Contact: Rep. Joan Ballweg (888) 534-0041

Madison…Representative Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) was proud to join her Assembly colleagues today in passing Assembly Bill 737, which expands the TraJa Act. The TraJa Act originally introduced the domestic abuse surcharge to make the third domestic violence offense a felony. AB 737 expands the domestic abuse surcharge to allow courts to consider someone’s domestic violence crime history in another state.

Representative Ballweg introduced this bill on behalf of constituent and TraJa Organization co-founder, Heather Lawler. TraJa is named after is named in honor of Heather’s best friend Tracy Judd (33), her 2-month-old daughter, Deja Renee, Amber Weigel (25), and her 2-year old daughter, Neveah, who were murdered in 2009 by Tyrone Adair in a horrific act of domestic violence.

“I authored this bill with the hope to prevent violent offenders from moving to Wisconsin to get a fresh start,” said Ballweg. “Just because someone did not commit past crimes in Wisconsin, does not mean that we should not hold them accountable for their repeated actions of domestic violence.”

Since the passage of the original TraJa Act, district attorneys in the state have found this to be a useful tool to prosecute and hold violent offenders accountable. AB 737 is another step in forward in the fight against domestic violence in Wisconsin.

AB 737 will now go before the State Senate for consideration.

Follow the 41st Assembly District by liking the Wisconsin State Representative Joan Ballweg Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WIRepBallweg).

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