Catholics Urged to Take Action on Two Bills
Two bills that would promote the dignity of human life and protect religious liberty are currently stalled in the Senate after having passed the Assembly. Assembly Bill 216 (Rep. Andre Jaque, R-DePere), would 1) provide religious entities that have a moral objection to purchasing coverage for contraceptive services the same protection under Wisconsin law as provided for under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA); and 2) affirm that funds held by public authorities are prohibited from being used to subsidize the performance of abortions (WCC testimony in support). Assembly Bill 217 (Rep. Steve Kestell, R-Elkhart Lake), would prohibit abortion providers from knowingly performing sex-selective abortions (WCC testimony in support).
The Senate will be in session for only two weeks, from November 5-14, before adjourning for the remainder of the year. WCC readers are urged to contact their senators and ask that both bills be advanced out of committee, passed by the Senate, and sent to the Governor for his signature.
To find your senator's contact information, enter your zipcode at: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/pages/waml.aspx
Upcoming Hearings of Interest
(N.B. Only bills of interest are flagged. In most cases, committees will be considering other bills as well.)
Select Committee on Common Core Standards, 2pm, Wed., Oct. 30 Northcentral Technical College Auditorium
1000 West Campus Drive, Wausau, WI 54401
Review of Common Core Standards
There will be invited speakers and the hearing will also be open to the public for comments. The hearing will be from 2-8pm.
Senate Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs,
11 am, Thu., Oct 31, 330-SW
SB-308. Juvenile Court (Petrowski) The age at which a person who is alleged to have violated a criminal law, a civil law, or a municipal ordinance and who is not allege to have committed certain violent offenses or has not previously been convicted of a crime or adjudicated delinquent is subject to juvenile court jurisdiction.
Assembly Criminal Justice, 11 am, Thu., Oct. 31, 225-NW
Public Hearing will begin at the conclusion of the Executive Session.
AB-242. Inmate Telephone (Barnes) Charges for inmate telephone use at a jail or house of correction.
New Bills of Interest
AB-417. Milwaukee Schools (Sanfelippo) Authorizes the City of Milwaukee to sell eligible school facilities to eligible purchasers. To Government Operations and State Licensing.
AB-428. Family Care (Bies) Requiring the Family Care benefit and self-directed option to be provided in certain northeastern Wisconsin counties. To Aging and Long-Term Care.
AB-429. Wedding Officials (Larson) Requirements for persons officiating at a marriage. To State Affairs and Government Operations.
AB-434. Bullying (Kahl) School bullying, unlawful use of computer systems. To Education.
AB-437. Disabled Offenders (Joint Legislative Council) Disabled offender recidivism reduction pilot programs. To Criminal Justice.
AB-443. Child Absence (Hesselbein) The unexplained absence of a child receiving care from a child care provider. To Children and Families.
AB-455. Respite Centers (Jagler) Grants to counties to contract for peer-run respite centers. To Health.
AB-456. Mental Health Services (Ballweg) Reporting on county performance on providing core mental health services and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority. To Health.
AB-457. TAD Programs (Tittl) Providing grants to counties that offer treatment and diversion programs to people with mental illnesses. To Criminal Justice.
AB-458. Mental Health Services (Sanfelippo) Mental health benefits and reimbursement for mental health services under the Medical Assistance Program. To Health.
AB-459. Mental Health Employment (Sanfelippo) Individual placement and support program for employment of individuals experiencing mental illness. To Health.
AB-460. Mobile Crisis Units (Ballweg) Grants to mental health mobile crisis units. To Health.
