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Capitol Capsules

March 30, 2004

School of Business addition bill sent to governor
The Senate approved an Assembly amendment to Senate bill 474 and sent the bill to Gov. Jim Doyle for his signature. The bill provides for an addition to Grainger Hall for School of Business graduate programs, and for UW-Oshkosh housing and a UW-River Falls recreation facility. The bill requires UW–Madison to raise $30 million in gift funds toward the $40 million cost of the addition to the business school. Ten million dollars will come from reallocated general fund supported borrowing. The Grainger Foundation, Lake Forest, Ill., has donated $20 million in gift funds, and UW–Madison will raise another $10 million. The Grainger addition is expected to open in 2007. Construction will require demolition of the university-owned building at 905 University Ave., home to several campus offices that will be relocated.

Session ends
The regular 2003-04 legislative session is now concluded, which means that all bills and resolutions pending upon adjournment are dead. The following bills were passed by both houses of the Legislature and sent to the governor for his signature:

  • Assembly Bill 207, a ban on smoking in and around UW residence halls.
  • AB 209, which provides an income tax deduction for certain contributions to a college savings program.
  • AB 351, which creates a breast cancer research program funded by an income tax check-off. The funds would be equally split between the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Medical College of Wisconsin.
  • SB 253, which allows certain UW institutions to charter K-12 schools with Board of Regents’ approval.
  • Senate Resolution 32, which urges agencies and persons, including the UW System, to work on securing more federal funds for Wisconsin residents.

Building Commission action
On March 17, the State Building Commission took these actions:

  • Approved Science Hall remodeling.
  • Deferred the Memorial Library halon system project.
  • Withdrew the 21st Century Telecom project to consider funding alternatives.

Information: Kristi Thorson, 263-5510, staterelations@bascom.wisc.edu or http://www.staterelations.wisc.edu.