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Capitol Update

November 6, 2017Like us on Facebook

Contents Include:
1.  WCC Testifies on Heal Without Harm Bills
2.  Senate Passes Bills Supported by WCC
3.  Assembly Passes Abortion Ban in State Employee Insurance Plans
4.  USCCB Urges Action to Protect Christians/Religious Minorities in Middle East
5.  New Bills of Interest
6.  Websites of Interest
 
WCC Testifies on Heal Without Harm Bills
On November 2, the WCC testified in support of  Senate Bill 423 and Senate Bill 424 (both authored by Sen. Terry Moulton, R-Chippewa Falls), the Heal Without Harm Initiative.  The WCC testified in opposition to the competing bill, Senate Bill 422 (Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills) .  The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee took no further action on the bills. 
 
Senate Passes Bills Supported by WCC
The Senate has passed three bills that the WCC supports.  Senate Bill 300 (Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine) creates a crime for a person over the age of 18 who solicit s a sexually e xplicit photograph, recording, or other representation from a person who is under the age of 18.   Under current law, there is no penalty for such solicitation.  The bill now goes to the Assembly.   Assembly Bill 234 ( Rep. Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna ) c reat es an Interagency Council on Homelessness.  Assembly Bill 236 (Rep. Treig Pronschinske, R-Mondovi) gives the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) the authority to implement a two-year pilot program that gives priority to chronically homeless individuals and families who are on the waiting list for the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program.  WHEDA may also provide case management services to these individuals and families.  Both bills have been sent to the Governor.
 
Assembly Passes Abortion Ban in State Employee Insurance Plans
On a vote of 61 to 34, the Assembly passed Assembly Bill 128 (Rep. Andr é Jacque, R-De Pere), which prohibits Wisconsin's Group Insurance Board from entering into any contract with respect to a group health insurance plan or providing a group health insurance plan on a self-insured basis if, with certain exceptions, the plan provides abortion services to state employees under the Wisconsin Retirement System.  The WCC testified in support of the bill, which now goes to the Senate.
 
USCCB Urges Protecting Christians/Religious Minorities in Middle East
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is urging individuals to contact their U.S. Senators, asking them to support passage of H.R. 390, the "Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act."  Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities in the Middle East are in dire need of assistance, after having suffered persecution at the hands of extremists and been displaced from their homes and livelihoods.  H.R. 390 will provide much needed assistance for survivors of genocide and help direct U.S. support to faith-based organizations that are already providing humanitarian relief and rebuilding assistance to communities that suffered genocide.  This bill also seeks to hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable in order to prevent future genocides.  H.R. 390 will help ensure the survival of religious minorities and help preserve the 2000 year presence of Christians in the Middle East.  Please join the USCCB and take action today!
 
New Bills of Interest
SB-487  Food Bank Grants (Petrowski, Jerry) Grants to support donation of farm and food products to food banks and making an appropriation. Referred to Senate Agriculture, Small Business and Tourism
 
SB-490  Family and Medical Leave (Darling, Alberta) Exempting from the state family and medical leave law an employer that is covered under the federal law and medical leave law. Referred to Senate Labor & Regulatory Reform
 
SB-494  School Reports (Olsen, Luther) Publication of school and school district accountability reports. Referred to Senate Education
 
AB-569  School Reports (Kitchens, Joel) Publication of school and school district accountability reports. Referred to Assembly Education
 
AB-577  Food Bank Grants (Krug, Scott) Grants to support donation of farm and food products to food banks and making an appropriation. Referred to Assembly Consumer Protection
 
AB-586  Custody Modifications (Rodriguez, Jessie) Modifications to legal custody or physical placement contingent upon a future event. Referred to Assembly Children and Families
 
AB-602  Marriage Licenses (Weatherston, Thomas) Marriage license application requirements, issuance, and validity. Referred to Assembly Family Law
 
AB-604  Sexual Assault Reporting (Kleefisch, Joel) Reporting of sexual assault and domestic abuse crimes. Referred to Assembly Criminal Justice and Public Safety

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