The Special Committee on Ethics and Standards of Conduct held a public hearing on December 15, 2009 at the State Capitol in regards to Assembly Resolution 14 relating to the expulsion of Jeffrey Wood, a representative from the 67th Assembly District, from membership in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

The Special Committee on Child Welfare Provider Rate Implementation met November 17, 2009 at the State Capitol to discuss the issue of Child Welfare Provider Rate Implementation, as well as heard testimony from the following invited speakers: Jim Maro, President and CEO, St. Rose Youth and Family Center, Inc. of Milwaukee, and Saleem Al-Amin, Director, New Horizons Center, Milwaukee.

The Special Committee on Child Welfare Provider Rate Implementation met November 17, 2009 at the State Capitol to discuss the issue of Child Welfare Provider Rate Implementation, as well as heard testimony from Dondieneita Fleary-Simmons, Director – Bureau of Permanence and Out of Home Care, Department of Children and Families.

The Special Committee on Ethics and Standards of Conduct held an organizational meeting on November 4, 2009. The Assembly committee reviewed the expulsion resolution filed against state Rep. Jeff Wood (I) Chippewa Falls.

The Wisconsin Legislative Council Special Committee on Child Welfare Provider Rate Implementation met on October 15, 2009 at the State Capitol. The committee heard testimony from child welfare providers and purchasers relating to performance based contracting and outcome measures currently in use, and testimony relating to child welfare provider payment methods in other states.

Continuing coverage of the Wisconsin Legislative Council Special Committee on Child Welfare Provider Rate Implementation from October 15, 2009.

Continuing coverage of the Wisconsin Legislative Council Special Committee on Child Welfare Provider Rate Implementation from October 15, 2009.

The Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations held a public hearing on August 20, 2009 at the Potowatomi Bingo Casino. The committee heard general testimony from invited speakers and the public regarding issues of concern to American Indians living in Milwaukee and other urban areas and the role of state government in addressing those issues.

Continued coverage of the Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations public hearing on August 20, 2009 at the Potowatomi Bingo Casino. The committee heard general testimony from invited speakers and the public regarding issues of concern to American Indians living in Milwaukee and other urban areas and the role of state government in addressing those issues.

The Special Committee on Strengthening Wisconsin Families, co-chaired by Senator Lena Taylor and Representative Steve Kestell met on August 13, 2009 at the State Capitol. The committee discussed bill drafts relating to: training for foster parents; creating bills of rights for foster children and foster parents; youth who age out of foster care; creating a Family Policy Board.

The Special Committee on Strengthening Wisconsin Families, co-chaired by Senator Lena Taylor and Representative Steve Kestell met on July 15, 2009. An update from the Department of Children and Families followed discussion of committee assignment, including bill drafts relating to: training for foster parents; creating bills of rights for foster children and foster parents; extended court jurisdiction for certain foster youth under the age of 21 years; training for child welfare case workers.

The Special Committee on Strengthening Wisconsin Families, co-chaired by Senator Lena Taylor and Representative Steve Kestell met on July 15, 2009. An update from the Department of Children and Families followed discussion of committee assignment, including bill drafts relating to: training for foster parents; creating bills of rights for foster children and foster parents; extended court jurisdiction for certain foster youth under the age of 21 years; training for child welfare case workers.

The Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations held a meeting at the Town of Rib Mountain Administration Center on June 4, 2009 to discuss mutual assistance between tribal and county or municipal law enforcement agencies, school mascots and logos depicting American Indians and briefing on legislation to codify in the Wisconsin statutes the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act.

The Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations held a meeting at the Town of Rib Mountain Administration Center on June 4, 2009 to discuss mutual assistance between tribal and county or municipal law enforcement agencies, school mascots and logos depicting American Indians and briefing on legislation to codify in the Wisconsin statutes the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act.

The Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations held a meeting at the Town of Rib Mountain Administration Center on June 4, 2009 to discuss mutual assistance between tribal and county or municipal law enforcement agencies, school mascots and logos depicting American Indians and briefing on legislation to codify in the Wisconsin statutes the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act.

Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice William A. Bablitch presented at a legislative council symposium on April 29, 2009. The presentation, titled "Statutes in Court: How Courts Interpret Your Legislation" took place at the State Capitol and included discussion of cases interpreting statutes on topics like insurance contracts, torts, disorderly conduct, and eminent domain.

The Special Committee on Building Wisconsin's Workforce, chaired by Rep. Patricia Strachota met on Monday, March 30, 2009, for presentations by invited speakers, including a representative from the Department of Workforce Development, on the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The also met for a discussion of committee assignment, including: bill draft relating to a lifelong learning accounts program and creating income tax modifications and an income tax credit for contributions and withdrawals related to lifelong learning accounts, providing an exemption for rule-making procedures, and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority.

The Special Committee on Joint Legislative Council, co-chaired by Senator Fred Risser and Representative Marlin Schneider met on Thursday, March 26, 2009. The council received the following special committee reports: Differences in Laws Applicable to Cities and Villages; State-Tribal Relations; Enhancing Recreational Trails for Non-Motorized Use; School Safety; High-Risk Juvenile Offenders; Strengthening Wisconsin Families; Regional Transportation Authority; and Disease Management in Large Populations.

A Legislative Council Symposium, The Economic Climate in the Great Lakes States, was held on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, from the State Capitol. Speaking at the symposium were Rick Mattoon, a Senior Economist and Economic Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, who provided an up to date report on the conditions in the Great Lakes States with special attention to data regarding Wisconsin. Also speaking was Ron Snell, Director, State Services Division of the National Conference of State Legislatures, who provided an overview of how the states are dealing with developing balanced budgets in these difficult conditions.

The Special Committee on Justice Reinvestment Initiative Oversight, chaired by Senator Lena Taylor, met on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, for presentations on intermediate findings of the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center relating to Wisconsin's correctional system and community corrections: Dr. Tony Fabelo, Director of Research; Mike Eisenberg, Research Manager; Marshall Clement, Project Director; Marc Pelka, Policy Analyst; and discussion of committee assignment.

The Special Committee on Regional Transportation Authority, chaired by Senator Judith Robson met on Wednesday, March 4, 2009, for a discussion of committee legislation: WLC: 0063/1, relating to the creation of regional transit authorities, requiring a referendum, and making appropriations; and discussion of committee assignment.

The Legislative Council held a presentation on the effect of the economy on the Wisconsin Retirement System from the State Capitol on February 26, 2009. Presenters included Keith Bozarth, Executive Director, State of Wisconsin Investment Board; Dave Stella, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds; and Dick Rippe, Managing Director and Economist, International Strategy and Investment. The speakers were introduced by Sen. Fred Risser. The presentation was titled "The Wisconsin Pension System: Weathering the Storm."

The Special Committee on Strengthening Wisconsin Families, co-chaired by Senator Lena Taylor and Representative Steve Kestell met on Monday, January 26, 2009, for the following: discussion of committee assignment, including: WLC: 0346/2, relating to creating a family policy board and requiring counties to provide prevention resources, and WLC: 0383/1, relating to requiring notice to relatives when a child is taken into custody.

Continued.

The Special Committee on Building Wisconsin’s Workforce met on January 22, 2009. Among the topics addressed was a draft bill relating to a proposed lifelong learning accounts program. This is a program by which employees and employers contribute to pre-taxed accounts to be used to pay for education expenses. Also discussed were letters composed by the committee to be sent to DWD relating to issues on long-term care and DPI relating to issues pertaining to math education in the state of Wisconsin.

Continued.

The Special Committee on Justice Reinvestment Initiative Oversight, chaired by Senator Lena Taylor met on Monday, January 12, 2009, for organizational matters, presentations by Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, and discussion of committee assignment.

Continued.