Legislative Update Presented to: Wisconsin County Human Service Association Fall Conference Presented by: Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf, Wisconsin Counties Association

Elections

A Change at the Top Governor Scott Walker Governor-Elect Tony Evers

A Change at the Top What does that mean? A whole new administration New DCF, DHS, and DOC secretaries New ideas New philosophies A change in priorities New relationships New tensions between the executive and legislative branches

A Change at the Top What do we know? Chief of Staff: Maggie Gau Transition Team Leaders Policy Teams A lot of people are jockeying for positions with the new administration

Wisconsin State Legislature Virtually no change Senate: Republicans control 19-14 Assembly: Republicans control 63-36 Top leaders in all four caucuses remain the same

Wisconsin State Senate Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling

Wisconsin State Assembly Assembly Speaker Robin Vos Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz

Lame Duck Session Kimberly-Clark Powers of the governor Administrative rules process Appointments Presidential primary

2019-21 State Biennial Budget

2019-21 State Biennial Budget November 20 Report $2.1 billion in new GPR through mid-2021 $1.6 billion in additional GPR over the 2019-21 budget Ending June 30 balance $440.9 million more than expected

2019-21 State Biennial Budget November 20 Report New spending requests from state agencies: $1.1 billion higher than anticipated revenue growth DPI, UW System, and DHS requested $2.3 billion in additional GPR Legislative Fiscal Bureau: Updated revenue estimates in January

2019-21 State Biennial Budget Possible Revenue Uppers Transportation – Gas Tax Medicaid Expansion Agency budget proposals contained $180 million in tax cuts

State Budget What does an Evers budget look like? Agency budget requests Short timeline to put a budget request together

JCF and the Budget Where will the JCF begin its deliberations? Governor’s recommendation? Start from base?

Top Budget/Legislative Priorities

WCA’s Top Budget Priorities Child welfare SRCCCYs 911 funding Levy limit relief

Child Welfare Budget request is an increase of $30 million annually Out-of-home care cost increases Increase staffing levels

Child Welfare To accomplish this significant ask all counties need to help Adopt resolutions Meet with local legislators Join the CAP Team

Child Welfare Advocacy Plan Social media campaign Newsmakers with Steve Walters Editorial boards January 2019 Wisconsin Counties Letters from social workers

SRCCCYs 2017 Wisconsin Act 185 Modifications in two phases: fiscal and non-fiscal

SRCCCYs Non-fiscal/technical requests Continuation of 365/180 programs Use of medical assistance Education Timeline Youth aids bonus Operating loss reimbursement program

SRCCCYs Fiscal requests Bonding authority Start up costs

SRCCCYs Other items (clarification needed) Judicial discretion on placement Grant pay out structure Definition of design and construction costs

SRCCCYs Administrative rules DOC to submit to governor by December 17 No process for public comment prior to submission of emergency rules Request made on behalf of counties for opportunity for review and comment prior to submission

Economic Support Increase the income maintenance administration allocation by $6,905,808 annually Increase FPIP by $1 million annually If MA expansion occurs, increase the IMAA to cover increased program administration costs

Child Support Increase GPR support for the child support enforcement program by $1.5 million GPR annually Draws down approximately $3 million in FED match Birth costs

17-Year-Olds Incorporate the provisions of 2017 Assembly Bill 660 in the state budget Raises the age to 18 for first-time, non-violent offenders Allocates $10 million to reimburse county costs

Other Items IM – Fraud Child Care Administration Act 184 – SVPs Birth to 3 Fully fund crisis services Emergency detentions

Questions Contact: Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf Deputy Director of Government Affairs Wisconsin Counties Association 22 E Mifflin Street, Suite 900 Madison, WI 53703 608.663.7188 diedrick@wicounties.org