WEEK OF MAY 22, 2017
JOINT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS

Last week, the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) acted on several items impacting county government. Highlights include:

*    Requiring DHS to determine the amount of the unencumbered balance at the end of each fiscal year in the mental health institute appropriation. If it exceeds two months of operating expenditures, DHS must consult counties and include in its biennial budget request a proposal on how to use the funds for mental health services in the next biennium.
*    Creating a definition and certification process for youth crisis stabilization facilities. Placing funding for a youth crisis stabilization facility in the JCF appropriation for release following the receipt of a plan for distributing the funds, as well as criteria for selecting grantees.
*    Adopting modifications to the process for placing a sexually violent person (Ch. 980) on supervised release. Counties will now play a greater role in the placement process through the creation of a temporary committee.
*    Modifying the contracting process between rate-based service providers and state and county agencies.
*    Increasing foster care rates by 2.5% in CY18 and CY19.
*    Increasing the children and family aids allocation by $5 million annually beginning in CY18.
*    Increasing funding for victims of sex trafficking by $1 million annually.

This week the JCF will be taking up the following items impacting county government: child welfare safety services, nursing home and ICF-IID reimbursement, children's long-term support waiver program, childless adult employment and training waiver, FSET pilot for able-bodied adults with dependents, FoodShare eligibility, and dementia care specialists.

See the Legislative Fiscal Bureau papers on these issues here.

For a more detailed account of the items acted on by the JCF, please click here to view a PowerPoint presentation and webinar conducted by the WCA Government Affairs Staff.  
TUNE IN ON MONDAYS FOR WEEKLY BUDGET WEBINARS

You can stay up-to-date on the JCF's budget actions affecting county government by participating in WCA's weekly budget webinars. Budget webinars will be held each Monday at 9:00 a.m.

With the holiday weekend, the regularly scheduled budget webinar for next week will be held on Tuesday, May 30 at 9:00 a.m.

View the May 22, 2017 webinar here. 
 
How to Sign Up
To join this FREE webinar, visit https://wicounties.adobeconnect.com/budget/ each Monday morning. This link will remain active throughout the budget process.  
ASSEMBLY FLOOR SESSION

The Wisconsin State Assembly announced that it will be in regular session on June 14.

That is the only day the Assembly will be in regular session in June.
COMMITTEE HEARINGS FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 22, 2017

Note: The Committee hearings and bills listed below reflect action on legislation impacting county government.  For a complete listing of weekly hearings, please visit here .

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Assembly Committee on Transportation, 1:00 p.m.
Assembly Bill 261 - the Milwaukee County high-wide route. WCA has no position on this bill.
Assembly Bill 162 - proceeds from special registration plates associated with professional baseball park districts and making an appropriation. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 272 - weight limit exceptions for vehicles equipped with idle reduction technology or natural gas fuel systems. WCA opposes this bill.

Joint Committee on Finance, 1:00 p.m.
The Joint Committee on Finance will meet in Executive Session on the 2017-19 state biennial budget on the budgets of the following agencies:
*    Program Supplements
*    State Treasurer
*    Administration - Transfers
*    Administration - Facilities
*    Medical College of Wisconsin
*    Higher Educational Aids Board
*    Educational Communications Board
*    University of Wisconsin System
*    Children and Families - Economic Support and Child Care

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Assembly Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight, 9:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 219 - sales by the state or a political subdivision to employees. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Committee on Workforce Development, Military Affairs and Senior Issues, 11:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 234 - creating an Interagency Council on Homelessness and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 235 - housing grants. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 236 - waiting lists for housing choice vouchers. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Committee on Revenue, Financial Institutions and Rural Issues, 9:00 a.m.
Senate Bill 218 - eliminating the personal property tax and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

 Thursday, May 25, 2017

Joint Committee on Finance, 11:00 a.m.
The Joint Committee on Finance will meet in Executive Session on the 2017-19 state biennial budget on the budgets of the following agencies:
*    Building Commission
*    Building Program
*    Health Services -- Departmentwide
*    Health Services - Medicaid Services
*    Health Services -- FoodShare
*    Health Services - Mental Health, Public Health, and Other Programs

  For a listing of all bills impacting county government and WCA's positions on those bills, please visit the WCA website. 
UPCOMING WCA MEETINGS/EVENTS
  • July 13 - County Organization and Personnel Steering Committee
  • July 14 - Judicial and Public Safety Steering Committee
  • July 14 - Health and Human Services Steering Committee
  • July 14 - Taxation and Finance Steering Committee
  • July 17 - Agriculture, Environment, and Land Use Steering Committee
  • July 17 - Transportation and Public Works Steering Committee
  See a complete listing of upcoming WCA meetings here.
HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THE SESSION WITH US?

As a member-benefit, the Wisconsin Counties Association offers access to The Wheeler Report, WisPolitics, and WisconsinEye.

If you would like to subscribe to any one of these news services, please contact Amy Dias, Office Manager at dias@wicounties.org or at 866.404.2700.
QUESTIONS?

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:

Kyle Christianson, Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
christianson@wicounties.org

Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf, Deputy Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
diedrick@wicounties.org

Dan Bahr, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
bahr@wicounties.org

Marcie Rainbolt, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
rainbolt@wicounties.org

Chelsea Fibert, Government Affairs Assistant
608.663.7188