Contact: Anne Lupardus, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162
Also Signs Legislation Requiring Boating Safety, Four Other Bills
Governor Jim Doyle today signed legislation furthering his goal of reducing nursing home use by 25 percent over the next eight years. The bill allows individuals to avoid entering a nursing home by taking advantage of the state’s Community Integration Program, commonly known as CIP II.
“No one should be forced into a nursing home because they cannot find or afford other long term care options,” Governor Doyle said. “This bill will help make long term care more affordable for many Wisconsin seniors, and will help them avoid going into a nursing home if they don’t want to.”
Under current law, this program is only available to people who are already in nursing homes, and want to leave. Senate Bill 312 expands the program to include individuals who are still in the community, but who are at imminent risk of entering a nursing home.
Taking advantage of this would be completely voluntary for individuals who want to remain in the community rather than going into a nursing home. It would not force anybody to stay in the community who does not want to stay.
Governor Doyle thanked Senators Carol Roessler and Judy Robson, as well as Representatives Jean Hundertmark and Chuck Benedict for their work on the bill.
Governor Doyle also signed Assembly Bill 248, which will require anyone who was born after January 1, 1989 and is over the age of 16 to have a boating safety certificate from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to operate a boat or personal watercraft.
“Requiring boaters’ safety certification will improve public safety on our waterways,” Governor Doyle said. “We require education to drive a car to ensure everyone knows the rules of the road. This bill will do the same for our lakes and rivers, and I am pleased to sign it into law.”
Governor Doyle thanked Representatives J.A. Hines and Spencer Black, as well as Senators Luther Olsen and Mark Miller for their work on this bill.
Governor Doyle also signed following bills:
Assembly Bill 156 authorizes counties that do not contain any cities or villages to form a countywide Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) district, enabling these counties to utilize a successful economic development tool across town borders.
Governor Doyle thanked Representative Jeff Mursau, as well as Senators Roger Breske and Glenn Grothman for their work on this bill.
Assembly Bill 345 grandfathers older deer farms by exempting them from the current law requirement that a deer farm must consist of 80 contiguous acres to hold deer hunts. This exemption would apply to farms that held hunts prior to January 1, 2003, had DNR licensure to operate with fewer than 80 contiguous acres and maintained registration with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection since that time.
Governor Doyle thanked Representatives Mary Williams and Bob Turner, as well as Senators Russ Decker and Roger Breske for their work on this bill.
Senate Bill 515 creates a certification program at the Department of Commerce for women-owned businesses, helping to promote opportunities for women-owned businesses. This bill is a good first step toward furthering collective efforts to help women-owned businesses grow and prosper in Wisconsin. Governor Doyle called for this proposal in his Grow Wisconsin 2005 Agenda.
Governor Doyle thanked Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton for her work on behalf of women-owned businesses, and urged her to continue her efforts to create new opportunities for them in Wisconsin.
Governor Doyle also thanked Senator Carol Roessler, as well as Representatives Pat Strachota and Donna Seidel for their work on this bill.
Senate Bill 467 creates a license for well drillers and pump installers and prohibits non-licensed individuals from filling or sealing a water supply or from drilling a well.
Governor Doyle thanked Senators Neal Kedzie and Fred Risser, as well as Representatives Eugene Hahn and Louis Molepske for their work on this bill.
