WEEK OF MAY 30, 2017
JOINT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS
 
Last week, the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) acted on several items impacting county government. Highlights include:

*    Providing $889,800 TANF in FY18 and $1,921,600 TANF in FY19 to expand the use of in-home safety services statewide.
*    Increasing nursing home reimbursement rates by 2% in each year of the biennium, as well as the behavioral incentive by $5 million annually.
*    Providing funding to eliminate the existing waiting list for Children's Long-Term Support (CLTS) Services.
*    Requiring childless adults to participate in employment and training services as a condition of eligibility for BadgerCare Plus; a federal waiver is required, along with an additional approval by the Joint Committee on Finance.
*    Approving a pilot program with regard to mandatory FSET participation for able-bodied adults with dependents; DHS must come back to the JCF for funding for the pilot.
*    Modified the asset limit for FoodShare participation by non-EBD groups to $25,000.
*    Providing funding for dementia care specialists - 19 positions through June 30, 2018; 24 positions beginning July 1, 2018.
*    Providing $500,000 annually to local public health departments for communicable disease control and prevention.

This week the JCF will be taking up the following items impacting county government: judicial compensation, car-killed deer, managed forest law.

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.

The next weekly budget webinar will be held on Monday, June 5, 2017.

View the May 30, 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 30, 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 30, 2017

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Commerce and Local Government, 10:00 a.m.
Senate Bill 170 - investment of surplus money by local units of government. WCA supports this bill.

Assembly Committee on Jobs and the Economy, 2:00 p.m.
Assembly Bill 345 - work release for inmates in Department of Corrections contracted facilities. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 348 - limiting the authority of the state and political subdivisions to regulate wireless facilities and authorizing political subdivisions to impose setback requirements for certain mobile service support structures. WCA is seeking amendments to the bill.

Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform, 11:00 a.m.
Senate Bill 61 - forfeiture of property seized in relation to a crime. WCA opposes this bill.

Assembly Committee on Agriculture, 10:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 278 - sales and use tax exemptions for beekeeping. WCA opposes this bill.

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Joint Committee on Finance, 2:00 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:
*    Appropriation Obligation Bonds
*    Corrections - Parole Commission
*    Supreme Court
*    District Attorneys
*    Investment Board
*    Administration - Information Technology
*    Administration - Procurement   
*    Administration - Housing  
*    Workforce Development - Departmentwide
*    Workforce Development - Employment and Training
*    Workforce Development - Other Programs
*    Tourism
*    Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority
*    Fox River Navigational System Authority
*    Natural Resources - Departmentwide
*    Natural Resources - Forestry, Parks and Recreation
*    Board of Commissioners of Public Lands

Assembly Committee on Children and Families, 1:00 p.m.
Assembly Bill 290 - the authority for counties to enter into contracts to perform child protective services functions. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 186 - prosecuting a person under the age of 18 with committing an act of prostitution. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, 9:30 a.m.
Senate Bill 169 - going armed with a firearm and electric weapons, licenses for carrying a concealed weapon, trespassing while armed with a firearm, and providing criminal penalties. WCA opposes this bill.

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, 10:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 331 - expungement of records of certain crimes. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, 10:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 277 - eliminating the personal property tax and making an appropriation. 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. 
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?

wispolitics
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