First Responder of the Year Award: Melissa Sertich
On Thursday, I proudly presented Melissa Sertich, of Oostburg Ambulance, with the "First Responder of the Year" award for the 26th Assembly District. She was honored with more than 100 first responders from around the state in the first ceremony of its kind.
Melissa, an Advanced EMT, serves as the Director and Executive Board Member of Oostburg Ambulance. She demonstrates great leadership during emergency situations in addition to taking on extra hours of work when her community needs her. Please join me in congratulating Melissa and thanking her and all first responders for their service.
The Assembly also took legislative action that showed members' support for Wisconsin first responders. Senate Bill 266, which provides health insurance benefits to families of fallen officers, received final legislative approval and now heads to the governor’s desk. The Assembly also passed a resolution to designate October 28th as First Responders Appreciation Day in Wisconsin.
As always, I encourage you to follow my updates on social media or contact my office directly with your questions. Best wishes on your weekend!
Modernizing Our Banking Laws
This week I provided testimony in favor of a bill I authored that modernizes Wisconsin's banking laws. Financial institutions (such as banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, etc.) operate in an environment that is highly regulated under both federal and state laws. In this bill are seven parts that will help Wisconsin's financial institutions and Department of Financial Institutions operate in today's economy. The Financial Institutions Modernization Act includes the following changes:
- Permit the bank to "setoff" or keep money it is owed from a “payable on death” account before paying the beneficiary.
- Reduce the waiting period for a lost or stolen certified check from the current 90 day waiting period.
- Bring Wisconsin law into compliance with federal law allowing mortgage loan originators and mortgage brokers to work temporarily while their license applications are being processed.
- Grant a financial institution a “reasonable time” to comply with a court judgment or a demand by the Department of Revenue to garnish a debtor’s assets.
- Clarify that the data of a financial institution remains the property of the financial institution, not the data processing servicer.
- Increase parity among financial institutions by modifying restrictions on Federal Home Loan Bank loans that, under current law, apply only to state banks.
- Consolidate the Banking Review Board and the Savings Institutions Review Board into a new Banking Institutions Review Board.
These changes are imperative to ensuring that Wisconsin-based financial institutions are not at a disadvantage to their out-of-state counterparts.
Supporting the F-35 Mission
The Wisconsin State Assembly demonstrated its support for Truax Field in Madison to be the home of new Air National Guard F-35 fighter aircraft.
The F-35 mission is estimated to have a total economic impact to the region of more than $3 billion, while also supporting the 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field, the Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee and the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center.
Office of Rep. Terry Katsma
State Capitol, Room 306 East
PO Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708
Toll-Free (888) 529-0026 or (608) 266-0656
Rep.Katsma@legis.wisconsin.gov| |
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