Bill to let schools share camera footage with police clears Assembly

The Assembly today signed off on a bill that would let school boards share camera footage with police. But the legislation faces an uncertain future as it first needs Senate approval before heading to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk. The bill, which passed on a voice vote, would create an exception in student privacy laws to let law enforcement get school surveillance footage if it “serves a legitimate safety interest.” The language was excluded from the $100 million Senate school safety plan the chamber passed earlier this week, although it was included in the guv’s original special session call. Meanwhile, members

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Assembly sends $100 million school safety plan to Walker’s desk

A $100 million school safety proposal is heading to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk after the Assembly signed off on the plan 78-8. Representatives passed the Senate’s version of the plan, which the chamber had approved Tuesday and is attached to AB 843, on open enrollment, as an amendment. Eight Dems voted against the measure. They were: Reps. Jonathan Brostoff, David Crowley, Melissa Sargent, Christine Sinicki, Chris Taylor, Leon Young and JoCasta Zamarripa. The version of the plan that passed today differs from the six special session bills Assembly Republicans had originally been considering in a public hearing earlier this week. Still,

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Assembly signs off on background checks bill, sending it to the Senate

A bill with a provision to expand state-level background checks to rifles and shotguns cleared the Assembly on a voice vote, heading to the Senate where it faces an uncertain future. The background check language, attached as a substitute amendment to AB 1031 on school bullying, would bolster the state’s background check system as the federal government works to tighten up the National Instant Criminal Background System. The Senate when it was on the floor Tuesday didn’t pass the bill, which would require parents of those involved in a bullying incident to be notified within 48 hours. Meanwhile, Dems today

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Rep. Bernier: State Assembly passes school safety package

Contact: Rep. Kathy Bernier (608) 266-9172 Anti-Bullying Measures, K-8 Curriculum Changes, and Mental Health Resources Highlight Reforms Madison – Today in legislative session, the state Assembly passed a numbers of proposals focused on reducing and preventing school violence and curbing gun violence throughout Wisconsin. The package of bills taken up by the Assembly provides $100 million to schools to evaluate and improve security measures. This provision requires the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to work with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and local schools to develop and implement updated school safety plans. “We’ve been working on these issues all session

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U.S. Rep. Moore, U.S. Sen. Baldwin: Instruct SSA to halt closure

Contact Libbie Wilcox (Moore), (917) 536-6991 Kasey Hampton (Baldwin), (202) 224-6225 Today, after language they offered instructing the Social Security Administration (SSA) to halt any further actions until the SSA Inspector General (IG) concludes ongoing reviews of the SSA’s field office closures was included in the 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Act, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) and Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement: “As part of our continuing effort to put our constituents first, we fought hard to include this language in the omnibus. Given that this was the quickest means by which to oppose this ill-advised closure of the field office on the Southside of Milwaukee,

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Rep. Spiros: Votes to Support School Safety Legislation

Madison – Today Representative Spiros (R-Marshfield) voted with his colleagues to pass, with bipartisan support, legislation to improve school safety in Wisconsin. The legislation is part of the special session called for by Governor Walker. One of the provisions passed by the State Assembly today creates a $100 million grant under the Department of Justice to develop upgrades for schools. This is a significant investment that will allow schools to enact safety measures such as restricted entrances and metal detectors. “I have taken some time over the past several weeks to speak to each of the superintendents in my district

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AG Schimel: Statement on passage of school safety package

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Brad Schimel released the following statement in response to the Wisconsin State Assembly’s passage of the School Safety Package. “We owe our children and communities the promise of safe school environments. Passing both houses on a bipartisan vote, the School Safety Package embodies consensus and meaningful action. I sincerely thank Governor Walker and the Legislature for putting children first and for entrusting my team with this incredibly important task. I look forward to the Wisconsin Department of Justice being the cornerstone of school safety planning and training. The newly created Office of School Safety will

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Rep. Billings: Calls on Republicans to do more on School Safety

CONTACT: Rep. Jill Billings (608) 266-5780 La Crosse legislator supports expanding mental health services, gun safety MADISON, Wis. — Today, the Wisconsin State Assembly is taking up a Republican package of school safety bills that were quickly pushed through the legislature during the last week. These bills are facing criticism from Democrats for not going far enough to address safety in Wisconsin schools. “I have listened to our kids, teachers and school administrators, and I know they are doing their jobs when it comes to protecting students. Now we need to do ours,” Rep. Billings said. “At a time when

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THU PM Update: Assembly considering expanded background checks as part of school safety package

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The Assembly late this afternoon was preparing to debate a GOP effort to expand coverage of the state’s background check system as part of a $100 million school safety package. If the Assembly approves the proposal, it would have to go through the Senate before it could go to the Gov. Scott Walker’s desk. The office of Senate M… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options. Username or E-mail Password * Remember

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Rep. Subeck: Assembly Democrats Lead on School Safety; Republican Failure to Address Gun Violence Leaves Schools and Communities Vulnerable

CONTACT: Zach Madden, 608-266-7521(office) 920-627-5773 (cell) MADISON – Today, Democrats offered a robust school safety plan that includes ongoing funding and support for school districts to make safety improvements and commonsense measures to prevent gun violence by keeping firearms out of the hands of those who should not have them. After seven years of abject failure to address an epidemic of gun violence, Republicans again today voted against commonsense measures, like universal background checks, to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals who intend to do harm. Republicans rejected the school safety plan offered by Democrats today on

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Rep. Nygren: Votes for Improved School Safety

Contact: Rep. John Nygren (888) 534-0089 Madison–State Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette), released the following statement regarding the State Assembly’s extraordinary session today on school safety: “As the husband of a public school teacher and father of public school students, the issue of school violence hits close to home. This is one of the reasons I voted today to provide $100 million in grant funds to schools across the state to make security improvements to ensure they are safe for our students and educators. “Coupled with our ongoing investments in mental health initiatives, I am confident our actions today will have

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Republicans fail to include common-sense gun safety measures

Rep. Chris Taylor, 608-266-5342 MADISON – Today, Assembly Republicans refused to include any popular gun safety measures in their final agenda of the year, including universal background checks that 81% of Wisconsinites support. In response, Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison), Rep. Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg), Rep. Jonathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee), and Rep. Amanda Stuck (D-Appleton) issued the following statement: “Republicans failed to do what our children have begged them to do – pass common sense gun safety measures, including universal background checks, which could keep firearms out of the hands of individuals intending to do harm. Gun experts and gun safety groups have

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Assembly sends $100 million school safety plan to Walker’s desk

A $100 million school safety proposal is heading to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk after the Assembly signed off on the plan 78-8. Representatives passed the Senate’s version of the plan, which the chamber had approved Tuesday and is attached to AB 843, on open enrollment, as an amendment. Eight Dems voted

Read More »

Rep. Bernier: State Assembly passes school safety package

Contact: Rep. Kathy Bernier (608) 266-9172 Anti-Bullying Measures, K-8 Curriculum Changes, and Mental Health Resources Highlight Reforms Madison – Today in legislative session, the state Assembly passed a numbers of proposals focused on reducing and preventing school violence and curbing gun violence throughout Wisconsin. The package of bills taken up

Read More »

U.S. Rep. Moore, U.S. Sen. Baldwin: Instruct SSA to halt closure

Contact Libbie Wilcox (Moore), (917) 536-6991 Kasey Hampton (Baldwin), (202) 224-6225 Today, after language they offered instructing the Social Security Administration (SSA) to halt any further actions until the SSA Inspector General (IG) concludes ongoing reviews of the SSA’s field office closures was included in the 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Act, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04)

Read More »

Rep. Spiros: Votes to Support School Safety Legislation

Madison – Today Representative Spiros (R-Marshfield) voted with his colleagues to pass, with bipartisan support, legislation to improve school safety in Wisconsin. The legislation is part of the special session called for by Governor Walker. One of the provisions passed by the State Assembly today creates a $100 million grant

Read More »

AG Schimel: Statement on passage of school safety package

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Brad Schimel released the following statement in response to the Wisconsin State Assembly’s passage of the School Safety Package. “We owe our children and communities the promise of safe school environments. Passing both houses on a bipartisan vote, the School Safety Package embodies consensus and

Read More »

Rep. Billings: Calls on Republicans to do more on School Safety

CONTACT: Rep. Jill Billings (608) 266-5780 La Crosse legislator supports expanding mental health services, gun safety MADISON, Wis. — Today, the Wisconsin State Assembly is taking up a Republican package of school safety bills that were quickly pushed through the legislature during the last week. These bills are facing criticism

Read More »

Rep. Subeck: Assembly Democrats Lead on School Safety; Republican Failure to Address Gun Violence Leaves Schools and Communities Vulnerable

CONTACT: Zach Madden, 608-266-7521(office) 920-627-5773 (cell) MADISON – Today, Democrats offered a robust school safety plan that includes ongoing funding and support for school districts to make safety improvements and commonsense measures to prevent gun violence by keeping firearms out of the hands of those who should not have them.

Read More »

Rep. Nygren: Votes for Improved School Safety

Contact: Rep. John Nygren (888) 534-0089 Madison–State Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette), released the following statement regarding the State Assembly’s extraordinary session today on school safety: “As the husband of a public school teacher and father of public school students, the issue of school violence hits close to home. This is

Read More »

Republicans fail to include common-sense gun safety measures

Rep. Chris Taylor, 608-266-5342 MADISON – Today, Assembly Republicans refused to include any popular gun safety measures in their final agenda of the year, including universal background checks that 81% of Wisconsinites support. In response, Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison), Rep. Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg), Rep. Jonathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee), and Rep. Amanda

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