Contents Include:
1. WCC Testifies on Personhood Bill
2. WCC Supports Prisoner Medication Bill
3. WCC Supports Holocaust and Genocide Education Bill
4. WCC Opposes Conceal Carry Bill
5. Governor Evers Signs Suicide Prevention Grants Bill
6. Governor Evers Signs Adoption Assistance Bill
7. Assembly Passes Public Defender Pay
8. Assembly Passes Water Bills
9. Assembly and Senate Pass Crime Bills
10. Assembly Adjourns
11. New Bills of Interest
WCC Testifies on Personhood Bill
Last week, the WCC
testified
for information on
Assembly Joint Resolution 130
(
Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, R-New Berlin
), which proposes to amend Wisconsin's state constitution in order to grant personhood to the unborn. The committee took no further action.
WCC Supports Prisoner Medication Bill
The WCC registered in support of
AB-653
(Rep. Rob Brooks, R-Saukville), which provides medication and valid prescriptions to prisoners upon release. An amended version passed the Assembly and now awaits action in the Senate.
WCC Supports Holocaust and Genocide Education Bill
The WCC submitted written
testimony
in support of
AB-816
(Rep. Jon Plumer, R-Lodi)
, which requires instruction on the Holocaust and other genocides in public, charter, and private schools participating in the parental choice programs. The bill passed the Assembly and now awaits action in the Senate.
WCC Opposes Conceal Carry Bill
The WCC submitted
testimony
in opposition to
SB-822 (Sen. David Craig, R-Big Bend)
, which allows a person who has a license to carry a concealed weapon to possess a firearm in a place of worship, including on school grounds, unless the place of worship posts on its grounds or building, as provided in trespassing laws. The committee took no further action on the bill.
Governor Evers Signs Suicide Prevention Grants Bill
Governor Evers signed
AB-528
(Rep. Cindi Duchow, R-Town of Delafield) into law as
2019 Wisconsin Act 83
. The new law provides grants to support peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs in public and private high schools. The WCC registered in support.
Governor Evers Signs
Adoption Assistance Bill
AB-564
(Rep. Jeff Mursau, R-Crivitz) provides state payments to families adopting children seven years of age or older, as well as to families adopting two or more siblings. The Governor signed the bill into law as
2019 Wisconsin Act 92
. The WCC supported the bill.
Assembly Passes Public Defender Pay
The Assembly passed an amended
SB-468
(Sen. Jerry Petrowski, R-Marathon), which increases funding for state public defenders. The Senate then concurred in the bill as amended. The WCC supported the bill.
Assembly Passes Water Bills
This Assembly passed the following water protection bills:
- AB-789 (Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point) provides grants to remediate private wells contaminated by nitrates.
- AB-791 (Rep. Scott Krug, R-Nekoosa) provides a two-year extension for a state grant program to repair or replace failing private septic systems.
- AB-792 (Rep. Timothy Ramthun, R-Campbellsport) directs the collection and storage or disposition of fire-fighting foams that contain perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
- AB-796 (Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay) creates a pilot program for farmers to reduce nitrate loading in order to protect waterways.
- AB-797 (Rep. Kitchens) prohibits the sale and use of coal tar-based and high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-based sealant products.
- AB-800 (Rep. Shankland) creates grant programs for counties to test wells and provide public education.
The WCC registered in support of all the bills, which now await action in the Senate.
Assembly and Senate Pass Crime Bills
The Assembly and Senate passed the following crime bills:
- AB-805 (Rep. Rob Hutton, R-Brookfield) requires that the Department of Corrections recommend revoking a person's parole, probation, and extended supervision if the person is charged with a crime.
- AB-806 (Rep. Sanfelippo) expands the felonies for which a juvenile may be placed in correctional placement or the Serious Juvenile Offender Program by including any act that would be a felony if committed by an adult.
- AB-809 (Rep. Hutton) prohibits earned release from parole or extended supervision and prohibits discharge from probation if a person has committed certain violent crimes.
The bills now go to the Governor. The WCC opposed the bills.
Assembly Adjourns
On February 20, the Assembly adjourned for the 2019-2020 session. The Senate is expected to meet again in late March.
New Bills of Interest
SB-822
Firearm Possession
(Craig, Dave) Possession of a firearm in a place of worship by a person who has a license to carry a concealed weapon. Referred to Senate Committee on Insurance, Financial Services, Government Oversight, & Courts
AJR-130
Persons
(Sanfelippo, Joe) The term persons (first consideration).
Referred to Assembly Health
