February 7, 2022 | Number 55 |
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Please join us!
2nd Tuesday of every month.
February 8, 2022, 12:00-1:00 via Zoom
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Bill Increases Medicaid Reimbursement for Municipal EMS
The League testified last week alongside City of Waukesha Mayor Reilly and City of Racine Fire Chief Hansen in support of AB 874, enabling municipalities to recover a greater amount of the cost they incur when providing ambulance services to Medicaid patients. (Photo on the League's Facebook page here.)
Currently, only a portion of each Medicaid call is reimbursed by the Medicaid program, which creates significant budgeting challenges for municipal EMS departments serving a high percentage of Medicaid patients. AB 874 establishes a process involving the state and federal governments that allows local EMS systems to obtain supplemental Medicaid reimbursement payments.
Nearly 80% of the emergency medical services in Wisconsin are owned, operated, or supported by city, village, and town governments. Many of these municipal EMS departments serve varying percentages of Medicaid patients. This bill offers valuable help for funding a vital local government service. The League applauds and thanks Rep. Amy Loudenbeck and Sen. Mary Felzkowski and their staff for working with a range of stakeholders to draft this important legislation. For more information see the League joint press release with the Wisconsin Towns Association.
Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Resources
STATE RESOURCES: WisDOT invites you to attend an informational webinar focused on a recent solicitation to use Federal Fiscal Year 2022 (FFY22) funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Interested applicants will learn about program eligibility, application procedures, and other related information.
Following the presentation, time will be available for Q&As. All questions must be submitted through email; the mailbox will be monitored during the live presentation. The webinar will last approximately 1 hour.
If you have any questions you would like answered during the webinar, please send them to: [email protected].
FEDERAL RESOURCES: Local Government Guidebook to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is historic in its size – the largest ever investments in broadband, rail and transit, clean energy, and water, just to name a few. The infrastructure law allocates funding to over 350 distinct programs across more than a dozen federal departments and agencies.
This guidebook informs communities on what to apply for, who to contact, and how to get ready to rebuild. The guide includes upcoming key dates and date ranges for key activities, along with planning activities you can be doing now to prepare for these programs coming in 2022 and 2023.
The League's Federal Legislation Resources (ARPA & BIL) are posted here.
Governor Signs Water Supply Plan Bill
Last Friday, the Governor signed a League supported initiative, SB 488, relating to Water Supply Service Area Plans for Public Water Systems into law as WI Act 126.
The new law continues to require the creation of plans by December 21, 2025 for utilities serving a community with a population of more than 10,000, but only requires DNR approval for water supply service area plans when the plan involves a new or increased diversion or withdrawal from the Great Lakes basin. Act 126 also clarifies that a plan does not create an obligation for any water utility to provide service to the area delineated in the plan and prohibits the PSC from requiring a utility to extend or provide service to an area on the basis of the provisions of a plan.
This is the fourth bill the League has advocated for this session that lessens administrative oversight and creates regulatory efficiencies for municipal water utilities. Other water utility bills that became law this session include:
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SB 489/WI Act 112 - Relating to procedural changes for applications under the Clean Water Fund Program and the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program.
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AB 300/WI Act 85 - Relating to deadlines for certain Public Service Commission actions after a water public utility application for certificate of authority or approval of lead service line financial assistance is filed. For more information see this summary.
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AB 302/WI Act 86 - Relating to meter installation or replacement projects by water utilities. For more information see this summary.
PFAS Update
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NR 105 Surface Water Quality Criteria Changes - Final EIA
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NR 140 Groundwater Quality Standards (Cycle 10)
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NR 809 Safe Drinking Water Standards
For each proposed rule, the NRB can choose from the following options:
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Approve - If NRB approves a rule it has to be approved by the Governor before it is sent to a Legislative standing committee and then to the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules. Each committee has options for review. If the Legislature's review is not completed when the body adjourns, the review is paused and picked up when the Legislature is back in session, likely January 2023.
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Reject - the timeframe for the revision expires in early March so a rejection by the NRB would require the department to start over from the beginning with a new scope statement for each rule package.
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Revise - the NRB could choose to ask the department for revisions, but the scope statements expire in early March so this action would essentially require a restart from the beginning as well.
Reminder: 2023 Urban Nonpoint Source Construction Grant Application Webinar Registration
Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water (UNPS & SW) Construction Grant webinar, hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and UW-Madison Division of Extension from 1 – 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 15, 2022. The webinar offers an overview of the Urban Nonpoint Source Construction grant program, what's changed since the last grant cycle and what makes a good construction project.
Register in advance for the webinar here.
UNPS Construction Grant applications for projects beginning in 2023 are now available on the DNR’s grant program webpage.
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RECENTLY INTRODUCED LEGISLATION |
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SB 909, Local Levy Limit Adjustments for Certain Transportation User Fee Revenues. Under this bill, a municipality must reduce its allowable levy by the estimated amount of revenue generated by any transportation user fee imposed by the community. By Senator Stroebel (R-Saukville) and Representative Born (R-Beaver Dam). The League opposes this bill.
SB 922, Increase in County and Municipal Aid. Currently, a county or municipality receives a payment equal to what it received in 2012. The bill increases that amount by 2 percent in 2022 and an additional 2 percent beginning in 2023. By Senator Smith (D-Brunswick) and Representative Goyke (D-Milwaukee). The League supports this bill.
SB-934, Voter Registration List. Maintenance of the voter registration list, training of municipal clerks, data sharing agreements, pre-election procedures, lines at the polls on election day, and granting rule-making authority. By Senator Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls) and Representative Dittrich (R-Oconomowoc).
SB-935, Election Fraud. Certain kinds of election fraud, private resources and contracts for election administration, who may perform tasks related to election administration, defects on absentee ballot certificates, returning absentee ballots to the office of the municipal clerk, appointment of election officials, allowing an employee of a residential care facility or qualified retirement home to serve as a personal care voting assistant during a public health emergency or an incident of infectious disease, and providing a penalty. By Senator Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls) and Representative Macco (R-Ledgeview).
SB-936, Elections Commission Complaints. The resolution of complaints filed with the Elections Commission, submitting to the legislature copies of complaints filed with the Elections Commission, reports concerning possible violations of election laws, postelection audits of electronic voting systems, printing absentee ballot applications for recounts, and granting rule-making authority. By Senator Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls) and Representative Macco (R-Ledgeview).
SB-937, Indefinitely Confined Voters. Status as an indefinitely confined voter for purposes of receiving absentee ballots automatically and providing a penalty. By Senator Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls) and Representative Duchow (R-Town of Delafield).
SB-938, Verifying Citizenship. Verifying citizenship of individuals on the official voter registration list and contents of operator's licenses and identification cards. By Senator Darling (R-River Hills) and Representative Knodl (R-Germantown).
SB-939, Absentee Ballots. Absentee ballot applications, unsolicited mailing or transmission of absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots, secure delivery of absentee ballots, canvassing absentee ballots, voter registration requirements, electronic voter registration, and providing a penalty. By Senator Stroebel (R-Saukville) and Representative Gundrum (R-Slinger).
SB-940, Voter Information Comparison. Comparison of voter information on the state' s official voter registration list with information maintained by the Department of Transportation. By Senator Wimberger (R-Green Bay) and Representative Rozar (R-Marshfield).
SB-941, Elections Administration. Overseeing the administration of elections. By Senator LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) and Representative Vos (R-Rochester).
SB-942, Election Law Compliance. State agency compliance with election laws. By Senator Stroebel (R-Saukville) and Representative Petersen (R-Waupaca).
SB-943, Elections Commission Guidance Docs. Requiring the Elections Commission to send guidance documents to the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules. By Senator Darling (R-River Hills) and Representative Spiros (R-Marshfield).
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PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS WEEK |
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SB 934-943, Various Election Administration Bills (See descriptions above). A public hearing is scheduled by the Senate Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics Committee on Monday, February 7th at 10:30 a.m. in room 411 South, State Capitol. These bills were introduced February 3rd. The League is reviewing the package of bills.
SB 257/AB251, Impersonating a Public Officer, Public Employee, or Employee of a Utility and Providing a Penalty. A public hearing is scheduled by the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, February 8th at 10:00 a.m. in room 411 South, State Capitol. The League supports these companion bills.
SB 312, Composition of Local Boards of Health and SB 428, Rural Creative Economy Grant Program. A public hearing is scheduled in the Senate Sporting Heritage, Small Business and Rural Issues Committee on Thursday, February 10th at 11:00 a.m. in room 201 Southeast, State Capitol. The League supports these bills.
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IN THE NEWS
(Paywalls may apply)
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League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Wisconsin Towns Association: Towns, cities and villages call for critical EMS support Read the release.
Officials see potential for boosting trades with federal infrastructure funding Read the article.
Republicans proposed bill to cut spending, staffing at agencies that fail to follow state election laws Read the article.
Record number of Republicans and Democrats sign up to inspect Wisconsin elections Read the article.
Wisconsin Business Leaders Send Letters of Support to Election Administrators Statewide Read the release.
‘Saddened and disheartened’: In 2021, COVID a factor for all Wisconsin firefighter line-of-duty deaths Read the article.
Madison officials raise concerns over Legislature's electric vehicle bill Read the article.
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2nd Tuesday of every month.
February 8, 2022, 12:00-1:00 via Zoom
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Space is limited. Register Now:
Using the League’s New Zoning Guide for Affordable Housing
CNU is providing training for municipal elected officials, staff, and private planning consultants interested in using the Wisconsin-specific Zoning Guide. The training is free but attendance is limited and REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
The overall goal of the Guide and the training is to show that bite-sized zoning code changes are possible and can have an immediate impact on removing obstacles to the development of workforce and missing middle housing.
(The Guide will be available for download on February 15, prior to the workshops. Background is available on the League's website here.)
The training will cover how to use the documents in the Guide, navigating the steps to amending a code, and determining where to start. Both the morning and afternoon sessions will focus on the methodology of incremental code reform and the process and implementation described within the Guide.
The morning session will be geared for elected municipal officials, city and village administrators/managers, builders, and advocates. The afternoon session will be geared for municipal planning staff and private planning consultants.
You may attend both the morning and afternoon sessions.
February 21 - Eau Claire, A.M. Session 9 - 11:30; P.M. Session - 1:00 - 4:00
February 22 - Plover, A.M. Session 9 - 11:30; P.M. Session - 1:00 - 4:00
February 23 – Oshkosh, A.M. Session 9-11:30; P.M. Session - 1:00 - 4:00
Registration *Please note each session is limited to 40 participants.
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Human Resources for Small Communities
Tuesday, March 8, 9, 10, & 11, 2022 from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM via Zoom
This workshop is Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association credit eligible.
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Sign up now for the League's Popular Local Government 101
Workbook included for ALL participants - print or USB.
Via Zoom:
May 6 - Webinar
September 9 - Webinar
If you register for the Local Govt 101 webinar, you can participate in any of the Local Govt webinars within a year from your registration. Mix and match the four segments - take them all in one-day or attend when you can.
In-person:
May 13, 2022 – Eau Claire, The Lismore Hotel
June 3, 2022 – Madison Marriott West
September 16, 2022 – Milwaukee - TBD
The full 2022 schedule of League events is coming soon!
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Email questions or comments to:
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