Government Relations
Legislative Update
March 5, 2004
Legislative Session
(NOTE: The Assembly adjourned this morning and will be back in session at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 9, as will the Senate. Both houses are scheduled to conclude general business sessions on Thursday, March 11. Unless there is an agreement to change that ending date, or to extend the current session, all bills and resolutions pending upon adjournment on March 11 are dead.)
Legislation passed and sent to the Governor for signature:
- AB-403. Regulates athlete agents who represent student athletes by enacting the Uniform Athlete Agents Act.
- SB-247./ AB-497. Electronic provision of certain orientation information for UW System students.
- SB-388./ AB-757. Increases bonding authority for UW Hospitals and Clinics Authority.
Bills that could receive action in both houses before adjournment:
- AB-207. Banning smoking in and around University of Wisconsin System residence halls and dormitories and provides a penalty.
- AB-342. Makes a student convicted of certain drug violations ineligible for state financial aid.
- AB-406. (with substitute amendment) Allows tuition refunds for members of the National Guard or reserve unit called to active duty.
- AB-543. Requires Board of Regents to take public comment on executive salaries before changing range.
- AB-799. Non-resident tuition exemption for dependents of certain active members of the armed forces.
- AB-686. Remedial legislation recommended by the UW Board of Regents relating to membership of the State Laboratory of Hygiene board; nonresident tuition exemption for veterans; transfer program at the UW Medical School.
- AB-830./SB-437. Funding for engineering instruction at the UW-Rock County campus.
- AB-869/ SB-513..Exemption from non-resident tuition within the UW System for certain veterans.
- SB-85 AB 208 Adds a non-traditional student to the membership of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.
- SB-253. Allows four more UW institutions to charter K-12 schools with BOR approval
The Senate unanimously confirmed Board of Regents appointees Eileen Connolly-Keesler, Jesus Salas, Mark Bradley and David Walsh.
Recent Committee Hearings
The Senate Higher Education and Tourism Committee met on Wednesday and took the following action:
- SB-437. Funding for engineering instruction at the UW-Rock County campus. Passage recommended 3-2.
- AB-207. Prohibits smoking in and around UW System residence halls and dorms. Passage recommended 5-0
- AB-686. Remedial legislation recommended by the UW Board of Regents relating to membership of the State Laboratory of Hygiene board; nonresident tuition exemption for veterans; transfer program at the UW Medical School. Passage recommended 5-0.
- AB-830. Funding for engineering instruction at the UW-Rock County campus. Passage recommended 3-2.
The Assembly Education Reform met on March 2 and passed:
- SB-253. Independent charter schools established by UW institutions and college campuses. Passage recommended, 8-4-1.
The Joint Committee on Finance met on Wednesday, March 3 and held a public hearing on:
- SB-268. Education tax credit for businesses.
Upcoming Committee Hearings
The Joint Committee on Finance will meet at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 8. At this point, no UW System-related bills are on the agenda (including SB-474, the enumeration bill for UW System construction projects).
TABOR (AJR-55 )
Assembly Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo) met with the UW System Board of Regents’ Business and Finance Committee on Thursday to discuss the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR). The Speaker indicated that the experience of TABOR in Colorado was the “worst case scenario” and that Wisconsin would learn from the Colorado example. For more about Speaker Gard’s visit, go to: http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/2004/r040304.htm
Other News
After a long and rancorous debate Thursday night into Friday morning, the Assembly passed AJR-66. which prohibits same sex marriages, by a vote of 68-27. The Senate will take up the measure on Tuesday.
On Monday, Sen. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) is expected to announce her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Representative from Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District. The event will take place at 5 p.m. at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center St., Milwaukee.
U. S. Senator John Edwards dropped out of the race for President after this week's "Super Tuesday" elections in New York, California, Georgia, Ohio, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Vermont.
End Note
A comprehensive summary of Legislative action on all bills affecting the UW System will be prepared following adjournment (Thursday, March 11). The Legislature is due back April 27-29 for a limited business session. A special session may be called in May to address AJR-55 (TABOR) and other issues.
For further information, contact Margaret Lewis at (608) 262-4464 or Doug Bradley at (608) 262-4463
Information on the Web
UW
System Government Relations:
http://www.uwsa.edu/execvp/govrel/index.htm
UW
System Budget:
http://www.wisconsin.edu/budget/
Wisconsin
Legislature:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/