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Legislative Update

January 13, 2006

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State Update
Federal Update
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STATE UPDATE

Newcomer Elected to Fill Vacant Assembly Seat

On Tuesday, Scott Newcomer was elected to fill the term of former Rep. Dan Vrakas who was elected Waukesha County Executive last November. Newcomer will be up for re-election in November.

Legislative Activity

On Tuesday, President Reilly testified before the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee on AB 895 which would increase the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant (WHEG) maximum from $2,500 to $3,000 annually. Please see his testimony at: http://www.uwsa.edu/president/speeches/2005/s051213.htm

An executive session is scheduled for Jan. 24. Prompt action is necessary to have an impact on financial aid awards for next fall.

Senate Calendar

On Jan. 17 the Senate is scheduled to take action on two legislative bills that affect the university. They are:

SB 403 Carrying of Concealed Weapons (Assembly Am. 15 is pending concurrence)

SB 414 Tuition remission for dependents of public safety employees

Upcoming Hearings on UW-Parkside Charter School Enrollment Increase; Academic Excellence Higher Education Scholarship Eligibility; Collective Bargaining for Faculty and Academic Staff; WHEG Grant Maximum; Nursing Student Loan Program; Fishing and Hunting Licenses for Foreign College and University Students

The Senate Higher Education and Tourism Committee has scheduled a public hearing on Jan. 18 at 11:00 a.m. in room 300 Southwest to hear testimony on the following bills:

SB 345 Increases authorized enrollment of UW-Parkside charter school.

SB 370 Eligibility of a student in a two-year, full-time vocational diploma program at a

technical college for an academic excellence higher education scholarship.

SB 452 Collective bargaining for UW System faculty and academic staff.

SB 481 Maximum amount of a Wisconsin higher education grant.

AB 387 Eligibility of a person enrolled in a program that confers a master’s degree in nursing for a loan under the Nursing Student Loan Program.

AB 698 Increases authorized enrollment of UW-Parkside charter school.

The Assembly Natural Resources Committee has scheduled a public hearing on Jan. 18 at 10:00 a.m. in room 415 Northwest on AB 905 which adds eligibility for fish and hunting resident licenses to citizens of a foreign country temporarily residing in the state while attending a high school, technical college, or an agricultural short course at the University of Wisconsin System.

No New Legislation Introduced this Week

FEDERAL UPDATE

This week the Senate Judiciary Committee held confirmation hearings on Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. Both of Wisconsin’s senators serve on this committee. Please see text of their opening Statements at:

http://kohl.senate.gov/~kohl/press/05/12/2006109748.html

http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/statements/06/20060109.html