SUMMARY of COMMITTEE SPONSORED BILLS for the 2007 GENERAL  SESSION

 

All of the following, except as specifically noted, have been approved for introduction by a Committee.  Many Committees were still meeting in December, thus not all drafts are in final form.  Nor have all been assigned a House Bill or Senate File number at this time.  If no House Bill or Senate File number appears, the number referenced is the 2007 LSO draft number and some changes may be made to the referenced draft depending on the latest Committee action.  One caveat – this summary has been prepared solely to provide a very quick overview of bills being sponsored by the various committees.  In order to keep the overview short, the summaries are acknowledged to be incomplete and absolutely make no attempt to address all aspects of the bills.  The entire bill must be read if a person wishes to know its full contents and effect.

 

JUDICIARY

 

SF0011  Judicial retirement.

This bill would amend retirement benefits for supreme court justices and district and circuit court judges.  It would authorize the Wyoming Supreme Court to pay each judge's required contribution to the retirement program, reduce the number of years before a judge may elect to retire early and amends the formula for retirement benefits for a judge who retires early.  The bill provides an appropriation to the Supreme Court of $923,000 in general funds for FY08.

 

HB0020  Senior status judge compensation.

This bill would amend compensation for retired judges, who are assigned to hear cases at the request of the Supreme Court or a district court judge, by allowing the retired judge to continue receiving his retirement benefits as well as collect compensation equal to the current compensation of a judge of the court to which he is assigned.  The bill provides an appropriation to the Supreme Court of $50,000 in general funds for FY08.

 

HB0069  Uniform Trust Code-amendments.

This bill would amend the Uniform Trust Code to allow a settlor of a trust to establish a spendthrift provision, even if the settlor is a beneficiary under the trust.  The bill would also clarify provisions relating to mandatory and discretionary distributions under a trust.

 

SF0002  Wyoming Unitrust Act.

This bill proposes to adopt a Wyoming Unitrust Act, which would allow a trustee to create a unitrust or convert an income trust to a unitrust with the agreement of the current and identifiable future beneficiaries of the trust.  The purpose of a unitrust is to protect income of the trust from taxation to the extent allowable under federal law. 

 

HB0002  Probate task force.

This bill would create a probate task force staffed by LSO to study the need for any changes to the Wyoming Probate Code. The task force is required to submit its recommendations to the Joint Judiciary Interim Committee by November 1, 2007.  The bill provides an appropriation to LSO of $25,000 in general funds.

 

SF0104  Sex offenses.

This bill would create new offenses and penalties for sexual abuse of minors and amend penalties for existing sexual offenses, including requiring a life sentence under some circumstances for a second conviction for a sexual offense against a minor.  The bill would also amend the requirements for disclosure of the identity of minor victims. 

 

HB0120  Sex offender registration.

This bill would amend registration requirements for sex offenders, reduce the number of days before an offender is required to provide registration information, eliminate hearings to determine the level of risk for reoffense an offender may pose, eliminate the risk levels for reoffense, increase the number of years an offender is required to register as an offender, expand the scope of distribution of information contained in the central registry of sex offenders and increase penalties for failure to register. 

 

SF0036  Sex offender harboring/registration.

This bill would establish a crime of harboring a sex offender and provide penalties for violations of the crime.  The bill would also increase the penalties for failure to register as a sex offender. 

 

HB0019  Incest-increase in penalties.

This bill would increase the penalties for the crime of incest from not more than 5 years imprisonment, a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both, to not more than 15 years imprisonment, a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both.

 

SF0012  Sex offenses by corrections personnel.

This bill would establish a crime for sex offenses committed by corrections staff against persons under supervision by the corrections facility and provides that consent of the victim is not a defense against such crime.

 

HB0021  Child support-income withholding.

This bill would amend the responsibilities related to the preparation and mailing of income withholding orders and related notices.  The bill would also amend the penalties for noncompliance by an employer who did not receive the notice as required by law. 

 

HB0072  Required payments as conditions of parole.

This bill would authorize the board of parole to require, as a condition of parole, that parolees pay child support, court ordered fines, surcharges or attorney fees and some costs of evaluations, treatment or services, and supervision by the board of parole, if the board finds the parolee is reasonably capable of making the payments. 

 

SF0038  Judicial salaries.

This bill would amend the statutory salaries for specified judges to reflect temporary additional funds authorized in the 2006 Budget Bill and replaces the remaining amounts in the appropriation in the 2006 Budget Bill with a general fund appropriation to the Supreme Court of $463,881 for FY08. 

 

SF0037  Lien study task force.

This bill would create a lien study task force staffed by LSO to examine lien statutes and make recommendations to improve efficiencies and eliminate inconsistencies and unnecessary procedures relating to liens.  A report to the Joint Judiciary Interim Committee is due by June 30, 2008.  The bill provides an appropriation to LSO of $25,000 in general funds through FY08.

 

HB0121  Child support enforcement fees.

This bill would require the Department of Family Services to collect a $25 annual fee for child collection services it provides to non-welfare clients in any year when the amount collected in child support exceeds $500.00. The bill is required under the federal Budget Deficit Reduction Act. 

 

SF0047  Courthouse security pilot projects.

This bill would provide funding and authorize the Wyoming Supreme Court to establish 3 pilot projects in a large, a medium and a small court selected by the Supreme Court, with the agreement of the appropriate boards of county commissioners and local law enforcement agencies, to determine what the costs and procedures may be to establish security in all courthouse facilities in the state.  A report to the Joint Judiciary Interim Committee is required by June 30, 2008.   The bill provides an appropriation to the Supreme Court of $1,000,000 in general funds through FY08.

 

 

APPROPRIATIONS

 

The appropriations committee has not voted to sponsor any bills at this time, but has requested the following drafts, in addition to the supplemental budget bill.  The budget bill contains appropriations for the general operations of government, including school facility commission recommendations for district plans.

 

HB0254  Law enforcement retirement.

Under current law, effective July 1, 2002, cities, towns and counties may elect to have its law enforcement officers covered under the new law enforcement retirement plan under W.S. 9-3-432, if the officers were not participating in the older pension fund pursuant to W.S. 15-5-301.  This bill draft would impose a time limit of June 30, 2008, for a city, town or county to elect to participate in the new law enforcement retirement plan.

 

07 139.W1  School district health insurance.

This bill draft would bring school district employees under the state employees and officials group insurance plan.  The bill contains an appropriation to accomplish that and reduces the model block grant amount for health insurance.

 

SF0165  State employee retiree insurance benefits.

This bill would require an employee and matching employer contribution for state employees to fund a $100 per month retiree insurance premium benefit.

 

 

REVENUE

 

HB0094  Veterans property tax exemption.

The bill amends the current veterans property tax exemption law by increasing the lifetime limitations which may be claimed under the exemption by a widow/widower.  The bill also clarifies that the exemption is only applicable to the principal residence of the veteran, and that the exemption cannot be claimed in more than 1 county.

 

HB0178  Sales and use tax – telecommunications.

The bill establishes uniform definitions for telecommunications services in the sales and use tax laws.  The bill also amends telecommunication sourcing provisions and the tax imposition provisions for telecommunications pertaining to sales and use tax.

 

HB0184  Vehicle registration fees decrease.

The bill increases fuel tax by 5 cents a gallon with all the current statutory exemptions intact and reduces county vehicle registration fees by one-third.

 

HB0179  Fuel tax collection.

The bill amends various fuel tax administrative provisions (affecting both gasoline and diesel) including allowing electronic filing of fuel tax reports, amending various definitions, and authorizing the promulgation of rules and regulations.

 

 

EDUCATION

 

The following three Committee bills carry forward recommendations of the Merit Scholarship Committee pertaining to the Hathaway Scholarship Program:

 

HB0097  Hathaway scholarship eligibility.  

This bill specifies the success curriculum which will be required for high school students to qualify for any of the Hathaway student scholarships and is applicable to students graduating from high school during school year 2010-2011.  The bill also provides a phase-in curriculum for high school classes graduating before school year 2010-2011, and provides augmentation to current testing by requiring a proficiency performance level in all areas of the state assessment (PAWS) at grade eleven for students graduating in 2010-2011.

 

HB0098  Curriculum choice.

The bill establishes the success curriculum as the "default" course of study for Wyoming high school students, and provides students and their parents the option of a less rigorous course of study.  Prior to selecting the less rigorous option, the bill requires that the student and his parents be fully informed of the consequences of this action on Hathaway and other student scholarship opportunities.

 

HB0099  Hathaway scholarship program. 

The bill amends current components of the scholarship program to provide that program participants attending multiple Wyoming post secondary education institutions designate a home institution, with scholarship funds flowing to the home institution.  Provision is made for program expansion to allow participation in a baccalaureate applied science degree program (UW) for certain associate degree recipients (community college) entering industry-specific training prior to college reentry, and to graduate or professional level programs provided total program participation does not exceed the four year maximum.

 

The following bills were initiated from remaining interim work:

 

Higher Education:

SF0058  Community colleges-property tax expenditures.

The proposal expands permissible expenditures of revenues generated from any mill levy imposed by a college district above the required four mill levy.  Current law limits expenditures to emergency or nonrecurring needs and the proposal expands usage to operations and to capital outlay needs.

 

SF0048  Community colleges-carryover restrictions.

The bill increases from 3% to 8% the amount of unrestricted operating funds a college district may carry forward from one biennial budget period to another.

 

HB0082  Health insurance contributions-higher education.

The proposal provides for full (100%) state funding of the employer's contribution to state group health insurance for eligible and enrolled nonfederal employees of the University of Wyoming and Wyoming community colleges.  Although current funding in the biennial budget funds 100% of the employer's contribution (some further analysis may be required to ascertain identical UW coverage), the proposed legislation extends this coverage into future years.

 

School Finance:

07LSO-0264  School finance-recapture.

The proposal implements Amendment "B" to the Wyoming Constitution as approved by the voters at the 2006 general election.  The bill statutorily implements provisions contained within the constitutional amendment by requiring those school districts subject to recapture to remit the excess revenues to the state for school year 2006-2007 and each school year thereafter.  Consideration of contractual obligations encumbered prior to March 15, 2007, would be honored and deducted from school year 2006-2007 recaptured amounts.  Recaptured revenues would flow into the public school foundation program account.

 

HB0115  School finance-amendments.

This proposal includes a number of matters pertaining to school finance, including:

 

A Subcommittee was appointed to review charter school laws, with recommendations adopted in the following legislation:

HB0031  Charter school amendments.

The bills amends several procedural provisions contained in the charter school law including the frequency of filing charter applications with school districts, clarification of successive charter renewals and provisions pertaining to charter application denial and appeal of board decisions.

 

 

AGRICULTURE, PUBLIC LANDS AND WATER RESOURCES

 

SF0027 – Livestock board.

This bill would allow modify the appointment and control of the director and provide for supervision and control of the deputy state veterinarians.

 

SF0028 – State engineer rulemaking authority.

This bill would grant rulemaking authority to the state engineer and ratify existing rules.

 

SF0030 – State lands.

This bill would distinguish state trust lands from public lands and modify the legislative committee's name.

 

SF0040 – Board of agriculture.

This bill would expand the board from 9 to 13 members by adding 4 youth leadership members as permanent members.  It would extend the terms of board members from 4 to 6 years and increase the compensation of the board to the amounts paid to legislators.  The bill contains an appropriation of $50,000 from the general fund.

 

HB0102 – Wheat marketing commission.

This bill would reduce the membership of the commission from 7 to 5 members and remove area restrictions for appointments to the commission.

 

HB0123 – Seed laws.

This bill would create a seed laboratory advisory group, modify exceptions to licensing requirements, allow for establishment of weed lists, transfer rulemaking from the board of agriculture to the department of agriculture, establish a procedure to set seed laboratory fees, increase a penalty amount and repeal certain definitions and noxious weeds and quarantine provisions.

 

HB0136 – Water well drilling and pump installation licensure.

This bill would require licensure of water well drilling contractors and water well pump installation contractors, and provide some exemptions from licensure.  It creates an examining board, establishes licensing procedures, provides for fees, examinations and continuing education, provides for reciprocity, provides for license revocation or suspension, grants rulemaking authority, provides for penalties and provides for a sunset for certain provisions.  The bill contains an appropriation of $179,500.00 from the general fund and authorizes two additional full-time positions.

 

HB0101 – State trust lands task force.

The bill would create a task force to monitor the trust responsibilities of and funding for the office of state lands and investments and establish a sunset date for the task force.  The bill provides an appropriation of $25,000 from the general fund.

 

SF0064 – Nursery stock.

This bill would provide for cease and desist orders relating to nursery stock violations, modify definitions, eliminate transportation of nursery stock from licensing requirements, limit nursery stock sales, increase penalties and repeal certain nonresident requirements.

 

HB0125 – Livestock and brands.

This bill would expand the definition of livestock, modify brand recording and inspection fees, modify inspections and permits provisions and repeal obsolete provisions.

 

HB0076 – Livestock brand inspectors.

This bill would increase salaries, insurance and retirement contributions for state brand inspectors.  It provides an appropriation of $1,337,675.00 from the general fund.

 

HB0124 – Eminent domain.

This bill would define public use and public necessity, provide requirements for good faith negotiations, provide for reclamation and restoration of the property, provide for determination for fair market value, limit condemnation authority in urban renewal and eliminate the maximum amount on relocation expenses.

 

 

TRAVEL, RECREATION, WILDLIFE and CULTURAL RESOURCES

 

HB0127 Film production incentives. – This bill creates the entertainment industry financial incentives program by authorizing incentives for qualified film productions.  The bill contains a $1,000,000 appropriation from general funds to the business council.

 

HB0070 Game and fish-license fees.  – This bill increases all license, application, stamp and permit fees, selling agent fees and landowner coupon payments by 20%.  There is no appropriation in this bill but it is anticipated to raise $5,600,000 in revenues for the department.

 

SF0039 Game and fish violations.  – This bill provides additional penalties for hunting when hunting privileges have been revoked or suspended.

 

SF0088 Game and fish – penalties.  –  This bill provides for felony convictions for second or subsequent violations as specified.

 

HB0052 Game and fish – license revenue recoupment.  – This bill creates a free and reduced price license revenue recoupment program where the department can recoup license revenues lost due to statutorily designated free and reduced priced hunting and fishing licenses.  The bill contains a $1,400,000 appropriation from the general fund to the state auditor.

 

SF0035 State veterans museum.  – This bill removes the state veterans' museum as a state park and appropriates money to the Natrona county board of county commissioners for operation of the museum.  The bill contains a $300,000 appropriation from the general fund to the Natrona county board of commissioners.

 

SF0059 State lands-land acquisition.  – This bill transfers ownership of Fort Phil Kearney, Fetterman Battlefield and other leased lands from the state land board to the department of state parks and cultural resources and the game and fish commission. The bill contains a $6,000,000 appropriation from the budget reserve account to the state land board.

 

HB0085 Game and fish funding.  – This bill provides a general fund appropriation of $5.6 million to the game and fish department for non traditional programs.

 

HB0071 Game and fish – license fees 2.  – This bill automatically adjusts game and fish license fees by a percentage (the Implicit Price Deflater) every year. 

 

HB0128 Multi-state lottery.  – This bill creates the Wyoming lottery board and grants authority to the Wyoming lottery board to oversee a multi-state lottery with authority to operate instant ticket games and to participate with other states for operating a multi-state lottery.   The bill contains a $2,000,000 appropriation from the general fund to the lottery board.

 

SF0056 Gaming commission.  – This bill makes currently permitted games of chance subject to licensure requirements and creates a state gaming commission to oversee local licensure.  The bill contains a $150,000 appropriation from the general fund to the gaming commission.

 

SF0023 Gambling-definitions.  – This bill clarifies that profit from gambling does not include benefits of proprietorship, provides standards for bingo games, limits games to charitable and non profit organizations existing for three years, limits what persons are authorized to operate games and specifies uses for proceeds of bingo games.

 

 

CORPORATIONS, ELECTIONS and POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS

 

HB0005 – Business entities-electronic signatures.

This bill provides for manual, facsimile, conformed or electronic signatures on documents and filings.

 

HB0009 – Corporations–bearer shares.

This bill prohibits the use of bearer shares by corporations.

 

HB0004 – Business entities-reinstatement.

This bill provides for reinstatement of limited partnerships and registered limited liability partnerships within two years of administrative dissolution or lapsed registration.

 

HB0010 – Subdivisions-requirements.

This bill provides for regulation by counties of subdivisions of thirty-five to one hundred acre parcels and requires notice of ownership and development of appurtenant mineral estates in subdivisions.

 

HB0011 – Subdivisions-exemptions.

This bill provides an additional holding period for the family exemption from subdivision requirements, provides an additional exemption, clarifies application of zoning regulations and provides for documentation.

 

HB0056 – Limited liability limited partnerships.

This bill authorizes the creation of limited liability limited partnerships and specifies how those entities will be treated. 

 

HB0091 – Limited liability companies.

This bill provides requirements for operating agreements, limits rights of foreclosure of creditors of a member of a limited liability company, provides for annual fees and requires submission of a manager's name to the secretary of state's office. 

 

SF0008 – Insurance department rules.

This bill repeals sunset dates on rules governing disclosure of personal information and licensing of insurance producers.

 

SF0078 – Telecommunications.

This bill rewrites the state's telecommunications laws by recognizing competition from alternate providers.  The bill provides for caps on prices of noncompetitive essential services and switched access charges.  The bill provides complaint procedures for prices of telecommunications services and provides a process for declaring certain essential services competitive.

 

HB0006 – State fire marshal-coordination.

This bill provides for grants to local governments for improvement of fire training facilities and authorizes the state to purchase the fire training facility in Riverton.   The bill contains a $3,380,000 appropriation from the general fund to the state fire marshall's office.

 

HB0092 – Election code revisions.

This bill provides amendments to the election code to address electronic voting requirements.

 

SF0079 – Municipal officers-authority.

This bill authorizes cities and towns to appoint special municipal officers who are not certified as peace officers and allows those officers to issue citations.

 

SF0017 – Risk based capital for health organizations.

This bill provides for a measure of health maintenance organization solvency.

 

SF0019 – Insurance department-accreditation.

This bill amends insurance code provisions as necessary to maintain department accreditation with the national association of insurance commissioners.

 

HB0007 – Fire protection districts-bonding.

This bill increases the limitation on bonded indebtedness for fire protection districts.

 

HB0008 – Fire protection districts-boundary changes.

This bill provides a procedure for splitting a current fire protection district into two or more districts.

 

SF0020 – Animal euthanasia technicians.

This bill clarifies when animal euthanasia technicians may use specified controlled substances.

 

SF0080 – Telecommunications-exclusive contracts.

This bill prohibits political subdivisions from entering into exclusive contracts to provide telecommunications services.

 

 

TRANSPORTATION, HIGHWAYS and MILITARY AFFAIRS

 

HB0003  Commercial drivers licenses.

This bill would implement several changes required by federal law.  The bill would: require rulemaking for vehicle or driver out-of-service orders; require a security threat assessment before issuance of a hazardous materials driver's license endorsement; coordinate penalties for certain vehicles violating stopping requirements with federal civil penalties.

 

HB0013  Multipurpose vehicles.

This bill amends numerous sections of the motor vehicle laws to standardize treatment of the many types of small 4-wheeled vehicles.  The bill would: define multipurpose vehicles; provide for titling and registration of multipurpose vehicles; prescribe minimum equipment for multipurpose vehicles; and regulate use of multipurpose vehicles on public roads.

 

HB0014  Adjutant general-procurement procedures.

This bill would authorize the director of the Department of Administration and Information to waive state procurement procedures for contracts involving military property if the director determines that use of federal procurement procedures would be more efficient.

 

HB0015  State employees retirement-military credit.

This bill would appropriate from the general fund $125,000 to pay for the retirement contributions of state employees while they are temporarily away on active military duty.

 

HB0018  Military Service Relieve Act amendments.

This bill would amend military service member protections by: providing that state employees' military leave of absence applies to active duty service as well as training; specifying that employees of community colleges receive the same employment protections as other state employees; extending reinstatement rights and state retirement credits from three years to five years.

 

HB0024  Interstate 80 study committee.

This bill would create a joint legislative-executive committee to plan for anticipated increases in Interstate-80 traffic, especially increases in truck traffic, and related expansion and safety issues.  The bill requires a report to the joint transportation committee by October 15, 2007.  Appropriation: $100,000 General Fund to LSO.

 

HB0185  Department of transportation funding.

This bill would appropriate $89 million from the budget reserve account, in addition to the Governor's supplemental budget request, to the department of transportation for highway construction.

 

HB0055  State park roads.

This bill appropriates to the department of state parks and cultural resources $15 million from the general fund for repair of roads in state parks and an additional $2 million for ongoing maintenance of state park roads.

 

SF0005  Designated bicycle paths.

This bill would repeal a prohibition on bicyclists using a vehicle roadway if there is an adjacent bicycle path.

 

SF0006  National guard honorary members.

This bill would authorize the governor to appoint honorary enlisted members of the national guard as well as honorary officers.

 

SF0007  Governmental claims-national guard.

This bill would clarify that members of the national guard are immune from civil liability under state law while engaged federal training and service.

 

SF0008  License plate reassignment.

This bill would authorize the reassignment of license plates, before expiration of the registration, between vehicles owned by the same owner.

 

SF0010  Military department-criminal background checks.

This bill would authorize the military department to conduct criminal background checks on prospective employees and volunteers with the department.

 

SF0026  Ports of entry-mutual aid agreements.

This bill would authorize the department of transportation to enter into agreements with adjacent states for the joint operation of ports-of-entry near the state borders.

 

 

MINERALS, BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 

HB0012 – Electric utility resources.

This bill would allow for electric utility resource planning, establish requirements for resource plans and periodic review, and grant rulemaking authority.

 

HB0138 – Wyoming workforce housing infrastructure program.

This bill would establish a workforce housing infrastructure program and an account for the program, provide for administration and rulemaking and require reports.  The bill   contains an appropriation of $30,909,030.00 from the budget reserve account.

 

HB0139 – Storage tank remediation program.

This bill would amend the underground storage tank program, limit the definition of "underground storage tank", expand rulemaking authority, modify registration deadlines and insurance requirements, expand notice requirements, establish a late payment penalty and repeal certain litigation requirements. 

 

SF0083 – Wyoming business council-repeal of sunset.

This bill would repeal the sunset date for the Wyoming  business council.

 

SJ0001 – State engagement in pipeline works.

This resolution would amend the Wyoming constitution to authorize the state to engage in works of internal improvement for pipelines and related facilities without submitting the question to a vote of the people of Wyoming.

 

HJ0002 – State engagement in transmission lines and energy facilities.

This resolution would amend the Wyoming constitution to authorize the state to engage in works of internal improvement for transmission lines and related facilities without submitting the question to a vote of the people of Wyoming.

 

HB0170 – Industrial facilities.

This bill would create a sales and use tax exemption for industrial facilities, require an annual report and provide for a sunset of the exemption.

 

HB0169 – Clean coal technology.

This bill would create a sales and use tax exemption for clean coal technology, require an annual report and provide for a sunset of the exemption.

 

SF0075 – Wyoming Tourism Board.

This bill would create the Wyoming tourism board (board), transferring the tourism promotion to the board from the Wyoming Business Council and grant rule making authority to the board.  The board will serve as the leading proponent of Wyoming's tourism and hospitality industry and will provide governance and oversight for the division of travel and tourism.  The board will be responsible for implementing the tourism program and functions assigned to the Wyoming Business Council under the Wyoming Economic Development Act.

 

HB0143 – Integrated gasification combined cycle electric generation.

This bill would exempt coal used for integrated gasification combined cycle electricity generation from all severance taxes other than the Constitutionally required 1.5%.

 

SF0084 – Public funds time deposit, open account.

This bill would allow the state treasurer to determine the date of payment of interest from time deposit, open accounts. 

 

SF0085 – Wyoming conservation corps.

This bill would create the Wyoming conservation corps at the University of Wyoming, provide for a matching grant program, provide bridge funding and require reports.  The bill provides an appropriation of $337,000 from the general fund, separate from the University's block grant.

 

 

LABOR, HEALTH and SOCIAL SERVICES

 

HB0046   Workers' compensation co employee immunity.

This bill would amend the workers' compensation co-employee immunity statute to clarify that an employee is immune from civil liability for causing a work-related injury to a co-employee, unless there was an intent to injure.  The bill includes a declaration of legislative intent to overrule a Wyoming Supreme Court case that interpreted current law as including a different standard of liability.

 

HB0047   Prevailing wage amendments.

This bill would: authorize a single statewide wage district for purposes of calculating the prevailing wage on state-funded contracts; authorize the department of employment to investigate prevailing wage violations on its own volition; remove a requirement that prevailing wage determinations utilize employment security law wage reports; and provide a bid preference for contractors participating in the department's prevailing wage survey.

 

HB0048  Wyoming Health Care Decisions Act.

This bill makes several "clean-up" amendments to the Wyoming Health Care Decisions Act enacted in 2005.  The bill would:  amend terminology relating to health care providers and physicians; add to the list of persons who may not be witnesses for a power of attorney for health care; repeal the optional form for advance health care directives; clarify that a valid advance health care directive preempts decisions by a health care surrogate; require a health care provider to communicate with a patient when practical; and amend provisions regarding civil and criminal immunity of health care agents and surrogates.

 

HB0191  Workers' compensation subrogation limits.

A worker injured through the fault of someone other than his employer or co-employee is entitled to receive worker's compensation benefits and also to sue the responsible party.  However, from any amount recovered, the worker is required to reimburse the worker's compensation fund for benefits paid due to that injury.  The state's share is statutorily limited to one-third of the amount paid by the responsible party.  This bill would increase the state's maximum share to two-thirds of the amount received.

 

SF0044  Medicaid federal compliance.

This bill would make several changes required by federal law.  It would:  provide that individuals with substantial home equity are ineligible for Medicaid long-term care; include the value of an annuity in determining Medicaid eligibility; extend the "look back" period for disqualifying transfers of assets by Medicaid applicants; extend the disqualification period for Medicaid long-term care services following a disqualifying transfer of assets. 

 

SF0063  Emergency medical technicians-retirement.

This bill authorizes an actuarial study of the estimated cost of and design for a state-sponsored retirement system for full-time, part-time and volunteer EMT's. A report is required by October 1, 2007 on the study and other possible recruitment/ retention incentives for EMT's.  Appropriation:  $50,000 general fund to Wyoming retirement board.

 

SF0089  Long term care choices.

This bill would:  define adult foster homes for long term care ("LTC") of up to five elderly/disabled persons; authorize the Department of Health to oversee and license adult foster homes; modify Medicaid reimbursement for LTC; regulate the admission of all persons into LTC; require consultation regarding LTC options; authorize application for waiver of federal Medicaid LTC requirements; expand the Medicaid home and community based waiver program; authorize a pilot program for group LTC homes.  Appropriations: $7,093,397 General Fund and $4,659,280 federal funds to department of health.

 

SF0045  Dental student loan repayment program.

This bill would create a loan repayment program for new dentists practicing in Wyoming, similar to the existing WWAMI program for physicians.  Appropriation:  $50,000 General Fund to UW.

 

HB0282  Wyoming healthcare commission study.

This bill would require the Wyoming Healthcare Commission to study the exclusion of costs related to clinical trial from coverage under health insurance policies, and to report to the Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee by November 1, 2007.  Appropriation:  $50,000 General Fund to Wyoming Healthcare Commission.

 

SF0062  Medication aides.

This bill would authorize certified nursing assistants who receive appropriate additional training to administer some medications to persons in facilities other than acute care hospitals.  The bill requires a report from the Board of Nursing on the program by November 1, 2007.  Appropriations:  $70,000 General Fund to the Board of Nursing.

 

SELECT WATER

 

HB0236 Omnibus water bill-planning.

The bill contains the annual authorization for Level I and Level II water development studies and provides appropriations therefore.  The bill amends the 2006 Omnibus water bill (2006 Wyoming Session Laws Chapter 99) by including new Level I and Level II water development studies.    Please see the bill for the numerous appropriations it contains.  

 

SF0137  Omnibus water bill-construction.

The bill contains the annual authorization for the Level III construction of water projects which have previously completed the Level I and Level II stages.  The bill also amends previously authorized water construction projects for fiscal and other purposes.  Please see the bill for the numerous appropriations it contains.

 

SELECT COMMITTEE to STUDY DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS

 

HB0040  Select committee on developmental programs.

This bill would extend the Select Committee for one additional year and require a report from the Select Committee to Joint Labor Committee and Governor by December 1, 2007.  Appropriation: $17,000 General Fund to LSO.

 

HB0041  Developmental disabilities-emergency services.

This bill would direct the department of health to define "emergency cases" for purposes of the adult developmental disability and acquired brain injury programs.  The bill would authorize provision of emergency services out of an emergency contingency account established for that purpose.  An annual report on the program would be required to the Joint Labor Committee.  Appropriation:  $500,000 to department of health from Budget Reserve Account.

 

HB0042  Developmental preschool funding.

This bill would increase the reimbursement rate for developmental preschools from $7,206 to $8,503 per child.  Appropriations:  $3,930,000 from General Fund to department of health for reimbursements; $110,000 from General Fund to department of health for legislatively required reports.

 

SF0034  Early child social-emotional services.

This bill would add $363 per child to the funding formula for developmental preschool reimbursements.  The increase would be to provide social-emotional services and to provide training for service providers in social-emotional services.  Appropriation:  $1,099,890 from General Fund to department of health.

 

HB0177  Community Human Services Act.

This bill would amend the Community Human Services Act to eliminate any requirement that developmental preschools operated by community service boards or public agencies provide a 10% local match to funds received from the department of health under the funding formula for developmental preschool reimbursements.

 

SELECT COMMITTEE ON MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES

 

HB0134  Involuntary hospitalization proceedings.

This bill would amend involuntary hospitalization proceedings by allowing a petition for involuntary hospitalization to be filed in either the county of the person's residence or the county where detained, provided there is a written agreement with respect to payment of hospitalization costs by the county of residence to the designated hospital where the respondent is detained.  The bill also eliminates the requirement that the state hospital shall be the hospital of last resort to receive patients as specified.

 

HB0133  Department of health client information sharing.

This bill would authorize the sharing of client information within the Department of Health, from specified entities that have contracted with the Department to provide mental health or substance abuse treatment services, and for research and audit purposes.  The bill specifies the scope of information that may be shared, procedures that shall be used for the sharing of client information, and provides penalties for the unlawful disclosure of client information. 

 

SF0076  Mental health and substance abuse appropriations.

This bill appropriates funding for a number of programs, including the Mental Health Division, the Substance Abuse Division, the State Hospital and community-based mental health and substance abuse treatment programs, to enhance and expand access to the system of care for persons with mental illness or alcohol or substance abuse issues.  The bill also continues the funding and authority for the Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, though the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008.  The total funds appropriated for the various programs include $22,322,400 in general funds and $1,474,888 in federal funds.  The appropriations are either for FY08, or effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law through FY08, depending on the program needs.  The Committee is currently voting by mail ballot whether or not to approve introduction of the bill in the 2007 general session as a Senate File.

 

HB0074  Department of health-provider contract restriction.

This bill would require the Department of Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Divisions, to annually withhold 5% of the contract amounts the Divisions pay community-based mental health and substance abuse treatment programs until the respective Division enters into an agreement with the individual community-based program that provides for performance measures.  If an agreement is not entered into by the parties, the amount withheld under this provision shall revert to the budget reserve account at the end of the biennium in which the funds were withheld. 

 

 

QUALITY CHILD CARE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

 

The following two bill drafts were recommendations of the quality child care oversight committee.  The Labor committee voted to sponsor both bills.

 

HB0095 - Quality Child Care:

This bill modifies the quality child care program implemented by 2006 Enrolled Act 53.  The draft authorizes the Wyoming Business Council to fund child care facilities through the business ready community program and creates a subaccount for funding for child care facilities.  The draft provides a quality rating system for child care facilities, provides scholarships to facilities on behalf of qualifying families for early childhood child care, provides educational grants to child care providers and also provides capacity enhancement grants to providers.  The bill also provides a grievance procedure along with provisions for education to families regarding the program.

 

HB0096 – Quality Child Care Appropriation:

This bill provides appropriations for the implementation of the quality child care program contemplated in 07LSO-0298.C1 The bill, for the FY07-08 reappropriates all funds remaining from the appropriation made in 2006 Session Laws, Chapter 64, Section 4 to the Department of Workforce Services for implementation of the program.  The bill also provides an appropriation for the FY07-08 biennium of $3,000,000 in general funds to the child care facility subaccount within the business ready community account created by W.S. 9-12-602 and an appropriation for the FY07-08 biennium of $3,340,000 in general funds to the Department of Family Services.

 

 

STATE ASSESSED PROPERTY TAXATION

 

HB0103 State assessed property.

The bill provides for the annual valuation and assessment of telecommunications property including cable and satellite television companies by the Department of Revenue.  The bill also provides that telecommunications property will be assessed at 9.5% as commercial property (which is a change from the previous 11.5% assessment rate for industrial property).  The bill is part of the Task Force's recommendation to the Joint Revenue Interim Committee.   The Joint Revenue Interim Committee agreed to sponsor the bill. 

 

MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

 

HB0219 Revisor's bill

This bill corrects errors and omissions in current law.

 

MANAGEMENT AUDIT

 

HB0045 State employee compensation commission.

This bill modifies the organization, powers and duties of the state employee compensation commission.  It would authorize the commission to recommend legislation on matters concerning state employee personnel issues and would provide for commission recommendations to be included in the state budgeting process. The governor would be required to summarize the manner in which his proposed budget reflects those recommendations.

 

SF0054 -  Drug court steering committee.

This bill creates a drug court steering committee to study administration of drug courts in order to create a more uniform administration of drug courts in the state.  The committee is required to report twice to the joint judiciary interim committee regarding its findings and recommendations.  The committee terminates as of December 31, 2008.  The department of health is to staff the committee.  The bill contains a $10,000.00 appropriation from the general fund.

 

SELECT COMMITTEE on SCHOOL FACILITIES

 

SF0014 School facilities-surplus buildings.

The bill extends building square footage upon which major maintenance computations are based to surplus buildings used for child care, developmental preschools and educational programs and services provided by BOCES.  Additionally, this square footage would be exempt from state capacity limitations.

 

SF0015 School facilities-amendments.

The bill clarifies district facility plan filing requirements with the School Facilities Commission, and prescribes conditions attached to legislative appropriations to the Commission for facility projects.

 

SF0016 School facilities-enhancement maintenance-2.

The bill clarifies district expenditure of the allowable portion of major maintenance payments for maintenance of building enhancements (building features or space which is beyond state adequacy standards).  The bill would allow the accumulation of unexpended amounts of the permissible enhancement maintenance portion into a subsequent fiscal year provided the unexpended carryover does not exceed 8% of the total major maintenance payment distributed.

 

HB0017 School facilities-major maintenance enforcement.

The bill provides authority to the School Facilities Commission to adjust subsequent major maintenance payments to any district upon discovering any unauthorized expenditure by that district.

 

 

SELECT NATURAL RESOURCE FUNDING COMMITTEE

 

HB0062 - Natural resource large project funding

This bill would authorize funding of two large projects under the Wildlife and Natural Resource Funding Act.  The large projects approved for funding are the Bates Creek Watershed Restoration project and the Lander Front mule deer project.  The total authorized appropriation from the natural resource income account is $430,000 ($230,000 for Lander Front;  $200,000 for Bates Creek).  Project descriptions and reversion requirements are provided in the bill. 

 

SELECT TRIBAL RELATIONS

 

SJ0002 – Tribal entities funding-2.

(This bill will be considered by the Committee at the December 29, 2006 meeting)

This proposed constitutional amendment would authorize appropriations from the state to the business council of the Eastern Shoshone Indian Tribe, the business council of the Northern Arapaho Indian Tribe or the joint business council of the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho Indian Tribes for the purpose of providing government services to the citizens of Wyoming who are also members of either tribe. 

 

SF0072 – Indian school education programs.

(This bill will be considered by the Committee at the December 29, 2006 meeting)

This bill would require contractual arrangements with the joint tribal business council for educational programs to address conditions on the reservation.  The bill provides an appropriation of $1,049,946 to the governor's office from the general fund.

 

SF0073 - State partnership schools.

(This bill will be considered by the Committee at the December 29, 2006 meeting)

This bill would authorize partnership agreements between the state and federal government for school districts providing educational programs and services to school age children, incorporate those districts into the state school system subject to conditions and exclusions, impose duties on the state superintendent, prescribe duties and grant authority to partnership districts, establish district governance, subject partnership districts to uniform state education program requirements and to student performance, accountability and high school graduation requirements, include districts in the state system of school finance and building maintenance and exclude partnership district buildings from state programs and oversight.

 

 

 

 

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