View this e-mail in your web bro

The Assembly convened in extraordinary session on Thursday to vote on several bills that were amended and passed by the Senate. Among these is AB 953, which -- once it is signed by the governor -- will close the Lincoln Hills juvenile correctional facility by 2021. Republicans also passed SB 798, which creates a one-time $100/child tax credit to be paid to parents for each dependent child by September 1, 2018.

In addition, the Assembly took up a number of bills aimed at increasing school safety. We approved a $100 million school safety plan bill, which will be sent to the governor's desk for signature. Two of the other bills that were heard and voted on relate to bullying reporting procedures and use of school camera footage. You can read more about these in the next section. The Assembly also approved a provision to expand state-level background checks to rifles and shoguns; however, this provision would need to get Senate approval before moving forward.

While this is a good step, one of my main concerns is that these bills are weak and do not do enough to address gun safety. I believe we need to all be involved in the conversation about how to reduce gun violence without infringing on individual rights. For that reason, I hope I will see many of you at the March for our Lives event tomorrow (March 24), which will conclude with a rally at Cameron Park. The march against gun violence will begin at Burns park at 12 p.m., and the rally is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. I will be speaking at the event alongside Sen. Jennifer Shilling and other speakers. The La Crosse march will take place at the same time as others across our state and nation.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns. You can contact my office by calling (608) 266-5780 or emailing me at Rep.Billings@legis.wi.gov.

Please continue reading for more detailed information on the happenings locally and statewide.

Images not loading? View this e-mail in your web browser.

(608)266-5780 \| State Capitol, Room 307 West, P.O. Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708 \| rep.billings@legis.wi.gov
COMMUNITY EVENTS: 1984 Play Reading Friday, March 23 7:30 p.m - 10 p.m. Pump House Regional Arts Center (MAP) March for Our Lives Rally Saturday, March 24 1 - 3 p.m. Cameron Park (MAP) Cultural Coffee Hour - Folktales Tuesday, March 27 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. UW-L Centennial Hall (MAP) Easter EGG-stravaganza Friday, March 30 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.. Children's Museum of La Crosse (MAP) CONTACT ME: State Capitol Room 307 West P.O. Box 8953 Madison, WI 53708 Phone: (608) 266-5780 Toll Free: (888) 534-0095 rep.billings@legis.wi.gov	Friends and Neighbors, The Assembly convened in extraordinary session on Thursday to vote on several bills that were amended and passed by the Senate. Among these is AB 953, which -- once it is signed by the governor -- will close the Lincoln Hills juvenile correctional facility by 2021. Republicans also passed SB 798, which creates a one-time $100/child tax credit to be paid to parents for each dependent child by September 1, 2018. In addition, the Assembly took up a number of bills aimed at increasing school safety. We approved a $100 million school safety plan bill, which will be sent to the governor's desk for signature. Two of the other bills that were heard and voted on relate to bullying reporting procedures and use of school camera footage. You can read more about these in the next section. The Assembly also approved a provision to expand state-level background checks to rifles and shoguns; however, this provision would need to get Senate approval before moving forward. While this is a good step, one of my main concerns is that these bills are weak and do not do enough to address gun safety. I believe we need to all be involved in the conversation about how to reduce gun violence without infringing on individual rights. For that reason, I hope I will see many of you at the March for our Lives event tomorrow (March 24), which will conclude with a rally at Cameron Park. The march against gun violence will begin at Burns park at 12 p.m., and the rally is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. I will be speaking at the event alongside Sen. Jennifer Shilling and other speakers. The La Crosse march will take place at the same time as others across our state and nation. As always, please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns. You can contact my office by calling (608) 266-5780 or emailing me at Rep.Billings@legis.wi.gov. Please continue reading for more detailed information on the happenings locally and statewide. Best Wishes, Jill Billings State Representative 95th Assembly District

School Safety Bills On Thursday, March 22, The Wisconsin State Assembly passed AB 1031 and AB 1033, which were part of a larger package of school safety bills Republicans pushed through the legislature at lightning speed this week. These bills passed on a voice vote and are outlined below. While I supported these bills, I do not think they go nearly far enough to keep our children safe. I firmly believe we also need to expand access to mental health services in schools and address issues of gun safety. You can read more about my concerns with this bill package here. AB: 1031: This bill requires parents of students involved in bullying (both those being bullied and those doing the bullying) to be notified by the school district within 48 hours of the incident. Under current law, notification is mandatory, but no timeframe is specified. AB: 1033: Under current law, barring certain exceptions, public school student records remain confidential. This bill would allow for an exception that would permit law enforcement to access security camera footage when it serves a legitimate public safety interest. Yesterday, I spoke on the Assembly floor in favor of expanded mental health services in schools and universal background checks on guns purchase.

Conservation Congress Meetings The annual Conservation Congress county meetings will take place on Monday, April 9. These meetings, all of which will start at 7 p.m., will take place concurrently in all 72 Wisconsin Counties. The meetings allow for public input on environmental and conservation issues. Individuals in attendance can weigh in by providing testimony and casting non-binding votes on proposed rule changes and advisory questions regarding fish and wildlife management in our state. In addition, residents of the county have an opportunity to run for a seat on the Conservation Congress as well as to elect Conservation Congress delegates from their county. The meetings also provide an opportunity for those in attendance to use the citizen resolution process to bring to attention new conservation issues affecting the whole state. The La Crosse County meeting will take place in the Onalaska High School Performing Arts Center (700 Hilltopper Place, Onalaska). You can access the 2018 spring hearing questionnaire here and the event flyer here.

Relentless Badger Award I was honored to be presented with the Relentless Badger Award earlier this week. Independent Living Resources in La Crosse gave me this award for meeting with them to learn more about the work they do, as well as for my work on the Speaker's Task Force on Foster Care. The work ILR does intersects with foster care in a number of interesting and useful ways. Thank you to ILR in La Crosse and the entire Independent Living Network for everything they do for our community and for this wonderful award!