Two Marklein Bills Pass the Senate

Two Marklein Bills Pass the Senate
Privacy and Mississippi River Parkway Commission Bills Move to the Assembly

MADISON – Two bills authored by State Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) passed the State Senate today.

Senate Bill (SB) 604 requires fingerprinting and background checks for state and local employees who have access to Federal Tax Information (FTI).

Currently, state agencies and local governments conduct background checks on their employees or contract workers depending on the nature of the employment or the access to sensitive information during the normal course of business. Recent changes to federal guidelines by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) require an enhanced level of scrutiny.

In order to meet the mandatory fingerprinting and background check requirements created by the revised federal guidelines, Wisconsin statutes must reflect this mandate as a condition of employment for state employees and contractors granted access to federal tax information.

“Data security breaches and information losses make daily headlines and nightly newscasts,” Marklein said. “The public is extremely sensitive about the vulnerability of their confidential data. They have serious and very legitimate worries about identity theft. This bill further protects the privacy of Wisconsinites.”

SB 650 was drafted at the request of the Wisconsin Mississippi River Parkway Commission (WIMRPC). The commission oversees the Wisconsin section of the National Great River Road.

This bill will statutorily add representation from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to the Technical Committee of the commission. Tourism and the Department of Transportation (DOT) are already members of this committee. Both WEDC and DATCP support this bill.

“The Technical Committee provides a connection between the commission and state agencies,” Marklein said. “The addition of WEDC and DATCP to the Technical Committee will enhance the commission’s ability to meet their goals and have a point of contact in these agencies.”