After spending summer away from the state house, legislators are back in Madison for the fall floor period. The Senate was back in session on September 17th, and the Assembly will be back in October. Both houses have ambitious plans for passing legislation now that the state budget is no longer dominating the legislature’s attention. […]
DOJ Releases Report on Human Trafficking in Wisconsin
Date Tue, Sep. 17, 2013 - 1:53pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation has released its report, “A Baseline Assessment of Human Trafficking in the State of Wisconsin,” assessing — through a voluntary survey of law enforcement, prosecutors, victim witness coordinators and governmental social service providers — the extent of human trafficking across Wisconsin. Some of the […]
Audit Scrutinizes Supervised Release Program
Date Mon, Sep. 16, 2013 - 8:37pm By Hamilton
The latest audit from the non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau examined the state’s supervised release program, which allows sexually violent individuals who have been civilly committed to live in the community under the custody of the Department of Health Services. The LAB audit found DHS was spending more money administering the program than the Department of […]
Bi-Partisan Social Media Bill Gains Momentum
Date Thu, Aug. 22, 2013 - 9:17am By Hamilton
A bill prohibiting requesting or requiring an employee, student or applicant to disclose a user name or password for a personal social media account, like Facebook or Twitter, is gathering broad bi-partisan support ahead of next month’s floor period. The bill, AB218/SB223, which is sponsored by political odd-couple Sen. Glen Grothman (R-West Bend) and Rep. […]
Health Exchange Update
Date Thu, Aug. 22, 2013 - 8:14am By Hamilton
On August 14, 2013, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton), and Rep. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee) held a healthcare forum at the state Capitol. The highlight of the event was an update on how the health exchange implementation is proceeding nationally and what Wisconsinites will see as they transition to the federally operated health […]
State Takes Steps to Move Residents from Medicaid to Federal Health Exchange
Date Thu, Aug. 22, 2013 - 7:33am By Hamilton
Earlier this year Gov. Walker announced that his administration would work toward insuring more people in the state, but with a goal of making as many Wisconsinites as possible less dependent on the government. To make this goal a reality, Walker and the Legislature, through the state budget, rejected federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) funding […]
Wisconsin Insurers Take Steps to Participate in Health Exchange
Date Wed, Aug. 7, 2013 - 5:06pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Office of Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) announced that it has reviewed filings from 13 insurers who have requested their plans be certified by the state as a qualified health plan, or QHP, so that they may participate in the federally facilitated health care exchange, under the Affordable Care Act. In order to […]
Human Resources Legislation Taking Shape
Date Mon, Jul. 8, 2013 - 3:52pm By Hamilton
The state’s chamber of commerce and largest business trade association, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), is looking to address some of the specific complaints raised by Wisconsin employers during the fall legislative floor period. One of the areas WMC hopes the legislature will tackle on behalf of the state’s employers is Wisconsin’s unique human resources […]
Delay Increases Uncertainty
Date Mon, Jul. 8, 2013 - 12:55pm By Hamilton
The Obama administration’s surprise announcement delaying the employer mandate of the Affordable Care Act until 2015 has raised many questions as uncertainty over the law’s future increased. At issue is the so-called pay-or-play rule, a provision of the Affordable Care Act that would apply to any employee who works at least 30 hours per week […]
New Bills Signed Into Law
Date Mon, Jul. 8, 2013 - 10:57am By Hamilton
Gov. Walker signed several bills into law on Friday, July 5, 2013. Please contact a member of the Hamilton Consulting team if you require further information on any of the laws below. Assembly Bill 20 – relating to the notice and degree requirements for the examination to practice as a certified public accountant. This […]