funding for the University of Wisconsin System for energy-related and utility-related expenses by about $20 million and for additional items in other state agencies. The bill, authored by Rep. Dean Kaufert and Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, was referred to the Joint Committee on Finance.