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WISCONSIN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE 
Capitol Update
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February 22, 2016
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Contents Include:
1. Assembly Closes Session Floor Period
2. WCC Applauds Governor for Limiting Federal Funds to Abortion Providers
3. Senate and Assembly Pass Bill on Child Sex Trafficking
4. WCC Supports Changes to Cemetery Modernization Bill
5. Assembly Passes Wrongful Conviction Compensation
6. Assembly Passes Immigration Status Inquiry Bill
7. Senate and Assembly Pass Prohibition on Municipal ID Cards
8. Senate and Assembly Pass Bone Marrow and Organ Donor Bills
9. Upcoming Hearings of Interest
10. New Bills of Interest
11. Websites of Interest
Assembly Closes Session Floor Period
Assembly leaders announced that they do not plan to meet as a full body again in the 2015-16 session unless they need to return to pass any bills that the Senate amends when the latter meets for its expected final floor period in mid-March.
WCC Applauds Governor for Limiting Federal Funds to Abortion Providers
The WCC joined pro-life supporters and advocates in witnessing Governor Walker sign Assembly Bill 310 into law as 2015 Wisconsin Act 151. The WCC had offered testimony in support of Assembly Bill 310 (Rep. Andr� Jacque, R-De Pere) and its companion Senate Bill 237 (Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield), which require the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to apply for federal Title X family planning services funds and establish a priority system for distribution of those funds. The bill would prohibit public entities from distributing Title X funds to a private, non-profit entity that provides abortion services or has an affiliate that provides abortion services. In effect, the bill would prohibit Title X funds awarded to the DHS from going to Planned Parenthood, which currently receives $3.5 annually from this program. Planned Parenthood may continue to apply for the funds directly to the federal government. The WCC is grateful to the bills' authors, legislative leaders, and the Governor for supporting health care that is devoted to prevention, diagnosis, and care, not termination of life.
Senate and Assembly Pass Bill on Child Sex Trafficking
The Senate and Assembly passed Senate Bill 618 (Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls), which would add child sex trafficking to the definition of "abuse" in the Children's Code. This would allow a child who is the victim of child sex trafficking to be the subject of a child in need of protection or services (CHIPS) petition that alleges the child is a victim of abuse. The bill also requires the sheriff or police department to refer to an agency, and the agency to investigate, a case of child abuse in which a person who is not a caregiver of the child is suspected of permitting, allowing, or encouraging the child to engage in prostitution or of trafficking a child for purposes of a commercial sex act. The WCC registered in support. The bill now awaits the Governor's action.
WCC Supports Changes to Cemetery Modernization Bill
Senate Bill 302 (Sen. Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg) and companion Assembly Bill 410 (Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, R-New Berlin) would make numerous reforms to Wisconsin statutes affecting cemetery authorities. The WCC testified for information on Senate Bill 302, noting that the proposal would remove certain exemptions for religious cemeteries that exist under current law. The WCC and other religious advocates raised these concerns with the bills' authors, who offered an amendment to the proposal that would lessen the bills' impact on religious cemeteries. Both houses have passed the amended SB 302 and it awaits the Governor's action. The WCC is grateful for the efforts of Senator LeMahieu and Representative Sanfelippo to address the concerns of religious associations, making certain these institutions can continue to serve the faithful through a vital ministry.
Assembly Passes Wrongful Conviction Compensation
The Assembly unanimously passed Assembly Bill 460 (Rep. Dale Kooyenga, R-Brookfield), which would increase the amount of compensation given to innocent individuals who are wrongfully imprisoned by the State of Wisconsin, from a maximum of $25,000 to a maximum of $1 million. The WCC submitted testimony in support. The bill now awaits action by the full Senate.
Assembly Passes Immigration Status Inquiry Bill
On a party-line vote of 62-35, paired 2, the Assembly passed Assembly Bill 450 (Rep. John Spiros, R-Marshfield), which would fine so called "sanctuary cities" that prevent police from asking those facing criminal charges about their immigration status. A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article reports that the Senate Majority Leader has indicated the bill is not a high priority for his Senate members. The WCC submitted testimony for information.
Senate and Assembly Pass Prohibition on Municipal ID Cards
On party-line votes, both houses passed Senate Bill 533 (Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine), which would prohibit counties and towns from issuing photo identification cards. The WCC submitted testimony for information.
Senate and Assembly Pass Bone Marrow and Organ Donor Bills
Both houses passed Senate Bill 517 (Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills), which would permit an employee to take unpaid leave for the purpose of serving as a bone marrow or organ donor. The WCC registered in support. The bill now awaits the Governor's action.
Upcoming Hearings of Interest
(N.B. Only bills of interest are flagged. In most cases, committees will be considering other bills as well.)
Assembly Children and Families, 10 am, Wed, Feb. 24, 415-NW
Child Abuse & Neglect Reports
The Committee will take invited testimony from the Department of Children and Families staff only.
New Bills of Interest
SB-724 Extended Contraceptive Supply (Harris Dodd, Nikiya (D)) Requiring coverage of dispensing of an extended supply of contraceptives. Referred to Senate Health and Human Services
SB-745 Human Trafficking (Risser, Fred (D)) The Uniform Act on Prevention of and Remedies for Human Trafficking and providing a penalty. Referred to Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
SB-757 Private School Sub Teacher Licensure (Gudex, Richard (R)) Licensure for substitute teachers at private schools participating in a parental choice program. Referred to Senate Education
SB-759 Pharmacists Prescribe Contraceptives (Risser, Fred (D)) Permitting pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives and granting rule-making authority. Referred to Senate Health and Human Services
AJR-109 Eligibility for Public Benefits (Vos, Robin (R)) Requesting the department of health services and the department of children and families to seek waiver approval to create a sliding scale for eligibility for public benefit programs. Referred to Assembly Rules
AB-914 Reproductive Health Care Task Force (Taylor, Chris (D)) Creating an assembly task force on women's access to affordable reproductive health care services. Referred to Assembly Health
AB-916 Eliminating Abortion Prohibitions (Subeck, Lisa (D)) Eliminating certain abortion prohibitions. Referred to Assembly Health
AB-918 Achievement Gap Reduction Repeal (Brostoff, Jonathan (D)) Terminating parental choice programs, repealing the achievement gap reduction program, expanding the student achievement guarantee program, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. Referred to Assembly Education
AB-924 Eliminating Personal Conviction Exemption (Hintz, Gordon (D)) Eliminating personal conviction exemption from immunizations. Referred to Assembly Health
AB-932 Extended Contraceptive Supply (Shankland, Katrina (D)) Requiring coverage of dispensing of an extended supply of contraceptives. Referred to Assembly Health
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Capitol Update is a periodic e-mail on legislative issues from the Wisconsin Catholic Conference.
Wisconsin Catholic Conference
131 W. Wilson St., Suite 1105
Madison, WI 53703
608/257-0004
www.wisconsincatholic.org
[email protected]
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