MADISON, WI… Bipartisan legislation authored by Senator André Jacque (New Franken) to provide state recognition to stillbirth parents unanimously passed the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means today on a 9-0 vote.
In response to the testimony of parents who have faced this heartbreaking loss, Sen. Jacque reintroduced legislation to provide financial support to those who have enduring the stillbirth of their child. Assembly Bill 373, authored along with Rep. Lindee Brill (Sheboygan Falls), provides a $2,000 refundable individual income tax credit to parents of stillborn children. Eight other states have already enacted similar legislation.
“I and my colleagues in the legislature have heard the emotionally devastating stories from parents of stillborn children over the past several sessions,” said Jacque. “For the bravery they have demonstrated in sharing their stories, and the hardship they have experienced, now is the time to pass this legislation.”
“Assembly Bill 373 is a vital, bipartisan piece of legislation that will make a real difference in the lives of Wisconsin families suffering the loss of a child through stillbirth,” said Brill “I am so glad that my colleagues in the Committee on Ways and Means took this meaningful step toward ameliorating their pain. I look forward to passing this critical bill on the Assembly floor.”
In Wisconsin, over 300 mothers each year endure the trauma of stillbirth. These parents experience many of the same expenses of newborn parents, such as delivery costs. They also have other expenses such as funeral costs, counseling, and lost time at work, while not necessarily having access to the same maternity leave benefits of other mothers.
“Although nothing can compensate for the loss of a child, establishing this tax credit will hopefully alleviate some of the financial burden stillbirth parents face, while giving meaningful, statutory recognition to the loss of their child,” said Jacque.
The bill’s identical companion legislation, SB379, passed the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue on an 8-0 vote in September. Both bills are now awaiting a vote before the full Assembly and Senate, before moving to the governor for final approval.
Senator André Jacque represents Northeast Wisconsin’s First Senate District, consisting of Door, Kewaunee and Calumet Counties and portions of Brown, Calumet, Manitowoc, and Outagamie counties.
