MARCH 19, 2018
Senate in Session For Last Regular Session Floor Period

This Tuesday could be the final floor period of the regular session for the State Senate as it aims to close out its work in the 2017-2018 legislative session.

The Senate will be taking up a number of pieces of legislation that counties support, including Assembly Bill 120 (publication of legal notices) and Assembly Bill 636 (cause standard).

Tuesday's calendar also includes one piece of legislation opposed by counties. Assembly Bill 748, as adopted by the Assembly, applies a one-size-fits-all solution for employment matters, failing to recognize the uniqueness of 72 individual counties. Assembly Bill 748 ultimately preempts local control, which is contradictory to several positions adopted by the WCA Board of Directors and members at the annual business meeting.

Juvenile Justice
The Senate also has on its calendar Assembly Bill 953, which closes Lincoln Hills by January 1, 2021, and replaces it with new state Type 1 facilities, as well as secured residential care centers for children and youth (SRCCCY) operated by counties. Additional details on the bill can be found here.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has indicated that Assembly Bill 953 does not have the support of his caucus. The companion bill to Assembly Bill 953, Senate Bill 807, was amended in committee to close Lincoln Hills by January 1, 2021, but the bill creates a study committee to recommend by February 1, 2019 a replacement plan. See the Senate substitute amendment here.

Assembly leadership has stated that the Assembly will not come back to Madison in regular session to take up the juvenile justice plan that the Senate is likely to adopt. With the houses adopting differing versions of the legislation, juvenile justice reform seems unlikely this session.

Governor Calls Special Session on School Safety
On Thursday, March 15, Governor Scott Walker called a special session on school safety. Six bills are included in the special session call:
  • March 2018 Special Session Assembly Bill 1 -  grants to schools for school safety and safety-related upgrades to school buildings, equipment, and facilities; providing an exemption from rule-making procedures; and making an appropriation.
  • March 2018 Special Session Assembly Bill 2 - creating an office of school safety in the Department of Justice and making appropriations.
  • March 2018 Special Session Assembly Bill 3 - mandatory reporting of suspected intent to carry out violence involving a dangerous weapon or explosive in or targeting a school and providing a criminal penalty.
  • March 2018 Special Session Assembly Bill 4 - the Department of Public Instruction's model school policy on bullying by pupils.
  • March 2018 Special Session Assembly Bill 5 - school safety plans.
  • March 2018 Special Session Assembly Bill 6 - allowing a school board to share safety camera footage with law enforcement.
Text for all six of the special session bills can be accessed here.

It appears the houses of the legislature disagree on how the special session bills will be addressed. Senate leadership has indicated a desire to take the bills up in regular session; Assembly leadership has indicated that the Assembly will come in under the special session call to take up the bills. The bills cannot be sent to the governor for approval if they are taken up in different sessions.
SENATE FLOOR SESSION-TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2018, 11:00 A.M.    

Senate Bills with Assembly Amendments

Senate Bill 135 - revocation of operating privilege for certain offenses related to operating while intoxicated, operating after revocation, making an appropriation, and providing a criminal penalty. Assembly Amendment 1 pending. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bills the Assembly Nonconcurred in a Senate Amendment
Assembly Bill 539 - plans for supervised release of sexually violent persons, representation of sexually violent persons by the state public defender, and making an appropriation. Senate Amendment 1, Assembly nonconcurred.  Shall the Senate recede from its position? WCA is monitoring this bill.

Resolutions
Senate Joint Resolution 113 - honoring the 200th anniversary of Crawford County. WCA supports this bill.

Senate Bills
Senate Bill 344 - prosecuting a person under the age of 18 with committing an act of prostitution. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bills
Assembly Bill 112 - grants for treatment and diversion programs. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 120 - information required to be included in class 2 and class 3 legal notices. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 162 - proceeds from special registration plates associated with professional baseball park districts and making an appropriation. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 356 - licensure or certificate renewal for certain emergency medical services personnel and ambulance service providers. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 402 - a sales and use tax exemption for sales to a state veterans organization. WCA opposes this bill.
Assembly Bill 475 - lighting requirements for animal-drawn vehicles operated on highways. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 553 - eligibility for state procurement contracts and certain actions taken by state and local governmental bodies involving a boycott of Israel. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 581 - venue requirements for domestic abuse, child abuse, and harassment cases. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 607 - nonprobate transfers of real estate, the transfer of affidavit procedure for small estates, and the payoff amount in a mortgage payoff statement. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 629 - uniform adult guardianship jurisdiction. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 632 - grants for Alzheimer's disease and dementia awareness and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 636 - removal of certain county officers. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 651 - modifying Department of Transportation rules relating to human services vehicles. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 654 - dispatcher assisted bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 655 - supported decision-making agreements. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 659 - increasing a political subdivision's levy limit upon the subtraction of territory from a tax incremental financing district. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 678 - obedience to authorized emergency vehicles operated by law enforcement officers. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 690 - authorizing counties to conduct foreclosure sales using an Internet-based auction. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 691 - eligible bidders at foreclosure sales, eligible purchasers of foreclosed property, and providing a penalty. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 731 - qualification of newspapers to receive compensation for publication of legal notice. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 732 - pilot program to provide outreach, support, and mental health and substance abuse services for veterans and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 733 - fee waivers for certain occupational credentials. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 735 - creating a penalty applicable to a seller that continues to collect sales tax erroneously on a product after receiving two or more written notices that the product is not taxable; certification of property assessors; use of social security numbers on certain tax documents; electronic delivery of notices by the Department of Revenue; and the responsibility for fees and disbursements in garnishment actions. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 748 - preventing the state or local governments from requiring any person to accept certain collective bargaining provisions or waive its rights under the National Labor Relations Act or state labor law; prohibiting local regulation of employee hours and overtime, employment benefits, wage claims and collections, an employer's right to solicit salary information of prospective employees, employment discrimination, and professions regulated by the state; and providing a criminal penalty. WCA opposes this bill.
Assembly Bill 754 - 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.
Assembly Bill 821 - public contracting requirements and donated improvements. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 825 - battery of an officer of the court and providing a criminal penalty. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 829 - discrimination based on arrest or conviction record under the fair employment law. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 836 - population standard for populous counties. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 848 - emergency outpatient mental health treatment for minors. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 855 - the operation and regulation of unmanned aircraft and providing a penalty. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 876 - coverage of prescription eye drop refills. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 882 - the immobilization or removal, impoundment, and disposal of motor vehicles for multiple nonmoving traffic violations. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 898 - changes to vital records references and procedures. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 904 - commercial building code administration; county authority regarding certain buildings and safety requirements; carbon monoxide detection in commercial residential buildings; examination requirements for marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, and social work credentials; social worker training certificate term; and granting rule-making authority. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 905 - various changes to statutes Administered by the Department of Safety and Professional Services and attached credentialing boards and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 906 - creating a law enforcement agency drug trafficking response grant program; positions to assist in prosecuting drug-related offenses; evidence-based programs for substance abuse prevention services for at-risk youth; victim impact panels; funding for family treatment courts; grants for county jails to provide nonnarcotic treatment before offender reentry; and making appropriations. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 907 - continuing education in prescribing controlled substances for certain health care practitioners; maintenance and detoxification treatment provided by physician assistants and advanced practice nurse prescribers; requiring school boards to provide instruction about drug abuse awareness and prevention; graduate training of psychiatric nurses; training materials for social services workers handling substance abuse-related cases; substance abuse counseling and modifying and creating administrative rules related to substance abuse counseling; granting rule-making authority; and making appropriations. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 917 - Telecommuter Forward! community certification and creating a Telecommuter Forward! council. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 946 - producer led watershed protection grants and transferring moneys within the environmental fund. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 953 - juvenile correctional facilities, youth aids, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. WCA supports the bill as adopted by the Assembly.
UPCOMING WCA MEETINGS/EVENTS
  • March 22 - County Organization and Personnel Steering Committee
  • March 23 - Judicial and Public Safety Steering Committee
HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THE SESSION WITH US?  

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QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about any legislative items, please feel free to contact any member of WCA's Government Affairs Team.

Kyle Christianson, Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
[email protected]

Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf, Deputy Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
[email protected]

Dan Bahr, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
[email protected]

Marcie Rainbolt, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
[email protected]

Chelsea Fibert, Government Affairs Assistant
608.663.7188