Government Relations

Legislative Update

January 18, 2008

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STATE UPDATE

State Legislation Update

Recent Legislative Activity

January 9 – The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Higher Education held an executive session unanimously passing: SB 238, allowing for accessible materials for students with disabilities in the UW System or technical college; SB 254, providing an individual income tax deduction for certain amounts contributed by legally separated or divorced parents; and SB 353 relating to collective bargaining passed 4-1.

The committee also held a public hearing on SB 333, relating to the funding of new positions for nanoscience technology research at UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout, and Chippewa Valley Technical College.

Also on January 9, the following bills were referred to the Joint Committee on Finance: SB 155, relating to a loan forgiveness program for veterinary students attending the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and who choose to enter into food animal practice. SB 168, relating to determine eligibility for academic excellence higher education scholarships.

January 15 – The Senate passed by voice vote SB 291, relating to UW System tuition gift certificates as well as SB 310, relating to anatomical gifts.

Both the Senate and the Assembly adopted SJR 75, commending the UW-Whitewater football team for victory in the NCAA Division III Championship.  See Sen. Robson/Rep. Hixson news release.

January 16 – The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Corrections, and Housing held an executive session, voting on AB 8, which prohibits the capturing of pictures in a locker room and requires posting of written privacy policies.

Upcoming Legislative Activity

January 23 – The Senate Committee on Ethics Reform and Government Operations will hold a public hearing on SB 163, relating to state procurement of contractual services, and SB 372, relating to changes in the UW Hospitals and Clinics Authority and UW Hospitals and Clinics Board.

January 29 – The Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities will hold a public hearing on AB 541 relating to the UW System tuition gift certificate program and AB 577 relating to the appointment of student members of the Board of Regents.

The committee will also hold an executive session on AB 281 relating to the purposes, authority, and responsibilities of the Educational Approval Board and the regulation of schools by that board and AB 494 relating to the membership of a technical college district board that governs a district in a first class city.

Remaining Legislative Schedule

Watch live coverage of the Senate and Assembly floor sessions online. The Legislature started legislative session on January 15, 2008. The remaining schedule is as follows:

  • Jan 15 to 31, 2008 (Tu − Th) Floor period
  • Jan 23, 2008 7 p.m. – Governor’s State of the State Message
  • Feb 19 to March 13, 2008 (Tu − Th) Last general-business floor period
  • April 3, 2008 (Th) Bills sent to Governor
  • May 6 to 8, 2008 (Tu − Th) Limited-business floor period
  • May 15, 2008 (Th) Bills sent to Governor
  • May 27 and 28, 2008 (Tu − W) Veto review floor period

Legislation Introduced or Added Since Last Update

January 10 – Sen. Kanavas circulated LRB-3776/2, a Senate Joint Resolution honoring the life and public service of former Governor Lee Sherman Dreyfus.

January 16 – Rep. Richards is circulating LRB-3844/1. This is an Assembly companion bill to SB 353, relating to extending collective bargaining rights to UW System academic faculty and staff. 

January 17 – Sen. Olsen introduced SB 392, relating to a nonresident tuition exemption veterans who meet certain criteria.  The bill has been referred to the Senate Agriculture and Higher Education Committee.

FEDERAL UPDATE

Congressional Schedule

The House and Senate are both in pro forma session today and will reconvene on Tuesday, January 22, following the Martin Luther King holiday.  The President is scheduled to give his State of the Union address on Tuesday. 

Higher Education Act Reauthorization expected in February

The House is expected to take up the Higher Education Act (H.R. 4137) in early February.  The Senate passed its version of the five-year reauthorization bill by a vote of 95-0 in July.  Last year, Congress was successful in redirecting money to Pell Grants and other forms of student aid (PL 110-84). 

Both House and Senate measures would raise the authorized maximum Pell grant award from $5,800 to $9,000, and would allow Pell grants to be used year-round. 

Of particular concern to the higher education community is the large number of new reporting requirements in both bills. In the House measure, a minimum of 189 new requirements address such topics as college cost, student loans, file sharing, and textbook pricing. 

In the area of college costs, H.R. 4137 creates a “higher education price index” that will reflect annual changes in tuition and fees at individual institutions. Schools whose tuition or fee increases exceed the index would be placed on a “watch list” and required to convene a “quality-efficiency task force” to review their operating costs as compared to similar institutions; results of the task force review would be published on the Department of Education’s College Navigator website. 

Colleges would also be required to publish net price information by income in all application materials. In order to meet this requirement, institutions would be required to adopt the Department’s net price calculator or develop their own.

In response to the recent scrutiny regarding student loans, the bill includes several new requirements for institutional disclosure regarding financial aid. Colleges and universities must compile an annual report for each lender with which they have education loan arrangements and include details of the lender disclosure form provided to students along with an explanation of why the terms and conditions of each type of loan, under the agreement are beneficial to students and parents. Institutions with preferred lender agreements must provide a list of such agreements and relevant details, including why the lender was selected. 

The bill also requires institutions to provide policies and procedures related to illegal downloading or peer-to-peer file sharing to students and staff, as well as to develop plans for alternatives to illegal downloading and “technology-based” deterrents to prevent such activity. 

Other reporting requirements include reports on retail prices for required and recommended texts and related materials for all courses offered, expansion of crime reporting categories, fire safety disclosures and logs, and the identification of the names and addresses of any entities or individuals who contribute $1 million or more under Title VI to any institution.

For full details, see the following overview of the reporting requirements in both the House and Senate bills prepared by the American Council on Education.

Collaborative Opportunity Gatherings Held

WiSys Technology Foundation and the UW System Office of Federal Relations have been hosting “Collaborative Opportunity Gatherings” across the UW System to stimulate new ideas for research and new relationships with faculty and industry.  Three such gatherings have been held recently. 

At UW-River Falls, the second annual Integrated Solutions Consortium Symposium was held on Jan. 11. Chancellor Don Betz kicked off the symposium that has been described as an “excellent day, with wonderful presentations and great discussions.”  Nearly 45 people representing four ISC campuses (UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout, UW-River Falls, and Chippewa Valley Technical College), as well as scientists from Marshfield Clinic and the University of St. Thomas were present throughout the day.

 At UW-Platteville, faculty from across the UW System met on January 8.  Faculty and industry experts discussed ongoing nanotechnology programs and opportunities for collaborative research, especially in the following areas: synthesis of shaped nanoparticles, nanowires, patterned nanowires and films for applications in sensing, metallurgy, composite materials, and electronic devices. 

Also this week, UW-Stevens Point hosted a gathering of UW System faculty and industry researchers to introduce the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC). The gathering was an occasion for our faculty and the public to get to know more about the GLBRC initiative, network with researchers from System campuses and industry, and discuss possible collaborations.  UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) Dean Molly Jahn and GLBRC members talked about the goals, resources and potential of the GLBRC, and UW System campus representatives showcased their current bioenergy-related projects. Judy Ziewacz, who was appointed by Governor Doyle to head up Wisconsin’s Office of Energy Independence, also addressed the meeting.

UPCOMING EVENTS     

January  
23

UW System Legislative Liaison/PIO Teleconference
23

Governor Doyle presents his annual State of the State Address
February  
4

Central Wisconsin legislative breakfast and briefing – at UW-Stevens Point
Hosted by:  UW-Stevens Point, UW-Marshfield/Wood County, UW-Marathon County
6

UW-La Crosse Legislative Reception- Inn on the Park, Madison
Hosted by UW-L Foundation/Alumni Association
7-8

UW System Board of Regents Meeting in Madison
20

UW System Legislative Liaison/PIO Meeting – In Madison
March  
5 Hold the Date! (PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE) Tentative plans call for UW Undergraduate Research Day (Posters in the Rotunda) and UW Spirit Day to be held in conjunction with the legislative session and the Regents’ meeting in Madison.
5-6 United St. Croix Valley Days, Inn on the Park, Madison
See website for more details. 
6 Board of Regents Meeting - in Madison
26 UW System Legislative Liaison/PIO Teleconference

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