The Fall Legislative Session ended in the early morning hours of November 6, 2009. Here is a wrap up of the action by the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly.
Bills ready for the Governor to sign
Supreme Court Elections – Senate Bill 40, authored by Senator Pat Kreitlow (D-Eau Claire) and Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) was passed by both houses of the legislature and now waits for Governor Doyle’s signature. The Governor has previously said he would sign this legislation. SB 40 will provide public funding for Wisconsin Supreme Court elections. The bill would give candidates taxpayer money to run their campaigns. Candidates would qualify for additional money if they are running against a well financed candidate who does not take public money. Candidates that take public financing would not be eligible for grants to counter independent expenditures from outside groups attacking their candidacy. WCCF supports SB 40.
NRB appoints DNR Secretary – Rep. Spencer Black (D-Madison) and Senator Bob Wirch (D-Pleasant Prairie) are the authors of legislation to return the authority of hiring the Department of Natural Resources Secretary to the Natural Resources Board. This legislation was passed by both houses of the legislature and was sent to the Governor for his approval. Governor Doyle has not announced if will sign the bill.
Child Care Fraud legislation – Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) and Representative Tamara Grigsby (D-Milwaukee) authored Senate Bill 331. SB 331 will require criminal background checks on child care providers every three months; permanently ban providers of Wisconsin Shares who are convicted of certain offenses; require providers to be suspended if charged with a serious crime and have their license revoked if convicted of the serious crime; and give whistleblower protection to county and state employee who suspect fraud. WCCF supports all efforts by the legislature and the department to prevent fraud in Wisconsin Shares.
Bills passed by one house of the legislature only
Drunk Driving Regulation and Enforcement – Senate Bill 66, authored by Senator Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa) and Representative Josh Zepnick (D-Milwaukee), was recommended for passage by the Senate Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing Committee. SB 66 passed the Senate 32-0. SB 66 would require more drivers to install ignition interlock devices on their vehicles and make some fourth drunk driving offenses felonies.
In the Assembly, Rep. Tony Staskunas (D-West Allis) is the author of legislation that would make the 4th drunk driving offense a felony and would require repeat drunk drivers to have ignition lock devices installed in their cars. This legislation, Assembly Bill 283, was recommended for passage by the Assembly Public Safety Committee, chaired by Rep. Tony Staskunas. The State Assembly passed AB 283 in September with a 96-0 vote.
The Senate and Assembly will need to work out the minor differences between the two bills. The Fall Session has ended so the legislature would need to use an extraordinary session to send the compromised legislation to Governor Doyle for his signature. The Legislature and the Governor had indicated that they hoped to have new drunk driving regulation passed by the end of the year. Stay tuned for more action on drunk driving legislation.
Strengthen No-Call Penalties – Senator Jon Erpenbach is the author of a bill that would increase the penalty from $100 to $1000 for telemarketers that violate the Do Not Call list. The bill passed the state Senate and now will move through the Assembly.
Sex Education – Assembly Bill 458, authored by Representative Tamara Grigsby (D-Milwaukee) and Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee), would require school districts with a sex education program to include teaching the proper use of birth control. WCCF supports AB 458.
Bills that received a public hearing
Increase the Beer Tax – Although this legislation has not passed the either house of the legislature, there was a public hearing on October 13 to increase the beer tax from $2 to $10 a barrel. This equals about 3 cents per bottle of beer. AB 287, authored by Rep. Terese Berceau (D-Madison) would raise about $9.4 million annually and this revenue would help pay for law enforcement and alcohol prevention and treatment services. WCCF supports this legislation.