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Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges

Special Committee on Reporting of Child Abuses and Child Neglect

October 31, 2013

Dear Friends and Neighbors -

This newsletter will highlight a new asbestos bill, student loan debt, and frac sand. You'll also notice a new and ongoing section that will feature a Calendar of Events in the 32nd District. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about these or any other state legislative issues.

Happy Halloween!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Shilling
State Senate, District 32

Bill Threatens Access to Justice for Veterans

A new proposal is currently making its way through the State Legislature to delay and deny justice to veterans and other victims who have been exposed to asbestos. Assembly Bill 19 and its Senate companion, Senate Bill 13, would shield corporations from liability and limit the rights of individuals suffering from diseases related to asbestos exposure. According to the Wisconsin Military Order of the Purple Heart, AB 19 and SB 13 would be particularly harmful to veterans because mesothelioma, a deadly disease contracted from asbestos exposure, affects veterans at alarming rates.

During World War II, thousands of tons of asbestos were used in ship construction. Sailors were commonly exposed to asbestos that was used in pipe insulation and fireproofing. Members of the Marines and Army were exposed to asbestos products in their barracks, vehicles, and military installations. Korea and Vietnam veterans faced similar exposure to asbestos during their deployments.

When these men and women returned from their service, many were exposed to asbestos again in their civilian jobs as factory workers, maintenance technicians, or shipyard employees. While veterans represent 8% of the nation’s population, they make up 30% of all known mesothelioma deaths that have occurred in the U.S.

AB 19 and SB 13 are being opposed by many veterans and asbestos victim advocates. During the public testimony on these bills, leaders from the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Wisconsin VFW testified that these bills would unfairly deny justice for veterans suffering from diseases related to asbestos exposure. Unfortunately, despite the concerns raised by veterans and asbestos victims, these bills continue to advance through the Republican-controlled Legislature.

I believe that we should be working to protect veterans and others who have been unknowingly exposed to dangerous working conditions. AB 19 and SB 13 would unfairly tip the scales in favor of large corporations who knowingly exposed veterans and other workers to harmful asbestos products. As one World War II veteran stated: “Many veterans were unknowingly exposed to asbestos while serving their country. It would be wrong to impede on their right to justice.”

New Legislation to Address Student Loan Debt Crisis

Student loan debt has become a major financial burden for families and students. At $1.2 trillion, student loan debt has exceeded credit card debt in America and is second only to mortgage debt.

As many families across Wisconsin continue to struggle with the growing burden of student loan debt, new legislation designed to address this crisis is being proposed by a group of Democratic state legislators.

I am a co-author of the new “Higher Ed, Lower Debt” legislation. This proposal, Senate Bill 376, offers solutions to many issues that were brought up at recent public hearings on college campuses across the state. Locally, Representatives Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) and Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) are also co-sponsors of this bill.

Senate Bill 376 will allow individuals with student loan debt to refinance their loans at lower interest rates similar to options that are currently available for home and auto loan debt. It will also allow student loan borrowers to deduct loan payments from their income taxes – a move that will save the average borrower between $172 and $392 a year. Additionally, Senate Bill 376 will provide students and parents more information about higher education loan options so that families can make informed financial decisions.

Studies have shown that the growing student loan debt crisis has a direct impact on the economy. A recent survey by the non-partisan Institute for One Wisconsin found that adults with student loan debt are much less likely to buy a new car or purchase a home – two key driving forces of manufacturing and construction jobs. The data compiled by the Institute for One Wisconsin indicates that the impact of student loan debt could reduce aggregate new vehicle spending by as much as $201.8 million annually in Wisconsin.

The increasing cost of college and unmet financial assistance have been blamed on the recent growth in student loan debt. 137,000 Wisconsin students and families annually rely on financial aid to help pay for college. However, due to the recent state budget and a freeze on financial aid, approximately 76,000 financially eligible UW and Technical College students will be denied aid.

According to the Institute for One Wisconsin survey, individuals with a bachelor’s degree who graduated with student loan debt were making average monthly payments of $350 on loans with an average term of nearly 19 years.

The student loan debt crisis has grown to affect more than just students and young adults. The New York Times recently reported that the fastest growing demographic group with student loan debt is individuals over the age of 60, and data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicates that $36 billion in outstanding student loan debt is owed by those ages 60 and over. It is estimated that 120,000 Americans on Social Security will have their payments garnished this year due to outstanding student loan debt.

Senate Bill 376 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges where it is currently waiting to be scheduled for a public hearing.

Frac Sand Local Control Bill Delayed - For Now

Thank you to everyone who called, emailed and wrote to me about Senate Bill 349 which would strip communities and municipalities of their authority to regulate frac sand mining facilities and protect local air and water quality and quantities. The response from western Wisconsin on this bill was overwhelming - you want local officials, not politicians in Madison, to protect the public health, safety and general welfare of our communities.

I do not support SB 349 because it strips our local communities of the authority to regulate frac sand facilities, prevents local authorities from passing protections and monitoring their own air and water quality and quantities, lowers reclamation standards, and prevents local governments from collecting fees from companies that damage local roads and infrastructure. Additionally, numerous concerns have been raised that this bill will have local control impacts far beyond that of regulating and monitoring frac sand facilities. Impacts such as regulating the spread of invasive species, regulation of outdoor wood boilers, and numerous water conservation measures.

A public hearing on SB 349 was held on October 24th in the Senate Committee on Workforce Development, Forestry, Mining and Revenue and many people from across the state traveled to Madison to testify. While this bill was initially fast-tracked to be passed and on its way to the Governor by Nov. 14th, the concerns that were raised about this bill led the Committee and the bill’s author to delay the process for now.

While I am happy that this bill was temporarily put on hold, the authors have stated that they still intend to pass SB 349. I recommend you continue to share your concerns with me, the bill’s authors and other committee members.

Health Insurance Marketplace Enrollment by Phone

If you are having trouble enrolling in coverage through the new Health Insurance Marketplace website, HealthCare.gov, you can still sign up for coverage by calling 1-800-318-2596. You can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325.

Enrollment through the new Marketplace runs through March 31, 2014. In order to begin coverage in the Marketplace on January 1, 2014, you must enroll by December 15, 2013.

Daylight Savings Time Ends THIS Sunday, Nov. 3rd

Just a friendly reminder that Sunday is the end of Daylight Savings Time and you should set your clock back one hour!

ReadyWisconsin also suggests this is a great time to check smoke detectors to see if the batteries are charged and that the detectors are working correctly.

For more information on checking smoke detectors and preparing for emergencies, visit ReadyWisconsin's website.

Scenes of the 32nd Photo Contest Reminder

The Fall Colors Photo Contest is still going on and will continue until November 8th! I have received some great photo submissions so far and can't wait to see what else is submitted!

Photo entries can be submitted via email to Sen.Shilling@legis.wi.gov along with the photographer’s name, address, phone number, and a brief description of when and where the photograph was taken.

As photos are received, they will be shared in a special “Fall Colors Photo Contest” album on the Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) Facebook page. Each “like” that a photograph receives will count as one vote. At the end of the contest, the photograph with the most “likes” will be featured on Senator Shilling’s official Senate website, her Facebook page, and displayed in her Capitol office.

The deadline for submitting photos is Friday, November 8, 2013 at 5:00pm. The voting window will close on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 5:00pm and the winner will be announced on Friday November 15, 2013.

Guidelines:
Please limit your submissions to no more than three photographs per person.
Only photographs that were taken in the 32nd Senate District (La Crosse, Vernon, Crawford, and the southern half of Monroe County) will be allowed.
Photographs of a political or offensive nature will not be accepted.
Individuals may vote for as many photographs as they would like in the Facebook album.

Calendar of Events from Oct. 31 to Nov. 14

Start Date	Event	Location
Oct. 31	Haunted Halls of Terror	Prairie du Chien
Oct. 31-Nov. 2	Onalaska Jaycee's "Shed of the Dead"	Onalaska
Nov. 1-2	Bull Riding Championship	La Crosse
Nov. 7-10	"Boy Gets Girl" - Play by UW- La Crosse	La Crosse
Nov. 9	Annual Lakeview Health Center Holiday Craft Show	West Salem
Nov. 11	Downtown La Crosse Holiday Open House	La Crosse

State Legislation Update

Introduced in the Senate:
SJR-57. Election of chief justice (first consideration). Referred to Judiciary and Labor Committee.
SB-349. Local regulation of nonmetallic mining; local regulation of air quality; local regulation of water quality; local regulation of the use of explosives in mining, quarrying, and related activities; highway use contracts by local governments; and local regulation of borrow sites and material disposal sites for transportation projects of the Department of Transportation. Referred to Workforce Development, Forestry, Mining and Revenue Committee.
SB-350. Granting immunity from certain criminal prosecutions for offenses related to a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog. Referred to Judiciary and Labor Committee.
SB-351. Programs for the disposal of drugs, including controlled substances, and certain medical or drug-related items, and the regulation of prescription drugs. Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.
SB-352. Training and agreements for administering the drug naloxone, requiring emergency medical technicians to carry naloxone, and immunity for certain individuals who administer naloxone. Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.
SB-353. Identification presentation and monitoring for certain prescription drugs. Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.
SB-354. Granting victim of certain offenses a right to be accompanied by a victim advocate. Referred to Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.
SB-355. Fees imposed on the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste at licensed solid waste and hazardous waste disposal facilities. Referred to Natural Resources Committee.
SB-356. Political disbursements and obligations by corporations and cooperative associations. Referred to Elections and Urban Affairs Committee.
SB-357. Causing harm to a child by cosleeping while intoxicated, providing information about cosleeping while intoxicated. Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.
SB-358. Exempting from the prevailing wage law public works projects erected, constructed, repaired, remodeled, or demolished for a school district or for a cooperative educational service agency. Referred to Judiciary and Labor Committee.
SB-359. Child psychiatry consultation program. Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.
SB-360. Uses and disclosures of protected health information. Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.
SB-361. The refund setoff for state debt collections. Referred to Workforce Development, Forestry, Mining, and Revenue Committee.
SB-362. Grants for crisis intervention team training. Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.
SB-363. Medical use of marijuana, the regulation of marijuana distribution organizations, requiring the exercise of rule-making authority. Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.
SB-364. Providing an itemized statement of sales to customers in this state for sales and use tax purposes. Referred to Workforce Development, Forestry, Mining, and Revenue Committee.
SB-370. State procurement and construction contracts with disabled veterans-owned businesses. Referred to Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications Committee.
SB-371. Nitrogen oxide emission standards for certain simple cycle combustion turbines. Referred to Natural Resources Committee.
SB-372. Creating a mechanism for an interested person to request an emergency stabilization. Referred to Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.
SB-373. Law enforcement standards. Referred to Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.
SB-374. Providing grants to counties that offer treatment and diversion programs to people with mental illnesses. Referred to Judiciary and Labor Committee.
SB-375. The use of an epinephrine auto-injector on school premises or at a school-sponsored activity. Referred to Education Committee.
SB-376. Student loans, the individual income tax subtract modification for tuition and student fees, creating an authority, to be known as the Wisconsin Student Loan Refinancing Authority. Referred to Universities and Technical Colleges Committee.
SB-377. Reporting registration and voting statistics. Referred to Elections and Urban Affairs Committee.
SB-378. The carry-back of net operating losses, the sales and use tax exemption for commercial printing, the jobs tax credit, the electronic medical records credit, the manufacturing and agriculture credit, and the relocated business credit. Referred to Workforce Development, Forestry, Mining, and Revenue Committee.
SB-379. Reviews of plans for building projects. Referred to Judiciary and Labor Committee.
SB-380. A higher wild animal protection surcharge for certain animals of a larger size. Referred to Natural Resources Committee.

Introduced in the Assembly:
AJR-65. Commends the career of Donald Driver. Referred to Rules Committee.
AB-422. Raffles that involve the racing of plastic or rubber ducks. Referred to State Affairs and Government Operations Committee.
AB-423. Impoundment of motor vehicle registration plates for certain operating while intoxicated and other offenses. Referred to Criminal Justice Committee.
AB-424. The sale, collection, and recycling of mercury-added thermostats, the disposal of mercury-added products. Referred to Environment and Forestry Committee.
AB-425. The maximum width of, and projecting loads on, vehicles carrying poles, pipe, girders, and similar materials. Referred to Transportation Committee.
AB-426. Special registration plates honoring this state’s support of the United State Olympic Committee. Referred to Transportation Committee.
AB-427. The price of a Class A raffle ticket. Referred to State Affairs and Government Operations Committee.
AB-428. Requiring the Family Care benefit and self-directed option to be provided in certain northeastern Wisconsin counties. Referred to Aging and Long-Term Care Committee.
AB-429. Requirements for persons officiating at a marriage. Referred to State Affairs and Government Operations Committee.
AB-430. Disclosing ownership of a dam to prospective buyers of certain real property and updating disclosure reports for certain real property. Referred to Housing and Real Estate Committee.
AB-431. Awarding grants to certain rural school districts. Referred to Education Committee.
AB-432. The purchase of food by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. Referred to Colleges and Universities Committee.
AB-433. The authority and responsibilities of the Department of Safety and Professional Services and the various boards under that department, the membership of the Cosmetology Examining Boards, professional licensure of pharmacists, the Pharmacy Examining Boards’ operation of the prescription drug monitoring program, authorizing the construction, installation, alteration, operation, and inspection of elevators and other similar conveyances, and licensing requirements for elevator mechanics, inspectors, and contractors. Referred to State Affairs and Government Operations Committee.
AB-434. School bullying, unlawful use of computer systems. Referred to Education Committee.
AB-435. Admission of minors for inpatient treatment. Referred to Health Committee.
AB-436. Requiring county community programs board appointees to include consumers, family members of consumers, law enforcement personnel, and hospital employees or representatives and increasing the size of county community programs boards. Referred to Health Committee.
AB-437. Disabled offender recidivism reduction pilot programs. Referred to Criminal Justice Committee.
AB-438. The sales and use tax exemption for aircraft parts, maintenance, and labor. Referred to Ways and Means Committee.
AB-439. The public disclosure of licensed dry cleaners. Referred to State Affairs and Government Operations Committee.
AB-440. Vapor recovery system removal grants. Referred to Jobs, Economy, and Mining Committee.
AB-441. Information on a person who is required to register as a sex offender and notification of law enforcement when certain sex offenders change residential addresses. Referred to Criminal Justice Committee.
AB-442. An alert system for missing adults at risk and reports to law enforcement regarding missing persons. Referred to Aging and Long-Term Care Committee.
AB-443. The unexplained absence of a child receiving care from a child care provider. Referred to Children and Families Committee.
AB-444. Fee imposed on the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste at licensed solid waste and hazardous waste disposal facilities. Referred to Environment and Forestry Committee.
AB-445. Identification presentation and monitoring for certain prescription drugs. Referred to Health Committee.
AB-446. Training and agreements for administering the drug naloxone, requiring emergency medical technicians to carry naloxone, and immunity for certain individuals who administer naloxone. Referred to Health Committee.
AB-447. Granting immunity for certain criminal prosecutions for offenses relating to a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog. Referred to Criminal Justice Committee.
AB-448. Programs for the disposal of drugs, including controlled substances, and certain medical or drug-related items, and the regulation of prescription drugs. Referred to Criminal Justice Committee.
AB-449. Coverage of certain individuals engaged in sales activity outside a permanent retail establishment under the unemployment insurance law. Referred to Labor Committee.
AB-450. Grants for crisis intervention team training. Referred to Health Committee.
AB-451. Creating a mechanism for a interested person to request an emergency stabilization. Referred to Health Committee.
AB-452. Child psychiatry consultation program. Referred to Health Committee.
AB-453. Uses and disclosures of protected health information. Referred to Health Committee.
AB-454. Creation of a primary care and psychiatry shortage grant program, exemption from taxation amounts received from such a grant program. Referred to Health Committee.
AB-455. Grants to counties to contract for peer-run respite centers. Referred to Health Committee.
AB-456. Reporting on county performance on providing core mental health services and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority. Referred to Health Committee.
AB-457. Providing grants to counties that offer treatment and diversion programs to people with mental illnesses. Referred to Criminal Justice Committee.
AB-458. Mental health benefits and reimbursement for mental health services under the Medical Assistance Program. Referred to Health Committee.
AB-459. Individual placement and support program for employment of individuals experiencing mental illness. Referred to Health Committee.
AB-460. Grants to mental health mobile crisis units. Referred to Health Committee.
AB-461. The refund setoff for state debt collections. Referred to Children and Families Committee.
AJR-66. Memorial – Former Lawrence University President Richard Warch. Referred to Rules Committee.
AB-462. Distributing a sexually explicit image without consent. Referred to Criminal Justice Committee.
AJR-67. Election of chief justice (first consideration). Referred to Judiciary Committee.
AB-463. Nitrogen oxide emission standards for certain simple cycle combustion turbines. Referred to Environment and Forestry Committee.
AB-464. Providing notice of forearm prohibition when serving notice for certain injunction hearings and process for surrendering firearms following the granting of certain injunctions. Referred to Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.
AB-465. Causing harm to a child cosleeping while intoxicated, providing information about cosleeping while intoxicated. Referred to Children and Families Committee.
AB-466. State procurement and construction contracts with disabled veteran-owned businesses. Referred to Veterans Committee.
AB-467. Court orders regarding the installation of an ignition interlock device. Referred to Judiciary Committee.

If you would like to track the status of these bills online, please feel free to visit the state legislative website at www.legis.state.wi.us and enter the proposal number in the column on the left.

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