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IMPORTANT: As of July 1st, 2011, functions once performed by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce have been moved to other state agencies and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The former Commerce web site will continue to exist for the next several months as resources are moved to new web site locations. We will make every attempt possible to direct our users to the new locations as web resources are moved.
February 2008 Wisconsin Small Business
Regulatory Alert
It's important for small businesses to have their voice heard
during the state rule-making process. To do this, you need to know when
rules are being developed by state agencies that may directly impact
your small business! Learn what state rules
are being promulgated or going to public hearing. In addition to
learning about rule development, the alerts will provide information
about trainings, workshops, conferences and other regulatory
information
important
to Wisconsin small businesses.
Following are proposed rules of possible interest to small
businesses published in the recently published Wisconsin
Administrative Register. During the comment period,
individuals have an opportunity to express their support or opposition
to the rule. Rules included in this Alert may affect the
following types of businesses:
Announcement
of Hearings
Animal
Food Processors, Grease Processors, Commercial Feed Manufacturers, Dead
Animal Collectors and Render
-
The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection proposes a
rule revision to incorporate federal regulations
impacting Animal
Food Processors, Grease Processors, Commercial Feed Manufacturers, Dead
Animal Collectors and Renders.
Bottomline:
This rule includes
changes to state meat inspection, procedural changes,
restricting
the amount of water from post-evisceration processing that may be
retained in raw meat and poultry and clarification related to meat
broker and meat distributor requirements.
To view the draft rule, and the notice of hearing click here.
Comments may be submitted until March 10, 2008
to Jim.Larson@datcp.state.wi.us.
You may also contact the DATCP's Small
Business Regulatory Coordinator at Keeley.Moll@datcp.state.wi.us.
WIC
(Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and
Children (WIC) Vendors Including Groceries Stores, Retail Stores,
Pharmacies
- The Department of Health and Family Services proposes a rule to
recreate requirements for WIC Vendors.
Bottomline:
This rule includes revision to vendor contract requirements and
increased eligibility requirements that includes among the changes that
the vendor purchases WIC infant formula that is on an authorized infant
formula list, has established hours of operation and has an acceptable
history with WIC and Food Stamp program.
To view the Notice of
Hearing and to submit comments electronically regarding this rule to
the DHFS click here.
Comments will be received until March 10, 2008. You may also contact
the DHFS Small Business
Regulatory Coordinator at Greerrj@dhfs.state.wi.us.
Motor Carriers
- The Department of Transportation proposes a rule to create
requirements to implement and administer a unified registration system
for motor carriers that is consistent with federal requirements and to
prescribe annual fees.
Bottomline:
This rule will effect small businesses by requiring them to pay an
annual registration fee based on the size of the its truck fleet, with
fees of $39 to $806 annually.
To
view the Notice of Hearing and to submit comments electronically
regarding this rule to the DOT click here.
Comments will be received until March 5, 2008. You may also contact the
DOT's Small Business
Regulatory Coordinator at ralph.sanders@dot.state.wi.us
or by calling 414-438-4585.
Health Care Providers
- The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance proposes a rule relating
to the fund fees and mediation panel fees for FY 2009.
Bottomline:
This rule will increase mediation panel fees of small businesses that
pay the mediation panel fee on behalf of their employed physicians.
To
view the Notice of Hearing and to submit comments electronically
regarding this rule to OCI click here.
Comments will be received until March 17, 2008. You may also contact
the OCI's Small Business
Regulatory Coordinator at eileen.mallow@oci.state.wi.us.
Child Care Providers -
The
Department of Workforce Development purposes a rule revision relating
to Child Care Reimbursment rates and specifies that rates will remain
at current levels for 2008 and 2009.
Bottomline:
The DWD has made the determination that this rule is a 1.3%
total
impact in lost revenue growth to child care providers statewide.
DWD has submitted a report to the Small Business Regulatory
Review Board regarding the small business impact containing DWD's
determination that the rule will not have
a significant economic impact on small business. Click here to
read the report.
Interested
persons can review the
Notice of Hearing or send comments electronically
regarding this rule contact the DWD's Regulatory Coordinator
at elaine.pridgen@wisconsin.gov.
Comments will be accepted until March 11, 2008.
Announcement of Scope Statements
(Announcement that the
agency will begin rule development)
Collection Agencies
- The Department of Financial Institutions purposes a rule revision to
set forth the conduct relating to the practice for the collection of
debts. Review the Scope
Statement or contact the DFI Regulatory Coordinator at catherine.haberland@wisconsin.gov.
Drug
manufacturers, Drug Distributors and Drug Inspectors -
The Department of Regulation and Licensing purposes a rule
revision to satisfy the requirements necessary for wholesale
distributor facility inspections and electronic track and trace
pedigree system. Review the Scope
Statement or contact the DRL's Regulatory Coordinator at larry.martin@wisconsin.gov.
Insurance Agents -
The Department of Financial Institutions purposes a rule revision to
implement the NAIC Model Act and make amendments that comply with the
requirements of the CMC related to Long-Term Care partnership program.
Modification may include approval of training programs.
Review the
Scope
Statement or contact the OCI's Regulatory Coordinator at eileen.mallow@wisconsin.gov.
Transporters
of Freight that include: Motor Carriers, Contract Motor Carriers,
Private Motor Carriers
- The Department of Commerce purposes a rule to update program
administration requirements and specifies department funding and
applicant costs relating to the diesel truck idling reduction grant
program. Review the Scope
Statement or contact the Commerce's Regulatory Coordinator at
carol.dunn@wisconsin.gov.
Dairy
Manufacturing Facilities
- The Department of Commerce purposes a rule that would certify
applicants and allocating to them tax credits for investments in dairy
manufacturing facilities. Review the Scope
Statement or contact the Commerce's Regulatory
Coordinator at carol.dunn@wisconsin.gov.
Telecommunication,
Cable, Video and Satellite Television Service Businesses
- The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protections
purposes to update the unfair sales and billing practices and will
impact businesses that deliver information to consumers over wires or
through the air. Review the Scope
Statement or contact DATCP's Regulatory Coordinator at Keeley.Moll@wisconsin.gov.
Video
Service Provider Businesses - The Department of
Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protections purposes
to create administrative procedures relating to access to video service
and discriminary practices by video service providers. Review
the Scope
Statement or contact DATCP's Regulatory Coordinator at Keeley.Moll@wisconsin.gov.
Farmers
and Producers of Food Products that are Grown Locally -
The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protections purposes
to create administrative procedures allowing
DATCP to award grants for projects designed to increase local purchases of Wisc.
agricultural products. Review
the Scope
Statement or contact DATCP's Regulatory Coordinator at Keeley.Moll@wisconsin.gov.
Motor Vehicle Dealers
- Department of Transportation purposes to amend a rule relating to the
sales practices of motor vehicle dealers that would allow dealers to
request DOT's approval of language to accomodate manufacturers' or
dealers' warranties contract lanaguage. Review the Scope
Statement or contact DOT's Small Business
Regulatory Coordinator at ralph.sanders@dot.state.wi.us.
News
from State Regulatory
Agencies
Department of Commerce
Small
Business Regulatory Review Board
The
Small Business Regulatory Review Board wants to hear from small
business owners who are experiencing problems with administrative rule.
To learn
more the Board contact the Small Business Ombudsman
at carol.dunn@wi.gov or 608-267-0297 or review the Board's website for more information
about the Board.
Applications
for Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification Now Being
Accepted
Woman-owned businesses who are 51% owned, actively managed and
controlled can now apply to be certified as a woman-owned business
through the Department of Commerce. To learn more about whether your
business qualifies, to review frequently asked questions or download an
application form, click here.
Presentations
by the Small Business Ombudsman
Is your association or business organization looking for a speaker to
provide information about the Wisconsin regulatory reforms that were
created to help small business? Contact Carol Dunn
for more
information.
Other News for
Small Business
Small
Business Administration's Office of Advocacy Wants to Hear From You
- The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration is
looking for nominations of federal rules and regulations that need
review and reform. You can help update outdated or ineffective
rules by nominating those that are creating barriers for your business.
Nominate them by visiting the sba's web site at www.sba.gov/advo/.
Employment
Eligibility Verification- All U.S. employers are
responsible for completion and retention of Form I-9 for each
individual they hir for employment in the U.S. Employers can
now verify the employment eligibility of their newsly hired employees
electronically. To learn more about the E-Verify Program
click here.
Stay on top of Wisconsin legislation that can affect your
business
by receiving updates from the Wisconsin
Legislative Notification System. It allows anyone the
opportunity
to follow legislation by receiving daily or weekly e-mails. You can
choose updates by subject and can select the
activities for which you would like to receive notifications.
The Regulatory Alert is sent to you by the Dept. of Commerce's
Small
Business Ombudsman. If you find this information helpful, pass the word
onto other small businesses so that they may subscribe to this e-mail
service. Please refer them to commerce.wi.gov/BD/BD-FAX-0905.html
to subscribe.
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