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Capitol Update
February 4, 2020Like us on Facebook
Contents Include:
1. WCC Supports Increasing State Public Defender Pay
2. WCC Supports "Protect Life Day"
3. Gov. Evers Signs Homeless Shelter Bill
4. Senate Passes Adoption Assistance Bill
5. WCC Supports Water Bills
6. WCC Opposes Crime Bills
7. Upcoming Hearings of Interest
8. New Bills of Interest
 
WCC Supports Increasing State Public Defender Pay
Two weeks ago, the Senate unanimously passed SB-468 (Sen. Jerry Petrowski, R-Marathon), which increases funding for state public defenders. The bill now awaits action in the Assembly. The WCC supported the bill.
 
WCC Supports "Protect Life Day"
Last week, the WCC registered in support of SJR-81 (Rep. André Jacque, R- De Pere) and AJR-118 (Rep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls), which proclaim January 22nd as "Protect Life Day." The resolution passed in the Assembly on a vote of 63-35 but failed to advance in the Senate.
 
Gov. Evers Signs Homeless Shelter Bill
Last week, Gov. Evers signed AB-119 (Rep. Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna) into law as 2019 Wisconsin Act 76 . The new law dedicates $1 million in the 2019-21 biennium for grants to homeless shelters and requires that the state apply certain performance metrics to all shelters that apply for the funds. The WCC supported the bill.
 
Senate Passes Adoption Assistance Bill
Last week, the Senate unanimously passed AB-564 (Rep. Jeff Mursau, R-Crivitz), which provides state payments to families adopting children seven years of age or older, as well as to families adopting two or more siblings. The bill now awaits the action of the Governor. The WCC registered in support.
 
WCC Supports Water Bills
In line with the teachings of Pope Francis' Laudato Si', the WCC has recently expanded its advocacy efforts in the area of environmental toxins. The WCC has therefore registered in support of the following bills aimed at improving Wisconsin's ground and water quality:
  • AB-791 (Rep. Scott Krug, R-Nekoosa) provides a two-year extension for a state grant program to repair or replace failing private septic systems.
  • AB-792 (Rep. Timothy Ramthun, R-Campbellsport) directs the collection and storage or disposition of fire-fighting foams that contain perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
  • AB-797(Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay) prohibits the sale and use of coal tar-based and high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-based sealant products.
  • AB-800 (Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point) creates grant programs for counties to test wells and provide public education.
WCC Opposes Crime Bills
After last week's public hearing on a package of crime bills, the WCC registered in opposition to the following:
  • AB-805 (Rep. Rob Hutton, R-Brookfield) requires that the Department of Corrections recommend revoking a person's parole, probation, and extended supervision if the person is charged with a crime.
  • AB-806 (Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, R-New Berlin) expands the felonies for which a juvenile may be placed in correctional placement or the Serious Juvenile Offender Program by including any act that would be a felony if committed by an adult.
  • AB-807 (Rep. Sanfelippo) imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of six months for three or more convictions for retail theft.
  • AB-809 (Rep. Hutton) prohibits earned release from parole or extended supervision and prohibits discharge from probation if a person has committed certain violent crimes.
No further action was taken on the bills.
 
Upcoming Hearings of Interest
(N.B. Only bills of interest are flagged. In most cases, committees will be considering other bills as well.)
 
Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Energy, 10:00 am, Wed, Feb 5, 411-S
SB-718 Nitrate Reduction Pilot (Cowles, Rob) Creating a pilot grant program for farmers to reduce nitrate loading, funding research for nitrate loading reduction methods, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
SB-722 Well Testing Grants (Testin, Patrick) Supporting the Center for Watershed Science and Education, creating a hydrogeologist position, funding research on phosphorus recovery and reuse, creating grant programs for counties to test wells and provide public education, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
SB-724 Well Compensation Grants (Testin, Patrick) The well compensation grant program and making an appropriation.
 
Assembly Committee on Environment, 9:01 am, Thurs, Feb 6, 328-NW
AB-842 PFAS Programs (Nygren, John) Providing funding related to PFAS programs and positions, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
AB-843 PFAS Standards (Nygren, John) PFAS standards and grant programs, providing blood testing for certain individuals, requiring a cancer cluster study, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority.
 
New Bills of Interest
SJR-086 Persons (Jacque, André) The term persons (first consideration). Referred to Senate Committee on Government Operations, Technology, & Consumer Protection

SB-686 Sexual Assault (Jacque, André) Statute of limitations for second-degree sexual assault. Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary & Public Safety AB-776 (Wichgers, Chuck)
 
SB-703 Payday Loans (Jacque, André) Interest rates on payday loans and loans by licensed lenders. Referred to Senate Committee on Government Operations, Technology, & Consumer Protection AB-770 (Allen, Scott)
 
SB-704 College Savings Account (Kooyenga, Dale) Modifying the individual income tax treatment for contributions to and withdrawals from a college savings account and modifying an administrative rule of the Department of Financial Institutions related to the college savings program. Referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Revenue, & Financial Institutions AB-769 (Ballweg, Joan)

SB-710 Wastewater Systems (Jacque, André) The private on-site wastewater treatment system replacement or rehabilitation grant program. Referred to Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Energy AB-791 (Krug, Scott)
 
SB-713  Hmong Instruction (Taylor, Lena) Directing school boards to provide instruction on Hmong Americans. Referred to Senate Committee on Education AB-738 (Shankland, Katrina)
 
SB-716 Tar Sealants (Cowles, Rob) Prohibiting the sale and use of coal tar-based sealants and high PAH sealant products. Referred to Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Energy AB-797 (Kitchens, Joel)
 
SB-717 PFAS Collection (Cowles, Rob) Expanding the clean sweep program to include collection of certain fire-fighting foams and making an appropriation. Referred to Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Energy AB-792 (Ramthun, Timothy)
 
SB-718 Nitrate Reduction Pilot (Cowles, Rob) Creating a pilot grant program for farmers to reduce nitrate loading, funding research for nitrate loading reduction methods, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. Referred to Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Energy AB-796 (Kitchens, Joel)
 
SB-722 Well Testing Grants (Testin, Patrick) Supporting the Center for Watershed Science and Education, creating a hydrogeologist position, funding research on phosphorus recovery and reuse, creating grant programs for counties to test wells and provide public education, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. Referred to Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Energy AB-800 (Shankland, Katrina)
 
SB-724 Well Compensation Grants (Testin, Patrick) The well compensation grant program and making an appropriation. Referred to Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Energy AB-789 (Shankland, Katrina)

SB-726 Leasing Property (Marklein, Howard) Leasing tax exempt property of a church or religious organization to an educational association. Referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Revenue, & Financial Institutions AB-771 (Wittke, Robert)
 
SB-728 Terminating Parental Rights (Stroebel, Duey) Termination of parental rights if a child has been placed outside the home for 15 of the last 22 months. Referred to Senate Committee on Insurance, Financial Services, Government Oversight, & Courts
 
SB-729 Grounds for CHIPS (Stroebel, Duey) Grounds for finding a child in need of protection or services or for terminating parental rights, right to a jury trial in a termination of parental rights proceeding, and permanency plan reviews. Referred to Senate Committee on Insurance, Financial Services, Government Oversight, & Courts
 
SB-730 Child Placement (Jacque, André) Prohibiting the out-of-home placement of a child with a person with a record of child abuse. Referred to Senate Committee on Insurance, Financial Services, Government Oversight, & Courts AB-778 (Tittl, Paul)
 
SB-731 Adult Establishment Registry (Jacque, André) Registration requirements for adult-entertainment establishments and making an appropriation. Referred to Senate Committee on Public Benefits, Licensing, & State-Federal Relations
 
SB-738 Pharmacies (Feyen, Dan) Licensing and regulation of pharmacies and remote dispensing sites under the pharmacy practice law, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing and exemption from rule-making procedures, and granting rule-making authority. Referred to Senate Committee on Health & Human Services AB-788 (Murphy, Dave)
 
SB-739 State Language (Jacque, André) An official state language and use of English for governmental written expression and for nongovernmental purposes. Referred to Senate Committee on Government Operations, Technology, & Consumer Protection
 
SB-744 Holocaust Education (Darling, Alberta) Incorporating the Holocaust and other genocides into the state model social studies standards and requiring instruction on the Holocaust and other genocides. Referred to Senate Committee on Education AB-816 (Plumer, Jon)
 
SB-749 Retail Theft (Stroebel, Duey) Mandatory minimum sentence for three or more convictions for retail theft and providing a penalty. Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary & Public Safety AB-807 (Sanfelippo, Joe)
 
SB-752 Parole Revocation (Craig, Dave) Recommendation to revoke parole, probation, and extended supervision if a person is charged with a crime. Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary & Public Safety AB-805 (Hutton, Rob)
 
SB-753 Juvenile Placement (Craig, Dave) Acts for which a juvenile may be placed in correctional placement or the Serious Juvenile Offender Program. Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary & Public Safety AB-806 (Sanfelippo, Joe)
 
SB-754 Parole Release (Craig, Dave) Earned release from parole or extended supervision and discharge from probation. Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary & Public Safety AB-809 (Hutton, Rob)
 
AB-757 DNR Necklaces (Hebl, Gary) Allowing do-not-resuscitate necklaces or pendants, requiring the exercise of rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. Referred to Assembly Health
 
AB-761 Child Abuse Hotline (Krug, Scott) Posting the child abuse and neglect reporting hotline in school buildings. Referred to Assembly Education
 
AB-775 Youthful Offenders (Bowen, David) Sentencing for crimes committed by a person who is under the age of 18. Referred to Assembly Criminal Justice and Public Safety
 
AB-782 Concealed Weapons (Sortwell, Shae) Minimum age to be eligible for a license to carry a concealed weapon. Referred to Assembly Criminal Justice and Public Safety
 
AB-831 Supervision Revocation (Goyke, Evan) Maximum period of imprisonment following revocation of extended supervision or probation and making an appropriation. Referred to Assembly Corrections
 
AB-832 Sentence Credits (Goyke, Evan) Sentence credits for time on parole or extended supervision, sentencing limitations on extended supervision, early discharge from extended supervision, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. Referred to Assembly Judiciary
 
AB-842 PFAS Programs (Nygren, John) Providing funding related to PFAS programs and positions, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. Referred to Assembly Environment
 
AB-843 PFAS Standards (Nygren, John) PFAS standards and grant programs, providing blood testing for certain individuals, requiring a cancer cluster study, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. Referred to Assembly Environment
 
AB-848 Parental Rights (Brandtjen, Janel) The exception to the requirement to give notice of a termination of parental rights proceeding to an alleged father based on sexual assault. Referred to Assembly Children and Families
Capitol Update is a periodic e-mail on legislative issues from the Wisconsin Catholic Conference.
 
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