This Week in the Legislature: September 14, 2015 

Executive Session on Assembly Bills 310 and 311
On Tuesday, September 15, the Assembly Committee on Health will be holding an executive session on Assembly Bill 310 and Assembly Bill 311. Assembly Bill 310 requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to apply, on an annual basis, for grants under Title X of the federal Public Health Service Act and to distribute funds received to the Wisconsin Well-Woman Program and public entities, including state, county, and local health departments and health clinics, and, if there are funds remaining, to certain nonpublic entities.

Assembly Bill 311 requires certain entities, when billing the Medical Assistance (MA) program for reimbursement of a prescription drug, to bill the actual acquisition cost of the prescription drug and the dispensing fee charged under the MA program. The bill targets family planning clinics, including several county public health departments, involved with the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

A number of counties have indicated concerns with both pieces of legislation. WCA continues to work on a potential amendment to Assembly Bill 311 that exempts local public health departments from the legislation.  

Legislation Out for Co-Sponsorship on 17-Year-Old Offenders
On Wednesday, September 9, Senator Jerry Petrowski, along with Representatives Rob Hutton and Mary Czaja, sent a memo to legislative colleagues seeking co-sponsors for LRB-0771/5 that places first-time, non-violent 17-year-old offenders back in the juvenile justice system.

While WCA supports the intent of the legislation, the legislation fails to address the additional costs to counties for serving 17-year-old offenders. WCA staff continues to work with legislators to identify a funding source for the legislation. It is imperative that counties continue to discuss this legislation with their legislative delegations. An Action Alert was sent to all county officials last week on this topic.

To see the memo WCA sent to all legislators outlining county concerns with the bill as drafted, please click here.

WCA Annual Conference Resolutions
On August 10, 2015, the WCA Resolutions Committee met to discuss the 26 resolutions received by the deadline for consideration at the Annual Business Meeting. The resolutions were emailed to all county clerks. A hard copy was also mailed to all county board chairs and county clerks. Resolutions may be viewed by clicking here.

Committee Hearings for the Week of September 14, 2015
Note: The Committee hearings and bills listed below reflect action on legislation impacting county government.  See a complete listing of weekly hearings here.

Tuesday September 15, 2015
Assembly Committee on Transportation
Assembly Bill 322 - highway parking of motor vehicles owned by carsharing organizations. WCA is monitoring this bill. 

Assembly Bill 306 - golf cart crossing points. WCA is monitoring this bill.  

Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs
Senate Bill 224 - highway pavement markings.  WCA is monitoring this bill.  

Senate Bill 225 - golf cart crossing points. WCA is monitoring this bill. 

Senate Bill 235 - highway parking of motor vehicles owned by carsharing organizations. WCA is monitoring this bill.  

Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform
Senate Joint Resolution 4 - deleting from the constitution the office of state treasurer. WCA is monitoring this bill. 

Senate Bill 5 - the provision by employers to employees of written disclosure statements of the terms of employment, the filing and investigation of wage claims, the statute of limitations for filing a wage claim action, the payment of interest, penalties, and surcharges on wage claims, occupational or professional licensing of employers that owe wages under wage claim judgments. WCA is monitoring this bill.  

Wednesday September 16, 2015
Speaker's Taskforce on Alzheimer's and Dementia
The Committee will hear invited testimony from the following organizations: Alzheimer's Association, Department of Health Services, and Alzheimer's and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin.

Assembly Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations
Assembly Bill 297 - copying, making available, and required notices on, certain vital records. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Thursday, September 17, 2015
Assembly Committee on Judiciary
Assembly Bill 308 - providing an exemption from civil liability for forcibly entering a vehicle under certain circumstances. WCA is monitoring this bill.

For a listing of all bills impacting county government and WCA's positions on those bills, please visit the WCA website here.

 
September 20-22 - WCA Annual Conference
September 20 - WCA Annual Business Meeting
October 16 - WCA Board of Directors
November 4 - County Ambassador Program (CAP) Team Meeting
 
Questions? Contact Our Government Affairs Team  
If you have any questions about anything happening at the state level, please feel free to contact any member of the WCA Government Affairs Team at 866.404.2700 or via email:

Kyle Christianson - Director of Government Affairs 
Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf - Deputy Director of Government Affairs 
Daniel Bahr - Government Affairs Associate 
 
Member Services: WisPolitics & The Wheeler Report
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These daily email updates are an invaluable resource for those interested in keeping up with the day-to-day activities of the Legislature and include in-depth "insider" information on state politics.
 

 

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Wisconsin Counties Association
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