• Increasing sparsity aid for rural schools.
• Establishing a new Wisconsin Career Creator program on college campuses across the state.
• Expanding the "Wisconsin Works for Everyone" welfare reforms.
• Implementing a "Small Business Plan" to assist more employers in growing their businesses.
• Creating a Rural Economic Development Fund of $50 million per year.
• Creating a Family Farm Fund.
• Requesting the Legislature to act on a plan to reform the "criminal justice system for serious juvenile offenders" by the end of the session.
• Creating a $100 per child child tax credit.
• Health Care Stability Plan:
  -Seeking a permanent federal waiver for the SeniorCare program.
  -Enacting legislation that will guarantee coverage of pre-existing conditions.                 
  -State assistance for individuals seeking health coverage through the individual market to keep premiums at a reasonable level.

Note: The Committee hearings and bills listed below reflect action on legislation impacting county government.  See a complete listing of weekly hearings here.

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Assembly Committee on Public Benefit Reform, 10:00 a.m.
Clearinghouse Rule 17-005 - drug testing for participants in the FoodShare Employment and Training Program who are able-bodied adults. WCA is monitoring this rule.

Assembly Committee on Mental Health, 10:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 848 - emergency outpatient mental health treatment for minors. WCA supports this bill.

Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs / Assembly Committee on Transportation, 9:30 a.m.
Senate Bill 547/ Assembly Bill 651 - modifying Department of Transportation rules relating to human services vehicles. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs, 10:30 a.m.
Senate Bill 415/ Assembly Bill 517 - reporting on an operator license or identification card application the existence of a disability that is not immediately apparent to another. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 638 - vehicle weight limits, and permits for vehicles transporting certain loads, on certain state trunk highways in Ashland County and Vilas County. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 666 - pilot program to provide outreach, support, and mental health and substance abuse services for veterans and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Committee on Public Benefits, Licensing and State-Federal Relations, 1:00 p.m.
Senate Bill 653 - foster home licensing. WCA supports this bill.

Senate Bill 529 - marriage license application requirements, issuance, and validity. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, 10:00 a.m.
Senate Bill 344 - prosecuting a person under the age of 18 with committing an act of prostitution. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 652 - the showing of a substantial likelihood that a parent will not meet the conditions established for the safe return of the child to the home in a termination of parental rights proceeding. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 654 - appellate procedure in proceedings related to termination of parental rights. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 657 - a parent's right to counsel in a child in need of protection or services proceeding, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. WCA supports this bill.

Senate Bill 660 - secured residential care centers for children and youth and granting rule-making authority. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 351 - body cameras on law enforcement officers. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Committee on Judiciary, 11:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 784 - a parent's right to counsel in a child in need of protection or services proceeding, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. WCA supports this bill.

Assembly Bill 778 - appellate procedure in proceedings related to termination of parental rights. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Committee on Family Law, 10:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 655 - supported decision-making agreements. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 786 - the Court Appointed Special Advocates grant program and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 825 - battery of an officer of the court and providing a criminal penalty. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Committee on Insurance, Financial Services, Constitution and Federalism, 9:30 a.m.
Senate Bill 710 - coercive conditions attached to federal funding. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Joint Resolution 95 - eligibility and conditions for release prior to conviction of persons accused of certain crimes and considerations for imposing bail. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Assembly Committee on Children and Families, 12:00 p.m.
Informational hearing on the following reports. No public testimony will be taken.

• Summary Reports for Child Death, Serious Injury or Egregious Abuse of Neglect Incidents (Released Jan. 1, 2017 - January 25, 2018)
• Quarterly & Annual Reports of Sexual Abuse of Children in Out-of-Home Care Placement (Released 04/28/17, 07/31/17, 10/31/17)
• Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) Report for 2016 (Released 12/2017)

Senate Committee on Public Benefits, Licensing and State-Federal Relations / Assembly Committee on Public Benefit Reform, 12:00 p.m.
January 2018 Special Session Senate Bill 1/Assembly Bill 1 - required hours of participation in the FoodShare employment and training program. WCA is monitoring this bill.

January 2018 Special Session Senate Bill 2/Assembly Bill 2 - statewide FoodShare employment and training program requirement for able-bodied adults. WCA is monitoring this bill.

January 2018 Special Session Senate Bill 3/Assembly Bill 3 - asset restrictions on eligibility for FoodShare, Wisconsin Works, and Wisconsin Shares. WCA is monitoring this bill.

January 2018 Special Session Senate Bill 4/Assembly Bill 4 - employment screening of and employability plans for residents in public housing. WCA is monitoring this bill.

January 2018 Special Session Senate Bill 6/Assembly Bill 6 - payments based on performance for Wisconsin Works and FoodShare employment and training contractors. WCA is monitoring this bill.

January 2018 Special Session Senate Bill 7/Assembly Bill 7 - pay for success contracting, establishment of pay for success trust fund, and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

January 2018 Special Session Senate Bill 8/Assembly Bill 8 - requiring child support compliance in the Medical Assistance program. WCA is monitoring this bill.

January 2018 Special Session Senate Bill 9/Assembly Bill 9 - creation of a savings account program in the Medical Assistance program. WCA is monitoring this bill.

January 2018 Special Session Senate Bill 10/Assembly Bill 10 - photo identification cards for FoodShare recipients. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Senate Committee on Elections and Utilities, 9:30 a.m.
Senate Bill 524 - using an electronic voting machine to cast a vote with an in-person absentee ballot. WCA opposes this bill.

For a listing of all bills impacting county government and WCA's positions on those bills, please visit the WCA website here.