UW System Home > Government Relations > Legislative Update

Government Relations

Legislative Update

October 14, 2005

Legislative Update Archive | Search Legislative Update

Personnel Policies and Practices Joint Audit Committee Hearing

The Joint Audit Committee will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, October 18 at 9:30 a.m. in 411 South, State Capitol to hear testimony from Regent President Walsh and UW System President Reilly and others regarding a proposed audit of the University of Wisconsin System Personnel Policies and Practices. A live audio broadcast of the hearing can be accessed at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/insession/senate/.

UW Employee Practices; Review of Governor’s UW Procurement Plan Hearing

The Senate Higher Education and Tourism Committee will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, October 19 in room 300 South beginning at 10 a.m. The Committee has asked the University to give testimony on UW System plans to correct policies as a result of problems that involve felons working at the UW, the problems detailed in the Steingass Report, review of hiring practices, whether there is sufficient oversight, and possible statutory changes that might need to be addressed. President Reilly and Regent President Walsh will testify before the committee.

The committee will also hear testimony regarding Governor Doyle’s Accountability, Consolidation and Efficiency Initiative, and how the Initiative affects individual campuses and campuses communities.

Collective Bargaining for PAs and TAs Referred

SB 317 (Reynolds) relating to collective bargaining rights for UW System student program, project, and teaching assistants has been withdrawn from the Senate Committee on Higher Education and Tourism and referred to the Senate Committee on Labor and Election Process Reform.

Legislation Introduced: Academic Excellence Scholarships, Charter Schools, College Savings Accounts, Education Grants, Early Retirement

Senator Brown has introduced SB 370 which extends the Academic Excellence Scholarship awards to students choosing a technical college diploma program as opposed to a degree granting program as an eligible recipient. The bill has been referred to the Higher Education and Tourism Committee. See full text of the bill at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/SB-370.pdf

Representative Vukmir has introduced AB 730 (Identical to SB 96) that would allow the University of Wisconsin four-year campuses to establish independent charter schools. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Education Reform. See full text of the bill at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AB-730.pdf

Representative Kreibich has introduced AB 731 which creates non-refundable individual income tax credits for amounts contributed to a college savings account or a college tuition and expenses program. The bill has been referred to the Colleges and Universities Committee. See full text of the bill at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AB-731.pdf

Representative Parisi has introduced AB 743 which changes the method by which the amounts to be appropriated for higher education grants, tuition grants, and Lawton minority undergraduate grants are calculated. The bill has been referred to the Colleges and Universities Committee. See full text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AB-743.pdf

Representative Sherman has introduced AB 747 related to calculating creditable service for purposes of early retirement under the Wisconsin Retirement System. The bill has been referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement System. See full text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AB-747.pdf

Federal Update

Congress is not in session, but back in their districts for the Columbus Day District Work Period.

Two proposals have been approved in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate aimed at campus safety and security. U.S. Congressman Mark Green introduced House Resolution 15, Campus Safety Awareness Month. U.S. Senator Russ Feingold authored a similar bill in the U.S. Senate. Both the House and Senate have approved its version of the bill. There are slight differences between the House and Senate versions. For example, the House version makes every September Campus Safety Awareness Month, whereas the Senate version calls for making September 2005 Campus Safety Awareness Month only.

The idea for the proposal came from a student at UW-Green Bay, who spearheaded the effort, along with Security on Campus, Inc. Congratulations to UW-Green Bay -- and special thanks to U.S. Senator Feingold and U.S. Congressman Mark Green, and their staffs, for promoting safety on our college campuses!