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WALA Watch, Professional Training
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Back to: WALA Home > Industry Insider > News Index > Legislative Updates Letter to the Governer Or See the latest Fax Blasts 1) COP OVER 20 PROCESS CONTINUES 1) ETN ON COP FUNDING IS MAY 15 1) GRIEF SEMINAR WALA Members: This letter was sent to Governer Thompson on your behalf with our comments on the DHFS budget (you have this- link here) and Chapter 50 changes. LEGISLATIVE UPDATEBy Forbes McIntosh, WALA Lobbyist. Storms are Brewing Over the Capitol. Wisconsin's state capitol is anything but boring these days. A $1.1 billion deficit this year, a deficit for next year's biennial budget now surpasses $2 Billion, a conference committee of Republicans and Democrats that is getting nowhere on this year's budget repair bill, a scandal with possible felony indictments that could topple legislative leadership, and all this occurring right before the upcoming November 2002 elections. $1.1 Billion Deficit - Budget Repair Bill Process - The Senate and Assembly have passed their different versions of how the state should remedy the $1.1 billion deficit. A conference committee was created to allow the Senate and Assembly to negotiate a compromise. However, the conference committee has been unable to agree on one single item in the first two days of negotiations. Many in the legislature believe the budget must be signed into law by mid-June, when school aid payments must be sent to school districts. Therefore, the conference committee negotiations could in theory continue into late May. One thing is true: the conference committee debate between the Senate and Assembly will be contentious and drawn out. $2 Billion Deficit in the 2003-04 Biennial Budget - The current $1.1 billion deficit will most likely be eliminated through short term funding reductions and a raid of $594 million from the Tobacco Securitization Fund. The Tobacco Securitization Fund is derived from the State's settlement with the tobacco companies for costs associated with cigarette smoking and health care costs. Since, for the most part, future spending is not being reduced the deficit will continue into the next budget cycle. In addition, the budget repair bill includes provisions for additional spending, which will increase the deficit in the next biennium. The proposals before the conference committee could create a deficit in the next biennium between $2 billion and $3 billion. Since most short-term solutions, i.e. tobacco securitization fund, will already have been raided the next budget process will have to consider real program budget cuts and/or tax increase. The Capitol Scandal - Over a year now the Milwaukee
and Dane County District Attorneys' offices have been investigating the
Assembly and Senate caucuses of conducting illegal campaign activities
while on state time. The two DA's have already granted immunity to 19
former caucus staff and leadership staff. In view of whom have been given immunity, their former caucus positions and the recent newspaper accounts, the investigation seems to be focusing on Speaker Scott Jensen (R-Waukesha), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala (D-Madison), Assembly Majority Leader Steven Foti (R-Oconomowoc) and former Minority Leader Shirley Krug (D-Milwaukee). November Elections - The November elections include the Governor, Senate (odd numbered seats), and the Assembly. Republicans and Democrats are targeting the Governor's seat and the Senate, since a two-seat majority holds the Senate. Already the race for Governor is close. As many newspapers have reported the front-runners are Republican Governor Scott McCallum, Democrat Attorney General James Doyle and Democrat Congressman Tom Barrett. In fact, the race is so close that Governor McCallum has made several high level staff changes (Chief of staff, campaign manager, campaign director and campaign finance director). Republicans hope these changes will turn around the McCallum campaign and improve his chances of winning in November. What this all means is that this year could be a volatile election cycle due to voters' aversion to fiscal mismanagement (state deficits) and the legislative scandal. The Department of Health and Family Services has submitted
it's budget request for 2001-2003. there are a number of items in the
budget that will impact how you operate your business. To view the 23
page summary select here. To view the
entire 91 page document, select here. LEGISLATION TO BE INTRODUCED - CBRF BED SIZE LIMITS RAISED FOR COP-R AND COP-W FUNDING WALA introduces new legislation to raise CBRF bed size limits for funding - Assembly Bill 880. IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED- IT ONLY TAKES 3 MINUTES. During the budget debate last year, a provision that would have increased the bed size limit for CBRFs to receive COP-R funding was modified to only affect Chippewa County. WALA is currently working with several legislators to introduce a bill next week that will expand COP funding for CBRFs. The bill would:
We may need your help to secure passage of this important legislation. As soon as the actual legislation is available you can link to it at this site. Letter to the Legislative Audit Bureau WALA recently co-signed a letter to the Legislative Audit Bureau with WHCA and WASHA. This letter details our concerns with the draft workplan for the evaluation of the Family Care program. The Legislative Audit Bureau hired the Lewin Group to evaluate the resource center and case management pilots. We have concerns about:
In short, we want to be sure that the evaluation measures apples to apples at ALL LEVELS of care to allow a valid analysis - including assisted living, home care and nursing homes. We contend that the current Lewin Group workplan does not do that, contrary to the authorizing legislation. Call WALA if you wish a copy of the 5 page memo, or download off the WALA website. It is available in either text or Acrobat version. Thanks to John Keefe for leading the charge for WALA in this analysis. Memo If you would like a copy of the memo dated January 24 from Sue Schroeder and Chuck Wilhelm which includes the information you will need for Pre-Admission Consolation (PAC) for residents of Family Care Pilot Counties with Aging and Disability Resource Centers, follow the link above. WALA has a copy of the proposed Administrative Rules. Call or email WALA for so we can mail you a copy of the following, which are not available on the internet:
Training Chapter Update (7-17-2000) in pdf Medication Chapter Update (7-18-2000) in pdf The next section of the HFS-83 rewrite is available
for your review. This new section for review deals with Physical Environment
& Safety. WALA will need your comments by June 1, 2000 as comments
are due back to BQA by June 5. February 4, 2000 Caregiver Criminal Background Checks Once again, the rules relating to caregiver background checks have been revised. A new emergency rule and a new crime table have been published. These changes went into effect last Friday, February 11, 2000. The new rule reflects the changes the legislature made in Wisconsin Act 9 - The State Budget, which resolves many of the problems and questions the original law created. In addition, the new crime table has been significantly reduced in size and allows the employer greater flexibility when making employment decisions. Some of the changes include:
Many of the concerns WALA expressed have been incorporated into the final rule, thus ending much of the confusion and broad interpretations of the law. To obtain a copy of the revised statutes, emergency rule and the new crime table, please go to the following web sites: * Statutes: 50.065 Criminal history and patient abuse record search * Emergency Rule and Crime Table: Caregiver Background Checks
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