JFC Bumps Funding for Homeless Program and Improves Length of Service Awards for Volunteer Fire Fighters
Last week, the Legislature's budget writing committee continued preparing its version of the 2021-2023 state budget by passing a motion that included the following items of interest to municipalities:
Homeless:
- Add $600,000 annually to the Housing Assistance Grant Program. The program is currently funded at $300,000 annually. The Governor had proposed increasing funding to $5 million annually.
- Modify the homeless employment program to require municipalities to provide a match of at least $10,000, rather than $50,000 under current law. The program provides grants to municipalities to connect homeless individuals with permanent employment. The Governor had proposed repealing the program because municipalities had not been using it because the $50,000 match was so high. Instead of repealing the program, JFC reduced the match requirement to see if more municipalities would apply.
Volunteer Fire Fighters and EMT Length of Service Awards. Eliminate the statutory cap on the total amount provided each year by the Department of Administration for length-of-service awards for volunteer fire fighters, first responders, and emergency medical technicians. Re-estimate expenditures in 2022-23 by $36,200.
Read the full motion here.
The Joint Finance Committee meets again this Thursday. The agenda focuses on K-12 school funding, the Technical College System, and the UW System.
Governor Signs into Law Two Bills of Interest to Municipalities
Last week, Governor Evers signed into law the following two bills of interest to municipalities:
SB 52 (Act 33), Requiring that if an incumbent for local elected office files a notification of noncandidacy or fails to file a declaration of candidacy, the clerk with whom the candidacy is required to be filed must publish that fact on the clerk's office or government body's website or post it in at least three locations in the jurisdiction. This act first applies to the April 5, 2022, election. The League supported passage of this legislation.
SB 51 (Act 32), Makes several changes to requirements for a newspaper to qualify to receive compensation for publishing legal notices. The changes make it easier for non traditional daily newspapers to qualify as a municipality's official newspaper.. The League was neutral on this bill.
Senate Committee to Vote on Several Election Bills Tomorrow
Tomorrow, the Senate Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics is scheduled to vote on the following election bills:
SB 204, relating to absentee ballot applications, unsolicited mailing or transmission of absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots, canvassing absentee ballots, electronic voter registration. The League opposes this bill.
SB 205, relating to absentee voting in certain residential care facilities and retirement homes. The League opposes this bill.
SB 206, relating to status as an indefinitely confined voter for purposes of receiving absentee ballots automatically. The League opposes this bill.
SB 214, allowing early canvassing of absentee ballots on the Monday before an election, issuance of presidential ballots, combined polling places, timeline for sending or transmitting absentee ballots, and nomination papers for certain independent candidates. The League supports this bill.
Senator Bernier, R-Chippewa Falls, the committee chair and a former county clerk, has voiced concerns about the first three bills as introduced by Sen. Stroebel. The Municipal Clerks Association is on record opposing the first two bills. Sen. Bernier plans to offer amendments addressing her concerns with the first three bills listed above.
ARPA Update
League staff has prepared an ARPA FAQ responding to question submitted to us by League members.
Read the League's ARPA FAQ here.
Other ARPA Resources
Note: Updated allocation amounts for each individual non-entitlement community are not yet available. The Treasury expects to provide further guidance on distributions to non-entitlement units in the coming days.
League Roundtable tomorrow on ARPA. Join us at noon on Tuesday, May 25, for a discussion on ARPA. Zoom Information for all League Roundtable calls.
It is not too late to TAKE ACTION on Shared Revenue
Adopt the Shared Revenue Resolution!
Over 65 communities have adopted the League's model shared revenue resolution. Thank you to the cities and villages that have adopted or have added the Shared Revenue Resolution to their agenda for consideration. If your municipality isn’t on the list, it is NOT TOO LATE to take action in support of long-term funding for police, fire, parks, etc. We have provided a sample resolution - League Shared Revenue Take Action Plan (Check to see if your municipality is on the list at the same link. Did we miss you? Email Gail Sumi.)
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RECENTLY INTRODUCED LEGISLATION
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AB 329, Reporting the Use of No-Knock Entry in the Execution of a Search Warrant. This bill requires the Department of Justice to collect information from law enforcement agencies and prepare an annual report to the legislature about the issuance of search warrants and the use of no-knock or unannounced entries upon execution of search warrants. Representative Steinenke (R-Kaukauna) and Senator Wimberger (R-Green Bay) The League supports this bill.
AB 330, School Resource Officers. This bill requires the Office of School Safety in the Department of Justice to develop standards and approve a certified training program for school resource officers. The bill prohibits law enforcement agencies from assigning officers after September 1, 2022, as school resource officers unless they have completed a training program that DOJ has approved.
Representative Steinenke (R-Kaukauna) and Senator Roth (R-Appleton) The League is neutral on this bill.
AB 331, Requiring Prospective Law Enforcement Officers to Complete a Psychological Examination Prior to Employment. This bill provides that the LESB must require, prior to employment on a full-time basis as a law enforcement officer, that an individual submit to a psychological examination to determine the individual's suitability to perform the duties of an officer. The examination must be paid for by the prospective employer. Representative Steinenke (R-Kaukauna) and Senator Cowles (R-Green Bay) The League is neutral on this bill.
AB 332, Crisis Training for Law Enforcement Officers. This bill requires that each Wisconsin law enforcement officer complete as part of his or her recertification training at least four hours of crisis management training on a biennial basis, which would count towards the officer's annual 24-hour recertification training requirement. Representative Steinenke (R-Kaukauna) and Senator Cowles (R-Green Bay) The League supports this bill.
AB 333, Crisis Program Enhancement Grants. This bill expands a current DHS grant program and directs the agency to award grants to counties, municipalities, or regions composed of counties or municipalities to establish and enhance law enforcement and behavioral health services emergency response collaboration programs. The bill requires grant recipients to match at least 25 percent of the grant amount awarded for the purpose that the grant is received. Also, under the bill, DHS may not award any single grant in an amount greater than $100,000. Representative Steinenke (R-Kaukauna) and Senator Wanggaard (R-Racine) The League supports this bill.
AB 334, Drug Testing of Law Enforcement Officers Involved in Critical Incidents While on Duty. This bill requires law enforcement agencies to adopt a written policy regarding drug and alcohol testing following an officer-involved critical incident.The bill also requires that the drugs to be tested for include, at least, alcohol, amphetamines, cannabis or cannabinoids, opiates, cocaine, phencyclidine (PCP), and anabolic steroids. Representative Steinenke (R-Kaukauna) and Senator Wanggaard (R-Racine) The League is neutral on this bill.
AB 335, Grants to Law Enforcement Agencies for Body Cameras. This bill requires the Department of Justice to award grants to law enforcement agencies to purchase body cameras to use on law enforcement officers whose primary duties are patrolling duties. A law enforcement agency that receives a grant must, for at least three years after receiving the grant funds, use body cameras on all such law enforcement officers and require the officers to activate the camera in situations in which the officer has contact with a member of the public while enforcing laws or investigating conduct. Such situations include traffic stops, arrests, searches, interrogations, or interviews. Representative Steinenke (R-Kaukauna) and Senator Roth (R-Appleton) The League supports this bill.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS WEEK
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Budget Update: The Co-Chairs of the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee have have noticed an executive session on Thursday, May 27th on the 2021-2023 Biennial Budget. JFC will take up the Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Technical College System, Higher Education Aids Board and the UW System. JFC action can be viewed virtually on Wisconsin Eye.
AB 300, Deadlines for Certain Water Utility Public Service Commission Actions, and
AB 302, Meter Installation or Replacement Projects by Water Utilities.
AB 21, Aids to Counties and Municipalities for Certain Special Election Costs,
AB 264, Compensation of Election Officials Performing Duties During a Recount, and
AB 271, Broadcasting Election Night Proceedings.
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IN THE NEWS
(Paywalls may apply)
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Opportunity - The Wisconsin Tomorrow Small Business Recovery Grant application opened this morning. Learn more. Click here to share this from the League's Facebook page to your own or your municipality's page. Click here to share this from the League's LinkedIn page.
Wisconsin election officials flagged just 27 possible voter fraud cases out of more than 3 million ballots cast Read the article.
No masks required for vaccinated people in state buildings starting June 1 Read the article.
Greendale to buy Southridge Mall's Boston Store for $3.3 million Read the article.
Sheboygan's city council has more diverse voices than it did a few months ago. Meet the newest members. Read the article. Click here to comment on this article on the League's LinkedIn page.
Ed Lisinski is drawing other young leaders into the codes Read the article. Click here to comment on this article on the League's LinkedIn page.
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League's next Member Roundtable via Zoom
May 25, 2021, 12:00-1:00
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Local Government 101
June 4 via Zoom, Sept. 10 in Waupaca in person (capped at 65)
Bonus for all 2020/2021 participants - June 18 Q&A
Please thank our sponsors!
Clerks, Treasurers & Finance Officers Institute
June 9-11, 2021 via Zoom
Please thank our sponsors!
This workshop is Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association credit eligible.
Chief Executives Summer Workshop
August 19 & 20, 2021 – Hotel Retlaw, Fond du Lac
Please thank our sponsor! MPIC
2021 Municipal Attorneys Institute
Monday -Wednesday!
August 30 – September 1, 2021
Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake
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Email questions or comments to:
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