Environmental Protection — Water Regulation,
Chs. NR 300—
EmR0915
—
A rule adopted revising
Chapters
NR 335
and
336
,
relating to grants for dam maintenance, repair, modification, or abandonment and removal.
Finding of Emergency
The substantial increase in bonding for the dam grant programs is a strong message from the legislature that concern for public welfare from unsafe dams is growing, as well as the desire to help dam owners, including the owners of the many dams damaged during the flooding in 2007 and 2008. In order to protect the public and provide this financial assistance, these additional funds should be put to work as soon as possible. The timeline for permanent rule promulgation will impede the Department's ability to accept applications and commit funding to dam safety projects until at least June 2010, which would delay most projects until late 2010 or 2011. The emergency rules will allow immediate implementation of modifications that will allow a grant application cycle to be conducted yet this fall and allow most projects to be constructed during the 2010 construction season or before.
Publication Date:
August 28, 2009
Effective Dates:
August 28, 2009 through
January 24, 2010
Extension Through:
May 24, 2010
Hearing Date:
April 15, 2010
Natural Resources
Environmental Protection — Hazardous Waste Management, Chs. NR 600—
EmR1007
—
A rule adopted revising
section
NR 660.10
,
relating to hazardous waste management.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
Section 9137 (2), a non-statutory provision in
2009 Wisconsin Act 28
, authorizes the department to promulgate the required definitions using emergency rule making procedures, but is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under that subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to
Publication Date:
March 17, 2010
Effective Dates:
March 17, 2010 through
July 1, 2011
Hearing Date:
April 26, 2010
Public Defender Board
EmR0926
— Rule adopted to create
Chapter
PD 8
, Discovery Payments, relating to the maximum fees that the state public defender may pay for copies of discovery materials in criminal proceedings, proceedings under Chapter
980
, Wis. Stats., and other proceedings in which the state public defender provides legal representation.
Finding of Emergency
These rules are promulgated under s.
227.24 (1) (a)
, Stats., because the magnitude of the shortfall in the state public defender's appropriation for transcripts, discovery, and interpreters in both years of the current biennium constitutes an emergency that requires implementation of a rule earlier than a permanent rule could take effect if the agency were to comply with the applicable notice, hearing, legislative- review, and publication requirements.
The state public defender was initially provided a base budget of $60,000 in 1995 for discovery payments, which at that time consisted mostly of photocopies and some photographs. In the 1999-2001 budget act, this appropriation was increased to $150,000, based on a presumptive rate for photocopies of $0.20 per page. In the 2001-2003 biennial budget act, this appropriation was subjected to a five percent funding reduction, leaving a base budget for discovery payments of $142,500.
The public defender received discovery bills totaling $717,000 for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2009. Although discovery costs are caseload driven, this represents a nearly five-fold increase since 2001 and is due primarily to two factors. First, in the past many counties and municipalities did not bill the state public defender for copies of discovery materials. Because local budgets have come under increasing pressure, most now do so. Second,
2005 Wisconsin Act 60
resulted in more widespread use of audio and video recordings of interrogations by law enforcement, copies of which must be provided to the defense.
The public defender board's requests for cost-to-continue budget increases for discovery payments in 2007-2009 and in 2009-2011 were not funded. Instead, the FY 2009-2011 budget act reduced this appropriation by 1%, leaving a base budget of $141,100, and directed the board to promulgate rules to address the funding shortfall.
Publication Date:
October 3, 2009
Effective Dates:
October 3, 2009 through
March 1, 2010
Extension Through:
June 29, 2010
Hearing Date:
November 16, 2009
Public Instruction
EmR1018
— Rule adopted to create
Chapter
PI 45
, relating to the use of race-based nicknames, logos, mascots, and team names by school boards.
Finding of Emergency
Pursuant to Section 3 of the nonstatutory provisions of
2009 Wisconsin Act 250
, the Department of Public Instruction is not required to provide evidence that this rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency.
Publication Date:
June 1, 2010
Effective Dates:
June 1, 2010 through
October 28, 2010
Regulation and Licensing (2)
1.
EmR0827
— Rule adopted creating
s.
RL 91.01 (3) (k)
, relating to training and proficiency in the use of automated external defibrillators for certification as a massage therapist or bodyworker.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
Section 41 (2) (b) of the nonstatutory provisions of
2007 Wisconsin Act 104
provides that notwithstanding section
227.24 (1) (a)
and
(3)
of the statutes, the department of regulation and licensing is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated to implement
2007 Wisconsin Act 104
. Notwithstanding s.
227.24 (1) (c)
and
(2)
of the statutes, these emergency rules will remain in effect until the date on which the final rules take effect.
Publication Date:
September 10, 2008
Effective Dates:
September 10, 2008
through the date on which
the final rules take effect
Hearing Dates:
November 26, 2008
April 13, 2009
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
Section 41 (2) (b) of the nonstatutory provisions of
2007 Wisconsin Act 104
provides that notwithstanding section
227.24 (1) (a)
and
(3)
of the statutes, the department of regulation and licensing is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated to implement
2007 Wisconsin Act 104
. Notwithstanding s.
227.24 (1) (c)
and
(2)
of the statutes, these emergency rules will remain in effect until the date on which the final rules take effect.
Publication Date:
September 10, 2008
Effective Dates:
September 10, 2008
through the date on which
the final rules take effect
Hearing Date:
November 26, 2008
Revenue (4)
1.
EmR0929
— Rule adopted to create sections
Tax 2.85
and
11.90
, relating to failure to produce records.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Revenue finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is:
The emergency rule is to reflect changes in Wisconsin's tax laws due to the adoption of penalties for failure to produce records.
It is necessary to promulgate this rule order to provide guidance so that the penalties can be administered in a fair and consistent manner.
Publication Date:
October 19, 2009
Effective Dates:
October 19, 2009 through
March 17, 2010
Extension Through:
July 15, 2010
Hearing Dates:
December 10 and 21, 2009
2.
EmR0935
— Rule adopted to create
section
Tax 1.16
, relating to the financial record matching program.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Revenue finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is:
The emergency rule is to reflect changes in Wisconsin's tax laws due to the creation of the financial record matching program.
It is necessary to promulgate this rule order to provide procedures so that the program can be administered in a fair and consistent manner.
Publication Date:
December 22, 2009
Effective Dates:
December 22, 2009
through May 20, 2010
Extension Through:
July 19, 2010
Hearing Date:
February 11, 2010
3.
EmR0943
— Rule adopted to revise
Chapter
Tax 2
, relating to apportionment and nexus.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Revenue finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is:
In 2009, the Wisconsin Legislature enacted Acts 2 and 28, both of which contained substantial changes to Wisconsin's corporation franchise and income tax laws. Most of these changes are effective retroactively to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2009. Emergency rules are needed to add certainty about the scope and application of the newly enacted statutes as soon as possible so that taxpayers can file their returns accordingly.
Publication Date:
December 31, 2009
Effective Dates:
December 31, 2009
through May 29, 2010
Extension Through:
July 28, 2010
Hearing Date:
February 25, 2010
4.
EmR1002
— Rule adopted to create
section
Tax 1.17
, relating to the ambulatory surgical center assessment.
Exemption From Finding of Emergency
Publication Date:
January 19, 2010
Extension Through:
August 15, 2010
Hearing Date:
February 11, 2010
Transportation
EmR1017
— Rule adopted to create
section
Trans 100.25
,
relating to mandatory insurance exemptions.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Transportation finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health and welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is the requirements of the mandatory insurance laws in Chapter
344
, Stats., as created by
2009 Wis. Act 28
, contain exceptions to furnishing proof of a motor vehicle liability insurance policy. This emergency rule defines the administration of those exceptions. These mandatory insurance requirements, and the exceptions, are effective June 1, 2010, thereby necessitating an emergency rule being put into place until the effective date of the permanent rule. Clarification of the mechanism to be used to qualify for an exception under the new statute will be useful to persons wishing to file for an exception. Persons whose religious beliefs preclude them from buying insurance will benefit from this rule making.
Publication Date:
June 1, 2010
Effective Dates:
June 1, 2010 through
October 28, 2010
Hearing Date:
June 24, 2010
(See the Notice in this Register)
Veterans Affairs
EmR0944
— Rule adopted to amend
section
VA 2.02 (2)
, relating to the veterans tuition reimbursement program.
Finding of Emergency
The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
The removal of the existing deadline for completing and receiving an application for the tuition fee reimbursement program has left the department unable to budget the available resources for this program to ensure maximum coverage for eligible veterans throughout the fiscal year. The department is requesting emergency rules to ensure applications can be processed in a responsive manner and to allow the department to properly manage the program's biennial budget and ensure the welfare of all eligible veterans. The emergency rule will address the need for an application deadline while the department completes the promulgation for a permanent rule for the program.
Publication Date:
January 4, 2010
Effective Dates:
January 4, 2010 through
June 2, 2010
Extension Through:
August 1, 2010
Hearing Date:
March 10, 2010
Workforce Development
Labor Standards, Chs. DWD 270-279
EmR1011
— Rule adopted to create
Chapter
DWD 273
, relating to the regulation of traveling sales crews.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Workforce Development finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
The statute which provides for the regulation of traveling sales crews became effective on April 1, 2010. The Department has completed its work on the proposed administrative rule which implements the statute, and submitted the proposed rule in final form for legislative review on April 13, 2010. Putting the provisions of the proposed rule into effect during the legislative review period will allow the Department to take any enforcement action that might be needed if there are complaints during this period about the operation of traveling sales crews without the permits required by statute.
Publication Date:
April 19, 2010
Effective Dates:
April 19, 2010 through
September 15, 2010
Workforce Development (2)
Public Works Construction Contracts,
Chs. DWD 290-294
1.
EmR0941
— Rule adopted to create
section
DWD 290.20
, relating to the thresholds for the requirement of prevailing wage rates.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Workforce Development finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
The most recent state budget legislation,
2009 Wisconsin Act 28
, contained amendments to the state laws which require the payment of prevailing wage rates for work done on projects of public works and , in a new statute, for work done on private projects which receive more than $1,000,000 of public direct financial assistance. The new provisions become effective on January 1, 2010.
The prevailing wage laws require that when a state agency or local governmental unit contracts for the erection, construction, remodeling, repairing, or demolition of a public works project it must obtain a prevailing wage rate determination from the Department of Workforce Development and require that the contractors and subcontractors on the project pay their employees in accordance with the wage rates established by the determination. Under the law as it existed before the enactment of
2009 Act 28
, a prevailing wage rate determination was required for any project with an estimated cost of at least $48,000 (for a single-trade project) or $234,000 (for a multi-trade project). Act 28 changes these amounts to an estimated project cost of at least $25,000. Act 28 has also created a new statute, s.
66.0904
, Stats., which requires that a private developer obtain and comply with a prevailing wage rate determination for a private project that receives at least $1,000,000 in direct financial assistance from a local governmental unit.
The state and local governmental units and private developers who may be subject to these new requirements of the prevailing wage laws need immediate guidance as to the manner in which the Department will apply the January 1, 2010 effective date to new projects. This rule provides that guidance by establishing that the new threshold requirements will apply to projects for which a request for bids is issued or a contract is negotiated after January 1, 2010.
Publication Date:
December 29, 2009
Effective Dates:
January 1, 2010 through
May 30, 2010
2.
EmR0942
— Rule adopted to amend
section
DWD 293.02
, relating to the adjustment of thresholds for payment and performance assurance bond requirements and affecting small businesses.
Finding of Emergency
The Department of Workforce Development finds that an emergency exists and that an emergency rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:
The adjustment of the thresholds for the application of the project payment and performance assurance bond requirements ensures that the adjustments are effective on a date certain that is prior to the time of year that project requests are generally submitted to the Department and the need for obtaining bonding is determined. The adjustment avoids imposing an additional administrative burden on local governments and state agencies caused by an effective decrease of the thresholds due solely to inflation in the construction industry. If these new thresholds are not put into effect by emergency rule, the old thresholds will remain effective for approximately six to seven months, until the conclusion of the permanent rule-making process. The thresholds are based on national construction cost statistics and are unlikely to be changed by the rule-making process.
Publication Date:
December 29, 2009
Effective Dates:
January 1, 2010 through
May 30, 2010
Hearing Date:
March 31, 2010
