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*** REVISED E-UPDATE ***
We apologize for the duplicative email, however, we discovered a typo in the table related to the Department of Revenue’s Collections. An updated version of the E-Update follows. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Senate Session
Last week, the State Senate was in session. During that time, one of the bills that I support was passed in the Senate:

Current Law
Current law requires school boards and governing bodies of charter schools to evaluate teachers and principals beginning in 2014-2015.

The Problem
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI), stakeholders, and legislators have expressed concerns that statewide assessments, the system for using test results and pupil performance data is not fully developed and should not be used to evaluate performance until it is ready.

The Solution
SB 67, as amended, creates a "report card holiday." District and school report cards would not be published in 2014-2015. This bill delays the requirement to use statewide assessment for principal and teacher evaluations until the 2015-2016 school year. This delay will allow DPI and the legislature to complete their work on school report cards and assessments. SB 67 does not prohibit school boards and governing bodies from evaluating teachers and principals using other means.

Despite the holiday, schools will still be required to take state assessments and report student performance. Federal laws require Wisconsin to assess and report results in order to receive nearly $600 million in federal education funding. We do not want to lose these funds.

This bill passed the Senate unanimously.

Revenue Numbers: February 2015
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) recently released a report detailing the general purpose revenue (GPR) taxes collected by the agency for the month of February. Year to date collections are for the first eight months of the fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2015.

Department of Revenue Collections, February FY2015
($ thousands)

Collections to Date

	FY 2014	FY 2015	% Change
General Sales & Use	2,723,522	2,880,397	5.8%
Corporate Income	526,161	476,985	-9.3%
Excise Taxes	421,043	406,504	-3.5%
Other	222,181	230,486	3.7%

Get the Facts on Organ Donation
More than 116,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for an organ transplant. Hundreds are waiting for a cornea transplant to restore their sight, and thousands more wait for the chance to live without pain through a bone or soft tissue transplant.

In 2011, 28,537 organ transplants were done nationally, with 703 in the state of Wisconsin. Each year, life-saving and life-improving tissue is provided by approximately 30,000 tissue donors. In 2011, more than 42,000 grafts were made available for transplant by eye banks within the United States. There are more than 2,000 people in Wisconsin who are on the waiting list for an organ transplant; almost 1,700 wait for a kidney.

According to research, 98% of all adults have heard about organ donation and 86% have heard of tissue donation. To learn more facts about organ donation, or to register as a donor, go to: YesIWillWisconsin.com.

Wisconsin Donor Registry
The Wisconsin Donor Registry opened on March 29, 2010. You can register at YesIWillWisconsin.com or at the Department of Transportation/Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when you renew your license or ID, but because Wisconsin has an eight-year renewal process, registering online today ensures your wishes will be honored.

Anyone older than the age of 15 ½ who holds a Wisconsin driver’s license or state identification card can register. Adding your name to the registry means that you have authorized the gift of your organs, tissues and eyes upon your death for the purposes of transplantation, research and education. Registering is legal consent for donation and cannot be changed by anyone else with the exception of persons less than 18 years of age (legal next of kin may alter donation status for minors; making it important that family understands your decision). The Registry ensures your decision to be a donor is honored. Adding your name to the Registry makes a legal record of anatomical gift and authorizes donation. I am registered as an organ donor. I encourage you to consider this option.

*Senator Marklein is pleased to provide this legislative E-Update to the constituents of the 17th State Senate District. Please feel free to share this update with other interested citizens and taxpayers. You are receiving this update because you have either subscribed or contacted Senator Marklein directly.

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