Building on the substantial progress we've already made this legislative session, this past month has been eventful. I was successful in getting multiple pieces of legislation passed that address vital issues from economic development and lowering the cost of health care, to improving our education system and cracking down on criminals.
Reducing the Cost of Health Care for Small Businesses
Making health insurance more affordable for small businesses is one of the key pieces of my health care agenda. A promising new option available to employers and employees is a Section 125 insurance plan, which is a provision that allows employees to deduct certain eligible expenses before taxes, like premium contributions paid by the employee. Estimates are that nearly half of employers do not take advantage of this provision within our tax code.
I authored Assembly Bill (AB) 894, which passed the state Assembly last week, that will help increase the availability and affordability of health insurance for employees within an employer sponsored health insurance plan. AB 894 encourages employers to implement a Section 125 plan by creating an income and franchise tax credit of $200, which is designed to remove the barrier of the administrative cost for putting together a Section 125 Premium Only Plan. Under this plan, an employee making $36,000 a year and contributing $200 per month toward their health insurance would save more than $700 per year on all taxes, making his health insurance plan much more affordable for both him and his employer.
Ensuring Virtual Schools Remain a High-Quality Choice for Parents
Just this week, my virtual school bill was sent to the governor for his approval. As you may know, this bill will allow Wisconsin's innovative virtual schools to continue operating as a high-quality public school option for students. I am extremely proud that I had the opportunity to lead this bill, which is a perfect example of how all three branches of government can come together to address a significant problem that affects our state.
Promoting the Agricultural Industry
Every year the dairy industry puts more than $20 billion into our state's economy, which works out to $39,000 per minute. Throughout Wisconsin, 160,000 people are employed in the industry. I authored two proposals that are designed to foster growth in the agriculture, specifically the dairy industry. The Dairy Manufacturing Facility Investment Tax Credit was passed in the 2007-09 state budget, which provides incentives for growth and modernization in the dairy sector. In addition, I authored AB 763, which expands the tax credit to dairy cooperatives, who process nearly 80 percent of the state's milk supply and manufacture about 50 percent of Wisconsin's cheese. AB 763 passed the state Assembly on Feb. 26.
Increasing the Monitoring of Criminal Sex Offenders
Modern technology has enabled us to stay in constant contact with one another. Unfortunately, this same technology provides sexual predators with a new tool to prey on our children. The anonymity of a fake screen name emboldens sex offenders as they lurk around social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace, or as they talk to unsuspecting children using an instant messaging service. It only makes sense that we monitor sex offenders in cyberspace, just as we monitor them in the real world.
That is why I authored AB 791, which would monitor and restrict certain convicted sex offenders' access to the Internet during the time they are registered as a sex offender. Also, registered offenders would be required to provide the Department of Corrections with his or her e-mail addresses, screen names/user names and addresses for any Web site they maintain. These provisions will help aid our law enforcement community and prosecutors in their efforts to protect our children and prevent convicted sex offenders from re-offending. This week AB 791 passed the Assembly by a vote of 97-0.
Creating Efficiencies in School Districts
At the request of school districts and the Department of Public Instruction, I authored AB 906. This bill would modify the way special education hours are recorded and the way salaries for these positions are computed. The legislation will not increase or decrease overall special education aid, but will implement a more efficient way for local school districts to compute certain teacher's salaries. AB 906 was passed by the state Assembly and Senate this week. I am hopeful Governor Doyle will sign it into law.
Fran's Law
I was approached by a family living in Oregon, who recently lost their mother due to a hit-and-run involving a drunk driver. The drunk driver crashed through their mother's home and into her bedroom. Later, during the trial, the court threw out the charge of hit and run due to the fact that the crime did not physically occur on the road. In response, I drafted AB 905, which closes this loophole in Wisconsin's hit and run law. The bill changes the law to incorporate situations where a vehicle has "immediately" left the road.
As you can see, we've made significant progress over the past month. In addition to my legislation listed above, I believe we've acted to address core issues that affect us all like promoting economic growth, making health care more affordable and controlling taxes and spending.
I want to hear from you, so please feel welcome to express your thoughts or let me know if I can be helpful to you in any way by calling (888) 534-0080, e-mailing me at Rep.Davis@legis.wi.gov or by writing or stopping by 308 North, State Capitol, Madison, WI 53708.
- Wisconsin State Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, serves the 80th Assembly District, which includes all of Green County and portions of Rock, Dane and Lafayette counties.
Reducing the Cost of Health Care for Small Businesses
Making health insurance more affordable for small businesses is one of the key pieces of my health care agenda. A promising new option available to employers and employees is a Section 125 insurance plan, which is a provision that allows employees to deduct certain eligible expenses before taxes, like premium contributions paid by the employee. Estimates are that nearly half of employers do not take advantage of this provision within our tax code.
I authored Assembly Bill (AB) 894, which passed the state Assembly last week, that will help increase the availability and affordability of health insurance for employees within an employer sponsored health insurance plan. AB 894 encourages employers to implement a Section 125 plan by creating an income and franchise tax credit of $200, which is designed to remove the barrier of the administrative cost for putting together a Section 125 Premium Only Plan. Under this plan, an employee making $36,000 a year and contributing $200 per month toward their health insurance would save more than $700 per year on all taxes, making his health insurance plan much more affordable for both him and his employer.
Ensuring Virtual Schools Remain a High-Quality Choice for Parents
Just this week, my virtual school bill was sent to the governor for his approval. As you may know, this bill will allow Wisconsin's innovative virtual schools to continue operating as a high-quality public school option for students. I am extremely proud that I had the opportunity to lead this bill, which is a perfect example of how all three branches of government can come together to address a significant problem that affects our state.
Promoting the Agricultural Industry
Every year the dairy industry puts more than $20 billion into our state's economy, which works out to $39,000 per minute. Throughout Wisconsin, 160,000 people are employed in the industry. I authored two proposals that are designed to foster growth in the agriculture, specifically the dairy industry. The Dairy Manufacturing Facility Investment Tax Credit was passed in the 2007-09 state budget, which provides incentives for growth and modernization in the dairy sector. In addition, I authored AB 763, which expands the tax credit to dairy cooperatives, who process nearly 80 percent of the state's milk supply and manufacture about 50 percent of Wisconsin's cheese. AB 763 passed the state Assembly on Feb. 26.
Increasing the Monitoring of Criminal Sex Offenders
Modern technology has enabled us to stay in constant contact with one another. Unfortunately, this same technology provides sexual predators with a new tool to prey on our children. The anonymity of a fake screen name emboldens sex offenders as they lurk around social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace, or as they talk to unsuspecting children using an instant messaging service. It only makes sense that we monitor sex offenders in cyberspace, just as we monitor them in the real world.
That is why I authored AB 791, which would monitor and restrict certain convicted sex offenders' access to the Internet during the time they are registered as a sex offender. Also, registered offenders would be required to provide the Department of Corrections with his or her e-mail addresses, screen names/user names and addresses for any Web site they maintain. These provisions will help aid our law enforcement community and prosecutors in their efforts to protect our children and prevent convicted sex offenders from re-offending. This week AB 791 passed the Assembly by a vote of 97-0.
Creating Efficiencies in School Districts
At the request of school districts and the Department of Public Instruction, I authored AB 906. This bill would modify the way special education hours are recorded and the way salaries for these positions are computed. The legislation will not increase or decrease overall special education aid, but will implement a more efficient way for local school districts to compute certain teacher's salaries. AB 906 was passed by the state Assembly and Senate this week. I am hopeful Governor Doyle will sign it into law.
Fran's Law
I was approached by a family living in Oregon, who recently lost their mother due to a hit-and-run involving a drunk driver. The drunk driver crashed through their mother's home and into her bedroom. Later, during the trial, the court threw out the charge of hit and run due to the fact that the crime did not physically occur on the road. In response, I drafted AB 905, which closes this loophole in Wisconsin's hit and run law. The bill changes the law to incorporate situations where a vehicle has "immediately" left the road.
As you can see, we've made significant progress over the past month. In addition to my legislation listed above, I believe we've acted to address core issues that affect us all like promoting economic growth, making health care more affordable and controlling taxes and spending.
I want to hear from you, so please feel welcome to express your thoughts or let me know if I can be helpful to you in any way by calling (888) 534-0080, e-mailing me at Rep.Davis@legis.wi.gov or by writing or stopping by 308 North, State Capitol, Madison, WI 53708.
- Wisconsin State Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, serves the 80th Assembly District, which includes all of Green County and portions of Rock, Dane and Lafayette counties.
