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Capitol Capsules

November 18, 2003

Concealed-weapons bill goes to governor
Last week the Senate passed the final version of Senate Bill 214, which allows certain people to carry concealed weapons. The bill exempts university buildings, but not all university property. Gov. Jim Doyle is expected to veto the bill. It is also expected that the Legislature will attempt to override Doyle’s veto during an extraordinary session, scheduled to begin Dec. 1. The extraordinary session is also expected to include action on negotiated state employee contracts.

Legislative action
In other legislative activity last week:

  • The Assembly passed AB 342, which prohibits students convicted of dealing drugs from receiving state financial aid. The bill, which passed on a 68-28 vote, goes to the Senate for consideration.
  • The Senate passed AB 165, which provides continuing education requirements for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. This bill now goes to the governor for his signature.

Committee action
In legislative committee activity last week:

  • The Senate Committee on Higher Education and Tourism unanimously passed SB 247, which allows certain sexual harassment and sexual assault information required to be distributed to UW students to be provided electronically. The bill goes to the full Senate.
  • The Joint Finance Committee passed 13-1 AB 209, which would allow an individual income tax deduction for contributions by certain family members to a college savings account or college tuition and expenses program.

Legislation introduced

  • Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, has introduced legislation (AB 667) that would allow Wisconsin residents to claim a state income tax deduction for investing in out-of-state section 529 college tuition savings programs. The bill was referred to the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee and the Joint Committee on Tax Exemptions.
  • Rep. Sheldon Wasserman, D-Milwaukee, has introduced legislation (AB 670) that exempts medical residents and fellows from health care information data annual assessments. The bill was referred to the Assembly Health Committee.
  • Rep. Suzanne Jeskewitz, R-Menomonee Falls, has introduced legislation (AB 674) that permits a Wisconsin Retirement System annuitant to become a state employee and become eligible for employer contributions toward the payment of the cost of health insurance coverage. The bill was referred to the Assembly Committee on Insurance.

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

Legislation circulating
These bills have not been introduced:

  • Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, is circulating draft legislation that would require the UW System president and chancellors (including deans of the two-year UW Colleges campuses) to obtain the approval of the Ethics Board before accepting compensation for serving on a corporation’s board of directors.
  • Hansen is also circulating draft legislation that would create a “Manufacturing Competitiveness Grant Program” and a board to administer $9.5 million GPR in grants to the UW System Board of Regents, the Wisconsin Technical College System Board and certain entities that assist manufacturers.

For information on state-related issues, visit http://www.staterelations.wisc.edu or contact Kristi Thorson, assistant director of state relations, 263-5510, staterelations@bascom.wisc.edu.