In July, the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) released a request for proposal (RFP) for the administration of a self-insurance health plan for state employees. Responses to the RFP are due back by September 19. ETF recently extended the deadline by a week and a half. The Group Insurance Board (GIB), which sets […]
DHS to Expand Family Care and IRIS Statewide
Date Tue, Aug. 9, 2016 - 3:16pm By Hamilton
On July 28, the Department of Health Services announced the expansion of Family Care and IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) program statewide. In their press release, DHS stated that the expansion will be completed by the first quarter of 2018. Currently the Family Care and IRIS programs provide long-term care services to frail elders, and adults […]
LFB Memo Shows Transportation Shortfall in Next Biennium
Date Tue, Aug. 9, 2016 - 3:16pm By Hamilton
On July 27, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) released a memo projecting the Department of Transportation (DOT) will need an additional $939 million in revenue to maintain current transportation funding levels in the 2017-19 budget. The memo was requested by Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette), co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee (JFC). Along with the release of the […]
Governor Walker Sends Letter to DOT Secretary on the 2017-19 Budget Request
Date Thu, Jul. 7, 2016 - 3:40pm By Hamilton
On June 27, Governor Walker sent the Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Gottlieb a letter requesting DOT’s full budget submission in September. Typically, DOT submits their budget request in November. In his letter, the governor asked the secretary to identify efficiency savings and prioritize projects based on needs. He also stated that the request should focus on […]
DHS’ latest Medicaid projection for 2015-17 is below budget
Date Thu, Jul. 7, 2016 - 3:27pm By Hamilton
With the end of the first year of the biennium on June 30, the Department of Health Services (DHS) released their latest estimate on the Medicaid budget for the 2015-17 biennium. DHS projects that at the end of the biennium (June 30, 2017), the Medicaid expenditures will be below the appropriated levels set in the 2015-17 budget. […]
AG Opinion Drives DNR to Act on High Capacity Well Permit Applications
Date Fri, Jun. 17, 2016 - 10:09am By Hamilton
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced that when reviewing high capacity well permit applications it will limit its review to the criteria set forth in the statutes. DNR cites Attorney General Brad Schimel’s May 10, 2016, formal opinion finding that DNR lacks authority to require cumulative impact analysis as a condition to granting a well […]
Long-term Care Reforms on Hold
Date Fri, Jun. 17, 2016 - 9:30am By Hamilton
After no action by the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) to approve the Family Care/IRIS 2.0 concept paper, Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary Kitty Rhodes withdrew the concept paper from the committee’s purview. In her letter, Secretary Rhodes stated that given JFC has not convened to act on the proposal and may not do so […]
Joint Finance Committee Approves WEDC Tax Credit Reallocation
Date Thu, Jun. 16, 2016 - 12:21pm By Hamilton
On Monday June 13, the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) approved the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s (WEDC) request to reallocate tax credits between two tax credit programs. WEDC proposed reallocating $8 million in unused Early Stage Business Investment Tax Credits to the Business Development Tax Credit program. The Early Stage Business Investment Tax Credit program includes […]
AG Opinion Validates Act 21 Limits on Agency Authority
Date Fri, May. 27, 2016 - 10:21am By Hamilton
On May 10, 2016, Attorney General Brad Schimel issued a formal opinion finding that 2011 WI Act 21 requires explicit delegation of authorities to agencies, making it clear that regulatory mandates may no longer arise from implied authority. Whether enacting rules, imposing permit conditions, or exercising public trust authority, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) […]
Supreme Court Upholds Independence of State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Date Fri, May. 27, 2016 - 10:19am By Hamilton
In a split opinion, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld lower court decisions that 2011 Wisconsin Act 21 (Act 21) is unconstitutional as applied to the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Act 21 amended various provisions in the statutes that set forth procedures agencies must follow when promulgating administrative […]