WISCONSIN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
Capitol Update
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Contents
1. WCC Supports Safe Harbor for Trafficked Youth
2. WCC Supports Born Alive Protections
3. WCC Opposes Pharmacists Dispensing Contraception
4. WCC Supports Induced Abortion Reporting
5. WCC Opposes Concealed Carry in Worship Spaces on School Grounds
6. Senate Passes Unborn Protections
7. Senate Passes Marriage License Requirements
8. WCC Supports Workforce Housing Rehabilitation Loans
9. Senate Passes Safe Place for Newborns Update
10.WCC Supports Parental Choice Program Transfers
11. New Bills of Interest
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WCC Supports Safe Harbor for Trafficked Youth
On September 23, the WCC registered in support of SB-245 (Darling, Alberta) and companion AB-185 (Billings, Jill), which prohibit a person who is under the age of 18 from being prosecuted or adjudicated delinquent for committing an act of prostitution. The bill passed out of committee and is available for a floor vote.
WCC Supports Born Alive Protections
On October 7, the WCC submitted testimony in support of AB-6 (Steineke, Jim), which requires that health care providers exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child who survives an attempted abortion as they would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age. It also ensures that the child born alive is immediately transported and admitted to a hospital. The bill passed out of committee and is scheduled for a floor vote.
WCC Opposes Pharmacists Dispensing Contraception
On October 7, the WCC submitted testimony in opposition to AB-36 (Kitchens, Joel), which allows pharmacists to prescribe certain hormonal contraceptives. Prior to prescribing the contraceptive, the requesting woman must provide a health self-assessment and history, which is followed by the admission of a blood pressure screening. The bill passed out of committee and is scheduled for a floor vote.
WCC Supports Induced Abortion Reporting
On October 7, the WCC submitted testimony in support of AB-262 (Wichgers, Chuck), which requires a hospital, clinic, or other facility in which an induced abortion is performed to report the following additional information in its required report to the Department of Health Services (DHS): the sex of the aborted unborn child if determined by visual inspection, whether the aborted unborn child had a fetal anomaly, the nature of the fetal anomaly if there was one, and the name of the hospital, clinic, or other facility at which the induced abortion was performed. The name of the patient and abortionist remains confidential. The amended bill passed out of committee and is available for a floor vote.
WCC Opposes Concealed Carry in Worship Spaces on School Grounds
On October 14, the WCC submitted testimony in opposition to SB-584, which allows a person who has a concealed carry license to bring a firearm into a place of worship located on school grounds. The committee took no further action.
Senate Passes Unborn Protections
On October 20, the Senate passed four bills that protect unborn children and require additional reporting and educational requirements. All await action in the Assembly:
Medicaid Certification of Abortion Providers. SB 503 (Stroebel, Duey) prohibits the DHS from certifying as a provider of Medical Assistance (Medicaid) a person or nonprofit entity that provides abortion services or is an affiliate of a person or nonprofit entity that provides abortion services. The DHS is required to decertify existing persons and entities that provide abortions. Exceptions are made for rape, incest, and health and life of the mother. The WCC submitted testimony in support.
Informed Consent for Chemical Abortions. SB-591 (Kapenga, Chris) requires abortion providers to inform women that their chemical abortions may be reversed if they do not ingest the second of two drugs (misoprostol) and if they immediately seek help to counteract the effects of the first drug (mifepristone). The bills also require abortion facilities to report the following additional information to the DHS: 1) the number of previous induced abortions, if any; 2) whether the induced abortion was paid for by private health coverage, public assistance coverage, or self-pay; 3) the reason for the induced abortion as selected from a list of reasons specified in the bill; and 4) the specific method of a chemical or surgical abortion. In its annual report, DHS must also identify the names of hospitals, clinics, or facilities that perform abortions. The WCC submitted testimony in support.
Educational Resources on Congenital Conditions. SB-592 (Testin, Patrick) requires that physicians who administer a prenatal or postnatal test for a congenital condition ensure that the parent or expectant parent of the child with a positive test result receives current and evidence-based educational resources on the congenital condition. The DHS must provide these resources on its website. The WCC submitted testimony in support.
Selective Abortions. SB-593 (Testin) prohibits a person from performing an abortion on a woman if the person knows the woman is seeking an abortion solely because of the race, color, national origin, ancestry, or sex of the unborn child or solely because the unborn child has been diagnosed with or has a potential diagnosis of Down syndrome or another congenital disability. The abortion provider must also inform women that Wisconsin does not permit abortions in the instances listed above. The WCC submitted testimony in support.
Senate Passes Marriage License Requirements
On October 20, the Senate passed AB-270 (Wittke, Robert), which makes it easier for citizens and immigrants to obtain a marriage license. The bill awaits action by the Governor. The WCC registered in support.
WCC Supports Workforce Housing Rehabilitation Loans
On October 20, the WCC registered in support of AB-607 (Penterman, William), which authorizes the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to make low-interest or no-interest loans for the rehabilitation of workforce housing if the rehabilitation consists of structural improvements or the removal of lead paint. The amended bill passed out of committee and is available for a floor vote.
Senate Passes Safe Place for Newborns Update
On October 25, the Senate passed SB-555 (Ballweg, Joan), which requires a school board that provides a human growth and development instructional program to include an explanation of how a parent can safely relinquish a newborn to medical staff or police. The bills awaits action in the Assembly. The WCC registered in support.
Senate Passes Parental Choice Program Transfers
On October 25, on a party-line vote, the Senate passed SB-608 (Jagler, John), which makes it easier for students enrolled in the Racine Parental Choice Program or the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program to transfer to a school in the statewide Wisconsin Parental Choice Program. The bill awaits action in the Assembly. The WCC registered in support.
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New Bills of Interest
SB-591 Abortion Drug Consent (Kapenga, Chris) Informed consent regarding a certain abortion-inducing drug regimen and reporting requirements for induced abortions. Referred to Senate Health / AB-593 (Vos, Robin) Referred to Assembly Health
SB-592 Congenital Conditions (Testin, Patrick) Congenital condition educational resources. Referred to Senate Health / AB-594 (Dittrich, Barbara) Referred to Assembly Health
SB-593 Abortions (Testin, Patrick) Sex-selective, disability-selective, and other selective abortions and providing a penalty. Referred to Senate Health / AB-595 (Dittrich, Barbara) Referred to Assembly Health
SB-594 Safe Haven Law (Ballweg, Joan) Various changes to the safe haven law. Referred to Senate Judiciary & Public Safety /AB-631 (Dittrich, Barbara) Referred to Assembly Family Law
SB-597 Kindergarten (Wanggaard, Van) Early admission to kindergarten and first grade at a private school participating in a parental choice program. Referred to Senate Education /AB-617 (Rodriguez, Jessie) Referred to Assembly Education
SB-598 Gender Identity (Jacque, Andre) Gender identity and sexual orientation programs in public schools. Referred to Senate Education
SB-608 Parental Choice Program (Jagler, John) The prior year pupil attendance requirement to participate in the Racine Parental Choice Program or the statewide parental choice program and allowing a pupil who changes residence to transfer from the Racine Parental Choice Program or Milwaukee Parental Choice Program to the statewide parental choice program. Referred to Senate Education / AB-621 (Schraa, Michael) Referred to Assembly Education
AB-583 Vaccinating Minors (Hintz, Gordon) Vaccination of minors without parental consent. Referred to Assembly Constitution and Ethics
AB-592 Medical Assistance (Loudenbeck, Amy) Extension of eligibility under the Medical Assistance program for postpartum women. Referred to Assembly Health
AB-597 Firearm Possession (Pronschinske, Treig) Possession of a firearm by a licensee in a place of worship located on the grounds of a private school. Referred to Assembly State Affairs
AB-607 Housing Rehab Loans (Penterman, William) A workforce housing rehabilitation loan program. Referred to Assembly Housing and Real Estate
AB-629 Postadoption Agreements (Dittrich, Barbara) Postadoption contact agreements. Referred to Assembly Family Law
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Websites of Interest
Wisconsin Eye – Independent, nonpartisan video coverage of state government proceedings.
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Capitol Update is a periodic e-mail on legislative issues from the Wisconsin Catholic Conference.
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Wisconsin Catholic Conference
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