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Capitol Update

September 11, 2017Like us on Facebook
Contents Include:
1.  USCCB and WCC Respond to DACA Termination
2.  WCC Opposes Roll-Backs of Rent-to-Own Protections
3.  Joint Finance Approves State Budget
4.  WCC Supports Prohibiting UW Employment/Training at Abortion Clinics
5.  Governor Signs Expansion of Treatment and Diversion Programs
6.  Upcoming Hearings of Interest
7.  New Bills of Interest
8.  Websites of Interest
 
USCCB and WCC Respond to DACA Termination
In response to President Trump's decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in six months, the bishops of Wisconsin issued a statement on September 8 urging Congress and the President to find a legislation solution that protects DACA youth.  The bishops also called for permanent and comprehensive immigration reform.  The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops  ( USCCB ) had previously released a similar statement .
 
WCC Opposes Roll-Back of Rent-to-Own Protections
On September 5, the WCC, together with other faith-based and consumer protection groups, sent a memo to the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) , urging its members not to insert an exemption for the rent-to-own industry into the state budget.  The JCF approved the budget without any motion to include the exemption.
 
Joint Committee on Finance Approves State Budget
On September 5, the JCF approved the state budget ( Assembly Bill 64 and Senate Bill 30 ) .  The Assembly will take up the bill on September 13, after which it will go to the Senate, which is expected to pass it before the September floor period ends on September 21.  The WCC will send out a summary of the final budget once the Governor has signed it into law.
 
WCC Supports Prohibiti ng UW Employment / Training at Abortion Clinics
On July 18, the WCC testified in support of Assembly Bill 206 ( Rep. AndrĂ© Jacque, R-De Pere) , which would prohibit the University of Wisconsin System and the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority from allowing their employees to perform or assist in performing abortions outside of a hospital setting.  The Assembly Committee on Science and Technology took no further action on the bill.
 
Governor Signs Expansion of Treatment and Diversion Programs
Governor Walker has signed January 2017 Special Session Assembly Bill 2 (Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette) as  2017 Wisconsin Act 32 .  The new law increases state funding for treatment and diversion programs for non-violent drug and alcohol offenders by over $4 million in the next two years.  The WCC registered in favor of this bipartisan legislation.
 
Upcoming Hearings of Interest
(N.B. Only bills of interest are flagged.  In most cases, committees will be considering other bills as well.)
 
Speaker's Task  Force on Foster  Care , 10 am-4 pm , Wed, Sept 20 , Iowa County Health and Human Services, Community Room, 303 W. Chapel St, Dodgeville .
Testimony will be accepted from invited speakers and the general public on matters relating to the foster  care system. 
 
New Bills of Interest
SU7-SB1 Info Tech Manufacturing Zone (Senate Organization) Authorizing the creation of an electronics and information technology manufacturing zone, making changes to the enterprise zone tax credit program, authorizing limited use of the design-build construction process, granting contingent highway bonding authority, and making appropriations. Referred to Senate Organization
 
SB-363 BadgerCare Plus Purchase (Hansen, Dave) BadgerCare Plus and assistance for childless adults demonstration project purchase options. Referred to Senate Insurance, Housing & Trade
 
SB-364 Parental Choice Programs (Larson, Chris) Terminating parental choice programs and the Special Needs Scholarship Program, repealing the achievement gap reduction program, expanding the student achievement guarantee program, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. Referred to Senate Education
 
SB-368 Foreign Law Application (Nass, Stephen) Application of foreign law. Referred to Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
 
SB-378 Juvenile Correctional Services (Taylor, Lena) The transfer of juvenile correctional services from the Department of Corrections to the Department of Children and Families and granting rule-making authority. Referred to Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
 
SB-381 Complex Rehab Tech (Vukmir, Leah) Complex rehabilitation technology for complex needs patients in the Medical Assistance program and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority. Referred to Senate Health & Human Services
 
SB-383 School Aid Payments (Olsen, Luther) The payment of state aid to school districts and payments to operators of independent charter schools and private schools participating in a choice program or the Special Needs Scholarship Program. Referred to Senate Education
 
SB-386 Animal-Drawn Vehicles (Petrowski, Jerry) Lighting requirements for animal-drawn vehicles operated on highways. Referred to Senate Transportation and Veterans Affairs
 
SB-389   Solitary Confinement (Taylor, Lena) Solitary confinement of an inmate under 18 years of age. Referred to Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
 
SB-390 Family Treatment Court (Darling, Alberta) Creating family treatment court and juvenile treatment court grant programs in the Department of Children and Families. Referred to Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
 
SB-393 Pregnant Treatment in Jail (Taylor, Lena) The treatment of a pregnant or postpartum person in prison and county jail. Referred to Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
 
SB-395 Nonferrous Mining (Tiffany, Tom) The regulation of nonferrous metallic mining, prospecting, exploration, and bulk sampling, repealing administrative rules relating to wetlands, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. Referred to Senate Sporting Heritage, Mining & Forestry
 
SB-396 Child Patronization (LeMahieu, Devin) Patronization of a child and providing a criminal penalty. Referred to Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
 
AU7-AB1 Info Tech Manufacturing Zone (Assembly Organization) Authorizing the creation of an electronics and information technology manufacturing zone, making changes to the enterprise zone tax credit program, authorizing limited use of the design-build construction process, granting contingent highway bonding authority, and making appropriations. Referred to Assembly Committee on Jobs and the Economy

AB-438 Use of Force Policies (Taylor, Chris) Law enforcement agency policies on the use of force. Referred to Assembly Criminal Justice and Public Safety
 
AB-439 Use of Force Training (Taylor, Chris) Law enforcement training on use-of-force options and making an appropriation. Referred to Assembly Criminal Justice and Public Safety
 
AB-449 BadgerCare Plus Purchase (Genrich, Eric) BadgerCare Plus and assistance for childless adults demonstration project purchase options. Referred to Assembly Insurance
 
AB-452 Parental Choice Programs (Brostoff, Jonathan) Terminating parental choice programs and the Special Needs Scholarship Program, repealing the achievement gap reduction program, expanding the student achievement guarantee program, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. Referred to Assembly Education
 
AB-462 Complex Rehab Tech (Jagler, John) Complex rehabilitation technology for complex needs patients in the Medical Assistance program and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority. Referred to Assembly Health
 
AB-465 Juvenile Correctional Services (Young, Leon) The transfer of juvenile correctional services from the Department of Corrections to the Department of Children and Families and granting rule-making authority. Referred to Assembly Corrections
 
AB-466 Solitary Confinement (Young, Leon) Solitary confinement of an inmate under 18 years of age. Referred to Assembly Corrections
 
AB-467 Juvenile Prescription Meds (Young, Leon) The distribution of prescription medication in a juvenile correctional facility or secured residential care center for children and youth. Referred to Assembly Corrections
 
AB-471 School Aid Payments (Hutton, Rob) The payment of state aid to school districts and payments to operators of independent charter schools and private schools participating in a choice program or the Special Needs Scholarship Program. Referred to Assembly Education
 
AB-475 Animal-Drawn Vehicles (Spiros, John) Lighting requirements for animal-drawn vehicles operated on highways. Referred to Assembly Transportation
 
AB-481 Family Treatment Court (Rodriguez, Jessie) Creating family treatment court and juvenile treatment court grant programs in the Department of Children and Families. Referred to Assembly Children and Families
 
AB-486 Child Patronization (Kleefisch, Joel) Patronization of a child and providing a criminal penalty. Referred to Assembly Criminal Justice and Public Safety
 
AB-488 Pupil Assessment Access (Jagler, John) Access to pupil assessments that are required to be administered by school boards, operators of independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program and repealing rules related to accessing pupil assessments. Referred to Assembly Education

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
131 W. Wilson St., Suite 1105
Madison, WI 53703
608/257-0004