On Tuesday, July 18, Senate Republicans introduced their 2017-19 state budget proposal. The proposal includes the actions of the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF), with minor exceptions, as well as their caucus proposals on all other items not yet addressed by the JCF including K-12 education, general fund taxes, and transportation. Many items proposed by the Senate Republicans impact counties.

Click here to see the items added by the Senate Republicans impacting county government.

Additional information on the Senate's proposal can be accessed here:

The release of the Senate proposal does not mean the Assembly and Senate are any closer on reaching a budget compromise. It appears the houses are still at odds over funding for transportation (raising revenue v. bonding), as well as some items affecting K-12 education.

On June 28, 2017, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announced the creation of a Task Force on Foster Care. The task force consists of a bipartisan group of legislators and is "tasked with developing ideas to improve the child welfare system that provides out-of-home care for more than seven thousand children in Wisconsin."

The task force will be holding several meetings across the state seeking "input from local experts and individuals involved with foster care and community programs." The first meeting will be held this Thursday in Madison.

Representatives from the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Wisconsin County Human Services Association will be presenting at the first meeting. Other meetings are slated to be held in Green Bay, Wausau, La Crosse, and the Milwaukee area. Counties will have the opportunity to testify at all the task force meetings.

The task force is co-chaired by Rep. Patrick Snyder (R-Schofield) and Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska).

On Monday, July 17, Governor Scott Walker signed 11 bills into law recommended by the Governor's Task Force on Opioid Abuse.

JR7 AB4  Schedule V Prescription Prohibition (Nygren, John) Prohibiting certain schedule V controlled substances from being dispensed without a prescription. (Act 25)

JR7 AB7  Addiction Specialty Training Grants (Nygren, John) Grants to establish and expand graduate training in an addiction specialty and making an appropriation. (Act 26)

JR7 AB8  Additional Opioid Treatment Programs (Nygren, John) Creating additional opioid treatment programs and making an appropriation. (Act 27)

JR7 AB9  Addiction Medicine Consultation Program (Nygren, John) Addiction medicine consultation program and making an appropriation. (Act 28)

JR7 AB1  Opioid Antagonist Administration to Pupils (Nygren, John) Emergency administration of opioid antagonist to pupils. (Act 29)

JR7 AB6  Recovery Charter School (Nygren, John) Authorizing the director of the Office of Educational Opportunity in the University of Wisconsin System to contract for the operation of a recovery charter school, insurance coverage of mental health treatment provided by a recovery charter school, and making an appropriation. (Act 30)

JR7 AB11  Mental Health Training (Nygren, John) Mental health training program and making an appropriation. (Act 31)

JR7 AB2  TAD Programs (Nygren, John) Treatment and diversion programs and making appropriations. (Act 32)

JR7 AB3  Probation Revocation Immunity (Nygren, John) Immunity from revocation of probation, parole, or extended supervision for certain controlled substance offenses. (Act 33)

JR7 AB5  Drug Dependence Services (Nygren, John) Prevention and control of, emergency and involuntary commitment for, and treatment programs and services for drug dependence. (Act 34)

JR7 AB10  Additional DOJ Agents (Nygren, John) Position authorization for criminal investigation agents at the Department of Justice. (Act 35)

HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THE SESSION WITH US?  

If you would like to subscribe to any one of these news services, please contact Amy Dias, Office Manager at [email protected] or at 866.404.2700.

[email protected]