Wisconsin School Social Workers Association

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WSSWA Legislative Committee

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

WSSWA Goes to Washington!

On June 19-21, 2019, President-Elect Angela Baerwolf and WSSWA Delegate Kelly Ohme attended the Delegate Assembly hosted by SSWAA. They came together with other state affiliates to discuss how to be an effective board, as well as how to better engage YOU, our members.

Kelly was joined by Legislative Chair Murrene Payton and board member Susan Baumann-Duren on June 21-23 for the Legislative Institute. The three met with the offices of Senators Baldwin and Johnson, as well as Representatives Sensenbrenner and Pocan, to advocate for issues important to school social workers. They covered such topics as:

Increase federal investment in education
Provide adequate funding for ESSA, a student support and academic enrichment grant
Increase school mental health services
Provide a path to citizenship for DACA individuals

Legislative News

Wisconsin School Social Workers Association Legislative Tracker Updated: 4/7/2020
Bill	Description	WSSWA Position	Activity and Status
AB 60 Rep. Stuck	Prohibits use of electronic monitoring for juveniles in truancy cases.	Support	3/7/19 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.
AB 84 Rep. Tauchen	Prohibits “shaming” related to school lunch and breakfast programs.	Support, requested change to improve legislation	3/19/19 Referred to committee; WSSWA supports, but requested an amendment to read: "every effort will be made to engage the parents/guardians in the process of filling out the lunch application by encouraging them to fill out the application themselves and/or by offering assistance;" 5/30/19 public hearing; Executive action taken, but never brought up on Senate floor; Bill is dead.
AB 111 Rep. Stuck	Prohibits conversion therapy.	Support	3/22/19 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.
SB 107 Sen. Risser	Same as AB 111.	Support	3/15/19 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.
AB 149 Rep. Rodriguez	Creates “character education” professional development grants to school districts (for teachers, admin., pupil services).	Watch	4/3/2019 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.
SB 138 Sen. Darling	Same as AB 149.	Watch	9/17/19 Senate Education Committee public hearing – discussion of amending to stipulate “11 character traits” per WCEP; explore use of any remaining $ from school safety appropriations; 10/17/19 Bill was approved by committee, 7-2, with amendment that attempts to define character education and adds other limitations. Executive action taken, but never brought up on Senate floor; Bill is dead.
AB 338 Rep. Doyle	Makes it a felony to issue a threat to use a dangerous weapon on school property to injure or kill a person and creates a penalty (Class I Felony: a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 3 years and 6 months, or both).	Oppose	7/16/19 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.
SB 311 Sen. Bewley	Same as AB 338.	Oppose bill as originally drafted, but author has agreed to amendment	8/14/19 Senate Judiciary and Public Safety public hearing: Testimony in opposition to bill as written. 9/25/19 Passed out of committee 5-0. WSSWA met with staff for lead author of the bill, Senator Janet Bewley, and requested change to require underage violators to consult with a licensed mental health professional like a social worker. An amendment to this effect was drafted by Senator Bewley; Bill was never brought up on Senate floor; Bill is dead.
AB 377 Rep. Spiros	Requires sexual abuse prevention education.	Support	8/28/19 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.
SB 347 Sen. Petrowski	Same as AB 377.	Support	8/14/19 Referred to committee; Amendments offered by Sen. Petrowski. No action taken; Bill is dead.
AB 378 Rep. Sargent	Requires schools to provide teen dating violence education; sets certain criteria governing instruction; and requires DPI to incorporate teen dating violence/sexual violence prevention into health curriculum	Support	8/28/10 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.
SB 420 Sen. Petrowski	Same as AB 378.	Support	9/17/19 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.
AB 528 Rep Duchow	Provides grants to high schools for peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs.	Support	Passed Legislature and signed into law as 2019 Wisconsin Act 83.
SB 527 Sen. Olsen	Strengthens law on seclusion and restraint of pupils in public and private schools.	Support	Passed Legislature and signed into law as 2019 Wisconsin Act 118.
AB 605 Rep. Hutton	Creates unreasonable requirements for any legislation that would require an individual to obtain a license in order to engage in a particular profession or occupation.	Oppose	11/15/19 Referred to committee; Voted out of committee but was not brought up on Assembly floor; Bill is dead.
SB 541 Sen. Kapenga	Same as AB 605	Oppose	Passed Senate but was not brought up in Assembly; Bill is dead.
AB 727 Rep. Pope	Limits payments to voucher schools.	Support	1/9/20 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.
SB 659 Sen. Erpenbach	Same as AB 727	Support	1/8/20 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.
AB 728 Rep. Pope	Requires teachers in voucher schools to be licensed educators.	Support	1/9/20 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.
SB 660 Sen. Erpenbach	Same as AB 728	Support	1/8/20 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.
AB 729 Rep. Pope	Gives taxpayers referendum authority to approve aid diversions to voucher schools.	Support	1/9/20 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.
SB 661 Sen. Bewley	Same as AB 729	Support	1/8/20 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.
AB 730 Rep. Pope	Caps enrollments in three major school choice programs and sunsets special needs scholarships.	Support	1/9/20 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.
SB 658 Sen. Erpenbach	Same as AB 730	Support	1/8/20 Referred to committee; No action taken; Bill is dead.