More Action at the Capitol
Grooming a Child ▲ Registered in support
SB 671 (Jesse James, R-Thorp) / AB 677 (Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie)
The bill creates a crime of grooming a child for sexual activity. That crime prohibits any person from engaging in a course of conduct, pattern of behavior, or series of acts with the intention to condition, seduce, solicit, lure, or entice a child for the purpose of doing either of the following: (1) engaging in sexual intercourse or sexual contact; or (2) producing, distributing, or possessing depictions of the child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The Church supports efforts to advance the protection of children from all forms of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Status: The Assembly bill is scheduled for a floor vote on Tuesday, January 13. The Senate bill awaits a public hearing.
Federal Tax Credits to Scholarship Granting Organizations ▲ Testified in support
SB 600 (Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk) / AB 602 (Jessie Rodriguez, R-Oak Creek)
The bill requires the state to take appropriate steps to facilitate and ensure participation in the newly created federal tax credit scholarship program. The federal program allows individuals to receive a $1,700 dollar for dollar tax credit for donations made to qualifying K-12 scholarship granting organizations. Such organizations can only qualify for the tax credit program if the state opts in to the program.
Status: The bill passed the Assembly. The Senate bill passed out of committee and awaits a floor vote.
Human Growth & Development Curriculum ▲ Registered in support
SB 371 (Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk) / AB 405 (Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie)
This bill requires that a school board which opts to provide a human growth and development instructional program on the topics of pregnancy, prenatal development, and childbirth include when age appropriate: 1) a high-definition ultrasound video that shows the development of the brain, heart, sex organs, and other vital organs in early fetal development; 2) a high-quality, computer-generated rendering or animation that shows the process of fertilization and every stage of fetal development inside the uterus and that notes significant markers in cell growth and organ development for every week of pregnancy until birth; and 3) a presentation on each trimester of pregnancy as it relates to the physical and emotional health of the mother. The bill also requires that a school board include in the instruction in parental responsibility an explanation of the importance of secure interpersonal relationships for infant mental health and the value of reading to young children for mental development.
Status: The Senate bill passed out of committee and awaits a floor vote. Since the public hearing, the Assembly committee has taken no further action.
Substitute Teaching ▲ Registered in support
SB 526 (John Jagler, R-Watertown) / AB 518 (William Penterman, R-Hustisford)
The bill allows individuals who hold a substitute teaching permit to substitute teach at private schools participating in a parental choice program. Public schools already permit this so the bill aligns parental choice program schools with public schools.
Status: The bill passed the Assembly. The Senate bill passed out of committee and awaits a floor vote.
Groundwater Standards ▲ Registered in support
SB 628 (Jesse James, R-Thorp) / AB 635 (Jill Billings, D-La Crosse)
The bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to notify county and tribal health departments and county land and conservation departments if there has been an exceedance of groundwater standards or of any standard for perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance (commonly known as PFAS). The WCC supports this effort to support clean water for Wisconsin communities.
Status: Since the public hearings, the committees have taken no further action.
Occupational Credentials for DACA Recipients ▲ Registered in support
SB 745 (Jesse James, R-Thorp) / AB 759 (Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay)
The bill allows recipients of deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to obtain occupational licenses in Wisconsin. The Catholic Church has long advocated for the legal protection, full inclusion, and wellbeing of children brought to the U.S. DACA recipients are some of the most thoroughly vetted individuals in the state and this bill will allow recipients to enter into licensed careers benefiting them, employers, and the state of Wisconsin.
Status: The bills await public hearings. The Assembly hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14. |
