The Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a memo Monday saying Gov. Scott Walker's budget adjustment legislation would save the state $107 million for the 2010-'11 fiscal year, not including money owed to Minnesota and the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund.
The bill would eliminate collective bargaining rights for state employees—other than policemen and firefighters—and prohibit collective bargaining for anything other than wages. It would prohibit bargaining over overtime, working conditions and pension plans.
Unions would not be able to deduct dues from employees' salaries and employees would have the right not to pay, while remaining a part of the union. Any wage increase for public employees, beyond inflation, would have to be approved by a ballot referendum.
The legislation directs the Department of Health Services to study the cost effectiveness and efficiency of the medical assistance program. If it saves money it would
require cost-sharing of recipients, authorize providers to deny care and modify existing benefits, as allowed under federal law. The DHS's actions would be subject to the Joint Finance Committee's passive review.
It would also allow the Department of Administration to sell any state-owned power plant, with or without solicitation of bids, for an amount the department considers in the best interest of the state. The state may have to pay back the federal government if its funds were used.
The bill would also eliminate the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Board and transfer employees to the UW Hospital and Clinics Authority.
The Joint Committee on Finance will hold a public hearing Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the bill.
