Government Relations
Legislative Update
May 23, 2003
Joint Finance Committee Proceedings
The Joint Finance Committee adjourned this week without finishing work on the budget as originally scheduled. The UW System has one item pending: to remove a provision expanding DOA authority over university telecommunications activities. The Board of Regents had been exempt from DOA oversight since the Department of Electronic Government was created. The Governor's budget removes the Board's exemption. The Committee is expected to reconvene Tuesday, May 27, at which time an amendment sponsored by Senator Harsdorf (R-River Falls) to remove this non-fiscal policy item may be considered.
After the Joint Finance Committee concludes its work, the budget bill, Senate Bill 44, will go to each house for final action/amendment. Although the houses are expected to retain the majority of the Joint Finance recommendations, several UW issues continue to receive attention: the funding source for UW sabbaticals, non-resident tuition rates, and study abroad grants.
For the Legislative Fiscal Bureau summary of the governor's budget,
click on:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/2003-05budget/Governor/tableofcontents.htm
For the Joint Finance Committee home page and schedule, click on:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/jfc.html
Committee Hearings
The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee met
on Tuesday, May 20
The committee held a public hearing
on:
AB-204.
Extends the date of capital expenditures by technical college
district boards for applied technology centers.
AB-205.
Creates an individual and corporate tax exemption for interest
on bonds or notes issued by WHEFA for purposes related to an
educational facility and authorizes the WHEFA to issue bonds
to finance a project undertaken by the Wisconsin Association
of Independent Colleges and Universities related to an educational
facility.
AB-342.
Makes a student convicted of drug charges ineligible for state
financial aid.
AB-344.
Requires UW System and private colleges to inform residence
hall students about meningococcal disease (Meningitis) and
to obtain confirmation of the student's vaccination or choice
not to be vaccinated.
The committee did not vote on these bills (above) or those carried over (below).
AB-66.
Requires all persons admitted to the UW Medical School to take the
Medical College Admission Test.
AB-208.
Changes the Board's membership by substituting a resident from
each of the 16 technical college districts for the TCSB member
and the 14 citizen members and by adding a student member who
is at least 24 years old.
A vote on all of these bills is expected on June 3.
The Assembly Committee on Urban and Local Affairs met on Tuesday, May 20, to hear testimony on AB-264, which permits the city of Milwaukee to enact an ordinance restricting parking to residents, their guests, and commercial enterprises along highways near the UW-Milwaukee campus.
The Assembly Committee on Education met on Tuesday, May 20, to hear testimony on two proposals that will eliminate or significantly alter the Youth Option Program: AB-183 and AB-233.
A joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy and the Assembly Committee on Public Health met on Tuesday, May 20, to hear testimony on SB-45 and AB-104, proposals that prohibit human cloning and parthenogenesis.
New Legislation Circulating
Rep. Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) and Rep. Don Friske (R-Merrill) are circulating for co-sponsorship a proposal (LRB 2619/2) regarding transfer of credits between and within the UW System and the Wisconsin Technical College System. This bill requires the Board of Regents to accept all credits transferred within the UW System, including credits transferred between two-year UW System colleges, and all credits transferred from the technical college system. The bill also requires each technical college district board to accept credits transferred from another technical college district or from a UW System college.
LRB 2528/2, by Rep. Jeff Wood (R-Chippewa Falls), requires sabbatical leaves for University of Wisconsin faculty to be paid only through gifts and grants.
New Legislation Introduced
SB-172. MENINGITIS (Schultz) Companion bill to AB 344 (above). Referred to Higher Education and Tourism.
Senate Directory
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/senate/sosd.pdf
Information on the Web
UW System Government Relations:
http://www.uwsa.edu/govrel/
UW System Budget:
http://www.uwsa.edu/budplan/
Wisconsin Legislature on the Web
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/
Prepared by Kerry
Niemcek.
For further information contact Margaret
Lewis (608) 262-4464 or David
Miller (608) 262-4463