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Summary Analysis of the 1995-96 Legislative Session

With the 1995-96 legislative session adjourned, final action on bills of interest to WEAC is summarized below. Legislative proposals will not be deliberated again until next January upon the commencement of the 1997-98 legislative session. Candidates elected to office in November will be sworn in the first week of January.

Bill Number and Position

Bill Description

Legislative Action

AB 37 Oppose

Made changes to Wisconsin's campaign finance law. Specifically, it would have prohibited dues checkoff for PAC and PAC to PAC contributions and restricted independent expenditure activity.

Passed the Assembly on 2/28/95. It was referred to Senate Government Operations. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 42 Favor Would have prohibited a person from knowingly giving false information about child abuse or neglect to a person who is required to report abuse or neglect. Passed the Assembly on 11/15/95. It was referred to Senate Health and Human Services. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 48 Favor Would have increased the retirement formula multiplier by 0.1%. Referred to the Joint Committee on Retirement Systems. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 57 Favor Provides that no school district is required to enroll a pupil during the term of his or her expulsion from another school district. Passed the Assembly on 3/7/95 and the Senate on 5/25/95. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 29.
AB 63 Oppose Would have authorized a school district to contract with any person for the performance of teaching or other educational services. Referred to the Assembly Education Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 89 Oppose Would have required the UW to begin classes after Labor Day. Referred to the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 103 Favor Specifies that "developmental delay" in children who are 3, 4 or 5 may qualify a child for special education. Passed the Assembly on 11/9/95 and the Senate on 3/21/96. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 298.
AB 126 Oppose Would have prohibited a state employee from taking a position on a matter of official agency policy without the approval of his/her agency head. Passed the Assembly on 4/7/95. Referred to the Senate Government Operations Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 130 Favor Made multiple changes to the Wisconsin juvenile code. Passed the Assembly on 5/24/95 and the Senate on 9/21/95. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 77.
AB 149 Favor Would have prohibited government employers from imposing employee residency requirements. Referred to Urban and Local Affairs Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled. A motion to rerefer the bill was defeated.
AB 150 Oppose Governor Thompson's budget bill. Made school district revenue caps permanent, dismantled the DPI, etc. Passed the Assembly on 6/28/95 and the Senate on 6/29/95. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 16.
AB 159 Favor Enhances penalties for violent crimes committed near schools or school buses. Passed the Assembly on 3/7/95 and the Senate on 5/24/95. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 22.
AB 200 Oppose Would have weakened the current family and medical leave law. Referred to Assembly Labor Committee. Passed on 4/13/95. Referred to Joint Finance Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 212 Oppose Would have allowed a school board to submit an alternative compliance plan to any administrative rule. Referred to the Assembly Education Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 213 Oppose Eliminated requirement that school districts adopt a management restructuring program. Passed the Assembly on 4/4/95 and the Senate on 5/24/95. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 49.
AB 215 Oppose Provides a school district does not have to pay employees if school is closed for energy emergency. Passed the Assembly on 4/4/95 and the Senate on 9/27/95. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 66.
AB 216 Favor Would have exempted special education program aides, assistants and interpreters for hearing-impaired pupils from the cost control. Referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 237 Information Original version would have required K-6 teachers to demonstrate proficiency in "intensive systematic" phonics instruction before they could renew/receive a license. Amended to current DPI Administrative Rule language. Passed the Assembly on 11/9/95 and the Senate on 3/20/96. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 299.
AB 264 Favor Requires a state agency to prepare a statement of the scope of any rule it proposes to promulgate. Passed the Assembly on 4/8/95 and the Senate on 11/16/95. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 106.
AB 287 Favor Would have classified teachers and librarians at state adult or juvenile correctional institutions as protective occupation participants for retirement purposes. Referred to the Joint Committee on Retirement Systems. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 307 Favor Would have required employers to provide 4 hours/year to parents to participate in their child's school activities. Referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 309 Favor Would have eliminated the requirement that school boards publish and distribute a school district performance report. Referred to the Assembly Education Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 355 Oppose Would have increased GED test passing score from 46 to 50. Referred to the Assembly Education Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 361 Favor Would have created a dispute settlement procedure for classified state employees. Referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 369 Oppose Would have prohibited public schools from starting before September 1. Referred to the Assembly Education Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 375 Oppose Would have required referendums be held in conjunction with spring and fall elections. Referred to the Assembly Elections Committee. Passed on 9/25/95. The Assembly indefinitely postponed 3/28/96.
AB 392 Oppose Would have prohibited independent expenditures. Referred to the Assembly Elections Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 415 Favor Would have required the State Investment Board to submit quarterly reports on investment performances. Referred to the Assembly Financial Institutions Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 423 Oppose Would have made the establishment of the school calendar a prohibited subject of bargaining. Referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 457 Oppose Would have authorized DPI to waive 180 school day requirement. Referred to the Assembly Education Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 464 Favor Would not have required school employees, who are not health care professionals, to administer drugs to students. Referred to the Assembly Education Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 488 Oppose Would have allowed school districts to use any logo, mascot or nickname regardless of non-discrimination law. Referred to the Assembly Education Committee. No executive action was taken.
AB 502 Favor Changes ESP retirement annual earnings period from a calendar year to a school year. Passed the Assembly on 3/20/96 and the Senate on 5/7/96. We are awaiting Governor Thompson's action.
AB 505 Oppose Would have made the establishment of the school calendar a permissive subject of bargaining. Passed the Assembly on 3/25/96. Passed the Senate Labor Committee on 5/1/96. Was not scheduled for Senate floor action.
AB 545 Oppose Exempts medical savings accounts from taxes. Passed the Assembly on 3/21/96 and the Senate on 5/8/96. We are awaiting Governor Thompson's action.
AB 566 Favor Would have increased a school district's revenue limit to remedy health and safety violations. Referred to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 572 Favor Would have increased a school district's revenue limit to pay debt service on a bond or promissory note. Referred to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 586 Oppose Would have eliminated exception for 5 inclement weather days from 180-day school requirement. Referred to the Assembly Education Committee. A public hearing was held, failed to pass executive action.
AB 591 Oppose Further restricts welfare payments to families needing services. Passed the Assembly on 3/7/96 and the Senate on 3/13/96. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 289.
AB 609 Favor Allows police officers to release information on student weapon violations to school districts. Passed the Assembly on 11/9/95 and the Senate on 1/16/96. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 173.
AB 614 Favor Would have improved the state's family and medical leave act. Referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 615 Favor Would have required health insurance companies to provide coverage for children immunization shots. Referred to the Assembly Insurance Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 627 Oppose Made multiple changes to the retirement fund. Specifically, it would have threatened the stability of the fund. Referred to the Joint Committee on Retirement Systems. A public hearing was held, executive action was not taken.
AB 638 Favor Would have increased the formula multiplier from 1.6% to 2.0%. Referred to the Joint Committee on Retirement Systems. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 688 Oppose Would have made English the official language in Wisconsin. Referred to the Assembly State Affairs Committee. Passed in committee. Not scheduled for Assembly floor action.
AB 691 Oppose Would have required state employees to take one unpaid leave day per calendar year. Referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 693 Oppose Would have required parental consent before a pupil can participate in surveys, analyses or evaluations. Referred to the Assembly Education Committee. Scheduled for Assembly floor action but not taken up.
AB 726 Favor Would have prohibited employers from setting residency requirements except emergency personnel, who had to reside within 30 minutes. Referred to the Assembly Elections Committee. Was not scheduled for Assembly floor action.
AB 730 Oppose Would have required 2/3 vote for money to be withdrawn from the budget stabilization account. Referred to the Joint Finance Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 908 Favor Increases penalty for school employees who have sexual relations with students. Passed the Assembly on 3/25/96 and the Senate on 5/8/96.
AB 909 Favor Would have required DOJ to maintain a toll-free number for persons to report guns in schools. Passed the Assembly Education and Joint Finance Committees.
AB 913 Favor Allows school boards to refinance loans for paying unfunded prior service contributions without going to referendum. Passed the Assembly on 3/28/96 and the Senate on 5/7/96. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 358.
AB 922 Oppose Would have eliminated the requirement of foreign language instruction in 7th and 8th grade. Referred to the Assembly Education Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 925 Favor Would have given UW faculty and academic staff bargaining rights. Referred to the Assembly Labor Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 936 Favor Would have limited independent expenditure activity. Referred to the Assembly Elections Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 950 Oppose Would have allowed UW Board and CESAs to establish charter schools. Referred to the Assembly Education Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 953 Favor Would have computerized campaign finance information. Referred to the Joint Finance Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 1003 Favor Would have increased a school district's revenue limit for maintenance or technological improvements to school district facilities. Referred to the Assembly Education Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AB 1011 Favor Establishes a college tuition prepayment program. Passed the Assembly on 3/28/96 and the Senate on 5/7/96. We are awaiting Governor Thompson's action.
AB 1028 Favor Increases general program operation funding for the State Historical Society. Passed the Assembly on 3/26/96 and the Senate on 3/28/96. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 238.
AB 1087 Oppose Would have authorized MPS to close failing schools and circumvent employee collective bargaining agreements. Referred to the Joint Finance Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
AJR 26 Information Would have given parents the right to direct the upbringing and education of their children. Referred to the Assembly Elections Committee. A public hearing was held, executive action was not taken.
AJR 29 Oppose Would have declared English the language of Wisconsin. Referred to the Assembly State Affairs Committee. A public hearing was held, executive action was not taken.
AJR 41 Oppose Would have required 2/3 vote in each legislative house to pass a bill to create a new tax or increase an existing tax. Referred to the Assembly Elections Committee. A public hearing was held, executive action was not taken.
SB 16 Oppose Would have required UW and WTCS start classes after Labor Day. Referred to the Senate Education Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
SB 37 Oppose/NP Repealed the Milwaukee County/City tenure state provision. Passed the Senate 4/6/95 and the Assembly on 11/9/95. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 111.
SB 40 Favor Allows the state historical society to establish and collect a fee for admission to historic sites. Passed the Senate on 2/15/95 and the Assembly on 4/6/95. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 3.
SB 65 Favor Would have changed the morning milk program from a sum certain to a sum sufficient appropriation. Referred to the Senate Education Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
SB 86 Favor Would have increased a school district's revenue limit for the cost of school safety measures. Referred to the Senate Education Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
SB 113 Favor Requires school districts to suspend, and commence an expulsion hearing, if a pupil possessed a dangerous weapon on school premises. Passed the Senate on 6/20/95 and the Assembly on 9/28/95. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 75.
SB 146 Oppose Would have required public schools to begin classes after September 1. Referred to the Senate Labor Committee. Passed in committee. It was not scheduled for Senate floor action.
SB 228 Oppose Would have authorized a school board to establish a performance recognition plan (i.e. merit pay). Referred to the Senate Education Committee. A public hearing was held, executive action was not taken.
SB 235 Favor Would have authorized the DETF to deduct membership dues from retirement annuities. Passed the Senate on 3/27/96. Scheduled for Assembly action, but they did not schedule it for a third reading.
SB 257 Favor Would have allowed a permit officer to revoke a child's work permit if the moral welfare of the child would be best served. Referred to the Senate Labor Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
SB 289 Favor Provides that the Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction would remain on the UW Board of Regents. Passed the Senate on 9/27/95 and the Assembly on 10/5/95. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 78.
SB 290 Oppose Would have allowed the MPS Board to contract for children at risk services to private schools located within 5 miles of city boundary. Passed the Senate on 10/3/95. It was scheduled for the Assembly Calendar, they did not take it up for a third reading.
SB 299 Oppose Would have made the establishment of the school calendar a permissive subject of bargaining. Passed the Senate Education Committee. It was not scheduled for Senate floor action.
SB 300 Oppose Would have lowered the compulsory school attendance age from 18 to 17 years of age. Referred to the Senate Education Committee. A public hearing was held, executive action was not taken.
SB 315 Favor Would have added an education support person to the ETF board. Referred to the Joint Committee on Retirement Systems. A public hearing was not scheduled.
SB 319 Oppose Would have authorized a school board to grant phy-ed credit to any 9-12 grade pupil for participation in interscholastic athletics. Referred to the Senate Education Committee. A public hearing was held, executive action was not taken.
SB 336 Oppose Would have eliminated 5 inclement weather days in the 180-school day count. Referred to the Senate Education Committee. A public hearing was held, executive action was not taken.
SB 384 Favor Would have increased the retirement formula multiplier from 1.6% to 2.0%. Referred to the Joint Committee on Retirement Systems. A public hearing was not scheduled.
SB 402 Oppose Made changes to the state investment board. Specifically, allows them to contract out investments up to 15%. Passed the Senate on 1/25/96 and the Assembly on 1/31/96. Governor Thompson signed into law WI Act 274.
SB 495 Favor Would have increased the state's minimum wage. Referred to the Senate Labor Committee. A public hearing was not scheduled.
SB 522 Favor Streamlined hearing process for resolving disputes for EEN children. Passed the Senate on 3/7/96 and the Assembly on 5/8/96. We are awaiting Governor Thompson's action.
SB 620 Favor Would have required insurance companies to cover child immunization shot costs and required schools to adopt a health service plan. Referred to the Senate Insurance Committee. A public hearing was held, executive action was not taken.
SB 625 Oppose Would have authorized MPS to close "failing" schools and circumvent employee collective bargaining agreements. Passed the Senate Education Committee. Was not scheduled for Senate floor debate.
DPI Rules Oppose Would have repealed DPI Rules that ensure the following: special certification for art, health, music and phy-ed instruction; teacher training in human relations and environmental education; DPI report requirement for bilingual-bicultural programs and non-discrimination policy and offer guidance counseling services to all pupils. Referred to the Joint Committee on Review of Administrative Rules. A public hearing was held, executive action was not taken.

Source: WEAC Government Relations Division