Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety
It’s officially December, and we’re off to a great start! Last week, the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee held a public hearing on five pieces of legislation.
AB 637 makes it a Class I felony to remove the catalytic converter from a vehicle without the owner’s consent.
AB 634 permanently restores the expanded immunities listed in 2017 WI Act 33 pertaining to certain controlled substance offenses for aiders and aided persons. In 2020, these protections for the aided individual, as well as the prohibition of revocation of probation parole and extended supervision for both the aider and the aided, were sunsetted.
These expanded immunities include immunity from having parole, probation, or extended supervision revocation for possessing a controlled substance if the possession was revealed during administration of emergency services for an overdose or adverse reaction to a controlled substance.
This legislation was originally sunset (set to expire) in order to determine its effectiveness in saving lives and providing safer communities. Unfortunately, to date, the Attorney General’s office has not conducted such a study. So, to get my support, I would like to see an amendment that extends this policy temporarily and requires the Attorney General’s office to study the results of the policy before it is made permanent.
AB 620 requires the Law Enforcement Standards Board (LESB) to pay the law enforcement agency for approved preparatory expenses. Current law requires officer recruits for law enforcement agencies, jails, or juvenile detention facilities to complete preparatory training and for law enforcement officers to complete annual recertification training. Under current law, LESB authorizes the reimbursement to political subdivisions of approved expenses.
This bill increases the minimum amount per officer to $320 and specifies that the law enforcement agency that employs the officer be paid for the approved expenses of the officer’s annual recertification training.
AB 542 requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants of up to $325,000 to schools to acquire proactive firearm detection software and provides $4,000,000 in the 2023–25 fiscal biennium for the grants.
I have issues with this legislation because, as written, some of the technology these grants would provide would allow full-body scanners like they have in airports in schools that would run all the time. Although I think some of these technologies are fine and could be deemed helpful, some are invasive and digitally strip-search students and staff.
Assembly Committee on Sporting Heritage
Yesterday, the Committee on Sporting Heritage held a public hearing on two bills.
AB 633 allows a person to hunt a wild animal with an airgun in a season open to hunting that animal with a firearm.
AB 512 repeals a current Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administrative code provision that generally prohibits a person from training their hunting dogs from May 1 to June 30 in a portion of the state north of certain east-west highways.
The committee also held an executive session on AB 270. This bill requires the DNR to offer in-person and online hunter education for persons under the age of 18.
Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Well, folks! The Capitol Christmas tree is officially decorated and lit up, and it is a marvelous sight! If you have a chance, you have to check it out for yourself. It brings the holiday spirit into our beautiful building.
In-District Events
Saturday, December 9th, will be Breakfast with Santa at the Par 5 Resort (250 W Church St., Mishicot) from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more information and costs regarding this event, visit Deals & Events | Par5Resort.
Saturday, December 16th, will be Cool City Christmas in Downtown Two Rivers (1700 Washington St.) from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information regarding this event, visit Cool City Christmas | Two Rivers Wisconsin (exploretworivers.com).
Sunday, December 17th, will be Breakfast with Santa at the Two Rivers Fire Department (2122 Monroe St.). Breakfast will be at 9:30 a.m., with a visit from Santa at 10:30 a.m.
