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Capitol Update

June 19, 2017Like us on Facebook
Contents Include:
1.  WCC Supports Mandatory Pupil Exam Opt Out
2.  WCC Supports Choice Accountability Bill
3.  New Bills of Interest
4.  Websites of Interest

WCC Supports Mandatory Pupil Exam Opt Out
On behalf of the WCC, Dr. Kathleen Cepelka, Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Milwaukee Archdiocese, submitted written testimony in support of Assembly Bill Assembly Bill 304 , which would extend a parent's ability to excuse his or her student from taking certain required examinations; and Assembly Bill 300 , which would require that schools, including choice program schools, provide an annual assessment summary notice to student families on or before an examination covered by the summary is administered.  The Assembly Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight passed both bills.

WCC Supports Choice Accountability Bill
At a public hearing before the Assembly Committee on Education, the WCC testified in support of Assembly Bill 383, which would improve accountability and streamline the operation of Wisconsin's four school choice programs.  The committee passed the bill.  A companion bill, Senate Bill 293, passed the Senate and awaits action in the Assembly.

New Bills of Interest
SB-280  Child Neglect (Cowles, Rob) Neglect of a child and providing criminal penalties. Referred to Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

SB-287  Birth Defect Prevention System (Darling, Alberta) Various change to the birth defect prevention and surveillance system. Referred to Senate Health & Human Services

SB-293  Parental Choice Programs (Olsen, Luther) Parental choice programs, the Special Needs Scholarship Program, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. Referred to Senate Education

SB-300  Soliciting Explicit Photos (Wanggaard, Van) Soliciting an intimate representation from a minor and providing a criminal penalty. Referred to Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

SB-308  Patronizing a Prostitute (Feyen, Daniel) Patronizing a prostitute and providing a criminal penalty. Referred to Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

AB-355  Child Neglect (Horlacher, Cody) Neglect of a child and providing criminal penalties. Referred to Assembly Criminal Justice and Public Safety

AB-362  Essential Health Benefits (Riemer, Daniel) Coverage of certain essential health benefits by health insurance policies and plans and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority. Referred to Assembly Insurance

AB-363  Preexisting Condition Exclusion (Riemer, Daniel) Prohibiting preexisting condition exclusion and setting rates or cost sharing based on preexisting conditions. Referred to Assembly Insurance

AB-364  Preventive Service Coverage (Riemer, Daniel) Requiring coverage and prohibiting cost sharing for preventive services under health insurance policies and plans. Referred to Assembly Insurance

AB-365  Lifetime Limit Prohibition (Riemer, Daniel) Prohibiting lifetime and annual limits under health insurance policies and plans. Referred to Assembly Insurance

AB-371  Birth Defect Prevention System (Rodriguez, Jessie) Various change to the birth defect prevention and surveillance system. Referred to Assembly Health

AB-376  Eviction Prevention Grants (Subeck, Lisa) Eviction Prevention Grants. Referred to Assembly Housing and Real Estate

AB-377  Transitional Housing Grants (Subeck, Lisa) Transitional housing grants and making an appropriation. Referred to Assembly Housing and Real Estate

AB-378  Affordable Housing Financing Study (Subeck, Lisa) A study of affordable housing financing. Referred to Assembly Housing and Real Estate

AB-379  Housing Voucher Case Management (Subeck, Lisa) Case management services for recipients of federal housing choice vouchers. Referred to Assembly Public Benefit Reform

AB-380  Housing Vouchers (Subeck, Lisa) Providing housing vouchers to individuals and families on a waiting list under the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program. Referred to Assembly Public Benefit Reform

AB-383  Parental Choice Programs (Kitchens, Joel) Parental choice programs, the Special Needs Scholarship Program, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. Referred to Assembly Education

AB-385  Drug Testing for Economic Development Program (Anderson, Jimmy) Requiring controlled substance abuse screening, testing, and treatment for eligibility for economic development programs. Referred to Assembly State Affairs

AB-389  Soliciting Explicit Photos (Jacque, Andre) Soliciting an intimate representation from a minor and providing a criminal penalty. Referred to Assembly Criminal Justice and Public Safety

AB-392  Family Planning Providers (Taylor, Chris) Maintaining access and reimbursements to certain family planning providers in the Medical Assistance program. Referred to Assembly Health

Websites of Interest
WisconsinEye - Independent, nonpartisan news service that provides uncut video coverage of state government proceedings, as well as interviews with lawmakers and policy experts.
 
To find out who your legislators are, go to the Wisconsin State Legislature's home page  and type your address in the top right hand corner under "Find My Legislators."

Capitol Update is a periodic e-mail on legislative issues from the Wisconsin Catholic Conference.
 
Wisconsin Catholic Conference
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Madison, WI 53703
608/257-0004