Accounting Examination Changes & Criminal Penalty Fiscal Estimates
Proposals Move Forward

(MADISON) Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) applauded the unanimous bipartisan passage of two proposals today in the Senate Committee on government Operations, Public Works & Telecommunications.  The committee unanimously passed SJR 5, which requires fiscal estimates on criminal penalty bills.  The committee also unanimously approved SB 39, which makes changes the accreditation standards for sitting for the Uniform CPA Exam.

“Cooperation and bipartisanship led to two proposals, authored by a minority party Democrat, clearing a Senate committee with unanimous votes.  For the policy in SJR 5, today’s vote marks the first bipartisan support of this proposal since its introduction in the 2011 session.  My deepest thanks go to the members of the committee for their work and especially to Chairman Farrow for his consideration of these proposals and willingness to bring about a vote on both legislative initiatives.”

SJR 5 was originally a recommendation of the Leg Council Study Committee on Criminal Justice Funding & Strategies.  It was introduced in 2011 and rejected on party-line vote.  Senator Taylor reintroduced the proposal this session with a Republican co-author, Rep. Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay). 

SB 39 is a bipartisan bill authored with Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield).  Its companion, AB 20, is scheduled for a vote in the Assembly committee in early April.