This Week in the Legislature: Week of August 17, 2015  

Mandate Waiver Received for Remaining Counties on Property Tax Bill Disclosure
The 2015-17 state biennial budget contains a provision requiring property tax bills to disclose the amount of property tax resulting from any voter-approved referenda. Property tax bills must include a separate listing for all non-recurring referenda passed and include the dates on which the referenda expire.

Due to concerns regarding the implementation timeline, on July 29, 2015 the Wisconsin Department of Revenue granted a one-year waiver from the requirements found in Wis. Stats. �74.09 (3)(db) for 61 counties. On August 10, 2015, a waiver was granted for the remaining 11 counties. To view the waiver letter for the 11 remaining counties, 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 on Friday. A hard copy will also be mailed to all county board chairs and county clerks. Resolutions may be viewed by clicking here.

Committee Hearings for the Week of August 17, 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, August 18, 2015
Assembly Committee on Health, 9:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 213 - ambulance staffing by emergency medical technicians and first responders. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 242 - modifying administrative rules related to maintenance and use standards for oxygen equipment in nursing homes. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Committee on Transportation, 12:00 p.m.
Assembly Bill 266 - requiring or allowing persons who have committed certain offenses related to drunken driving to acquire an ignition interlock device in order to operate certain motor vehicles and providing a criminal penalty. WCA supports this bill.

Assembly Bill 280 - enforcement of the display of motor vehicle registration plates. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 298 - highway pavement markings. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Following the public hearing, the committee will hold a meeting to discuss a number of transportation-related administrative rules. There will be no public testimony at this meeting - invited speakers only.

Rules up for discussion of interest to counties include:
TRANS 126 - Municipal or county vehicle registration fee
TRANS 145 - Neighborhood electric vehicle
TRANS 207 - Design and construction of municipal highway bridges in or over navigable streams
TRANS 209 - Highway and bridge project selection process
TRANS 212 - Standards for the inspection of bridges in Wisconsin
TRANS 213 - Local bridge program

Assembly Committee on Public Benefit Reform, 10:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 222 - photo identification cards for FoodShare recipients. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Thursday, August 20, 2015
Assembly Committee on Judiciary and Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, 10:30 a.m.
Senate Bill 82/Assembly Bill 90 - criminal procedure and providing penalties. WCA is monitoring these bills.

For a listing of all bills impacting county government and WCA�€™s positions on those bills, please visit the WCA website here
 
WCA Upcoming Meetings
See a complete listing of upcoming WCA meetings here
  • August 17 - WCA Educational Seminar: "Broadband Development and the Role of County Government"
  • September 20-22 - WCA Annual Conference, La Crosse County
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 
 
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Wisconsin Counties Association
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866.404.2700