Capitol Research Services of Wisconsin

Capitol Research Services of Wisconsin
For Research Beyond What You Have the Time to Do

Legislative Research & Writing/ Emerging Issues Identification/ Professional Legislative
Histories and Intent for the State of Wisconsin

With many companies, law firms, lobbying operations, trade and non-profit associations downsizing and cutting budgets, the ability to function efficiently has become increasingly difficult. Those responsible for assessing and communicating legislative information upon which decisions are built are now watching their staff and resources decline. Their ability to assess and address legislative, legal and regulatory activity with declining resources have left them scrambling for new cost effective solutions. Some are now doing the job of three people, sometimes more. How can a lobbyist or organizational representative carry out their basic job responsibilities, let alone find the energy to think creatively and implement new strategies?

CRS-W can enhance your work during busy periods or offer outside expertise when needed. CRS-W is designed to assist you to strategically target your resources to shape or combat legislative, legal and regulatory initiatives. CRS-W can provide you with a variety of services, including:

LOBBYIST/CORPORATE/TRADE ASSOCIATION SUPPORT

Advance research and planning is essential to effective lobbying. CRS-W specializes in serving corporate and trade association clients, as well as lobbyists, creating research products that address an organization’s issues from their perspective, including policy briefs, fact sheets and other products as needed. It offers general support for all state legislative and public policy initiatives as well as other special projects.

CRS-W researches, reviews, interprets, and/or drafts documents related to legislation affecting your issue or policy matter; monitors and advises regarding developments and trends including changes in the law; interprets, applies, and explains various other federal and state government agency regulations, codes and orders.

Emerging Issues Identification

States can adapt and respond to pressures for change more quickly than the federal government. The lack of a cohesive federal policy in some public policy areas encourages states to enact state-specific measures. CRS-W can provide you with strategic forecasts that can help an organization plan and respond to legislative forces in times of rapid change. Working in cooperation with an organization’s legislative director, public relations and research personnel, CRS-W can establish an environmental scanning process to assist strategic planners in identifying emerging issues.

Legislative and Regulatory Activity Reports

CRS-W can also provide legislative and regulatory activity reports giving periodic update’s on the movement of legislation in a particular policy area from introduction through committee referral, floor votes and other actions. Additionally, these reports contain information about proposed and adopted administrative rules, and other news of interest to you. These reports can be produced at your request and according to a predetermined schedule.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORIES FOR ATTORNEYS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS

For various reasons, a person may wish to review the pre-enactment history of a section of Wisconsin law. This pre-enactment history of legislation is referred to as legislative history.

Researching the legislative history of a Wisconsin state statute can be daunting task for legal professionals. The legislative process in Wisconsin is not geared toward documenting intent. Many of the resources commonly associated with legislative intent research with respect to the United States Congress have no counterpart in the Wisconsin Legislature. Though there are some documents available online, many legislative history research projects require someone at the state capitol having the knowledge and experience to physically sift through pages of legislative documents to locate and collect the material related to passage of a particular law.

CRS-W recognizes that many legal professionals have neither the time nor the staff resources to undertake legislative research themselves. This service thoroughly and efficiently identifies the material relevant to passage of legislation and quickly provides the results to clients for analysis. It is the mission of CRS-W to provide legal professionals and others the confidence and security that comes from knowing they thoroughly completed all facets of their legal research.

CRS-W specializes in researching the enactment history of Wisconsin state statutes, constitutional provisions and regulations. For research beyond what you have the time or inclination to do, you can engage CRS-W for cost effective research.

The research process focuses on your particular concerns and limits the report to substantively useful documents so you do not waste your time wading through volumes of documents devoid of useful information. Our goal is to provide an organized, focused report that you can review quickly to reach a full understanding of the intent applicable to your particular problem.

The Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau website currently includes bill drafting files from 1999 forward. CRS-W is your source for the provision of legislative history materials and details for all bills predating 1999 and those between 1999 and the present. CRS-W provides legislative materials contained in the bill drafting and committee files, in addition to other material that may have been generated on the bill and is not online. Also not available on the website is information identifying predecessor and competitor bills from which the language of interest to you may have developed, as well as any pertinent state agency or committee reports and studies that may have generated the bill or section language of interest.

When do I need legislative history and intent research?

When the plain meaning of a statute nor associated case law are sufficient to construe the statute of interest to you, you may need to determine the legislative intent behind the statute. CRS-W provides effective solutions to your legislative questions.

Can't I do the legislative research in-house?

The Wisconsin Legislature does not publish detailed histories of the legislation that it enacts, but it does retain various records from which the history can be compiled.

You could have an assistant do the research, or you may consider doing it yourself -- using your valuable time. While some statutory research may be simple and straightforward, oftentimes the Legislature works in mysterious ways. The labyrinth known as the legislative process may often confuse the inexperienced researcher.

For the layperson, such bills or provisions can be very difficult to research -- an expert is needed. Additionally, if you need the legislative history immediately, you need someone ready to hit the ground running so that you can make your deadline.

Whether the legislation is simple or complex, CRS-W can do the work effectively, saving you time and money. CRS-W makes sure that you find the answer to your legislative questions.

What qualifications does CRS-W possess?

Elliott has had several roles in the Wisconsin State Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives over the past 29 years, including eight years as policy analyst for a legislative committee and 14 years as a government relations specialist and lobbyist.

Elliott is a legislative professional and paralegal whose responsibilities have included overseeing the researching and drafting of bills and amendments; researching policy options; negotiating legislation with stakeholders; coordinating legislative development with legislators, state agency, and committee staff.

How do I retain your services?

Your phone call or e-mail 608-609-2848, (4elliott6838@att.net) will get CRS-W started on your case. Just provide the statute in question and the issue that needs clarification. Our services are reasonably priced and prompt.

Our initial consultation is free and without obligation. We can get started on your case immediately.

The materials collected and prepared by Capitol Research Services of Wisconsin are for informational purposes only. They do not contain legal advice or legal opinions on any specific matters. Those in receipt of materials should seek professional legal counsel for analysis. Further, Capitol Research Services of Wisconsin shall not be liable for any loss, injury, claim, liability, or damage of any kind resulting in any way from (a) any errors in or omissions from the any materials available or not included therein, (b) the content of materials, or (c) any delay or failure in performance beyond the reasonable control of Capitol Research Services of Wisconsin.