Hello, welcome to my e-update!
Thank you for being an informed constituent of Wisconsin’s 4th State Assembly District. In my newsletter you will find updates about your community, the state legislature, and everything in between.
Protecting Your Privacy
Last week, I introduced legislation to tighten the laws around government wiretapping. In light of recent news out of Green Bay regarding the Mayor’s surveillance and audio recording at City Hall, my greatest concern is that citizens do not feel that their privacy is being protected in places where they should have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The bill I am proposing would create a strict legal framework for the recording of audio in public buildings.
Here are some highlights of what the bill would do:
- The local governing body must authorize the audio recordings
- Authorization to collect such recordings must be renewed at least once a year
- Information on the costs and procedures of the recordings must be clearly articulated throughout the authorization process to ensure transparency
- Signs must be posted in areas where audio is being recorded
- Audio recordings collected must be retained for at least 240 days to ensure public accessibility for records request purposes
Ensuring Justice for Victims of Sexual Assault
Yesterday my bill to fill in the last missing piece in the timeline for the state to process a sexual assault kit received a public hearing in the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. This bill is an important next step for delivering justice to victims of sexual assault in Wisconsin. For too long, this backlog of kits has resulted in delays for testing and processing, meaning victims are sometimes left waiting for the perpetrator to be found and charged.
To address this issue, Assembly Bill 36 would require the State Crime Lab to begin processing the kit within 5 days of receiving the kit, and complete the process within 60 days of beginning. The bill will now move on to the next step in the legislative process, being scheduled for an Executive Session within the committee. I look forward to continuing to advocate for this important legislation!
Police Parity Legislation Passes Assembly
Assembly Bill 51, a Police Parity bill I’ve been working on with my colleague Rep. Macco, was voted on by the Assembly body this week. This bill would allow DACA recipients to serve as police officers in local law enforcement, benefitting our communities and keeping them safe. I’m happy to say it passed the Assembly floor with tremendous bipartisan support! It’s now in the Senate to be scheduled for a floor vote in that chamber.
Bail Amendment on Your Ballot
This week I voted “yes” for a constitutional amendment that defines “violent crime” and “serious harm” for the bail constitutional amendment you will find on your ballot in the upcoming election on April 4th. The amendment gives judges the ability to look at a defendant’s past conviction history for violent crimes when setting bail. Keep an eye out for this question on your ballot!
What Else I’ve Been Working On…
Thank you for taking the time to read through my e-update this week. I want you to give you an overview of other legislation I’ve been focusing on this session.
Here are a few of the other bills I’ve been working on since session began in January:
AB 37: Expungement of records of certain crimes and discrimination based on expunged conviction.
AB 38: Absentee ballot request and return confirmation program.
AB 108: Definition of “strip search” for the purpose of the prohibition against strip-searching a pupil.
To see the full list of legislation I’ve been working on, visit my legislative website here: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2023/legislators/assembly/2519.
Don’t Forget to Vote!
Don’t forget to vote in the upcoming spring election on April 4th! On the ballot is the next justice for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, school board vacancies, and various other local positions. To register to vote and find your voting locations, visit https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/.
Contact Me
My office is always available to help with any state-related questions or concerns you may have. You can reach my office at (608) 237-9104 or email me at Rep.Steffen@legis.wisconsin.gov. I look forward to hearing from you!
