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Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, February 21, 2006 09:00 a.m.

GEF 1 State Office Building, Room H305
201 East Washington Avenue
Madison, WI

Members Present

Management: James Buchen

Labor: Dennis Penkalski

Acting Chair: Daniel LaRocque

Department staff present: Hal Bergan, Lutfi Shahrani, JoAnn Hium, Tom Smith, Dick Tillema, Terese Wojick and Carla Breber

Others present: John Metcalf

Members Present / By Telephone

Management: Bob Oyler, Ed Lump, Earl Gustafson and Dan Petersen

Labor: Red Platz

MINUTES

The meeting was opened by Acting Chair, LaRocque.

Bergan notes the retirement of Tom Smith.

Discussion of SB 577 which changes Act 86 begins. Change is essentially to restore the former wording of WI §108.05(3) regarding the exclusion of wages earned for services performed as a volunteer fire fighter, EMT and first responder from partial unemployment benefit determinations. UI notice to all claimants regarding reporting of partial wages caused a great deal of concern to volunteer fire departments and their associations which led to Senator Zien’s proposal. Several options were discussed by the Council. The best option is simply to restore the former wording of WI §108.05(3) and garner the support of and input from volunteer fire departments and their associations for a better, longer term solution.

Buchen spoke in support of this position. Penkalski did as well. The political fallout of this action and its possible effect on the Council process was discussed.

Bergan recommends that the Council support SB 577 and communicate that to Sen. Zien so that the Council’s support can become part of the Senate deliberation on the bill. Buchen makes the motion to approve. Penkalski seconds the motion. Motion is carried unanimously by all Council members present.

Discussion turned to the scheduling of future meetings. March 20, 2006 will be the next meeting of the Council. Agenda will include discussion of Administrative Rule changes and the scheduling of statewide UI Public Hearings for 2006.

Meeting adjourned.

Updated August 24, 2009
Unemployment Insurance Division, Bureau of Legal Affairs (BOLA)
Content Contact: Legal Affairs Staff