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LRB-5036/1
SWB:cdc
2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
December 7, 2021 - Introduced by Representatives Dittrich, Loudenbeck, Sinicki,
Thiesfeldt, Shelton, Murphy and Duchow, cosponsored by Senators Jagler
and Cowles. Referred to Committee on Health.
AB744,1,2 1An Act to create 15.197 (23) and 255.075 of the statutes; relating to: rare
2disease advisory council.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill establishes a rare disease advisory council in the Department of
Health Services to advise DHS and provide recommendations to both the governor
and the legislature regarding issues relating to rare diseases. Under the bill, the
council is required to conduct activities to benefit the rare disease community in the
state, selecting any combination of four to six options from a list of potential activities
that includes, among other things: 1) convening public hearings, making inquiries,
and soliciting comments from the general public to assist the council with an ongoing
survey of the needs of rare disease patients, caregivers, and health care providers in
the state; 2) researching and making recommendations to state agencies and
insurers; 3) researching and identifying priorities related to treatment and services
provided to rare disease patients and developing policy recommendations that
include safeguards against discrimination; 4) evaluating and making
recommendations to improve coverage under the Medical Assistance program; 5)
publishing a list of publicly available resources; 6) establishing resources to assist
with training employees on rare diseases; and 7) researching and identifying best
practices in the research, diagnosis, and treatment of rare disease in the state.
The bill requires the council 1) to provide opportunities for the public to obtain
updates and provide input into the council's work and 2) to create and maintain a
public website that allows for meeting minutes and meeting notices to be posted and
public feedback to be submitted.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB744,1 1Section 1 . 15.197 (23) of the statutes is created to read:
AB744,2,32 15.197 (23) Rare disease advisory council. (a) Creation. There is created in
3the department of health services a rare disease advisory council.
AB744,2,54 (b) Membership. The council created under this subsection shall consist of all
5of the following members:
AB744,2,76 1. The chairperson of the senate committee that addresses health issues or
7another member of that committee designated by the chairperson.
AB744,2,108 2. The ranking minority member of the senate committee that addresses health
9issues or another member of that committee designated by that ranking minority
10member.
AB744,2,1211 3. The chairperson of the assembly committee that addresses health issues or
12another member of that committee designated by the chairperson.
AB744,2,1513 4. The ranking minority member of the assembly committee that addresses
14health issues or another member of that committee designated by that ranking
15minority member.
AB744,2,1716 5. The chairperson of the assembly committee that addresses mental health
17issues or another member of that committee designated by the chairperson.
AB744,2,2018 6. The ranking minority member of the assembly committee that addresses
19mental health issues or another member of that committee designated by that
20ranking minority member.
AB744,3,2
17. One representative from the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics
2Authority.
AB744,3,33 8. One representative from the Medical College of Wisconsin.
AB744,3,64 9. The program director of the minority health program in the department of
5health services, or the equivalent position in state government, or his or her
6designee.
AB744,3,77 10. The state Medicaid director or his or her designee.
AB744,3,88 11. The commissioner of insurance or his or her designee.
AB744,3,109 12. The following members appointed by a majority vote of the members under
10subds. 1., 3., and 5.:
AB744,3,1111 a. One geneticist licensed and practicing in Wisconsin.
AB744,3,1412 b. One registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse with experience
13treating rare diseases who is licensed or certified under ch. 441 and practices in this
14state.
AB744,3,1615 c. One physician with experience treating rare diseases who is licensed under
16ch. 448 and practices in this state.
AB744,3,1817 d. One hospital administrator from a hospital in this state that provides care
18to persons diagnosed with a rare disease or his or her designee.
AB744,3,2019 e. Two patients who have a rare disease, including one who is at least 18 years
20of age, but under 30 years of age, and one who is 30 years of age or older.
AB744,3,2221 f. Two caregivers of persons with a rare disease, including one who is providing
22care to a child and one who is providing care to a spouse or parent.
AB744,3,2423 g. One representative of a rare disease patient organization that operates in
24this state.
AB744,4,2
1h. One pharmacist with experience dispensing drugs used to treat rare diseases
2or a representative of the biopharmaceutical industry.
AB744,4,43 (c) Election of the initial chairperson. The initial chairperson shall be elected
4by majority vote of the members under par. (b) 1., 3., 5., and 7. to 11.
AB744,4,75 (d) Election of the initial vice-chairperson. The vice-chairperson shall be
6elected by a majority vote of the members appointed under par. (b) 2., 4., 6., and 7.
7to 11.
AB744,4,118 (e) Reports. 1. No later than one year after the effective date of this act .... [LRB
9inserts date], and biennially thereafter, the council shall submit a report to the
10governor, the secretary of health services, and the commissioner of insurance that
11does all of the following:
AB744,4,1212 a. Describes the activities and progress of the council.
AB744,4,1513 b. Provides an update on the status of funding of the council, including a list
14of grants that were sought, accepted, used, and a description of remaining grant
15balances.
AB744,4,1716 c. Provides recommendations to the governor and the legislature on ways to
17address the needs of people living with rare diseases in the state.
AB744,4,2518 2. Annually, the council shall, under s. 13.172 (3), submit a report to the chief
19clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the appropriate standing
20committees that address issues of health and mental health. The report shall
21provide in-depth information regarding the issues described under subd. 1.a. to c.,
22and shall include specific recommendations regarding legislation to address the
23needs of the rare disease community. Upon request by any of these standing
24committees, the council shall present information regarding the report at a public
25hearing.
AB744,5,4
1(f) Terms. 1. a. The initial chairperson elected under par. (c) shall serve an
2initial term that runs through June 30, 2025. At the end of his or her initial term,
3and every 2 years thereafter, members of the council shall, by a majority vote, elect
4a new chairperson.
AB744,5,85 b. The initial vice chairperson elected under par. (d) shall serve an initial term
6that runs through June 30, 2025. At the end of his or her initial term, and every 2
7years thereafter, members of the council shall, by a majority vote, elect a new vice
8chairperson.
AB744,5,109 2. Except as provided under subd. 1., council members under par. (b) 1., 2., and
107. to 11. shall serve 3-year terms.
AB744,5,1211 3. Except as provided under subd. 1., council members under par. (b) 3. to 6.
12shall serve 2-year terms corresponding with the legislative biennium.
AB744,5,1513 (g) Vacancies. If a vacancy occurs for any member position under par. (b) 12.,
14the members under par. (b) 1., 3., and 5. shall elect a person to fill the vacancy in a
15timely manner.
AB744,5,1716 (h) Meetings. 1. The initial meeting of the council shall occur within 90 days
17after the effective date of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date].
AB744,5,2118 2. For an initial period determined by the chairperson, the council shall meet
19at least monthly in person or through use of an online platform. After that initial
20period, the council will meet on a quarterly basis in person or through use of an online
21platform on a schedule determined by the chairperson and vice chairperson.
AB744,2 22Section 2 . 255.075 of the statutes is created to read:
AB744,5,24 23255.075 Rare disease advisory council. (1) In this section, “council” means
24the rare disease advisory council under s. 15.197 (23).
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