Summary of Member Meeting on October 22, 2014

Alliance for Regulatory Coordination

Summary of Member Meeting

Meeting Date: October 22, 2014

Location: Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

The meeting was convened at 9:07 a.m. by Bob DuPont, of Regulatory Guidance and Design, LLC.

DuPont reported that the Department of Safety and Professional Services responded recently to the ARC open records request pertaining to revenues and expenditures of the DSPS Industry Services Division for state fiscal year 2014 - 15. The information includes revenue detail for each program area but does not have expenditure detail broken down by program area. The DSPS response shows that on July 8, 2014, a lapse of $1,855,550 was made, in the form of a transfer of funds, from the DSPS Safety and Buildings Appropriation to the Department of Administration. Bob offered to share the agency response with any ARC member interested in seeing the material.

Possible budget-related requests to legislators were discussed. DuPont asked if there were any concerns or suggestions for changes to the four documents he had prepared on this subject. He said that the subject of lapsing of funds is very much in play due to the DSPS budget request already suggesting a continuation of lapsing in both years of the next biennium.

There was consensus that ARC should focus on communicating the following points:

• • Up-to-date and timely building regulatory services are an important part of the building construction “engine” that helps drive and facilitate economic development in Wisconsin.

  • That lapsing of funds from the Safety and Buildings Appropriation negatively affects state level staff resources, and in turn, negatively affects the state’s economy.

  • That the unnecessary duplication of effort between the DSPS and the DHS relative to plan review and inspection of community based residential facilities and hospices should be discontinued by statutorily assigning such effort solely to the DHS.

Regarding the four pages of lobby materials that DuPont had prepared, Annie Early Reinhard suggested the overview page be simplified. She offered to develop a reworked draft for everyone’s review.

Annie said that State Assembly members may be more likely to drive changes relative to DSPS funding and operations than Senate members; although Senate Leadership should also be communicated with. She suggested that she and John Schulze take the lead in reaching out to legislators concerning DSPS funding and operations.

There was general agreement that lobby communication regarding the ARC requests should begin in November after the statewide elections; and that Annie and John would first work to determine the level of legislator interest concerning the Department of Safety and Professional Services.

There was general agreement that individual ARC member organizations should feel free to make their own contacts with legislators using the lobby materials that DuPont prepared as a general basis for dialogue concerning the funding and operation of the DSPS.

DuPont said he would stay in touch with Annie and John regarding their contacts with legislators relative to topics of interest to ARC members, and would share with all ARC members any suggested revisions to the proposed ARC lobby materials, as well as provide updates regarding lobby efforts.

The next meeting of Alliance Members was scheduled for January 28, 2015, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the office of ABC, Wisconsin.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

This summary was prepared by Bob DuPont, Regulatory Guidance and Design, LLC.

It was issued on November 14, 2014.