Week of January 12, 2015

Still Time to Register for WCA Legislative Exchange February 3-4 in Madison

Concourse The Wisconsin Counties Association will hold their Legislative Exchange February 3-4, 2015.  The two-day event provides a briefing on legislative proposals affecting counties and reports by WCA legislative staff and state officials.

This year's Legislative Exchange will be held at the Madison Concourse Hotel, 1 West Dayton Street, Madison, WI  53703.  Please note that the Madison Concourse Hotel Room Block will be closed as of Wednesday, January 14, 2015.

Tentative Agenda:
View the 2015 WCA Legislative Exchange Tentative Agenda here.

Event Registration Information:
Early Registration Began: 12/19/2014
Late Registration Begins: 1/20/2015

To learn more and register for the 2015 WCA Legislative Exchange, click here.

For questions contact WCA Marketing and Events Manager Cheryl Fleck at 866.404.2700.

WCA Regional Legislative Meetings Slated for March

Each odd-numbered year, the Wisconsin Counties Association holds legislative briefings across the state to educate members on legislative issues affecting counties. This year, our legislative briefings will include a discussion on WCA's 2015-2016 Legislative Agenda, a review of the 2015-2017 state biennial budget, as well as answer member questions regarding legislative initiatives.

These Regional Legislative Meetings are free and open to all members of the county family. There is no need to pre-register for these meetings. Please join us in March for this informative event.

If you have any questions about the meetings, please contact Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf, Deputy Director of Government Affairs, at 608.663.7188.
DOJ Grant Opportunity: DMC Reduction - 2012/2013 Funding Announcement

As the State Administering Agency for federal justice grant funds, the Wisconsin Department of Justice develops statewide strategies, determines funding priorities, and advises the Governor and legislature on justice policy issues.

Currently DOJ is seeking applications for projects geared toward reducing the rates of Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) present in the Wisconsin juvenile justice system. Based on the OJJDP DMC-reduction model that calls for projects that identify, assess/diagnose, intervene, evaluate, and monitor efforts to reduce DMC, the DOJ seeks applications that will implement strategies to ensure that the points of contact in the juvenile justice continuum do not involve minority youth due to systemic causes, while being mindful of public safety.

The Governor's Juvenile Justice Commission (GJJC) has indicated that it will give priority to proposals that involve systems improvement. Since 2009, the GJJC has also indicated a significant focus of its efforts will be geared towards the point of arrest and the introduction of juveniles into the juvenile justice continuum.

Learn more about this DOJ grant opportunity here.
Register Today: Local Government Center's Wisconsin Legislative Preview Teleconference

As the Wisconsin State Legislature kicks off the 2015-2016 session, representatives from the Wisconsin Counties Association, the Wisconsin League of Municipalities and the Wisconsin Towns Association will offer a preview of major policy issues facing Governor Walker and the Legislature including their implications for local government.  

These programs are designed to provide unbiased information on the key issues facing local government officials.  The teleconference on the Wisconsin Legislative Preview will be held on Monday, February 2nd from 10AM-11AM.

To Register:
These teleconferences can be broadcast directly to a participant's home or business. To register online, follow the link at lgc.uwex.edu or call 608-262-0810. The cost to attend is $20.00 per program.
January Wisconsin Counties Magazine Features Legislative Leadership


Our January issue of Wisconsin Counties features the Wisconsin Legislative Leadership as they weigh in for the new legislative session.

Also, this month's web feature hightlights: "Call to Order: Everyone Appreciates a Well-Run Meeting."

Save the Date for DOJ Information Exchange Sessions on Diversion Strategies

The Wisconsin Department of Justice will be holding Information Exchange Sessions this month around the state for counties to share information about diversion strategies, including Treatment, Alternative, and Diversion programs in the criminal justice system.

The daylong sessions, which are free and open to county officials, are intended both for counties that have TAD programs as well as those that are considering establishing a criminal justice coordinating council or establishing evidence-based diversion programs. Each of the sessions runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Join WisPolitics.com for "Breakfast in D.C. Featuring Marquette Pollster Charles Franklin"

wispolitics If you're attending the NACo Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. February 21-25, be sure to mark your calendars for a WisPolitics.com event:

"Breakfast in Washington, D.C. Featuring Marquette Pollster Charles Franklin"
Tuesday, February 24
Check-in/Continental Breakfast at 8:15 a.m.
Program: 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.  
 
 
Franklin, a former UW-Madison political scientist who directs the Marquette Law School poll, will discuss: "What election year 2014 tells us about the 2016 presidential race."

Click here to register and pay the $29 fee (put "Feb. 24 DC event" in purpose of payment line). 


Who are WCA Associate Members?

The role and relationship of government with the private sector has changed in recent years. The creation of the WCA Associate Member Program is one more way WCA is reaching out to bring together the public and private sectors.

The WCA Associate Member Program helps to foster the critical and growing relationship between government and business. We believe that helping to nurture a strong partnership with private businesses and organizations will prove to be beneficial to all of Wisconsin.

WCA Associate Members include:

AECOM
American Transmission Company, LLC
Discover Mediaworks
General Motors  
Motorola Solutions, Inc.
Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.

We encourage you to learn more about our WCA Associate Members by clicking here

For more information about this program please contact WCA Marketing and Events Manager Cheryl Fleck at 866.404.2700.    
IN THIS ISSUE
Register for WCA Leg Exchange
WCA Regioinal Legislative Meetings
DOJ Grant Opportunity
LGC Legislative Preview Teleconference
January "Wisconsin Counties"
Save the Date for DOJ Sessions on Diversion Strategies
WisPolitics.com Breakfast in D.C.
Learn More About WCA Associate Members
CAPITOL WATCH IS BACK WITH WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

With the start of the new session comes the resumption of Capitol Watch, the Wisconsin Counties Association's weekly update of legislative issues impacting counties.

To see the first two issues, click here

To receive Capitol Watch in your inbox, contact Amy Dias at WCA at 866.404.2700.
GET TO KNOW YOUR WCA WEBSITE: LEGISLATIVE BILL TRACKING

A new legislative session is underway, which means our government affairs team is hard at work tracking bills.

You can find all legislation we are tracking, including updated bill status, by clicking here.

Note that bills from the 2013-2014 session are now archived in this section.  If you need to find a bill from previous sessions, simply click on the search box and a drop down of session years appears to the right of the search box.  The archive includes 2011-2012 and 2013-2014.

For questions, contact Michelle Gormican Thompson of WCA at 866.404.2700
ACE REGIONAL MEETINGS

The Agricultural Community Engagement (ACE) Regional Program pertains to ALL local leaders, educators, dairy farmers, neighbors, conservationists and others who care about the future of Wisconsin and rural America.

They will be discussing real issues - land use, water quality, technology, nutrient application, road and transportation at this full day seminar.

ACE is a partnership between the Wisconsin Towns Association and Wisconsin Counties Association that keeps producers and community leaders engaged in dialogue about important agricultural issues at the local level.
NATIONWIDE & NACo ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THEIR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

For the 10th consecutive year, Nationwide
Retirement Solutions and NACo are offering college scholarships of $2,500 each.

High school seniors whose parents, grandparents or legal guardians actively contribute to a 457(b) plan offered through the NACo Deferred Compensation Program are encouraged
to apply.

For more information, high school seniors should visit here between January 5 and March 8, 2015. 
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!

If you haven't already, be sure to "Like" the Wisconsin Counties Association on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @wiscounties.

For questions on social media, contact Michelle Gormican Thompson at WCA at 866.404.2700.