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Capitol Update

October 23, 2017Like us on Facebook
Contents Include:
1.  Assembly Introduces New Heal Without Harm Bills
2.  WCC Opposes Immigration Detainer Bill
3.  WCC Supports Abortion Prohibition for UW Employees
4.  Upcoming Hearings of Interest
5.  New Bills of Interest
6.  Websites of Interest
 
Assembly Introduces New Heal Without Harm Bills
The Assembly last week introduced two bills related to fetal tissue research.  The Heal Without Harm (HWH) Legislative Initiative, Assembly Bill 549 and Assembly Bill 550, is authored by Rep. Joel Kleefisch, R- Oconomowoc .  The bills are companions to the previously reported Senate Bills 423 and 424.
 
WCC Opposes Immigration Detainer Bill
On October 12, the WCC testified in opposition to Senate Bill 275 (Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater) before the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform.  The bill and its companion, Assembly Bill 190 (Rep. John Spiros, R-Marshfield), would prevent political subdivisions from becoming sanctuary cities (i.e., political subdivisions that prohibit the enforcement of a federal or state law relating to the undocumented and the ascertainment of immigration status).  The bills would also require a political subdivision to comply with a lawful detainer that is issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  A political subdivision that is found to be non-compliant would face reduced state funding and would be liable for any damages caused by an illegal alien.  The Committee took no further action on the bill.
 
WCC Supports Abortion Prohibition for UW Employees
On October 17, the WCC submitted written testimony to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Servicesin support of Senate Bill 154 (Sen. Chris Kapenga, R - Delafield), which would prohibit the University of Wisconsin (UW) System or the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority from allowing their employees to perform or assist in the performance of an abortion outside of a hospital setting.  Currently, certain UW employees are paid to work at Planned Parenthood in Madison.  The Committee took no further action on the bill.
 
Upcoming Hearings of Interest
(N.B. Only bills of interest are flagged.  In most cases, committees will be considering other bills as well.)
 
Assembly Colleges and Universities, 10 am, Tue, Oct 24, 412-E
AB-540 Driver Ed (Kleefisch, Joel) Driver education instruction on human trafficking.
 
Speaker's Task Force on Foster Care, 12 noon, Wed, Oct 25, Brown County Central Library, Lower Level Auditorium, 515 Pine St, Green Bay
Testimony will be accepted from invited speakers and the general public on matters relating to the foster care system. The hearing will end at 5 pm.
 
Senate Public Benefits, Licensing and State-Federal Relations, 2 pm, Wed, Oct 25, 300-SE
SB-416   FoodShare Pilot Program  (Harsdorf, Sheila) FoodShare healthy eating incentive pilot program and making an appropriation.
 
New Bills of Interest
SB-439  Sex Abuse Prevention Ed (Petrowski, Jerry) Requiring sexual abuse prevention education. Referred to Senate Education
 
SB-441  Solitary Confinement (Risser, Fred) A study on alternatives to the solitary confinement of inmates. Referred to Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
 
SB-444  Driver Ed (Johnson, La Tonya) Driver education instruction on human trafficking. Referred to Senate Universities and Technical Colleges
 
 SB-456  Wrongfully Imprisoned Claims (Wanggaard, Van) Claims by and treatment of wrongfully imprisoned persons and making appropriations. Referred to Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
 
SB-474  Custody Modifications (Olsen, Luther) Modifications to legal custody or physical placement contingent upon a future event. Referred to Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
 
  AB-530   FoodShare Pilot  (Pronschinske, Treig) Nutritional food pilot program under FoodShare and providing an exemption from rule-making procedures.  Referred to Assembly Public Benefit Reform
 
 AB-535  Sex Abuse Prevention Ed (Spiros, John) Requiring sexual abuse prevention education. Referred to Assembly Children and Families
 
AB-540  Driver Ed (Kleefisch, Joel) Driver education instruction on human trafficking. Referred to Assembly Colleges and Universities
 
AB-542  Mental Health Service Rules  (Sanfelippo, Joe) Changes to administrative rules for mental health services providers and mental health services provided in schools.  Referred to Assembly Health

Websites of Interest
WisconsinEye - Independent, nonpartisan news service that provides uncut video coverage of state government proceedings, as well as interviews with lawmakers and policy experts.
 
To find out who your legislators are, go to the Wisconsin State Legislature's home page  and type your address in the top right hand corner under "Find My Legislators."

Capitol Update is a periodic e-mail on legislative issues from the Wisconsin Catholic Conference.
 
Wisconsin Catholic Conference
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