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Legislative Chair: Murrene Payton
School Social Work Association of America delegate: Kelly Ohme
Legislative Consultant/Lobbiest: Jack O’Meara
WSSWA Government Relations Representative
jack@omearapublicaffairs.com or (608) 294-8746
Upcoming Legislative Committee Meetings via conference call:
September 11th, 2019 at 5pm
If you would like to join our next meeting, please email: wsswalegislative@gmail.com to be added to the call list.
State Superintendent's Budget (p.9) - Funding for School Mental Health, including
- Collaboration grants between schools and behavioral health clinics
- Professional development for SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral for Treatment), Youth Mental Health First Aid, and Trauma-Sensitive Schools
- Categorical aid for more school social work services
- A coalition of education groups has issued preliminary recommendations to streamline licensing of WI educators, including eliminating school social work licensure.
- WSSWA is working on having the voice of school social workers in Wisconsin included in discussions on this issue.
Legislation That WSSWA is Lobbying on and Monitoring, 2017-18 (as of 2/19/2018)
|
Bill Number/Lead Authors) |
Topic |
WSSWA Position |
WSSWA Actions/Status |
|
LRB-2660/P2 Rep. Crowley |
Provides funding for schools to reimburse the cost of providing driver education. |
Review |
WSSWA met with Rep. Crowley’s staff and talked with Rep. Crowley. Bill was circulated for co-sponsors. Not introduced yet. |
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AB 240 Rep. Sanfelippo Sen. Stroebel |
Added school attendance to Learnfare requirements. An individual who is habitually truant fails to meet the school attendance requirement. |
Oppose |
Bill passed Assembly. Bill’s provisions were added to the state budget. WSSWA held teleconference with DCF staffer working on implementation of the new provision. |
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AB 247 (also SB 169) Rep. Felzkowski Sen. Craig |
Eliminates prohibitions against going armed with a concealed weapon without regarding to licensure status. Eliminates gun-free school zones. Instead, allows schools to post their buildings and grounds under the trespassing laws. |
Oppose |
In Assembly Committee on State Affairs. No public hearing yet. |
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AB 280 (also SB 212) Rep. Krug Sen. Kapenga |
Requires every school district to adopt academic standards for financial literacy and incorporate instruction in financial literacy into the curriculum for grades K to 12. |
Support |
Passed Legislature and ready to be signed into law as 2017 Wisconsin Act 94. |
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AB 341 (also SB 252) |
Adds electronic communication as an acceptable method for notifying parents of habitual truants. Allows parents to opt out of electronic method. |
Support |
WSSWA successfully lobbied to include parental opt-out provision. Bill’s provisions were added to state budget. |
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AB 369 (also SB 288) |
Creates an Occupational License Review Council, which will be required to submit a report by 12/31/18 that will include recommendations for the elimination of state licenses. DPI licenses, including the SSW license, could be included. |
No position; Monitor |
Public hearing held; No vote in committee yet, but Senate bill could be brought up on Assembly floor. |
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AB 427 (also SB 340) |
Requires DPI, in consultation with DNR, a law enforcement agency, or an organization that specializes in firearm safety, to develop comprehensive firearm education course to be available as an elective in schools. Not limited to hunter education. |
Oppose |
In Assembly Education Committee. Public hearing held. |
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AB 496 (also SB 402) |
Creates two new exceptions to the gun-free school law for possessing firearms on school grounds. One is for a firearm lawfully stored and locked inside a vehicle. The other is for an activity approved by the school board with safeguards to protect student safety. |
No Position; Monitor |
Passed Assembly. Available for scheduling in Senate. |
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AB 660 (also SB 550) |
Raises the minimum age for being charged as an adult for many crimes from 17 to 18. $5 million |
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SB 169 (also AB 247) |
Eliminates prohibitions against going armed with a concealed weapon without regarding to licensure status. Eliminates gun-free school zones. Instead, allows schools to post their buildings and grounds under the trespassing laws. |
Oppose |
Passed committee. Available for scheduling on Senate floor. |
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SB 288 (also AB 369) |
Creates an Occupational License Review Council, which will be required to submit a report by 12/31/18 that will include recommendations for elimination of state licenses. |
No position; Monitor |
Passed committee on 3-2 vote; available for scheduling on Senate floor. |
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SB 340 (also AB 427) |
Requires DPI, in consultation with the DNR, a law enforcement agency, or an organization that specializes in firearm safety, to develop comprehensive firearm education course to be available as an elective in schools. Not limited to hunter education. |
Oppose |
In Senate Education Committee. No public hearing held. |
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SB 402 (also AB 496) |
Creates two new exceptions to the gun-free school law for possessing firearms on school grounds. One is for a firearm lawfully stored and locked inside a vehicle. The other is for an activity approved by the school board with safeguards to protect student safety. |
No Position; Monitor |
Passed Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety on 5-0 vote. Available to be brought up on Senate floor. |