(1) The Wisconsin department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection (“DATCP") administers state laws related to farm-raised deer. DATCP currently licenses deer farms and issues certificates for deer hunting preserves, pursuant to s. 95.55, Stats., and ch. ATCP 10, Wis. Adm. Code.

(2) Current law generally prohibits deer hunting preserves smaller than 80 acres. However, 2005 Wis. Act 359 (enacted effective May 3, 2006) provides a limited “grandfather" exemption for certain white-tailed deer hunting preserves previously licensed by the Department of Natural Resources (“DNR"). Under Act 359, a white-tailed deer hunting preserve is exempt from the 80-acre minimum size requirement if, among other things, the acreage of the hunting preserve is “not less than the acreage subject to the deer farm license on December 31, 2002." This rule clarifies that the “acreage subject to the deer farm license on December 31, 2002" means the hunting acreage subject to the deer farm license on December 31, 2002. Without this interpretation, Act 359 would have no practical effect and would be rendered a nullity.

(3) The “grandfather" exemption in Act 359 is limited to hunting preserve operators who apply by November 1, 2006. DATCP must act on applications within 90 business days. Action may affect an operator's ability to operate during the 2006 hunting season. DATCP is adopting this rule as an emergency rule, in order to facilitate timely action on applications. DATCP could not adopt this rule by normal rulemaking procedures in time to implement Act 359.

(1) The Wisconsin department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection (“DATCP") will administer s. 100.54, Stats. as of January 1, 2007. DATCP is required under s. 100.54 (12), Stats. to adopt rules related to identification required of consumers requesting credit report security freezes.

(2) As of January 1, 2007, s. 100.54, Stats. will be in effect, however without an emergency rule the statute will be unclear regarding what constitutes proper identification for purposes of creating a security freeze, temporarily releasing a security freeze or permanently removing a security freeze from a consumer credit report.

(3) DATCP is adopting this emergency rule for the sole purpose of allowing consumers to clearly place a security freeze on their consumer credit report while the permanent rulemaking process is completed.

The Legislature, by section 5 (1) (a) in 2005 Wisconsin Act 358, exempts the Department from providing evidence that this emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety or welfare; and exempts the Department from providing a finding of emergency for the adoption of this rule.

Pursuant to section 227.24 of the statutes, this rule is adopted as an emergency rule to take effect upon publication in the official state newspaper. In accordance with section 5 (1) (b) of 2005 Wisconsin Act 358, this rule will remain in effect until March 1, 2007, or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner.

These emergency rules primarily specify (1) which businesses are eligible for becoming certified in this program; (2) how to apply for certification and recertification; (3) how the certifications will be issued, renewed, and rescinded; and (4) how to appeal a decision by the Department. Parameters are also included for recognizing equivalent certifications that are issued by other public agencies.

These rules establish the criteria for administering a program that will (1) certify businesses as temporarily eligible for tax credits and exemptions for Internet equipment used in the broadband market, and (2) allocate up to $7,500,000 to these businesses for these tax credits and exemptions.

Pursuant to section 227.24 of the statutes, this rule is adopted as an emergency rule to take effect upon publication in the official state newspaper. In accordance with section 17 (1) (d) of 2005 Wisconsin Act 479, this rule will remain in effect until January 1, 2008, or until the Department reports its certifications and determinations under this rule to the Department of Revenue, whichever is sooner.

The rules specify who is eligible for the income and franchise tax credits and the sales and use tax exemptions in this program, for Internet equipment used in the broadband market. Eligible equipment is also specified, along with how to apply for the certifications and allocations. Parameters for allocating the authorized total of $7,500,000 are likewise specified. These parameters emphasize (1) efficiently initiating broadband Internet service in areas of Wisconsin that otherwise are not expected to soon receive this service, and (2) encouraging economic or community development. The rule chapter also describes the time-specific legislative oversight that is established in 2005 Act 479 for these allocations, and describes the follow-up reports that the Act requires from every person who receives a sales or use tax exemption under this chapter.

The board finds that failure to delay the effective date of CR04-095, from January 1, 2007, to July 1, 2007, will create a danger to the public health, safety and welfare. The extra six months are needed to allow the implementation of the rule to occur and to ensure the continued use of conscious sedation for dental patients.

The Commissioner of Insurance finds that an emergency exists and that a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. Facts constituting the emergency are as follows:

The rule identifies a limited group of policies issued by licensed insurers offering preferred provider plans that do not comply with newly promulgated ch. Ins 9, Wis. Adm. Code. In compliance with the request of the Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR), this rule must be issued as an emergency rule and permanent rule. It is not possible to complete the permanent rule process prior to the effective date of the chapter, January 1, 2007, therefore this emergency rule is necessary.

The commissioner has filed a notice of scope for drafting the permanent rule corresponding to this emergency rule and will continue with the permanent rule making process. It is intended that one rule hearing can be held to comply with both the emergency rule and permanent rule requirements.

The Commissioner of Insurance finds that an emergency exists and that a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare. Facts constituting the emergency are as follows:

These changes will modify the rule in light of the recent Supreme Court decisions, Rebernick v American Family Mutual Ins Company, 2006 WI 27 and Rocker v USAA Casualty Ins Company, 2006 WI 26. In Rebernick, the court held that s. 632.32 (4m), Stats, applies to personal umbrella policies. In Rocker, the court held that s. 632.32 (6) (a), Stats, applies to commercial general liability policies and commercial umbrella policies. These interpretations are inconsistent with current insurer practices and OCI's expectation of what would be covered in these types of policies.

Compliance with this interpretation would create significant, if not impossible compliance problems for insurers. Many insurers who write umbrella coverage do not write and are not even licensed to write automobile coverage. A second, difficult issue is that the limits for umbrella coverages are generally very high, $1,000,000. It is unclear how an umbrella policy would reconcile these limits with the underlying auto policy and underinsured motorist coverage. For this reason, OCI had previously by rule exempted umbrella policies from the similar requirements of the uninsured motorist coverages in s. 632.32, Stats. For similar reasons, the same revision is being made for commercial liability policies.

As provided in section 13 of 2005 Wis. Act 166, “Notwithstanding section 227.24 (1) (a) and (3) of the statutes, the department is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection."

Section 1 of the proposed rule distinguishes between timber sales related tasks that can be contracted and functions that Department staff must perform to protect the resource and assure compliance with regulations and property master plans. The purpose is to divide technical activities that are appropriate for contracting from administration of finance, policy and compliance issues. The rule defines bidding and payment procedures for the contracted services, including prequalification of bidders based on experience with timber sales and related forest inventory work. Section 2 makes technical corrections in the definition of educational requirements for cooperating foresters. The change would make educational requirements for cooperating foresters and department foresters identical, including the allowance of training equivalent to that obtained at a college accredited by the Society of American Foresters.