BUSY WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITOL

It will be a busy week at the Wisconsin State Capitol with both the Wisconsin State Senate and Wisconsin State Assembly in session.

The Assembly is on the floor on both Tuesday and Thursday, and the Senate will be in session on Tuesday.

A number of public hearings are scheduled for the week, including hearings on a number of bills introduced as part of the special session on opiate abuse.

COMMITTEE HEARINGS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 6, 2017

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

Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Assembly Committee on Health, 10:00 a.m.

January 2017 Special Session Assembly Bill 7 - grants to establish and expand graduate training in an addiction specialty and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

January 2017 Special Session Senate Bill 8 - creating additional opioid treatment programs and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

January 2017 Special Session Assembly Bill 9 - addiction medicine consultation program and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Committee on Judiciary, 1:00 p.m.

Assembly Bill 52 - court proceedings for traffic violations. WCA is monitoring this bill.

January 2017 Special Session Assembly Bill 3 - immunity from revocation of probation, parole, or extended supervision for certain controlled substance offenses. WCA is monitoring this bill.

January 2017 Special Session Assembly Bill 5 - prevention and control of, emergency and involuntary commitment for, and treatment programs and services for drug dependence. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Committee on Local Government, 9:30 a.m.

Assembly Bill 27 - multiple jurisdiction health departments. WCA supports this bill.

Assembly Bill 109 - modifying the requirements for certain towns to withdraw from county zoning. WCA opposes this bill.

Assembly Bill 70 - publication of proceedings of meetings held by certain governmental bodies. WCA supports this bill.

Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, 11:30 a.m.

Senate Bill 48 - lead service line replacements. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Thursday, March 9, 2017
Senate Committee on Revenue, Financial Institutions and Rural Issues, 10:00 a.m.

January 2017 Special Session Senate Bill 8 - creating additional opioid treatment programs and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.
 
For a listing of all bills impacting county government and WCA's positions on those bills, please visit the WCA website. 

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY FLOOR SESSIONS

Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Assembly Floor Session, 1:00 p.m.

Assembly Bill 29 - practice requirement for licensure as a clinical social worker. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 30 - examinations for certification or licensure by the Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 59 - terminology change and corrections for emergency medical technicians and first responders. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Floor Session, 11:00 a.m.

Senate Joint Resolution 3 - deleting from the constitution the office of state treasurer. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 5 - practice requirement for licensure as a clinical social worker. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 6 - examinations for certification or licensure by the Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 12 - multiple jurisdiction health departments. WCA supports this bill.

Senate Bill 35 - mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect by juvenile correctional officers. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 51 - technical changes to the tax incremental financing statutes. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Thursday, March 9, 2017
Assembly Floor Session, 1:00 p.m.

Assembly Joint Resolution 2 - deleting from the constitution the office of state treasurer. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 24/ Senate Bill 3 - project labor agreements and public contracts. WCA opposes this bill.

WCA REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS START NEXT WEEK! 

Each odd-numbered year, the Wisconsin Counties Association holds legislative briefings across the state to educate members on legislative issues affecting counties.  This year, our legislative briefings will include a discussion on WCA's 2017-2018 Legislative Agenda, a review of the 2017-19 state biennial budget, as well as answer member questions regarding legislative initiatives.

Following please find a list of the dates, times, and locations of the 2017 Regional Legislative Meetings. Please feel free to attend whichever meeting is most convenient for you.

Southeast District

Monday, March 13, 2017
9:00 a.m. - Noon
Country Springs Hotel
2810 Golf Road
Pewaukee, WI 53072
Counties in District: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha

North Central District
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Menominee Casino Resort
N277 Wisconsin 55
Keshena, WI 54135
Counties in District: Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Portage, Shawano, Vilas, Waupaca, Waushara, and Wood

East Central District
Thursday, March 16, 2017
9:00 a.m. - Noon
The Meadows Conference Center
850 Kepler Drive
Green Bay, WI 54311
Counties in District: Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Sheboygan, and Winnebago

Southern District
Monday, March 20, 2017
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
North Star Conference Center at Comfort Inn & Suites
5025 County Road V
DeForest, WI 53532
Counties in District: Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock, and Sauk

Northwest District
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Flat Creek Inn & Suites
10290 Highway 27 South
Hayward, WI 54843
Counties in District: Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, and Washburn

West Central District
Thursday, March 23, 2017
9:00 a.m. - Noon
Holiday Inn Eau Claire South
4751 Owen Ayres Court
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Counties in District: Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix

Western District
Friday, March 24, 2017
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Radisson Hotel La Crosse
200 Harborview Plaza
La Crosse, WI 54601
Counties in District: Adams, Buffalo, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marquette, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon

UPCOMING WCA MEETINGS

• March 10 - WCA Judicial and Public Safety Steering Committee
• March 17 - WCA Board of Directors

HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THE SESSION WITH US?

As a member-benefit, the Wisconsin Counties Association offers access to The Wheeler Report, WisPolitics, and WisconsinEye.

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about anything happening at the state level, please feel free to contact any member of the WCA Government Affairs Team:

Kyle Christianson, Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
christianson@wicounties.org

Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf, Deputy Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
diedrick@wicounties.org

Dan Bahr, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
bahr@wicounties.org

Marcie Rainbolt, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
rainbolt@wicounties.org

Chelsea Fibert, Government Affairs Assistant
608.663.7188