The Assembly Committee on Natural Resources held a public hearing on Wednesday, November 19, 2008, on Clearinghouse Rule 06-108, relating to regulation of fishing tournaments in inland, outlying, and boundary waters of Wisconsin.

The Special Committee on Domestic Biofuels, chaired by Senator Pat Kreitlow met on Tuesday, November 18, 2008, for presentations on forestry-related policy considerations; Paul DeLong, Department of Natural Resources, Forestry Division Administration; Intermediate Ethanol Blends, American Coalition for Ethanol. They also discussed policy options and committee assignment.

Continued.

Continued.

The Special Committee on Strengthening Wisconsin Families, co-chaired by Senator Lena Taylor and Representative Steve Kestell, met on Friday, November 14, 2008, for presentations on home visitation by invited speakers, including: Jack Tweedie, Group Director, Children and Families Program, National Conference of State Legislatures; and Audrey Laszewski, Project Director, The Early Years Home Visitation Outcomes Project of Wisconsin. They also discussed Committee Assignment; WLC: 0125/2, relating to Children with Severe Disabilities or Who Are Involved in Multiple Systems of Care, or Both, and Their Families; Memo No. 4, WLC: 0125/2, relating to Children with Severe Disabilities or Who Are Involved in Multiple Systems of Care, or Both, and Their Families.

Continued.

The Joint Committee on Audit held a public hearing on Thursday, November 13, 2008, on the following: Annual Economic Development Programs Report (October 2008). The Committee will receive testimony from invited speakers only on this item. Interested persons may view the report from the Department of Commerce at www.commerce.wi.gov/BDdocs/BD-Act125-2008.pdf. The Committee may also discuss provisions of 2007 Wisconsin Act 125 and information contained in Audit Report 06-9, State Economic Development Programs. Interested persons may view the audit report at www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lab/reports/06-9Full.pdf. The committee will also receive public testimony on Best Practices Review of Truancy Reduction Efforts (September 2008).

The Senate Committee on Tax Fairness and Family Prosperity, held an informational hearing on Thursday, November 13, 2008, on the following: Indian Child Welfare Act, relating to Indian child welfare and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority.

The Special Committee on School Safety, chaired by Senator John Lehman, met on Wednesday, November 12, 2008, for invited testimony on school safety conference activities; and committee discussion and consideration of possible recommendations relating to school safety, including information sharing, school safety plans, bullying, revenue caps, and school safety grants.

Continued.

Continued.

The Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules held a public hearing on Tuesday, November 11, 2008, on the following: RL 161.04 Emergency Rule Extension, relating to examinations for substance abuse professionals; DWD 40 Emergency Extension Request, relating to the Establishment of Birth Cost Orders Based on the Child Support Guidelines; Comm 108.07 Emergency Extension Request, relating to enabling the Department to use any available Community Development Block Grant funds for emergency assistance with repairing or replacing public infrastructure and facilities, and with repairing or replacing homes damaged by the severe storms and flooding.

The Senate Committee on Health, Human Services, Insurance, and Job Creation, held an executive session on Friday, October 31, 2008, on Clearinghouse Rule 08-036, relating to the training and certification of individuals performing regulated asbestos abatement activities, the certification of companies providing regulated asbestos activities, the accreditation of asbestos training courses, the approval of asbestos training instructors, and the responsibilities of designated school asbestos coordinators, and affecting small businesses.

The Assembly Committee on Elections and Constitutional Law held an
informational hearing on Thursday, October 23, 2008, on the following items: at the time specified below: Kevin Kennedy, General Counsel, Government Accountability Board will provide a status report to the committee on Wisconsin's Election preparedness, the Statewide Voter Registration List, and the status of the Van Hollen v. GAB et. al., 08 CV 4085. This presentation is for the information of the committee.

The Special Committee on Building Wisconsin's Workforce, chaired by Representative Patricia Strachota, met on Wednesday, October 22, 2008, for testimony on the 2009-11 budget requests and programs and initiatives of the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) regarding workforce development by Deborah Mahaffey, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of Academic Excellence, DPI; presentation on Lifelong Learning Accounts by Amy Sherman, Council for Adult and Experiential Learning; discussion of committee assignment, including a Discussion of Memo No. 1, Potential Recommendations Submitted for Consideration by Committee Members (September 23, 2008); discussion of bill drafts, including those relating to an annual report to the Legislature on credit transfer between the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin Technical College System; and requiring an additional credit in mathematics for a high school diploma.

Continued.

The Special Committee on High-Risk Juvenile Offenders, chaired by Senator Tim Carpenter, met on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, for testimony by Vincent Schiraldi, Director, Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, District of Columbia; review of drafts relating to waiver of juvenile court jurisdiction, age of delinquency, reverse waiver from adult court, and the daily rate for juvenile correctional institutions; and discussion of the "Missouri Model" for juvenile justice.

Continued.

The Special Committee on Performance-Based Disease Management Programs for Large Population. chaired by Representative Steve Wieckert, met on Friday, October 17, 2008, for presentations by invited speakers, including James Galloway, Assistant Surgeon General, Region V, Chicago, IL, Elaine Mischler, CEO, Mischler Consultants, and Denise Webb, Program Manager, eHealth Care Quality and Patient Safety Board, Department of Health Services; and discussion of committee assignment.

Continued.

Special Committee on Strengthening Wisconsin Families, co-chaired by Representative Steve Kestell and Senator Lena Taylor met on Thursday, October 16, 2008, for presentations on collaboration and coordination by invited speakers, including Dr. Howard Garber, President, Milwaukee Center for Independence; review of a bill draft relating to coordinated services teams for children with severe disabilities or who are involved in multiple systems of care, or both, and their families; discussion of home visitation, including a description of current law regarding state funding for home visitation programs.

The Special Committee on Domestic Biofuels, chaired by Senator Pat Kreitlow, met on Tuesday, October 14, 2008, for presentations on: assessment of feedstocks in Wisconsin for the production of biofuels; lifecycle analyses of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of transportation fuels; Wisconsin and neighboring states' biofuels policies; and discussion of committee assignment.

Continued.

The Special Committee on Regional Transportation Authority, chaired by Representative Alvin Ott met on Thursday, October 9, 2008, for presentations and committee discussion on taxing methods and economic development associated with public transit services; discussion of preliminary draft committee legislation (WLC: 0063/P1); discussion of Wisconsin transit projects currently proposed for federal funding; and discussion of committee assignment.

Continued.

Continued.

The Special Committee on School Safety, chaired by Senator John Lehman met on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 for presentations by invited speakers on the BadgerCare program and mental health, and other school safety issues. They also met for a discussion of Special Committee assignment with focus on possible Special Committee actions on issues related to school safety and school safety plans.

Continued.

The Special Committee on Differences in Laws Applicable to Cities and Villages, chaired by Representative Mark Gottlieb, met on Monday, October 6, 2008, for consideration and possible approval of draft legislation relating to: Establishing and changing compensation for city and village elective offices; signing village contracts; bidding procedure for village public construction contracts; officer-of-the-peace status of village officers; publication by the city clerk of fund receipts and disbursements; village and fourth class city regulation of political signs; liability of counties and cities for mob damage; means of providing police and fire protection by cities; holdover status of appointed city and village officers; and use of the procedure in s. 32.05 villages for certain housing and urban renewal condemnation; and application of public contract bidder prequalification requirements to first class cities.

The Special Committee on Emergency Management and Continuity of Government, chaired by Senator Robert Jauch met on Wednesday, October 1, 2008, to hold a public hearing at which anyone is welcome to address the committee on issues related to emergency management, including state assistance in emergencies, public works mutual aid, urban search and rescue, the different emergency management needs of urban and rural areas, the financial ability of local units of government to address emergencies, interoperability of communications; and other emergency preparedness issues.

The Special Committee on Continuity of Legislative Operations, chaired by
Senator Robert Jauch, met on Wednesday, October 1, 2008 for a discussion of statutes, constitutional provisions, and rules that affect continuity of legislative operations.

The Special Committee on Strengthening Wisconsin Families, co-chaired by
Senator Lena Taylor and Representative Steve Kestell met on Friday, September 26, 2008, on the following: Presentations by invited speakers: Gerald Huber, Human Services Director, La Crosse County; Dan Naylor, CST Specialist, White Pine Consulting. The committee also discussed committee assignment and 2007 Assembly Bill 700, relating to children with severe disabilities or who are involved in multiple systems of care, or both, and their families and making an appropriation.

Continued.

The Senate Committee on Health, Human Services, Insurance, and Job Creation held an executive session on September 25, 2008, on the following: Clearinghouse Rule 06-080, relating to certification of outpatient mental health clinics, and affecting small businesses.

The Special Committee on Building Wisconsin's Workforce, chaired by Representative Patricia Strachota, met on Tuesday, September 23, 2008, on the following: Presentations by invited speakers, including John Keckhaver, Research Analyst, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families; Jim Golembeski, Executive Director, Bay Area Workforce Development Board; and Robert Borremans, Executive Director, Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board. The committee also discussed committee assignment with a focus on discussing potential legislative recommendations or specific issue areas that the committee should further study.

The Senate Committee on Health, Human Services, Insurance, and Job Creation held a public hearing on Thursday, September 18, 2008, on the following: Clearinghouse Rule 06-080, relating to certification of outpatient mental health clinics, and affecting small businesses.

The Special Committee on Regional Transportation Authority, chaired by
Representative Alvin Ott met on Wednesday, September 17, 2008
on the following: Testimony by Rod Clark, Director, Bureau of Transit, Local Roads, Railroads, and Harbors, Department of Transportation; Testimony by Paul Larrousse, Director, National Transit Institute; Discussion of committee assignment.

Continued.

Continued.

The Special Committee on Domestic Biofuels, chaired by Senator Pat Kreitlow met on Tuesday, September 16, 2008, for presentations on: Current federal policies promoting transportation biofuels; Distribution of transportation fuels in Wisconsin; Effects of transportation biofuels usage in Wisconsin on attainment of national ambient air quality standards. They also held discussions on transportation fuels incentives and subsidies and committee assignment.

Continued.

Continued.

The Special Committee on High-Risk Juvenile Offenders, chaired by Senator Tim Carpenter met on Tuesday, September 16, 2008, on the following: Testimony by Sarah Hammond, Program Principal, Criminal Justice, National Conference of State Legislatures; testimony on Missouri’s juvenile justice system; and discussion of committee assignment.

Continued.

The Special Committee on Performance-Based Disease Management Programs for Large Populations, chaired by Representative Steve Wieckert met on Friday, September 12, 2008, on the following: Presentations by invited speakers, including Ken Thorpe, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease; Laura Tobler, National Conference of State Legislatures; Monica Pomasl, Appleton Area School District; Dr. John Barkmeier and Verna Van Nuland, ThedaCare; Carolyn Fisher, Centers for Disease Control; and Casey Fitzrandolph and Suzy Favor Hamilton, Winning Every Step of the Way. The committee also discussed committee assignment.

Continued.

The Special Committee on Recodification of Chapter 166 and Related Emergency Management Statutes, chaired by Senator Robert Jauch met on Friday, September 12, 2008, on the following: Discussion of reorganizing ch. 166 of the Wisconsin Statutes, renumbering and retitling sections, consolidating related provisions, modernizing language, resolving ambiguities in language, and making other necessary changes in the chapter and related statutes.

The Special Committee on Differences in Laws Applicable to Cities and Villages, chaired by Representative Mark Gottlieb met on Thursday, September 11, 2008, on the following: Review of draft legislation on: establishing and changing salaries for city and village elective offices; bidding procedure for city and village public construction contracts; officer-of-the-peace status of village officers; publication by the city clerk of fund receipts and disbursements; municipal regulation of political signs; liability of counties and cities for mob damage; means of providing police and fire protection by cities; and holdover status of appointed city officers. Discussion of possible draft legislation on election of village board members by district. Discussion of application of s. 32.05 procedure to villages for certain housing and urban renewal condemnation. Identification of additional issues for future consideration.

The Special Committee on Continuity of Legislative Operations, chaired by Senator Robert Jauch met on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, on the following: Discussion of statutes, constitutional provisions, and rules that affect continuity of legislative operations.

The Special Committee on Emergency Management and Continuity of Government, chaired by Senator Robert Jauch met on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, on the following: Discussion of regional hazardous materials responses, public works mutual aid, state disaster assistance, and other emergency management issues. The meeting will include presentations on these topics by representatives of the Department of Military Affairs and others.

Continued.

The committee held an executive session on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, on Clearinghouse Rule 07-004, relating to price gouging during an emergency.

The Special Committee on School Safety, chaired by Senator John Lehman, met on Tuesday, September 9, 2008, on the following: Presentations by invited speakers (representatives from the following): Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, Department of Justice and Joe Ray, Former School Administrator, Department of Public Instruction. The committee also discussed committee assignment with focus on legal resources related to school safety, facility management, and school safety plans.

Continued.

Continued.

The Subcommittee met for discussion of reorganizing ch. 166 of the Wisconsin Statutes, renumbering and retitling sections, consolidating related provisions, modernizing language, resolving ambiguities in language, and making other necessary changes in the chapter and related statues.  Richard Sweet and Pam Shannon from the Legislative Council lead the meeting.  There was much discussion over emergency management. Committee members talked about revisions to the Wisconsin Emergency Management Policy.

Continued.

Continued.

The Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules held a public hearing on Tuesday, August 26, 2008, on the following: Commerce 132 Emergency Extension Request, Department of Commerce requests a 60-day extension relating to implementing a program for certifying applicants and allocating dairy manufacturing facility invesment tax credits, and affecting small businesses; Dept. of Regulation and Licensing RL 16.06 (1) (a), (b) and (d) Emergency Extension Request, which is a request for extension of emergency rule amending s. RL 16.06 (1) (a), (b) and (d), relating to the use of approved forms for the practice of real estate.

The Special Committee on Strengthening Wisconsin Families, co chaired by Senator Lena Taylor and Representative Steve Kestell met on Monday, August 25, 2008, on the following: Presentations on the administration and integration of programs by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) by invited speakers from DCF, including Secretary Reggie Bicha; Henry Wilde, Deputy Secretary; Dan Harris, Administrator, Division of Early Care and Education; Ron Hunt, Administrator, Division of Enterprise Solutions; Julie Kerksick, Administrator, Division of Family and Economic Security; Cyrus Behroozi, Administrator, Division of Safety and Permanence; and Lisa Patrick, Administrator, Division of Prevention and Service Integration. The committee also discussed committee assignment.

Continued.