|
|
Thank you for reading this week's edition of my e-update. Serving the hardworking people of the 87th Assembly District kept me incredibly busy again this week. The State Assembly met on Tuesday to consider a number of bills including a package of legislation to provide more support to our law enforcement officers and others to help with the staffing shortage impacting Wisconsin's correctional facilities. You can read about this and more below.
As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any thoughts on issues before the legislature or if you need assistance with a state agency.
|
|
Earlier this month, I shared that Assembly Republicans were bringing forward a package of legislation to provide more support for law enforcement in our state. The bills in this package would utilize approximately $25 million in federal funding to address several challenges that departments are facing across our state including recruitment and retention, training and certification, and onboarding assistance.
I am pleased to share that this package of legislation was approved by the State Assembly on Tuesday and now heads to the State Senate for their consideration. I hope to see this important package of bills headed to Governor Evers' desk soon. To learn more about the bills in this package you can click on each bill number below to learn more.
- Assembly Bill 830 - require the Department of Public Instruction to develop model curriculum for pupils in grades 5 to 12 on interacting with law enforcement.
- Assembly Bill 831 - creating a law enforcement marketing campaign to assist with the recruitment of law enforcement officers.
- Assembly Bill 832 - increasing the law enforcement training reimbursement.
- Assembly Bill 833 - grants to support part-time law enforcement officers
- Assembly Bill 834 - no-knock search warrants and certain expenditures of federal money by first-class cities.
- Assembly Bill 835 - waivers for hunting, fishing, camping, and state park admission fees for law enforcement officers.
- Assembly Bill 836 - technical college police academy programs.
- Assembly Bill 837 - grants for law enforcement officer recruiting and bonuses for law enforcement officers.
|
|
In addition, to the law enforcement support package, the Assembly also passed bills to support our state's correctional officers. The labor shortage that is impacting many parts of our economy is also affecting the Department of Corrections (DOC). Nine of our state's prisons are currently operating with over 25% security staff vacancies. At two of our state's maximum-security facilities, Columbia and Waupun, the vacancy rate is approaching 50%. I've heard from constituents who work at Stanley Correctional Institution, just outside of the 87th District, that they have staffing shortages there as well. These staff shortages are forcing existing employees to sometimes work 16-hour shifts multiple days in a row, which is unsustainable. Not to mention this is costing the state a significant amount in overtime pay.
The first bill the Assembly took up to help address this staffing shortage is Senate Bill 399. This proposal removes the prohibition in state law that prevents DOC from utilizing billboards to advertise employment opportunities. This prohibition does not exist for any other state department and billboards are an inexpensive way for DOC to attract more applicants for their job openings.
Another important bill that the Assembly approved is Assembly Bill 828. This bill requires DOC to use federal funding under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) to provide additional compensation of $2.00 per hour to correctional officers and youth counselors in 2022, and $5.00 per hour in 2023 and future years until ARPA funding is no longer available. You can click below to watch my floor speech in support of AB 828.
|
|
|
|
Click here to watch Rep. Edming's speech in support of AB 828
|
|
|
Labor and Integrated Employment Committee
|
|
|
As part of an incredibly busy day at the Capitol on Wednesday, I chaired a hearing in the Labor and Integrated Employment Committee. The committee voted to recommend the passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 691 which would eliminate the consideration of a motor carrier’s use of safety improvements in determining the driver’s classification as an independent contractor or an employee under state law. In addition, the committee heard testimony on three more bills, AB 883, AB 910, and AB 911.
AB 883 reforms our state's unemployment insurance system to refocus it on providing the unemployed with the support they need to reenter the workforce. With the labor shortage impacting industries across our state it is critical that we look for ways to help connect the unemployed with suitable employers.
AB 910 was introduced by the committee on behalf of the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council (UIAC). This proposal makes updates to our state's unemployment insurance law that has been recommended by UIAC which is made up of both employer and labor representatives.
AB 911 was introduced by the committee on behalf of the Worker's Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC). This proposal makes updates to our state's worker's compensation law that has been recommended by WCAC which is also made up of both employer and labor representatives.
|
|
Ag Day at the Capitol
It was great to see Andy Winiarczyk and Mike Robers from the Sawyer County Farm Bureau on Wednesday for Ag Day at the Capitol. It's always great to hear directly from our farmers about the issues impacting one of our state's most important industries.
|
|
Talking Credit Unions
I finished off a busy Wednesday at the Capitol by meeting with a group of constituents representing some of our area's credit unions, including Taylor Credit Union in Medford and Heritage Credit Union in Ladysmith. Thank you for stopping by to discuss the issues important to you!
|
|
One of my favorite parts about serving as your state representative is getting out and interacting with constituents at many of the wonderful community events across the 87th District. Check out some of the upcoming events around the district below. Also, if you know of any other events, please contact my office and let me know, so I can include them in a future e-update and try to attend myself.
Check out some of the events coming up around the district:
|
|
|
One of the best ways to stay up to date with what is going on in Madison is to sign up for the legislature's notification tracking service. This service allows you to follow legislative activity in Madison. Once you create a free account you can sign up to receive notifications about specific bills or committees as well as legislative activity pertaining to a subject area (i.e. agriculture, veterans). You can sign up for this service at notify.legis.wisconsin.gov.
|
|
|
|
|
