Michigan: Accepts course work completed at a college or university for continuing education credit if the subject matter relates to specific topics identified in the agency's administrative rules.

Minnesota: Approves academic courses taken at an accredited post-secondary institution.

No study resulting in the collection of factual data was used relating to this rule. The primary methodology for revising the rule is the board's analysis and determination that a rule change is necessary.

The proposed rule would change the specific subject matter area requirements for continuing education for nursing home administrators licensed in Wisconsin. There are 3,124 nursing home administrators licensed in Wisconsin. Of the 3,124 nursing home administrators licensed in Wisconsin, a significant percentage of them probably work in small businesses.

In order for nursing home administrators to renew their license, continuing education courses would have to be completed. Currently, to obtain credit for course work taken at a college or university, the course work must be approved by the National Association of Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators (NAB). The rule would allow certain course work offered at a college or university to be accepted for continuing education without obtaining approval from NAB. The rule would also limit the course work taken at colleges or universities to 18 of the 24 hours required. There will be no additional reporting requirements, bookkeeping requirements, or compliance costs. This rule would merely allow certain courses to be taken without obtaining approval from NAB. The same 24 hour requirement would be in place. This rule change will not have an effect on small business.

Section 227.137, Stats., requires an “agency" to prepare an economic impact report before submitting the proposed rule-making order to the Wisconsin Legislative Council. The Department of Regulation and Licensing is not included as an “agency" in this section.

The department finds that this rule has no significant fiscal effect on the private sector. The proposed rule will have no impact on the department's funds.

These proposed rules will have no significant economic impact on small businesses, as defined in s. 227.114 (1), Stats. The Department's Regulatory Review Coordinator may be contacted by email at larry.martin@drl.state.wi.us, or by calling (608) 266-8608.

Pamela Haack, Paralegal, Department of Regulation and Licensing, Office of Legal Counsel, 1400 East Washington Avenue, Room 152, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, Wisconsin 53708-8935. Telephone: (608) 266-0495. Email: pamela.haack@drl.state.wi.us.

Comments may be submitted to Pamela Haack, Paralegal, Department of Regulation and Licensing, 1400 East Washington Avenue, Room 152, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, Wisconsin 53708-8935, or by email at pamela.haack@drl. state.wi.us. Comments must be received on or before March 27, 2006 to be included in the record of rule-making proceedings.

SECTION 1. NHA 1.02 (5) is renumbered NHA 1.02 (1m) and is amended to read:

NHA 1.02 (1m) “One credit hour" “ Credit hour" means, for purposes of qualifying education, a period of at least 50 minutes of instruction for a term of not less than 16 sessions. For purposes of continuing education, one earned semester credit hour shall be granted 4 contact hours of continuing education credit, and one earned quarter credit hour shall be granted 2 contact hours of continuing education credit.

SECTION 2. The Note following NHA 3.01 (1) is amended to read:

Note: A list of approved regular courses of study, programs of study and specialized courses is available upon request to the board office at 1400 East Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, Wisconsin 53708 or from the Department of Regulation and Licensing's website at: http://drl.wi.gov

SECTION 3. NHA 3.02 (1), (1m) and the Note following NHA 3.02 (1m) are amended to read:

NHA 3.02 Continuing education. (1) Every Except as provided in sub. (7), every nursing home administrator shall complete at least 24 contact hours in approved continuing education programs in each biennial renewal period..

(1m) Except as provided in s. NHA 3.03 (4) and (5), continuing education programs must be approved by NAB.

Note: A list of approved programs is available upon request to the board office at 1400 East Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, Wisconsin 53708 or from the Department of Regulation and Licensing's website at: http://drl.wi.gov.

SECTION 4. NHA 3.02 (6) and (7) are created to read:

NHA 3.02 (6) A licensee may claim continuing education hours for courses successfully completed at an accredited college or university if all of the following requirements are satisfied:

(a) The courses are relevant to the practice of nursing home administration and cover one or more of the subject matter topics listed under s. NHA 3.03 (5).

(b) The courses are completed, with a passing grade, within the 2-year renewal period immediately preceding the date of application for renewal.

(c) The licensee claims no more than 18 contact hours during the 2-year renewal period.

(d) One semester credit hour earned from an accredited college or university shall equal 4 contact hours and one quarter credit hour earned shall equal 2 contact hours.

(7) During the time between initial licensure and commencement of a full 2-year licensure period, new licensees shall not be required to meet continuing education requirements.

SECTION 5. NHA 3.03 (1) (intro.), the Note following NHA 3.03 (1) (c), and (2) are amended to read:

NHA 3.03 Approval of continuing education programs. (1) (intro.) An application for a continuing education program shall be approved by submitted to NAB according to the following criteria established for approval. Any continuing education program approved by NAB shall be accepted by the board if all of the following are satisfied:

Note: To obtain an application for approval of a continuing education program, contact NAB at 1444 I Street, N.W. #700, Washington, D.C., 20006-2210 20005-6542; http://www. nabweb.org.

(2) A Except as provided in sub. (5), a separate application must be submitted for each continuing education program.

SECTION 6. NHA 3.03 (5) is created to read:

NHA 3.03 (5) A course offered by an accredited college or university shall be accepted by the board, without NAB approval and without receipt of an application for approval from the accredited college or university, if the course is relevant to the practice of nursing home administration and covers at least one of the following subject areas:

(a) Behavioral science including, but not limited to, psychology, sociology and social work.

(b) Business including, but not limited to, economics, marketing, accounting, finance, labor relations, human resources and management of information systems.

(c) Management.

(d) Communications.

(e) Mathematics.

(f) Pharmacology.

(g) Toxicology.

(h) Biology.

(i) Environmental and public health.

(j) Medical ethics.

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to ss. 73.029 and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., and interpreting ss. 71.63 (3m), 71.738 (2), and 73.029, Stats., the Department of Revenue will hold a public hearing at the time and place indicated below, to consider the amending and creation of rules relating to electronic funds transfer, information returns, and wage statements.

The hearing will be held at 9:00 A.M. on Wednesday, March 15, 2006, in the Events Room (1st floor) of the State Revenue Building, located at 2135 Rimrock Road, Madison, Wisconsin.

Handicap access is available at the hearing location.

Interested persons are invited to appear at the hearing and may make an oral presentation. It is requested that written comments reflecting the oral presentation be given to the department at the hearing. Written comments may also be submitted to the contact person shown below no later than March 22, 2006, and will be given the same consideration as testimony presented at the hearing.

Statute interpreted: ss. 71.63 (3m), 71.738 (2), and 73.029, Stats.

Statutory authority: ss. 73.029 and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats.

Explanation of agency authority: Section 73.029, Stats., provides that the department may require electronic funds transfer only by promulgating rules. Section 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., provides that each agency may promulgate rules interpreting the provisions of any statute enforced or administered by it, if the agency considers it necessary to effectuate the purpose of the statute.

Related statute or rule: ss. 71.63 (3m), 71.738 (2), and 73.029, Stats.

Plain language analysis: This proposed rule order does the following:

• Creates a provision specifying that income and franchise tax withholding payments of pass-through entities are required to be made by electronic funds transfer (EFT).

• Changes a provision to specify that EFT payments made by automated clearing house (ACH) debit transfer may be initiated up until 4:00 p.m. on the due date of the payment.

• Creates a provision specifying that the department may require pass-through entities to file returns for nonresident withholding taxes by electronic means. An exception is provided for situations where the Secretary of Revenue determines that the requirement to file by electronic means causes an undue hardship.

• Creates a provision specifying that the department may require Form WT-7, Employers Annual Reconciliation of Wisconsin Income Tax Withheld from Wages, to be filed by electronic means. An exception is provided for situations where the Secretary of Revenue determines that the requirement to file by electronic means causes an undue hardship.

• Updates notes to list current street and mailing addresses.

Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulation: There is no existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the rule.

Comparison with rules in adjacent states:

Illinois – No similar rule exists.

Iowa – No similar rule exists.

Michigan – No similar rule exists with regard to filing an annual withholding tax reconciliation (the equivalent of Wisconsin Form WT-7) or a return for nonresident withholding taxes by electronic means. EFT payment of pass-through entity withholding is required if total pass-through entity withholding plus employee withholding averages at least $40,000 per month.

Minnesota – No similar rule exists with regard to filing an annual withholding tax reconciliation (the equivalent of Wisconsin Form WT-7) or a return for nonresident withholding taxes by electronic means. If a pass-through entity is required to pay any Minnesota tax by EFT, it is required to pay all Minnesota taxes by EFT. The threshold for withholding tax is $20,000 per year.

Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies: 2005 Wisconsin Act 25 created s. 71.775, Stats., which requires pass-through entities to file and pay withholding tax on the income allocable to their nonresident members. The department has determined that in order to administer this tax in a cost effective manner, it is necessary to require pass-through entities to file and pay the tax by electronic means. The department has also determined that, in the interest of cost effectiveness, a requirement to file Form WT-7, Employers Annual Reconciliation of Wisconsin Income Tax Withheld from Wages, should also be put in place. In light of this, a rule is being promulgated which allows the department to prescribe the method by which Form WT-7 is to be filed and by which pass-through entities are to file and pay withholding tax on the income allocable to their nonresident members.

Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small business: The department provides methods to pay taxes using EFT and file returns electronically that occur at no or minimal cost to the payer or filer. In addition, an exception to the requirement to pay or file electronically for situations where an undue hardship is caused is provided in the rule. Based on this, the department has concluded that this proposed rule order does not have a significant effect on small business.

Anticipated costs incurred by private sector: This proposed rule order does not have a significant fiscal effect on the private sector.

Effect on small business: This proposed rule order does not have a significant effect on small business.

Agency contact person: Please contact Dale Kleven at (608) 266-8253 or dkleven@dor.state.wi.us, if you have any questions regarding this proposed rule order.

Place where comments are to be submitted and deadline for submission: Comments may be submitted to the contact person shown below no later than one week after the public hearing on this proposed rule order is conducted. Information as to the place, date, and time of the public hearing will be published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register.

Dale Kleven

Department of Revenue

Mail Stop 6-40

2135 Rimrock Road

P.O. Box 8933

Madison, WI 53708-8933

SECTION 1. Tax 1.12 (3) (fm) is created to read:

Tax 1.12 (3) (fm) “Pass-through entity" has the meaning given in s. 71.775 (1) (b), Stats.

SECTION 2. Tax 1.12 (4) (a) (intro.) is amended to read: