Government Relations

Legislative Update

April 14, 2006

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STATE UPDATE

Taxpayers Protection Amendment

On Wednesday, April 12, the Assembly Ways and Means Committee narrowly passed a substitute amendment, introduced the day before, to AJR 77, by a vote of 7-6. Those voting in favor were: Reps. Wood, Hahn, Jeskewitz, Kerkman, Lothian, Strachota, Pridemore. Those voting against were: Reps. Nass, Berceau, Ziegelbauer, Toles, Fields, and Hebl. Testimony from an April 5 hearing against the constitutional amendment by Regent Walsh, Chancellors Hastad, and Wells can be found under pending legislation, AJR 77 at: http://www.uwsa.edu/execvp/govrel/pending/index.htm

The new substitute amendment that was adopted does not include the proceeds of bonds in the definition of revenues, but the debt service on the bonds must be paid for within the revenue limit established. A controversial provision also limits local government employees compensation to the same growth as the overall revenue limit. The bill is now available for the Assembly Organization Committee to schedule for an Assembly floor vote, potentially April 25. Please see text of substitute amendment at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AJR77-ASA1.pdf

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau has prepared two documents: (1) Summary of Revenue Limits under ASA1 to AJR 77, and (2) Comparative Summaries of Joint Resolutions. They can be found at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/LFBPublications_ButtonPages/Publications_Main.htm

On Tuesday, April 11, UW Fox-Valley Dean Jim Perry with Rep. Frank Lasee presented at a forum on the Taxpayers Protection Amendment. More than 120 people attended the forum. Dean Perry presented a power point presentation at the forum to highlight the potential effect that the proposal would have on higher education. See his presentation at: http://www.uwsa.edu/execvp/govrel/pending/position/tpaPpt4-11-06.pdf

Governor Signs Bills Into Law: Academic Excellence Scholarships, Fee Remissions for Dependents of Public Safety Employees, Default Judgments, UW Medical School Enrollment, Resident Hunting and Fishing Licenses

SB 370. Eligibility of a student enrolled in a 2-year, full-time vocational diploma at a technical college for an Academic Excellence Higher Education Scholarship. Act 267 See full text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/acts/05Act267.pdf

SB 414. Fee remissions for children and surviving spouses of ambulance drivers, correction officers, EMS technicians, fire fighters and law enforcement officers. Act 320 See full text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/acts/05Act320.pdf

AB 725. Default judgments in cases involving citations for certain violations, including underage drinking and smoking. Act 306 See full text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/acts/05Act306.pdf

SB 549. UW Medical School enrollment. Act 175 See full text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/acts/05Act175.pdf

AB 905. Resident fishing and hunting licenses for nonresident students attending UW Ag Short Courses. Act 243 See full text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/acts/05Act243.pdf

Bills Waiting for Governor’s Action: UW-Milwaukee Parking, Wisconsin Higher Education Grant (WHEG), College Re-Enrollment for Persons Calls to Active Military Duty, Criminal Background Checks, Nursing Student Loan Program, Charter Schools

The following enrolled bills have been delivered to Gov. Doyle for action. The governor has until next Thursday, April 20 to take action, or the bills become law without his signature.

SB 329. Allows local governments to restrict parking in front of residences located near the UW-Milwaukee campus.

SB 481. Maximum amount of a Wisconsin Higher Education Grant.

AB 378. College re-enrollment of persons called into active military service.

AB 383. Criminal history background investigations of applicants for state government positions with fiduciary responsibilities.

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 730. Independent charter schools established by UW institutions.

Legislation Introduced/Added and Legislative Action: College Savings Programs, Alcohol Defined as an Intoxicant in Instances of Sexual Assault, Athletic Season Ticket Tax Credit

Rep. Musser Musser and Sens. Darling and Plale have introduced AB 1153/SB 661 which establishes a college savings program bank deposit trust fund and a college savings program credit union deposit trust fund. The bills provide more options to encourage savings for college. On April 4, the Joint Finance Committee recommended, unanimously, passage of AB 1153. The bill had a public hearing on April 6, but no action has been taken. The Senate Housing and Financial Institutions Committee held a public hearing on SB 661 on April12 and took executive action on April 13, recommending passage 6-0-1. See full text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/AB-1153.pdf

Rep. Strachota and Sen. Stepp have introduced AB 953/SB 526 which would include alcohol in the definition of intoxicant as related to the perpetration of a sexual assault. The Assembly Judiciary Committee will take action on both bills on Thursday, April 20. The Senate had passed SB 526 on February 28, 2006. See full text at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2005/data/SB-526.pdf

On April 12 the Assembly Ways and Means Committee passed AB 1084 on a vote of 13-0. The bill would create an income and franchise tax credit in an amount equal to the sales tax paid on the right to purchase season tickets to athletic events sponsored by higher education institutions. The bill which primarily affects UW-Green Bay and UW-Madison is now available for scheduling for an Assembly floor vote and is the result of a Dept. of Revenue ruling that contributions for preferred seating are taxable.

FEDERAL UPDATE

College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005 as Passed by the House on March 30, 2006

Please see an analysis prepared by Kris Andrews at:
http://www.uwsa.edu/execvp/govrel/fedrel/2006/04/HR609analysis.pdf

Student Loan Interest Rates and Pell Grant Maximum Award Increase

AAU is reporting that Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) has introduced legislation (S. 2573) that would lower student loan interest rates and authorize an increase in the Pell Grant maximum award. The "Reverse the Raid on Student Aid Act of 2006" would reduce Stafford Loan interest rates to 3.4 percent as of July 1; reduce PLUS interest rates to 4.25 percent as of July 1; set the maximum Pell Grant at $4,500 for 2007-2008 academic year and raise it to $6,000 by the 2011-2012 academic year; restore in-school loan consolidation; and repeal the single holder rule. The bill may be offered as a floor amendment to the HEA reauthorization bill when may be considered by the full Senate in the coming months. The House passed its version of the bill on March 30 (see analysis memo).

AAU has updated its chart comparing the House and Senate versions of the legislation. The chart is available on the AAU Web site at: http://www.aau.edu/education/HEA_Side_by_Side_4-11-06.pdf.

2006 U.S. House of Representatives Calendar

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