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Capitol Capsules

February 29, 2000

Capitol Capsules

‘Tuition cap’ bill passes Assembly committee
The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee has endorsed a measure (AB 554) to limit the resident, undergraduate tuition share to 38 percent of instructional costs. David Miller, UW System assistant vice president for state relations, spoke against the bill. The faculty lobbying group PROFS also testified against the bill.

Currently, undergraduate resident tuition system-wide pays 37 percent of a student’s instructional costs. As originally introduced by Rep. Gregg Underheim (R-Oshkosh), the bill had a 40 percent cap. Student groups opposed the 40 percent cap and lobbied for the limit to be lowered to 35 percent. The committee amended the cap to 38 percent.

It is unclear whether the full Assembly will take up the bill.

Carbone named to tobacco board
Paul Carbone, former director of the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center and professor emeritus, has been named to the 22-member Tobacco Control Board that will determine how to invest $23.5 million in smoking prevention programs, particularly targeting youth.

Legislative watch
The Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee also unanimously endorsed the following bills of interest to the university:

  • AB 629, which creates a loan program for teachers of visually impaired pupils. Sharon James, UW System associate vice president for academic affairs, testified in favor of the bill.
  • AB 736, which allows study abroad grants to be awarded in amounts up to $2,000. UW-Milwaukee Dean Marshall Goodman testified in favor of the measure.
  • AB 709, which creates new regulations of athletic agents. University Athletic Director Pat Richter testified in support of the bill.

In other action last week the Assembly Government Operations Committee met and heard testimony on a measure (AB 734) that would shift decision making about whether UW System campus police officers can carry firearms from chancellors to campus police. UW-Oshkosh Chancellor John Kerrigan testified against this legislation, and the committee did not vote on the bill.

Upcoming hearings
The Joint Finance Committee will meet in a voting session Thursday, March 2, at 10 a.m. in 411 South, state Capitol, to consider the following legislation of interest to the university. Additional legislation may be included on the agenda.

  • SB 332/AB 654, changes to the EdVest college savings program.
  • SB 358, transfer of the state animal health lab to UW–Madison.
  • AB 114, UW tuition remission for children and surviving spouses of emergency medical technicians.
  • AB 203, requiring sprinkler systems in residence halls.
  • AB 545, leave of absence for state employees donating organs.
  • AB 592, International Baccalaureate Diploma grant program.

Meanwhile, the Senate Education Committee will meet Thursday, March 2, at 10 a.m. in 201 Southeast, state Capitol, to consider a measure (AB 266) requiring some educational agencies to install filtering software on computers connected to the Internet.

For the text and history of all legislation: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/billtext.html.

For more information
Contact Charles B. Hoslet, special assistant to the chancellor for state relations: 263-5510; hoslet@mail.bascom.wisc.edu; 97 Bascom Hall or visit the State Relations Web site.