Thank you for taking the time to read this week's e-update. I always strive to include information you find interesting and informative as it relates to my work in Madison and the 60th Assembly District.
My most important goal remains serving you, my constituents. Helping you find solutions to difficult problems when it seems like the state is unresponsive is the single greatest reward for my staff and me. I take constituents' input seriously and continually work hard on your behalf.
I always have your thoughts and concerns in mind when deciding whether or not to support legislation. Furthermore, I appreciate when you take time out of your schedules to contact me.
Have a great week,
This week's survey
This week, my colleague, Representative Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa) introduced legislation designating the evergreen displayed in the Capitol rotunda as a Christmas tree.
It is imperative to preface by denoting that I believe it is a Christmas tree, refer to it as which when giving tours, and in my e-update. That said, I believe individuals should have the right to use whatever term they deem necessary when referring to this tree.
American was founded on Judeo-Christian values, freedom of religion, and free speech. While a Christian, I believe in the Bible and the aforementioned values, I take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and.
Other symbols displayed during this time of year are visible within the Capitol and executive residence, such as a menorah, the kinara (used during Kwanzaa celebrations), and an atheist display.
I fail to see why Governor Evers is making an issue out of the terminology surrounding the Christmas Tree as a Christian symbol. He has not renamed the menorah lighting ceremony as a candelabra ceremony or Kwanzaa's kinnara lighting ceremony as a candle holder lighting.
The United States Constitution affords citizens with the ability to speak about and worship any religion or none at all, if they so choose. Furthermore, it prohibits the federal government from establishing a national religion. As such, I do not believe it is the proper role of the legislature to enact laws of this nature.
Please, take a minute to answer my brief survey relating to the terminology of the Capitol Christmas tree.
Thank you to everyone who answered this week's survey question relating to the state of political discourse. Rating your elected allows them to better comprehend whether or not they are representing the interests of their constituents. I make it a priority to weigh the pros and cons of every issue and take the opinions of all constituents into consideration when deciding whether or not to support legislation.
In total, 168 respondents answered this week's survey question. I very much appreciate all of the responses, particularly those relating to my performance as your voice in Madison. These ratings help us better ascertain whether or not your expectations are being met. As stated last week, my office places a profound emphasis on constituent casework and responding to letters, questions, and concerns, in a timely fashion.
The results of this week's survey are as follows:
Floor Session
This week, the Wisconsin State Assembly was in session and voted on legislation relating to guardianship of children; the creation of a new class of vehicles known as autocycles; mental health clinic consultations; creation of a permanent industrial hemp program, and others. A majority of these bills were passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Assembly Bill 47
This bill came out of the 2018 Legislative Council Study Committee on Minor Guardianship and removes minor guardianship laws from chapter 54 of statutes and creates a new statute in chapter 48.
Additionally, the bill creates four types of guardianship for a minor: full, limited, temporary, and emergency. The bill also specifies procedures for the different types of private guardianship, outlines the role of a guardian ad litem in a private guardianship case, and provides procedures for a number of post-appointment matters.
Assembly Bill 78
This bill, one of I have followed closely and proudly cosponsored, creates a new vehicle class in Wisconsin known as autocycles. These vehicles have three wheels, a steering wheel, and gas and brake pedals. Accompanying this new class is a registration fee of $45 annually, compared with $85 annually for cars and $23 biennially for motorcycles.
Current law classifies these vehicles as motorcycles and requires a motorcycle endorsement on an operator's driver's license.
This bill removes this requirement so anyone with a valid regular license could operate them.
Assembly Bill 192
The 2017-19 state budget included a provision requiring the Department of Health Services to reimburse mental health professionals for clinical consultations with students up to age 21. These consultations include communications with teachers and school staff regarding students' symptoms, strategies for care or prevention, and treatment expectations. The budget set a sunset date for these reimbursements of June 30, 2019.
Assembly Bill 192 eliminated the sunset date and expands the scope of reimbursable clinical consultations to include consultations with students' parents.
Assembly Bill 206
The pilot program created by the legislature was first made possible by the 2014 federal farm bill, which enabled states to create programs for the purpose of researching hemp. Participation in the first year of the pilot program exceeded expectations, with around 250 growers and 100 processors receiving licenses from DATCP.
In 2019, DATCP received more than 1,400 applications for growing licenses and more than 700 applications for processor licenses. HEMP is truly Wisconsin's comeback crop.
Assembly Bill 206 establishes a framework for DATCP to transition our pilot program to a permanent program that will remain controlled. Furthermore, the bill makes several changes to conform with new federal definitions, institutes a truth-in-labeling provision for hemp products, and incorporates suggestions made by farmers and producers.
Assembly Bill 262
Assembly Bill 262 establishes liability for the owner of a vehicle that fails to yield at the right-of-way to workers in a highway construction/maintenance work zone. Under this bill, if a flagman observes such a violation, he or she may report the violation to a traffic office so a citation may be issued. The vehicle owner is subject to the same forfeiture that would be applied to the vehicle's operator for the violation, but the owner's operating privilege may not be suspended or revoked if he or she is not the driver.
Additionally, this bill requires all driver education courses to instruct students on the hazards posed by highway work zones, and provide at least 30 minutes of instruction time on the issue.
Assembly Bill 293
One of the most technical bills passed by the legislature this session, Assembly Bill 293 allows signatures to be notarized remotely online, removing time and location barriers to receiving authentication. Twenty-two states have adopted similar legislation.
To perform remote online notary services, an individual needs to obtain permission from the Department of Financial Institutions. DFI must approve the process in which the signer and the notary are able to communicate during the process and the specific procedures for verification of the person's identity.
Assembly Bill 470
No new circuit court branches have been created since 2007. Assembly Bill 470 authorizes the creation of up to twelve circuit court branches, no more than four in each of the next three years, based on need as determined by the Director of State Courts, only if the following two conditions are met:
1. The county must pass/have passed a resolution requesting an additional circuit court branch
2. The county must have the appropriate infrastructure in place to support an additional circuit court branch by May 31st of the year the circuit branch commences.
I agree with the bill's authors that allowing the Director of State Courts to determine which counties are eligible for additional circuit courts, takes politics out of the process, allowing justice to prevail. Furthermore, the Director of State Courts is in the best position to determine need and account for intangibles and nuances.
Having an additional judge in one county will have a ripple effect in the immediate area and greater region, as it will ease the caseload on judges in the county of placement and allow substitutes into other counties and take overflow from nearby counties.
Please contact my office if you would like additional information regarding any of these proposals.
Legislation
This week, Senator Alberta Darling, Representative Michael Schraa, and I introduced corrections-related bills, LRB-4446, and LRB-4329.
LRB-4446
Currently, the Division of Community Corrections uses telehealth to provide mental health treatment to offenders under community supervision within Region 5 (see map below for a breakdown of each region).
This bill directs the Wisconsin Department of Corrections to expand telehealth for mental health treatment to Regions, 4,6, and 8. Based on conversations with DOC, these regions were found to be the most in need of expanded telehealth services. This bill does not use general purpose revenue (GPR) to fund telehealth expansion. Instead, the responsibility is placed on DOC to cover the cost with internal resources.
The cost for the expansion would be approximately $135,000.
LRB-4329
Ordinarily, when inmates are released from a DOC facility, they are provided with two weeks of medication and a 30-day prescription for any current medications. LRB 4329 directs DOC to provide up to a six-week supply of initial medication and six-week prescription to inmates upon their release. This change ensures that individuals have medication available during the period of time reasonably necessary to consult with a healthcare provider to obtain a new supply. This bill does not use GPR to fund the prescription expansion and instead, places the responsibility on DOC to fund these programs with internal sources.
I submit that everyone wins when offenders are successfully released from prison and do not recidivate. Reentry into society is not easy, and lack of prescription medication for health issues makes it even more challenging and causes those who were recently released to use the emergency room, which we will all pay for at much rates.
State of Wisconsin Blue Books
As noted the last few weeks, the 2019-2020 Stat of Wisconsin Blue Book is now available. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of everyone's favorite almanac of Wisconsin politics, please click the following link. My staff and I will make it a priority to ensure that your copy arrives in a timely fashion.
60th District Events
The following are events that will be held this week in Wisconsin's 60th Assembly District. If you have any upcoming events you would like included, do not hesitate to contact my office.
One of the best ways to date with what is happening in Madison is to sign up for the legislature's notification tracking system. This service affords you with the opportunity to track legislative activities in Madison. Upon creation of a free account, you can sign up to receive notification about specific bills of committees as well as legislative activity pertaining to a subject (i.e., health care, education, etc.).
If you have any comments regarding the subject of this E-Update, please feel free to contact me.
Rep. Rob Brooks State Capitol, Room 216 North P.O. Box 8952 Madison, WI 53708 Toll-Free (888) 534-0060 or (608) 267-2369 Rep.Rob.Brooks@legis.wi.gov| |
