EmR1029 Hearing to consider emergency rules to create Ch. Comm 137, relating to reallocations for recovery zone facility bonds, and affecting small businesses.  

  • The department shall send written notice of its determination of need to the applicant with a specific reason for the determination within 90 days after the date on which the department received all required documents and information from an applicant. The department will consider an application that remains incomplete for a 90-day period after receipt of any documentation to be withdrawn.
    Comparison with federal regulations
    None.
    Comparison with rules in adjacent states
    The department is not aware of any requirements to obtain a certificate of need before applying for a license to operate a group home in adjacent states.
    Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies
    The rule regulates the establishment of new group homes and the expansion of existing group homes to control costs to Wisconsin citizens while ensuring an adequate number and variety of facilities to meet the needs of children who require out-of-home residential care.
    Analysis used to determine effect on small businesses
    The rule provides details to implement the statute.
    Small Business Impact
    The proposed rule will affect small businesses as defined in s. 227.114 (1) , Stats., but will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of businesses.
    The Department's Small Business Regulatory Coordinator is Elaine Pridgen, (608) 267-9403, elaine.pridgen@ wisconsin.gov .
    Fiscal Estimate
    Assumptions used in arriving at fiscal estimate
    A determination of need requirement will save staff time that is currently spent licensing group homes that are not needed. Group homes that are underutilized have higher per bed overhead costs that have often been passed on to purchasers.
    State fiscal effect
    None.
    Local government fiscal effect
    None.
    Long-range fiscal implications
    None.
    Agency Contact Person
    Mary Morse, Child Welfare Licensing Section
    Bureau of Permanence and Out-of-Home Care
    Phone: (608) 266-0415.
    Notice of Hearing
    Commerce
    Financial Resources for Businesses and Communities, Chs. Comm 100—
    NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to s. 560.033 of the Statutes, the Department of Commerce will hold a public hearing on emergency rules to create Chapter Comm 137 , relating to reallocations for recovery zone facility bonds, and affecting small businesses.
    Hearing Information
    Date and Time :
    Location :
    October 1, 2010
    Friday
    1:00 p.m.
    Thompson Commerce Center
    Third Floor, Room 3B
    201 West Washington Avenue
    Madison, WI
    This hearing will be held in an accessible facility. If you have special needs or circumstances that may make communication or accessibility difficult at the hearing, please call Sam Rockweiler at (608) 266-0797 or at Contact Through Relay at least 10 days prior to the hearing date. Accommodations such as interpreters, English translators, or materials in audio tape format will, to the fullest extent possible, be made available upon a request from a person with a disability.
    Appearance at Hearing and Submittal of Written Comments
    Interested persons are invited to appear at the hearing and present comments on the rules. Persons making oral presentations are requested to submit their comments in writing, via e-mail. Persons submitting comments will not receive individual responses. The hearing record on this rulemaking will remain open until October 6, 2010 , to permit submittal of written comments from persons who are unable to attend the hearing or who wish to supplement testimony offered at the hearing. E-mail comments should be sent to sam.rockweiler@wi.gov . If e-mail submittal is not possible, written comments may be submitted to Sam Rockweiler, Department of Commerce, Division of Environmental and Regulatory Services, P.O. Box 14427, Madison, WI 53708-0427.
    Copies of Emergency Rule
    The rules and an analysis of the rules are available on the Internet by entering "Comm 137" in the search engine at the following Web site:
    https://health.wisconsin.gov/admrules/public/Home sam.rockweiler @wi.gov .
    Paper copies may be obtained without cost from Sam Rockweiler at the Department of Commerce, Division of Environmental and Regulatory Services, P.O. Box 14427, Madison, WI 53707, or at sam.rockweiler@wi.gov , or telephone (608) 266-0797, or at Contact Through Relay. Copies will also be available at the public hearing.
    Analysis Prepared by the Department of Commerce
    Statutes interpreted
    Section 560.033 , Stats.
    Statutory authority
    Sections 227.11 (2) (a) and 560.033 , Stats.
    Explanation of agency authority
    Section 227.11 (2) (a) of the Statutes authorizes the Department to promulgate rules interpreting the provisions of any Statute administered by the Department. Section 560.033 (1) of the Statutes directs the Department to establish by rule, a system for reallocating waived allocations for recovery zone facility bonds – as defined under 26 USC 1400U-3 (b)(1) – to the authorities and local governmental units which are defined in sections 66.1104 (1) (a) and (b) of the Statutes. Section 560.033 (3) of the Statutes authorizes the Department to place any condition on these reallocations that the Department deems is in the best interest of the State.
    Related statute or rule
    Chapter Comm 113 contains rules relating to allocating volume cap on tax-exempt private activity bonds for manufacturing and housing, pursuant to 26 USC 146 .
    Chapter Comm 136 establishes a procedure by which the Governor can designate tax-exempt Midwestern disaster area bonds that can be issued by, or on behalf of, the State or any political subdivision thereof, under the federal Heartland Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008. These are private activity bonds that are designed to facilitate the recovery and rebuilding of areas which were declared major disaster areas in 2008.
    Plain language analysis
    The rules in this order address a system for reallocating all of the federal recovery zone facility bond allocations that were not used by June 1, 2010, to the authorities and local governmental units which are defined in sections 66.1104 (1) (a) and (b) of the Statutes, as created in 2009 Wisconsin Act 112 . This reallocation system includes deadlines that are designed to result in complete use of the federal bond allocation prior to its expiration on December 31, 2010.
    Comparison with federal regulations
    Current federal law, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), authorizes certain local governments to issue several different types of tax-exempt bonds, including recovery zone facility bonds. The amount of bonds that may be issued is limited. Through each State, the ARRA allocates to counties, and to cities with a population of at least 100,000, the limited amount of recovery zone facility bonds that may be issued. The ARRA also authorizes these counties and cities to then waive some or all of their allocation, in which case the State in which the local units are located may reallocate the waived allocation to other units of government in that State.
    Comparison with rules in adjacent states
    Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and Michigan have not yet promulgated any rules relating to counties or cities waiving allocations for recovery zone facility bonds. As a result, each county or city within those States may have developed their own requirements or guidelines for utilizing their portion of the State's recovery zone facility bond allocation.
    Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies
    The data and methodology for developing these rules were derived from and consisted of (1) reviewing 2009 Wisconsin Act 112 and the corresponding criteria in section 1401 of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5; (2) incorporating applicable best practices the Department has developed in administering similar programs for economic development and business development; and (3) incorporating recommendations from stakeholders.
    Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small business
    The primary documents that were used to determine the effect of the rules on small business were 2009 Wisconsin Act 112 and the corresponding criteria in section 1401 of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
    No economic impact report was prepared.
    Small Business Impact
    The rules are expected to result in only beneficial effects on small business because the rules only address tax-exempt private activity bonds that allow businesses to finance certain depreciable capital projects in areas which are designated by the bond issuers as having significant poverty, unemployment, rate of home foreclosures, or general distress.
    Initial regulatory flexibility analysis
    Types of small businesses that will be affected by the rules.
    Any business choosing to pursue tax-exempt private activity bonds that are designed to finance certain depreciable capital projects in areas which are designated by the bond issuers as having significant poverty, unemployment, rate of home foreclosures, or general distress.
    Reporting, bookkeeping and other procedures required for compliance with the rules.
    An application form prescribed by the Department must be completed and submitted to the Department by any authority or local governmental unit, as defined in s. 66.1104 (1) (a) and (b) of the Statutes, that desires to receive a reallocation of the bonding authority.
    Types of professional skills necessary for compliance with the rules.
    No new professional skills are necessary for compliance with the rules.
    Rules have a significant economic impact on small businesses?
    No
    Small business regulatory coordinator
    Any inquiries for the small business regulatory coordinator for the Department of Commerce can be directed to Sam Rockweiler, as listed above.
    Fiscal Estimate
    Assumptions used in arriving at fiscal estimate
    The bond closing fee assessed under section Comm 137.08 (2) (b) is estimated to annually average $5000 from each of 20 projects, for an annual total of $100,000.
    The proposed rules are not expected to impose any significant costs on the private sector because the rules address submittal of documentation, and other activities, only by applicants that choose to participate in the tax-exempt private activity bonding addressed in the rules.
    State fiscal effect
    Increase existing revenues.
    Local government fiscal effect
    None.
    Long-range fiscal implications
    None known.
    Agency Contact Person
    Steven Sabatke
    Wisconsin Department of Commerce
    Bureau of Business Finance and Compliance
    P.O. Box 7970, Madison, WI 53707-7970
    Phone: (608) 267-0762
    Notice of Hearing
    Technical College System Board
    NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to s. 38.41 , Stats., the Wisconsin Technical College System Board will hold a public hearing to consider proposed rules amending Chapter TCS 17 , relating to training program grants. The Wisconsin Technical College System Board adopted a temporary emergency rule effective July 2, 2010 and is also proposing a permanent rule. The hearing will cover both the emergency rule and the proposed permanent rule.
    Hearing Information
    Date:   September 28, 2010
    Time:   1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
    Location:   Wisconsin Technical College System Office
      4622 University Avenue
      Room 149
      Madison, WI 53705
    It is the policy of the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Board to provide accommodations to persons with disabilities which may affect their ability to access or participate in WTCS activities. Persons may request assistance or reasonable accommodation for the scheduled public hearing by contacting Morna Foy at (608) 266-2449 or (608) 267-2483 (TTY) on or before September 20, 2010.
    Submittal of Written Comments
    Written comments should be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on September 28, 2010 to Morna Foy at the Wisconsin Technical College System, 4622 University Avenue, PO Box 7874, in Madison, WI 53707-7874 or by email to morna.foy@wtcsystem.edu with a subject line of TCS 17. Written comments will be given the same consideration as testimony presented at the hearing. People submitting comments will not receive individual responses.
    Analysis Prepared by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board
    Statutes interpreted
    Sections 20.292 (1) (eh) and 38.41 , Wis. Stats.
    Statutory authority
    Section 38.41 , Wis. Stats.
    Explanation of agency authority
    Section 38.41 (4) , Stats., authorizes the technical college system board to promulgate rules to implement and administer the awarding of grants to technical college district boards to provide skills training or other education related to the needs of business.
    Related statute or rule
    Section TCS 17.06 , Wis. Adm. Code.
    Plain language analysis
    TCS 17 relates to training grants for technical college districts that provide skills training or other education related to the needs of business. A 25% match is required as a condition of the grant awards. The proposed amendment would eliminate the match requirement.
    Comparison with federal regulations
    Not applicable.
    Comparison with rules in adjacent states
    Not applicable.
    Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies
    Not applicable.
    Small Business Impact
    The proposed rules will have a positive effect — without the 25% match requirement, small businesses may be better able to take advantage of the training or education funding opportunities provided by this grant. Small businesses may access training or education through the training program grants, but there is no mandated participation in the program.
    Fiscal Estimate
    The functions required by these rules can be absorbed within existing staff. Therefore, there is no fiscal effect on the agency.
    Text of Proposed Rule
    SECTION 1. Section TCS 17.06 is amended to read:
    TCS 17.06 CONDITIONS OF THE GRANT AWARD. (1) District boards or employers receiving skills training or education under the grant shall contribute matching funds, other than in-kind matching funds, equal to at least 25% of total approved project costs.
    (2) Grant award funds , including matching funds, may not be used for administration, marketing, or indirect costs.
    (3) The board may establish limitations on the percentage of the grant award funds and matching funds that may be used to purchase or lease instructional materials, software, equipment or supply items and that may be used to fund staff development costs. Such limitations shall be specified in the grant guidelines approved by the board under TCS 17.03(2).
    Agency Contact Person
    Morna Foy, Executive Assistant
    Wisconsin Technical College System
    4622 University Avenue
    P.O. Box 7874
    Madison, WI 53707-7874
    Phone: (608) 266-2449