Introduced Legislation

In this section is information about a variety of bills related to disability issues that have been introduced in the state Assembly, Senate, or both houses. The information is listed by bill number in numerical order, starting with bills from the Assembly followed by bills from the Senate. This information is also available sorted by the issues DAWN tracks.

Assembly

• Assembly Bill 16 - Rare Disease Drug Coverage
  This bill requires health insurance policies and plans that cover prescription drugs to cover any drug that is prescribed for an insured by a physician for the treatment of a rare disease or condition, as defined in federal law. [More on Assembly Bill 16 ]
  Outcome: Introduced and referred to committee, but no action was taken by the end of the session.
• Assembly Bill 24 - Depreciation Calculation
  This bill prohibits DHFS from adding any amounts claimed for depreciation to an individual's net taxable farm or self-employment income for purposes of determining whether an individual meets the income limits for BadgerCare or for MA under the AFDC-related or Healthy Start eligibility categories. [More on Assembly Bill 24 ]
  Outcome: Introduced and sent to committee, but no action was taken by the end of the session.
• Assembly Bill 47 - Health Savings Account
  This is a companion bill to Senate Bill 18. It creates a non-refundable individual income tax credit for certain amounts relating to health savings accounts that may be deducted from, or are exempt from, federal income taxes. [More on Assembly Bill 47 ]
  Outcome: Introduced in the Assembly, hearing held, amended in health committee and passed out of committee, sent to rules committee, amended and passed out of committee. Passed by the Assembly and sent to the Senate, where it failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 61 - Political Contributions
  This bill prohibits accepting campaign contributions between January and passage of the state budget bill. [More on Assembly Bill 61 ]
  Outcome: Introduced and sent to committee, a hearing was held, and the bill was amended, but never got out of committee before the session ended.
• Assembly Bill 77 - Distributing Property Tax Credits
  This bill changes the way school levy property tax credits, the lottery and gaming property tax credits are distributed. They would be sent first to counties. The county then distributes to each municipality and taxing jurisdiction located in the county a proportionate share of that amount. [More on Assembly Bill 77 ]
  Outcome: Hearings held in both the Assembly and Senate. Passed out of committees in both houses and Joint Finance Committee. Passed both the full Assembly and Senate. Signed into law on 3-27-08. Became Act 190.
• Assembly Bill 87 - Homestead Tax Credit
  This bill would change the definition of income under the homestead tax credit. It would exclude income from a Roth individual retirement account. [More on Assembly Bill 87 ]
  Outcome: Referred to Assembly Ways and Means Committee. Never left the committee.
• Assembly Bill 94 - Publicly Financed Health Care
  Establishes a publicly-financed health care system for Wisconsin residents starting in 2010; creates the Dept. of Health Planning and Finance; creates a Health Policy Board and regional consumer health councils. [More on Assembly Bill 94 ]
  Outcome: Referred to the Assembly Health and Healthcare Reform Committee. Never left the committee.
• Assembly Bill 108 - Parks and Trails Access
  This bill allows free access to state parks and state trials by certain disabled veterans and former POWs. [More on Assembly Bill 108 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Assembly. Passed out of committee and referred to Joint Finance Committee. Failed to get out of that committee. But this issue was addressed in SB 49. SB 49 passed both houses and was signed into law on 3-24-08. It became Act 165.
• Assembly Bill 133 - Hearing Aids
  Requires health insurance coverage of hearing aids and cochlear implants for infants and young children under five years of age. [More on Assembly Bill 133 ]
  Outcome: Had a hearing but failed to get out of committee. This issue was addressed by SB 88. See SB 88 for a status update on this issue.
• Assembly Bill 149 - Estate Tax
  This would eliminate the estate tax as of January 1, 2007. [More on Assembly Bill 149 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Assembly. Passed out of committee and referred to Joint Finance Committee. Failed to get out of that committee.
• Assembly Bill 150 - Epilepsy Drugs
  This is a companion bill to Senate Bill 71. This bill prohibits a pharmacist from substituting an equivalent drug for treating epilepsy or for treating convulsions, unless the pharmacist obtains and documents the consent of the prescribing practitioner and the patient or the patient's parent, spouse, or legal guardian. [More on Assembly Bill 150 ]
  Outcome: AB 150 was introduced in the Assembly and referred to committee but no action was taken. SB 71 (companion bill) passed the Senate and was referred to the Assembly, where it had a hearing but never got out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 158 - Voting Registration
  This bill changes voter registration deadlines. It would eliminate registration at the polls on Election Day. It would require voters who register in person at clerks' offices to do so at least 14 days before an election rather than by the day before. It would require a voter to be a resident of the state at least 14 days before an election rather than 10 days. It would activate certain requirements of the Motor Voter Law from which this state is currently exempt. [More on Assembly Bill 158 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in Assembly. Passed out of the Elections Committee and referred to the Rules Committee. Failed to get out of that committee.
• Assembly Bill 169 - Disabled Parking Plates
  This bill would expand who can certify a person as disabled and in need of a disabled parking license plate or temporary tag. This bill would allow a public health nurse to provide the necessary certification information. [More on Assembly Bill 169 ]
  Outcome: Hearings were held in both the Assembly and Senate. Passed out of committees in both houses. Passed in both the full Assembly and Senate. Signed into law on 3-20-08 and became Act 120.
• Assembly Bill 173 - Council on Mental Health
  This bill would change the membership of the Council on Mental Health. It currently has 15 members, but under this bill it would expand to at least 21 members but not more than 25. It also changes the representation of groups and agencies on the Council. [More on Assembly Bill 173 ]
  Outcome: Hearings held in both the Assembly and Senate. Passed out of committees in both houses. Passed in both the full Assembly and Senate. Signed into law on 3-18-08 and became Act 113.
• Assembly Bill 185 - Birth Defects
  This bill makes changes to the birth defect prevention and surveillance system. Among other changes it allows DHFS to develop primary preventive strategies to decrease the occurrence of birth defects. [More on Assembly Bill 185 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Assembly. Passed out of committee and the full Assembly. Referred to the Senate. Hearing held and passed out of committee. Referred to Joint Finance Committee. Failed to get out of that committee.
• Assembly Bill 190 - Income Tax Rates
  This bill reduces the four income tax rates for most taxpayers beginning in 2007. [More on Assembly Bill 190 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Assembly. Passed out of committee and referred to the Joint Finance Committee. Failed to get out of that committee.
• Assembly Bill 213 - Partnership Plan
  This bill requires the state Dept. of Health and Family Services (DHFS) to submit to the secretary of the federal Dept. of Health and Human Services an amendment to the state's MA plan that satisfies the requirements of the State Long-Term Care Partnership Program under federal law. If the amendment is approved, DHFS must disregard, for purposes of MA eligibility and estate recovery, the amount of qualifying long-term care insurance payments made to an individual who receives MA for long-term care. [More on Assembly Bill 213 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Assembly. Failed to get out of the Aging and Long Term Care Committee.
• Assembly Bill 237 - Soft Drink Tax
  This bill creates a tax on the sale at wholesale of soft drinks sold in this state and creates the dental access trust fund. The revenue generated from the tax is put into the dental access trust fund. Moneys put into the dental access trust fund are used to supplement reimbursement for dentists' services provided to recipients under the Medical Assistance Program and to fund grants from the Department of Health and Family Services for dental public health and dental education projects. [More on Assembly Bill 237 ]
  Outcome: Referred to the Assembly Health and Healthcare Reform Committee. Failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 242 - Abuse of Vulnerable Adults
  Current law allows a court to impose a restraining order to protect vulnerable adults, abused children, and others. Currently, the restraining order starts when the subject of the order is served. This bill changes the start date to when the court issues the order as long as the subject of the order was served with the petition and notice of the time for the injunctive hearing. [More on Assembly Bill 242 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Assembly. Passed out of committee and passed the full Assembly. Referred to the Senate where it failed to get out of committee, however this issue was addressed by SB 242. SB 242 passed both houses and was signed into law creating Act 124.
• Assembly Bill 244 - Personal Property Tax
  This bill eliminates the property tax on personal property. The bill also eliminates the state aid payments to taxing jurisdictions based on the value of computers and computer-related equipment that are exempt from the personal property tax and that are located in the taxing jurisdictions. [More on Assembly Bill 244 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Assembly. Failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 250 - Impartial Justice Bill
  This bill changes the way the election for Justice of the state Supreme Court is financed. This bill creates a democracy trust fund, under which eligible candidates for this office may receive public grants from general purpose revenues. [More on Assembly Bill 250 ]
  Outcome: Referred to Assembly committee and failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 272 - Issue Ads in Elections
  This bill requires full disclosure of so-called "issue ads". This means that the public would know who is responsible for the ad. These ads appear around election time and are meant to make a candidate appear wrong on an issue. Currently, the responsible party for an ad is not required to tell who they are. Often special interest groups and large campaign donors are responsible for these ads. [More on Assembly Bill 272 ]
  Outcome: Referred to Assembly committee. Failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 279 - Protective Placements
  This is a companion bill to Senate bill 153. It makes minor changes to correct incorrect references, etc. to 2005 Wisconsin Acts 264, 387, and 388. These Acts addressed protective placements and protective services, involuntary administration of psychotropic medication, guardianships, conservatorships, wards, and services for adults and elder adults at risk. The bill makes more uniform the definitions of "developmental disability," "degenerative brain disorder," "serious and persistent mental illness," and "voluntary." [More on Assembly Bill 279 ]
  Outcome: This bill was passed by both houses and signed into law in early January 2008. It became Act 45.
• Assembly Bill 287 - Service Animals
  This is a companion bill to Senate bill 111. It would change the definition of a service animal for purposes of discrimination against a person using a service animal in a public facility. It also expands the harassment provision in current law to include all service animals, not just dogs and provides a penalty for harassment. [More on Assembly Bill 287 ]
  Outcome: Referred to the Assembly committee on Public Health. Failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 298 - Assisted Suicide
  This bill permits an individual who is of sound mind, is not incapacitated, is at least 18 years of age, is a resident of Wisconsin, and has a terminal disease to request voluntarily, in writing, medication from his or her attending physician for the purpose of ending the individual's life in a humane and dignified manner. The bill authorizes the individual's attending physician to issue a prescription for the medication if specified requirements are met. [More on Assembly Bill 298 ]
  Outcome: Referred to the Assembly committee onJudiciary and Ethics. Failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 323 - Conservation Congress Voting
  This bill requires the Dept. of Natural Resources in conjunction with the Conservation Congress to provide a way for people with disabilities to vote at home on matters being considered by the Conservation Congress. [More on Assembly Bill 323 ]
  Outcome: Referred to the Assembly committee on Natural resources. Failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 355 - Public Financing of Campaigns
  This bill would create a "clean elections fund" of public money to finance most state office elections. Candidates who choose this option would finance their campaign entirely with public funding. [More on Assembly Bill 355 ]
  Outcome: Referred to the Elections committee in the Assembly. Failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 390 - Felony Voting
  This bill restores a person's right to vote once they are released from prison or jail. This would allow a person to vote if they are on probation or supervision. [More on Assembly Bill 390 ]
  Outcome: Referred to Assembly Elections committee. Failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 392 - Health Care Coverage
  This bill would allow certain small employers the ability to have its employees covered under any health care plan offered to state employees. [More on Assembly Bill 392 ]
  Outcome: Referred to the Assembly committee on Insurance. Failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 394 - Health Savings Accounts - HIRSP
  This bill provides a health savings account option for certain people under the Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan (HIRSP). [More on Assembly Bill 394 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Assembly. Failed to get out of the Insurance Committee.
• Assembly Bill 417 - Autism Insurance
  This bill requires health insurance policies and self-insured governmental and school district health plans to cover the cost of treatment for autism, Asperger's syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified if the treatment is provided by a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a social worker who is certified or licensed to practice psychotherapy, a paraprofessional working under the supervision of any of those three types of providers, or a professional working under the supervision of an outpatient mental health clinic. [More on Assembly Bill 417 ]
  Outcome: No action was taken on this bill. This issue was addressed by SB 178. See that bill for a status update.
• Assembly Bill 430 - Tax Exemption for Nonprescription Drugs
  This bill creates a sales tax exemption for nonprescription drugs. [More on Assembly Bill 430 ]
  Outcome: Referred to Assembly committee on Ways and Means. Failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 466 - Accessible Instructional Materials
  This bill requires the state's UW system and Technical Colleges to develop policies and procedures to ensure that students with disabilities have access to instructional material in appropriate alternative formats. [More on Assembly Bill 466 ]
  Outcome: Referred to Assembly committee on Colleges and Universities. Hearing held. Failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 509 - Inpatient Reimbursement Requirement
  This bill would change the inpatient facility reimbursement requirements of counties for their residents with mental illness, developmental disabilities, alcoholic, and other drug dependencies. Currently, counties must pay for the full cost of care, but this would change that to 50% of the cost. The state would pay the other 50%. [More on Assembly Bill 509 ]
  Outcome: Referred to Assembly committee on Health and Healthcare Reform. Failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 530 - Voting Leave
  This bill increases the minimum time off that employers must grant to employees for voting from three to eight succesive hours. The bill also ends an employer's ability to designate a time when the employee can leave work to vote. [More on Assembly Bill 530 ]
  Outcome: Referred to Assembly committee on State Affairs. Failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 549 - Voting ID - Optional
  This bill would allow a voter to elect to be required to show identification in order to vote. This bill defines what is permissible identification. This requirement would also apply to absentee voting. The bill allows a voter to withdraw this requirement at a later date. [More on Assembly Bill 549 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Assembly. Passed out of Elections committee. Referred to Assembly Rules committee. Failed to get out of that committee.
• Assembly Bill 586 - Disabled Parking
  This bill increases fines for violating and misusing a disabled parking identification card. The bill also amends 2005 Wis. Act 455 relating to disabled parking. [More on Assembly Bill 586 ]
  Outcome: Referred to Assembly committee on Transportation. Failed to get out of committee.
• Assembly Bill 691 - Marriage Penalty
  This bill would allow a single person who receives Medical Assistance (MA) under the medically needy category and then marries to have their MA eligiblity determined as if they were still single. It would disregard the income and assets of the spouse. [More on Assembly Bill 691 ]
  Outcome: Failed to get out of the Assembly committee on Health and Healthcare Reform.
• Assembly Bill 698 - Personal Care Workers
  This bill would require agencies that employ or contract with personal care workers in private residences to tell the client or guardian the information they obtained in a background check. It also requires updated background checks every two years rather than four. [More on Assembly Bill 698 ]
  Outcome: AB 698 failed to get out of committee in the Assembly but this issue was addressed by SB 393. SB 393 passed both houses and was signed into law on 3-26-08. It became Act 172.
• Assembly Bill 700 - Integrated Service Programs
  This bill makes several changes to state statute 46.56 that covers Integrated Services Programs (ISP). Some of the changes include expanded coverage to include not just children with severe disabilites but other children who use two or more care systems. It also changes the term ISP to Coordinated Services Teams or CST. The bill also provides funding to expand ISP or CST to all counties and tribes in the state. [More on Assembly Bill 700 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Assembly. Passed out of Assembly committee on Children and Family Law. referred to Joint Finance committee. Failed to get out of that committee.
• Assembly Bill 888 - Instant Runoff Elections
  This bill permits the governing body of each county, municipality, or other local governmental unit that is served by elective officers, except a town or village where a caucus is used, to adopt a preferential voting method (also called an "instant runoff" method) for the election of those officers. This bill also requires any local governmental unit that uses this method to elect its officers to ensure that an electronic voting system is used in every municipality that lies wholly or partially within the jurisdiction of the local governmental unit at every election where this method of voting is used. [More on Assembly Bill 888 ]
  Outcome: Failed to get out of Assembly committee on Elections and Constitutional Law.
• Assembly Bill 901 - Autism Services
  This bill provides over $6 million in the current fiscal year for the autism benefit under the Medical Assistance program. These funds would eliminate the current waiting list for intensive treatment. The bill also requires a treatment plan with appropriate referrals and the development of a brochure. [More on Assembly Bill 901 ]
  Outcome: Passed the full Assembly and sent to the Senate. It failed to get out of the Senate committee on Health, Human Services, Insurance, and Job Creation.

Senate

• Senate Bill 6 - 17 Year-old Vote
  Allows 17 year-olds to vote in a Primary Election if they will be 18 years-old at the time of the General Election. [More on Senate Bill 6 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Senate. Passed out of committee, referred back to committee and then failed to get out of committee.
• Senate Bill 12 - Ellis - Erpenbach Bill
  This bill reforms the way campaigns are financed. It creates a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for contributions to the Public Integrity Endowment. It requires interest groups who run ads to register with the state and to tell who gave money for the ads. It also provides grants to candidates who abide by spending limits when their opponents don't. [More on Senate Bill 12 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Senate. Passed out of committee and referred to Joint Finance committee. Failed to get out of that committee.
• Senate Bill 18 - Health Savings Accounts
  This is a companion bill to Assembly Bill 47. It creates a non-refundable individual income tax credit for certain amounts relating to health savings accounts that may be deducted from, or are exempt from, federal income taxes. [More on Senate Bill 18 ]
  Outcome: Failed to get out of the Senate committee on Health and Human Services.
• Senate Bill 25 - Political Contributions
  Prohibits accepting campaign contributions between January and passage of the budget bill. [More on Senate Bill 25 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held and passed out of committee. Failed to receive a full vote in the Senate.
• Senate Bill 32 - Nursing Home Diversions
  This bill eliminates the current limit on the number of persons (150) who meet MA level of care requirements and are diverted from entry into a nursing home and for whom an enhanced rate of payment for MA services may be made under CIP II. [More on Senate Bill 32 ]
  Outcome: Failed to get out of the Seante committee on Public Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care, and Privacy.
• Senate Bill 40 - Biennial Budget
  This bill is Gov. Doyle's proposed budget. It covers all state spending and revenue. [More on Senate Bill 40 ]
  Outcome: This bill was signed into law on 10-26-07 and became Act 20.
• Senate Bill 42 - Bullying
  Directs the Dept. of Public Instruction (DPI) to develop a model school policy on bullying students by other students. [More on Senate Bill 42 ]
  Outcome: Had a Senate hearing, passed out of committee, and passed the Senate. It was referred to the Assembly where it had a hearing, passed out of committee but never had a vote by the full Assembly.
• Senate Bill 49 - Parks and Trails Access
  This bill allows free access to state parks and state trials by certain disabled veterans and former POWs. [More on Senate Bill 49 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Senate. Amended and passed out of committee. Sent to Joint Finance committee. Passed out of that committee. Sent to the Assembly. Passed by the Assembly. Signed into law on 3-24-08. Became Act 165.
• Senate Bill 51 - Publicly Financed Health Care
  Establishes a publicly-financed health care system for Wisconsin residents starting in 2010; creates the Dept. of Health Planning and Finance; creates a Health Policy Board and regional consumer health councils. [More on Senate Bill 51 ]
  Outcome: Three hearings held. Failed to get out of the Senate committee on Health and Human Services.
• Senate Bill 66 - Farmer Health Insurance
  This bill would allow farmers to purchase health care coverage through the Group Insurance Board. [More on Senate Bill 66 ]
  Outcome: Failed to get out of the Senate committee on Health and Human Services.
• Senate Bill 68 - Estate Tax
  This bill eliminates the state estate tax beginning January 1, 2007. [More on Senate Bill 68 ]
  Outcome: Referred to Joint Committee on Tax Exemptions. Failed to get out of committee.
• Senate Bill 71 - Epilepsy Drugs
  This bill prohibits a pharmacist from substituting an equivalent drug for treating epilepsy or for treating convulsions, unless the pharmacist obtains and documents the consent of the prescribing practitioner and the patient or the patient's parent, spouse, or legal guardian. Also, refills must be of the same drug product, from the same manufacturer, that was previously dispensed, unless consent is obtained and documented. [More on Senate Bill 71 ]
  Outcome: Had a Senate hearing, passed out of committee, and passed the Senate. It was referred to the Assembly where it had a hearing but never got out of committee.
• Senate Bill 77 - Issue Ads in Elections
  This bill requires full disclosure of so-called "issue ads". This means that the public would know who is responsible for the ad. These ads appear around election time and are meant to make a candidate appear wrong on an issue. Currently, the responsible party for an ad is not required to tell who they are. Often special interest groups and large campaign donors are responsible for these ads. [More on Senate Bill 77 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held, passed out of committee and passed the full Senate. Sent to the Assembly. Failed to get out of the Assembly committee on Elections and Constitutional Law.
• Senate Bill 87 - Insurance Deduction
  This bill creates an individual income tax deduction for 100 percent of the amount paid for a medical insurance policy that covers the individual, his or her spouse, and the individual's dependents if the individual's employer pays a portion of the cost of the individual's policy. [More on Senate Bill 87 ]
  Outcome: Referred to Joint Committee on Tax Exemptions. Failed to get out of committee.
• Senate Bill 88 - Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants
  Requires health insurance coverage of hearing aids and cochlear implants for infants and young children under five years of age. [More on Senate Bill 88 ]
  Outcome: Had a Senate hearing, passed out of committee, and passed the Senate. It was referred to the Assembly where it had a hearing, was amended in committee, passed out of committee, but never had a vote by the full Assembly.
• Senate Bill 111 - Service Animals
  This bill would change the definition of a service animal for purposes of discrimination against a person using a service animal in a public facility. It also expands the harassment provision in current law to include all service animals, not just dogs and provides a penalty for harassment. [More on Senate Bill 111 ]
  Outcome: Referred to a Senate committee. Failed to get out of committee.
• Senate Bill 112 - Campaign Contributions
  This bill creates a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for contributions to candidates for elective public office. [More on Senate Bill 112 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Senate. Failed to get out of Senate committee on Labor, Elections, and Urban Affairs.
• Senate Bill 114 - Partnership Plan
  This bill requires the state Dept. of Health and Family Services (DHFS) to submit to the secretary of the federal Dept. of Health and Human Services an amendment to the state's MA plan that satisfies the requirements of the State Long-Term Care Partnership Program under federal law. If the amendment is approved, DHFS must disregard, for purposes of MA eligibility and estate recovery, the amount of qualifying long-term care insurance payments made to an individual who receives MA for long-term care. [More on Senate Bill 114 ]
  Outcome: Failed to get out of Senate committee on Public Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care, and Privacy.
• Senate Bill 117 - Soft Drink Tax
  This bill would tax the sale of soft drinks and soft drink syrups at the wholesale and manufacturing points. This tax would create a dental access trust fund. This fund would be used to increase fees paid to dentists serving patients using Medical Assistance. [More on Senate Bill 117 ]
  Outcome: Failed to get out of Senate committee on Health and Human Services.
• Senate Bill 124 - Abuse of Vulnerable Adults
  Current law allows a court to impose a restraining order to protect vulnerable adults, abused children, and others. Currently, the restraining order starts when the subject of the order is served. This bill changes the start date to when the court issues the order as long as the subject of the order was served with the petition and notice of the time for the injunctive hearing. [More on Senate Bill 124 ]
  Outcome: Passed both the Assembly and Senate. Signed into law on 3-20-08 and became Act 124.
• Senate Bill 144 - MA Eligibility Changes
  This bill makes a number of changes to assets and divestment rules to conform Wisconsin law to federal law when determining eligibility for Medical Assistance (MA). [More on Senate Bill 144 ]
  Outcome: Failed to get out of the Senate committee on Health and Human Services.
• Senate Bill 151 - Assisted Suicide
  This bill permits an individual who is of sound mind, is not incapacitated, is at least 18 years of age, is a resident of Wisconsin, and has a terminal disease to request voluntarily, in writing, medication from his or her attending physician for the purpose of ending their life in a humane and dignified manner. The bill authorizes the individual's attending physician to issue a prescription for the medication if requirements are met. [More on Senate Bill 151 ]
  Outcome: Public hearing held. Failed to get out of the Senate's Public Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care, and Privacy committee.
• Senate Bill 153 - Protective Services
  This bill makes minor changes to correct incorrect references, etc. to 2005 Wisconsin Acts 264, 387, and 388. These Acts addressed protective placements and protective services, involuntary administration of psychotropic medication, guardianships, conservatorships, wards, and services for adults and elder adults at risk. The bill makes more uniform the definitions of "developmental disability," "degenerative brain disorder," "serious and persistent mental illness," and "voluntary." [More on Senate Bill 153 ]
  Outcome: This bill passed both houses and was signed into law. It became Act 45 in early January 2008.
• Senate Bill 171 - Impartial Justice Bill
  This bill makes many changes in the way the election for Justice of the state Supreme Court is financed. This bill creates a democracy trust fund, under which eligible candidates for this office may receive public grants from general purpose revenues. [More on Senate Bill 171 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Senate, passed out of committee, and passed the full Senate. Sent to the Assembly. Failed to get out of the Assembly committee on Elections and Constitutional Law.
• Senate Bill 178 - Autism Insurance
  This bill requires health insurance policies and self-insured governmental and school district health plans to cover the cost of treatment for autism, Asperger's syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorders if the treatment is provided by a qualified professional or paraprofessional as defined in the bill. The coverage applies to both individual and group health insurance policies and plans; to health care plans offered by the state to its employees, including a self-insured plan; and to self-insured health plans of counties, cities, towns, villages, and school districts. [More on Senate Bill 178 ]
  Outcome: Had a Senate hearing, passed out of committee, was amended, and passed the Senate. It was referred to the Assembly, where it never got out of committee.
• Senate Bill 182 - Public Financing of Campaigns
  This bill would create a "clean elections fund" of public money to finance most state office elections. Candidates who choose this option would finance their campaign entirely with public funding. [More on Senate Bill 182 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Senate. Passed out of committee and referred to Joint Finance Committee. Failed to get out of that committee.
• Senate Bill 200 - Photo ID - Optional
  This bill would allow a voter to volunteer to be required to present a valid Photo ID in order to vote. The bill defines what is a valid ID. If the voter chooses this option, it would also apply to absentee voting. [More on Senate Bill 200 ]
  Outcome: Referred to Senate Labor, Elections, and Urban Affairs Committee. Failed to get out of committee.
• Senate Bill 206 - Health Savings Accounts - HIRSP
  This bill provides a health savings account option for certain people under the Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan (HIRSP). [More on Senate Bill 206 ]
  Outcome: Failed to get out of committee.
• Senate Bill 221 - Special Olympics Tax Checkoff
  This bill creates an individual income tax checkoff for the Special Olympics corporation in Wisconsin. [More on Senate Bill 221 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Senate, passed out of committee, sent to the Joint Finance committee. Failed to get out of that committee.
• Senate Bill 268 - Care Facilities
  This bill would change the process by which care facilities are licensed. An applicant for a community care facility, such as a CBRF, would have to form a community advisory committee. The majority of the people on this committee would be people from the neighborhood where the facility would be located. In addition, DHFS would have to respond in writing to any concerns raised by the committee before a license would be granted. [More on Senate Bill 268 ]
  Outcome: Failed to get out of Senate committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, etc.
• Senate Bill 283 - Alzheimer's Treatment
  This bill stops nursing homes, community-based residential facilities, adult family homes, residential care apartment complexes, and hospices from providing special services for persons with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia unless the Dept. of Health and Family Services (DHFS) determines that the facility meets the standards of care and treatment for people with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. [More on Senate Bill 283 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Senate, amended and passed out of committee and referred to Joint Finance Committee. Failed to get out of that committee.
• Senate Bill 375 - Mental Health Parity
  This bill requires that insurance policies provide the same coverage for mental health and mental illness as they do for physical, illness or injury. [More on Senate Bill 375 ]
  Outcome: Had a Senate hearing, passed out of committee, was referred to the Joint Finance Committee, and never got out of committee.
• Senate Bill 393 - Personal Care Workers
  This bill would require agencies that employ or contract with personal care workers in private residences to tell the client or guardian the information they obtained in a background check. It also requires updated background checks every two years rather than four. [More on Senate Bill 393 ]
  Outcome: Hearing was held in the Senate. Amended in Senate committee. Passed the full Senate and Assembly as amended. Signed into law on 3-26-08. Became Act 172.

Joint Assembly

• Joint Assembly Bill 17 - Photo ID
  This proposed constitutional amendment says that a qualified voter may not register to vote or vote on election day unless they present a photo ID issued by Wisconsin or the federal government (2nd consideration). [More on Joint Assembly Bill 17 ]
  Outcome: Had a hearing in the Assembly, passed out of committee, and passed the Assembly. It was referred to the Senate where it never got out of committee.
• Joint Assembly Bill 18 - Uniformity Clause
  This proposed constitutional amendment would change the "uniformity clause," permitting the legislature to tax principal property of homeowners differently than other property. It would make it possible to target property tax relief to individuals. [More on Joint Assembly Bill 18 ]
  Outcome: Failed to get out of the assembly committee on Ways and Means.
• Joint Assembly Bill 35 - School Funding
  This resolution calls for changing the way public schools are funded. Supporters are commited to developing a new financing formula. [More on Joint Assembly Bill 35 ]
  Outcome: Failed to get out of the Assembly committee on Education reform.
• Joint Assembly Bill 39 - Property Tax Levy Rates
  This is a proposed state constitutional amendment. It would except from the requirement of the "uniformity clause" parts of cities, villages, towns, counties, and school districts added by attachments to school districts, consolidations, and boundary changes under cooperative agreements with other cities, villages, towns, counties, and school districts. This proposal would permit the governing body of the city, village, town, county, or school district to set different property tax levy rates on the parts for not more than 12 years, but the rates for each part must be uniform within that part. [More on Joint Assembly Bill 39 ]
  Outcome: Hearing held in the Assembly. Passed out of committee, passed by the full Assembly, and referred to the Senate. Hearing held in the Senate. Passed out of committee. Failed to be voted on by the full Senate.

Joint Senate

• Joint Senate Bill 27 - School Funding
  This is a companion resolution to AJR 35. It calls for developing a new funding formula for public schools. [More on Bill 27 ]
  Outcome: Referred to the Senate committee on Education. Hearing held. Failed to get out of committee.