Government Relations

Legislative Update

November 30, 2007

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STATE UPDATE

State Legislation Update

Joint Committee on Employment Relations Approves Pay Increases

November 27 –   The Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER) unanimously approved a 2007-09 pay plan for both non-represented state employees and UW System faculty and academic staff. The plan provides 2.0% general wage adjustments effective the pay period following approval, an additional 2.0% increase on July 6, 2008, and 1.0% increase on April 12, 2009.  

Jennifer Donnelly, Director of the Office of State Employment Relations (OSER) recommended compensation plans to the Committee.  In her testimony, Director Donnelly also informed the committee that Governor Doyle has asked OSER to work with the UW System to explore additional funding possibilities to support the university’s efforts to keep faculty and academic staff in Wisconsin classrooms and labs.  Donnelly stated that she intended to bring a proposal back before JCOER before the end of the calendar year.

UW System President Kevin Reilly testified before the committee.  Watch Presidents Reilly’s testimony before the JCOER Committee archived on Wisconsin Eye.  (His testimony starts at 17:17)

Also read a recent UW System Memo from President Reilly regarding the state’s UW 2007-09 compensation plan, and his desire to work with state leaders on a more competitive pay plan.

Recent Legislative Activity

November 28 --   Governor Doyle has signed into law AB 280, which would allow for continuation of health insurance coverage of full-time students for the entire calendar year, regardless of when the student withdraws, when the status for that absence is a medical leave of absence.  ACT 36.  The bill signing took place at the Student Welcome Center located on the UW-Madison Campus.

Upcoming Legislative Activity

December 4 -- The Senate Judiciary, Corrections, and Housing committee will hold a public hearing at 1:00 p.m. in room 411 South on AB 8  regarding capturing an image of a nude or partially nude person in a locker room.  The bill would require written policies for conducting interviews in UW locker rooms and the use of recording devices in locker rooms.

December 11--.Both the State Senate and Assembly are tentatively scheduled to meet in floor session on Tuesday.  Proposed calendars to be determined next week. 

*Please note that several new UW System legislative bill positions that have been approved by the UW System Board of Regents, and are now posted on the web.  View bill positions.

FEDERAL UPDATE

The House and Senate remain in Thanksgiving recess.  The Senate is holding pro forma sessions during the break to prevent recess appointments by the President and will reconvene on Monday, December 3, with no recorded votes scheduled.  The House will reconvene on Tuesday, December 4.

It appears more likely that House Democrats will move the College Opportunity and Affordability Act (H.R. 4137)—legislation that would reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HEA)—to the floor for a final vote within the next two weeks. 

The bill contains a number of welcomed provisions—including the year-round Pell Grant, a provision that will permit UW Colleges to apply for more than one TRIO SSS grant, and simplification of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There continue to be concerns about a number of other areas within the bill, such as many new complex and confusing provisions on college costs and the extraordinary number of new reporting requirements.   

The provisions related to accreditation, which were once settled were unexpectedly reopened by the last-minute amendment offered by Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ) that struck important language on accreditation. Work is ongoing to resolve this issue.

With the 2008 presidential campaign in full swing, the American Council on Education has updated its guidelines for colleges and universities regarding involvement in political campaigns and events that might involve the campus.  The guidelines are intended as general guidance only. For specific cases, institutions should consult with UW System legal counsel, and reference UW System website on political campaign activities. 

Researchers and grant writers from UW System campuses heard about the research needs of the U.S. navy and the U.S. Marine corps during a Nov. 6 conference at UW-Stevens Point on attracting federal research to Wisconsin.  Dr. Patricia Gruber, director of research for the Office of Naval Research, was the keynote speaker at the event, which attracted about 60 academic, industry and government representatives from across Wisconsin.  The Wisconsin Security Research Consortium (funded by a federal grant), the Marshfield Clinic, and UW-Stevens Point hosted the event designed.

On Saturday, December 1, there will be a Clinical Sciences Collaborative Gathering program sponsored by Gundersen-Lutheran, UW-La Crosse, the UW System Office of Federal Relations, WiSys Technology Foundation, and Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek.  The purpose of the program is to foster inter-campus and industry collaboration and technology development, and is an opportunity for UW System faculty and industry experts to discuss ongoing clinical science research programs, as well as identify opportunities for collaborative research between or among UW System campuses, Gundersen-Lutheran, Marshfield Clinic and industry.  A number of experts from these organizations will provide brief presentations on their research, including opportunities for collaboration in medical microbiology, medical devices, therapeutic development, biomarker identification, personalized medicine, and bioinformatics.

UPCOMING EVENTS     

December  
6-7

UW System Board of Regents Meeting in Madison – View Full Agenda

Web Resources

 

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