This week, members on the Joint Legislative Audit Committee heard testimony on
the most recent Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) audit. The
audit of Gov. Walker’s troubled jobs agency has uncovered significant accounting
problems and ongoing management issues. Since Gov. Walker and Republican
lawmakers formed WEDC in 2011, the agency has been plagued by scandals,
mismanagement and economic disappointment. Wisconsin has trailed the nation in
job creation every single quarter for 23 consecutive quarters and has ranked
dead last nationally in start-up businesses for the past three years.
The audit revealed that “WEDC did not report accurate information on the number
of jobs created and retained as a result of its programs.” It also found that
the potentially uncollectable balance of loans with repayments more than 90 days
past due increased nearly tenfold between 2015-2017, from $1.3 million to $11
million. Democratic efforts to increase transparency, accountability and
oversight of the troubled agency continue to be blocked by Republican lawmakers.
LRB0074 The Rental Credit Assistance Act (Rep. Crowley & Rep.
Anderson) would create a pilot program for the counties with the highest rates
of homelessness to provide rental credits earned through community service
activities to renters who were short on rent payments. Renter would receive $20
per credit up to 8 credits per month.
LRB3721 The Eviction Defense Assistance Act (Rep. Crowley &
Rep. Anderson) would establish a grant program to provide legal services for
low-income tenants facing eviction and for those who allege they are being
wrongfully evicted.
LRB3944 The Housing Discrimination Limitation Act (Rep. Crowley
& Rep. Anderson) would prohibit housing discrimination because of
arrest/conviction records that are more than 3 years old.
LRB4189 The Renter’s Abatement Act (Rep. Crowley & Rep.
Anderson) would require the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer
Protection to establish a rule that specifies how much money a tenant is
entitled to for any given damaged or dangerous item on the property.
LRB4019 Closing Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake (Rep. Taylor &
Sen. Taylor) would require the Department of Corrections to close the juvenile
correctional facilities known as the Lincoln Hills School for Boys and the
Copper Lake School for Girls located in Irma, Lincoln County, within one year.
LRB3680 Storage of Firearms for Retailers (Rep. Subeck) would
require that a retail business that sells firearms must lock all firearms in a
secured safe or steel gun cabinet or on a secured rod or cable when the business
is unattended.
LRB0787 4K Equity Act (Rep. Genrich & Sen. Bewley) would change
state aid calculation to allow a child who is enrolled in a full-time 4K program
to be counted as 1.0 pupils.
LRB 4380 Universal Access to 4K (Rep. Taylor & Rep. Genrich)
would require that every school district in the state offers a 4K program while
allocating funding. Whether a child attends a 4k program is still at parental
discretion.
LRB4458 Milwaukee Brewers (Rep. Zamarripa & Rep. Riemer) is a
resolution to congratulate the Milwaukee Brewers on their 2017 season.
LRB4459 Puerto Rico (Rep. Zamarripa) is a resolution to stand
in solidarity with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and extend its support and
thoughts to the people who have been affected by Hurricane Maria.
LRB2244 WEDC Jobs Verification (Rep. Barca & Sen. Carpenter)
would create certain requirements for contracts between the Wisconsin Economic
Development Corporation (WEDC) and recipients of grants, loans, or tax credits
from WEDC.
LRB2243 WEDC Outsourcing Protection (Rep. Barca & Sen
Carpenter) would require that a recipient of a loan, grant, or tax credit from
the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation report jobs relocated outside of
Wisconsin to WEDC.
LRB2238 Requiring Fraud Reporting at WEDC (Rep. Barca & Sen
Carpenter) would require any employee of the Wisconsin Economic Development
Corporation who is aware that a fraud has been perpetrated against WEDC to
report that fraud to the Department of Justice.
LRB3991 Private Well Testing (Rep. Shankland) would require the
Department of Natural Resources to administer a program to provide grants to
local governments for the testing of privately owned wells.
This Week in the Senate
Senate Session
The Senate did not hold a floor period this week. The next floor session will be
Tuesday, October 31. The full floor session calendar can be found
here.
Senate Bill 320 would exempt a discharge of dredged or fill material into an
artificial wetland from wetland permitting requirements.
Senate Bill 421 would require the Department of Natural Resources to
obligate no more than $4,500,000 of moneys under the Warren Knowles-Gaylord
Nelson Stewardship to fund critical health and safety-related water
infrastructure projects in state parks.
The committee also held a
Public Hearing on
Senate Bill 440, which would allow the Wisconsin Propane Education and
Research Council to levy an assessment on odorized propane against certain
licensed propane retailers.
Senate Bill 434 would eliminate the requirement that the Department of
Administration establish goals for certain state agencies to generate or
purchase electric energy derived from renewable resources.
Senate Bill 475 would create procedures for handling complaints about
excavations, commonly known as “digger’s hotline” requirements.
The committee also held an
Executive Session to vote on four Senate Bills and one Assembly companion:
Senate Bill 406 would mandate that if the Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) issues a wetland permit, the DNR may not require wetland mitigation unless
the permit allows a permanent fill in of more than 10,000 feet of wetland.
Passed, 3-2.
Senate Bill 66 would provide that an individual holding a local public
office may be appointed to serve as an election official without having to
vacate the local public office. Passed, 4-0.
Senate Bill 425/ Assembly
Bill 348 would create a regulatory framework for the state and local
governments for the deployment of wireless equipment and facilities. Passed,
4-1.
Senate Bill 281 would make various changes to the organization and
operation of cooperatives and includes provisions applicable to extensions of
credit by electric cooperatives. Passed, 3-2.
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
The committee held an
Executive Session on the appointment of John Hogan to serve on the Public
Defender Board. Confirmation recommended, 5-0. The committee also met
on five Senate Bills:
Senate Bill 369 would require the courts of Wisconsin to recognize and
enforce civil domestic violence protection orders issued by Canadian courts.
Passed, 5-0.
Senate Bill 390 would create a grant program to establish a family treatment
and juvenile treatment court to be administered by the Department of Children
and Families. The family treatment court and juvenile treatment court grants
would establish and operate programs to develop procedures for parents and
juveniles who are in the Wisconsin court system as a result of juvenile or
parental problems related to mental illness or substance abuse. Passed, 5-0.
Senate Bill 393 would limit the use of physical restraints on pregnant and
postpartum people who are in the custody of a correctional facility. Passed,
5-0.
Senate Bill 396 would increase the penalty to a Class I felony for
patronizing a prostitute who is under the age of 18. Passed, 5-0.
Senate Bill 408 would create a crime for purchasing a firearm with the
intent to transfer it to a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm,
which is also known as “straw purchasing.” Passed, 3-2.
Senate Bill 277 would increase the felony classification level if a vehicle
that is taken or driven without consent is a commercial vehicle. The bill would
also increase the felony classification level for theft of property with a value
that exceeds $100,000. Passed, 5-0.
Senate Bill 338 would require the Dept. of Workforce Development to
establish a program to provide transitional jobs to veterans. Passed, 5-0.
Senate Bill 360 would exempt special group plates for fire fighters, rescue
squad members, and emergency medical technicians from special registration plate
fees. Passed, 5-0.
Senate Bill 386 would require that an animal-drawn vehicle have a white
headlight and red rear lights, as well as rear flashing yellow or amber strobe
lights. No action taken.
Senate Bill 392 would authorize a municipality to enact an ordinance to
authorize the operation of all-terrain vehicles on highways within the
territorial boundaries of the municipality. Passed, 5-0.
Senate Bill 416 would require the Department of Health Services to establish
and implement a pilot program to provide discounts on fresh produce and other
healthy foods to households that are eligible for FoodShare benefits.
Senate Bill 478 would increase the annual license fee for a retail food
establishment that is a micro market. A micro market is an indoor, unstaffed,
self-checkout kiosk that sells food and beverages to a limited group of people,
such as employees.
Senate Labor and Regulatory Reform
The committee will hold a
Public Hearing on the appointment of James Daley to the Wiconsin Employment
Relations Commission. The committee also discussed two Senate Bills:
Senate Bill 397 would eliminate the 13-week limit imposed on the garnishment
of earnings of certain debtors.
Senate Bill 371 would make various changes to wage claims and updates
the state law strengthening
workers protections. Currently, the Wisconsin’s Wage Protection and Collection
Act provides penalties for wage and hour offenses and damages for workers who
have been the victim of wage and hour infractions by their employer.
Assembly Bill 151 would establish the framework for an ambulance service
provider to become approved as a community emergency medical service provider.
The bill would also establish a process for paramedics and emergency medical
technician (EMT) to become licensed as community EMT and paramedics. Passed,
5-0.
Assembly Bill 306 would require the seller of Pseudophederine to submit the
sale information to the National Precursor Log Exchange before completing the
transaction. Passed, 5-0.
Senate Bill 361 would authorize hospice staff, with the written consent of a
personal representative, to take any controlled substances from the home of a
hospice patient to a drug disposal program. Passed, 5-0.
Senate Bill 417 would allow a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse
who is licensed in another state to practice in Wisconsin without needing to
separately obtain another license. Passed, 5-0.
Senate Bill 452 would allow certain services to be covered by the Medical
Assistance program if prescribed or ordered by a provider acting within their
scope of practice. Passed, 5-0.
Senate Bill 154 would prohibit an employee of the University of Wisconsin
System or the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority from
performing or assisting in the performance of an abortion. This bill would risk
the accreditation for UW's OBGYN program and would in lead to even fewer OBGYNs
in Wisconsin. Passed, 3-2.
This Week in the Assembly
Assembly Session
The Assembly was not scheduled for a floor period this week. The scheduled floor
periods for the session are available
here.
Assembly Committees
Assembly Committee Workforce Development The committee held a public
hearing on
AB 508 which would alter apprentice-to-journeyworker ratios and duration of
carpentry and plumbing apprenticeships, and
AB 124, which would provide for marketing of employment and training
opportunities to former UW System students.
The committee held an executive session on
AB 422 which would create the Hire Heroes program to provide transitional
jobs to veterans.
Assembly Committee on Mental Health
The committee held a public hearing on
AB 517 which would changes to reporting of an existing disability an
operator license or identification card application, and
AB 538 which would create prohibitions on transferring individuals from
hospital emergency departments to detention and alter the duty to warn.
Assembly Committee on Transportation
The committee held a public hearing on
AB 546 which would alter insurance requirements for intrastate motor
carriers of passengers, AB
485 which would make changes to authorizations for all-terrain vehicle and
utility terrain vehicle operation on highways,
AB 339 which would make changes to the acquisition of a motor vehicle by
scrap metal dealers and motor vehicle salvage dealers,
AB 475 which would change the lighting requirements for animal-drawn
vehicles on highways.
The committee held an executive session on
AB 261 which designates a route in Milwaukee County upon which high-wide
loads may be operated with a permit from the City of Milwaukee.
The committee held an executive session on LRB 3593/LRB 4211 relating to
supervised business initiatives program, LRB 4557/LRB 4586 relating to audits
performed by the legislative audit bureau, and on the proposed audit of the
Forestry Account and Forestry-Related Expenditures.
The committee held an executive session on
AB 512 which would make changes to the tuition grant program for national
guard members.
Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities
The committee held an executive session on
AB 497 which would change mitigation requirements applicable to wetland
individual permits,
AB 531 which would authorize the Wisconsin Propane Education and Research
Council to levy an assessment, and
AB 532 which would make various changes to the Public Service Commission
regulation and energy policy, Digger’s Hotline, and erosion and storm water
control.
Assembly Committee on Public Benefit Reform
The committee had an executive session on
AB 501 which would create a FoodShare health eating incentive pilot program,
and
AB 530 which would create a nutritional food pilot program under FoodShare.
Assembly Committee on Jobs and the Economy
The committee held an informational hearing on non-compete contracts and
restrictive covenants in employment and agency relationships.
The committee held an executive session on
AB 393 which would create creative economy development grants,
AB 489 which would change qualified new business venture eligibility, and
AB 536 which would create licenses for micro markets.
Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage
The committee held an executive session on
AB 490 which would make changes to hunting licenses for veterans older than
70,
AB 491 which would change the fee for a first-time annual fishing license
for residents under 17 or older than 65, and
AB 528 which would change the restrictions on hunting antlerless deer by
members of a group hunting party.
Assembly Committee on Judiciary
The committee held a public hearing on
AB 519 which would change requirements for service of a notice of claim
against state officer, employee, or agent,
AB 566 which would allow service of certain pleadings and other papers to be
served by e-mail,
AB 469 which would make changes to regulation of self-service storage
facilities.
The committee held an executive session on
AB 515 which would modify requirements under the one and two family dwelling
code,
AB 533 which modify regulations of appraisal management companies under
Dodd-Frank,
AB 534 which would make changes to the laws governing real estate practice
and the licensure of real estate brokers and salespersons,
AB 479 which would make changes to local government zoning authority,
navigable water permits, inverse condemnation proceedings, and the right to
display the flag of the United States,
AB 480 which would make various changes relating to the rights of
homeowners, and
AB 518 which would make changes to condominium disclosure materials and
payoff statements.
Assembly Committee on Tourism
The committee held a public hearing on
AB 276 which would repeal administrative rules related to programs that no
longer exist.
To view updated committee notices, visit the legislative website and click on
Committee Schedule: Wisconsin
State Legislature.
The State Capitol Update is provided by the Senate and Assembly Democratic
Caucuses. For additional information, please send an email toWisconsinDemocrats@legis.wi.gov or
call toll free: 1.800.385.3385.
