WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND BOARDS (WALHDAB)

Joint WPHA-WALHDAB Public Affairs Committee Conference Call Minutes

Thursday, February 23, 2006 – 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Present: Sarah Beversdorf, Dawn Berney, Kathy Blair, Melody Bockenfeld, Kathy Farnsworth, Sharon Hampton, Lowell Haugen, Dale Hippensteel, Mary Ann Lippert, Jan Klawitter, Kathy Munsey, Nancy O’Dell, Eric Ostermann, Jim Ryder, Barb Theis, and Liz Zelazek

Staff: Michael Welshand Christopher Ruditys

Meeting was called to order at 11:03 a.m.

Legislation

·         Assembly passed unanimously on 1/24/06, 98/0 vote

·         Will pass the Senate

·         Will await the Governor for his signature

·         WPHA Public Relations Committee will work with the PA Committee to arrange a large media event in Milwaukee with the Governor to potentially sign the bill during Public Health Week.

2.  AB 618 – Child Passenger Bill

·         Requires the use of child safety seats for children up to eight years old traveling in an

      automobile.

·         Bill passed the legislature.

3.  AB1030 – Window replacement loan program (introduced by Representative Wieckert)

·         Loan program to replace windows with lead.

·         The bill will die this legislative process due to the session coming to an end.

·         Representative Cogss is introducing a companion bill.

·         Motion/Second/Carried to go on record in support of the Window replacement loan program.

4.   AB338 – Civil Liability exemption for claims resulting from weight gain.

·         Bill should be scheduled for a vote.

5.       AB709 – Provides licensure for lay midwives 

·         Family Physicians oppose the bill

·         WPHA will stay neutral on bill

                    6.  AB907 – Elimination of the current POVD Program and implementation of new health care data

 collection program.

·         This was discussed more informatively because this has already passed the legislature and the Governor supports privatization.

·         Secretary Nelson supports.

·         A lot of debate on how successful this will actually be – recommendation that members of the public health data steering committee should be asked to get involved in monitoring and evaluating this issue.

·         This needs to be monitored to make sure the data collection and collaboration is being done correctly, and that data is available to public health.

Other Issues

Review Committee Workplan

1. Nominate WPHA legislator of the year award.  Carol Roessler was nominated by a group of constituents and others to be the Legislator of the Year recipient.  The nomination was sent to the WALHDAB/WPHA PA Committee for their review and approval.  After much debate about the merits of the award for the recipient, there was a motion, second and carried to support the nomination with amendments.  (Two members objected)  WALHDAB’s Board has to vote on whether the award should be presented jointly.
2. Review Legislative Priorities – Strategies should be developed in the next few months on prioritizing for the next legislative session

Other Business

1. Next meeting will be on Thursday, March 23^rd, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. via teleconference. 

With no additional business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:32 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Christopher Ruditys

Executive Director

For more information about WALHDAB, call your local health department or a Board member or visit http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/localhealth/index.htm to locate your local health department.
Rev. 03/05