AB50: Bill Text

AB50,3270 Section 3270. 978.03 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1616,10 978.03 (1m) The district attorney of any prosecutorial unit having a population of 200,000 or more but less than 750,000 may appoint 3 4 deputy district attorneys and such assistant district attorneys as may be requested by the department of administration and authorized in accordance with s. 16.505. The district attorney shall rank the deputy district attorneys for purposes of carrying out duties under this section. The deputies, according to rank, may perform any duty of the district attorney, under the district attorney’s direction. In the absence or disability of the district attorney, the deputies, according to rank, may perform any act required by law to be performed by the district attorney. Any such deputy must have practiced law in this state for at least 2 years prior to appointment under this section.

AB50,3271 Section 3271. 978.045 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1616,22 978.045 (2) If the department of administration approves the appointment of a special prosecutor under sub. (1r), the court shall fix the amount of compensation for the attorney appointed according to the rates specified in s. 977.08 (4m) (b) for the date on which the approval was made. The department of administration shall pay the compensation ordered by the court from the appropriation under s. 20.475 (1) (d). The court, district attorney, and the special prosecutor shall provide any information regarding a payment of compensation that the department requests. Any payment under this subsection earns interest on the balance due from the 121st day after receipt of a properly completed invoice or receipt and acceptance of the property or service under the order or contract, whichever is later, at the rate specified in s. 71.82 (1) (a) compounded monthly.

AB50,3272 Section 3272. 978.05 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1617,12 978.05 (6) (a) Institute, commence, or appear in all civil actions or special proceedings under and perform the duties set forth for the district attorney under ch. 980 and ss. 17.14, 30.03 (2), 48.09 (5), 59.55 (1), 59.64 (1), 89.08, 103.50 (8), 103.92 (4), 109.09, 343.305 (9) (a), 806.05, 938.09, 938.18, 938.355 (6) (b) and (6g) (a), 946.86, 946.87, 961.55 (5), 971.14 and 973.075 to 973.077, perform any duties in connection with court proceedings in a court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938 as the judge may request and perform all appropriate duties and appear if the district attorney is designated in specific statutes, including matters within chs. 782, 976 and 979 and ss. 51.81 to 51.85. Nothing in this paragraph limits the authority of the county board to designate, under s. 48.09 (5), that the corporation counsel provide representation as specified in s. 48.09 (5) or to designate, under s. 48.09 (6) or 938.09 (6), the district attorney as an appropriate person to represent the interests of the public under s. 48.14 or 938.14.

AB50,3273 Section 3273. 990.01 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1617,17 990.01 (3) Adult. “Adult” means a person who has attained the age of 18 years, except that for purposes of investigating or prosecuting a person who is alleged to have violated any state or federal criminal law or any civil law or municipal ordinance, “adult” means a person who has attained the age of 17 years.

AB50,3274 Section 3274. 990.01 (20) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,1617,22 990.01 (20) Minor. “Minor” means a person who has not attained the age of 18 years, except that for purposes of investigating or prosecuting a person who is alleged to have violated a state or federal criminal law or any civil law or municipal ordinance, “minor” does not include a person who has attained the age of 17 years.

AB50,3275 Section 3275. 990.01 (22h) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1618,3 990.01 (22h) Natural parent. “Natural parent” means a parent of a child who is not an adoptive parent, whether the parent is biologically related to the child or not.

AB50,3276 Section 3276. 990.01 (39) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1618,6 990.01 (39) Spouses. “Spouses” means 2 individuals of the same sex or different sexes who are legally married to each other.

AB50,3277 Section 3277. 990.01 (40m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1618,9 990.01 (40m) Stepparent. “Stepparent” means a person who is the spouse of a child’s parent and who is not also a parent of the child.

AB50,3278 Section 3278. 995.70 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,1618,14 995.70 Eligibility of certain individuals who are not U.S. citizens to receive professional licenses. (1) In this section, “professional license” means a license, registration, certification, or other approval to perform specific work tasks, whether issued by the state or a local governmental entity.

AB50,1618,17 (2) Pursuant to 8 USC 1621 (d), an individual who is not a U.S. citizen is not ineligible to receive any professional license issued in this state because of the individual’s citizenship status.

AB50,1618,20 (3) Nothing in this section affects any requirement or qualification for an individual to obtain a professional license that is not related to the citizenship status of the individual.

AB50,3279 Section 3279. 2017 Wisconsin Act 370, section 44 (2) and (3) are repealed.

AB50,3280 Section 3280. 2017 Wisconsin Act 370, section 44 (5) is repealed.

AB50,3281 Section 3281. 2023 Wisconsin Act 20, sections 3, 9 and 29 (1) are repealed.

AB50,3282 Section 3282. DCF 55.02 (5g) (b) 2. of the administrative code is repealed.

AB50,3283 Section 3283. DCF 56.23 (1) (c) of the administrative code is repealed.

AB50,3284 Section 3284. DCF 58.08 (9) (c) and (d) of the administrative code are created to read:

AB50,1619,9 DCF 58.08 (9) (c) Exceptional payments. A kinship care agency may issue to a relative caregiver who is receiving kinship care payments or long-term kinship care payments an exceptional payment to enable siblings or a minor parent and minor children to reside together, subject to a maximum payment amount determined by the department.

AB50,1619,14 (d) Initial clothing allowance. A kinship care agency may pay an initial clothing allowance to a relative caregiver when the relative caregiver is initially approved by the kinship care agency. The amount of the initial clothing allowance shall be the actual cost of the clothing not to exceed a maximum determined by the department.

AB50,3285 Section 3285. DHS 107.07 (4) (k) 2. of the administrative code is repealed.

AB50,9101 Section 9101. Nonstatutory provisions; Administration.

AB50,1619,19 (1) Cybersecurity insurance program. The department of administration shall plan and prepare to have a cybersecurity insurance program for executive branch state agencies by the 2027-29 fiscal biennium.

AB50,1620,2 (2) Alternatives to prosecution and incarceration grant program. Notwithstanding s. 16.42 (1) (e), in submitting information under s. 16.42 for purposes of the 2027 biennial budget act, the department of administration shall submit information concerning the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (cb) as though the total amount appropriated under s. 20.505 (1) (cb) for the 2026-27 fiscal year was $142,500 more than the total amount that was actually appropriated under s. 20.505 (1) (cb) for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

AB50,1620,7 (3) Grants for Milwaukee County Housing First. From the appropriation under s. 20.505 (7) (fe), the department of administration shall award grants of $100,000 in fiscal year 2025-26 and $100,000 in fiscal year 2026-27 to the Milwaukee County department of health and human services to support Milwaukee County’s Housing First initiative.

AB50,1620,10 (4) Paid family and medical leave. If the paid family and medical leave program under s. 230.12 (9m) is approved by the joint committee on employment relations, it shall go into effect on January 1, 2027.

AB50,1620,12 (5) Task force on missing and murdered African American women and girls.

AB50,1620,15 (a) Definition. In this subsection, “nongovernmental organization” means a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that provides legal, social, or other community services.

AB50,1620,20 (b) Membership. There is created a task force on missing and murdered African American women and girls. The task force shall consist of the following members, who are knowledgeable in crime victims rights or violence protection, and who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor unless otherwise specified:

AB50,1620,22 1. Two members of the senate, one appointed by the majority leader and one appointed by the minority leader.

AB50,1620,24 2. Two members of the assembly, one appointed by the speaker of the assembly and one appointed by the minority leader.

AB50,1621,1 3. Two representatives from among the following:

AB50,1621,2 a. The Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association.

AB50,1621,3 b. The Badger State Sheriffs’ Association.

AB50,1621,4 c. The division of criminal investigation within the department of justice.

AB50,1621,5 4. One or more representatives from among the following:

AB50,1621,6 a. The Wisconsin District Attorneys Association.

AB50,1621,7 b. A U.S. Attorney’s office in this state.

AB50,1621,8 c. A judge or attorney working in juvenile court.

AB50,1621,10 5. A county coroner or representative from a statewide coroner’s association or a representative of the department of health services.

AB50,1621,11 6. Three or more representatives from among the following:

AB50,1621,13 a. A statewide or local organization that provides legal services to African American women and girls.

AB50,1621,15 b. A statewide or local organization that provides advocacy or counseling for African American women and girls who have been victims of violence.

AB50,1621,17 c. A statewide or local organization that provides nonlegal services to African American women and girls.

AB50,1621,18 d. The Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

AB50,1621,19 e. End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin.

AB50,1621,20 f. An African American woman who is a survivor of gender violence.

AB50,1621,21 (c) Operation.

AB50,1622,3 1. The task force shall elect a chair and vice-chair from among the members of the task force and may elect other officers as necessary. The task force shall convene within 30 days after it is established and shall meet at least quarterly thereafter, or upon the call of its chair, and may hold meetings throughout the state. The task force shall meet sufficiently to accomplish the duties identified in par. (d).

AB50,1622,7 2. The department of administration shall provide administrative support services to the task force. The task force may call upon any state agency or officer to assist the task force, and those agencies or officers shall cooperate with the task force to the fullest extent possible.

AB50,1622,10 3. The department of administration shall reimburse members of the task force for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in carrying out their functions.

AB50,1622,11 (d) Duties.

AB50,1622,12 1. The task force shall examine all of the following topics:

AB50,1622,17 a. The systemic causes behind violence that African American women and girls experience, including patterns and underlying factors that explain why disproportionately high levels of violence occur against African American women and girls, including underlying historical, generational, social, economic, institutional, and cultural factors that may contribute to the violence.

AB50,1622,20 b. Appropriate methods for tracking and collecting data on violence against African American women and girls, including data on missing and murdered African American women and girls.

AB50,1623,2 c. Policies and institutions such as policing, child welfare, coroner practices, and other governmental practices that impact violence against African American women and girls and the investigation and prosecution of crimes of gender violence against African American people.

AB50,1623,4 d. Measures necessary to address and reduce violence against African American women and girls.

AB50,1623,7 e. Measures to help victims, victims’ families, and victims’ communities prevent and heal from violence that occurs against African American women and girls.

AB50,1623,9 2. The task force shall, by December 31, 2025, and December 31, 2026, submit to the governor a report that includes all of the following:

AB50,1623,11 a. Proposed institutional policies and practices that are effective in reducing gender violence and increasing the safety of African American women and girls.

AB50,1623,13 b. Recommendations to eliminate violence against African American women and girls.

AB50,1623,15 c. Recommendations to help victims and communities heal from gender violence and violence against African American women and girls.

AB50,1623,23 3. In accomplishing the tasks in subds. 1. and 2., the task force shall seek out and enlist the cooperation and assistance of nongovernmental organizations, community and advocacy organizations working with the African American community, and academic researchers and experts, specifically those specializing in violence against African American women and girls, representing diverse communities disproportionately affected by violence against women and girls, or focusing on issues related to gender violence and violence against African American women and girls.

AB50,1624,9 (6) Department of corrections Green Bay Correctional Institution classified employees. The director of the bureau of merit recruitment and selection in the division of personnel management in the department of administration is authorized to waive competitive hiring procedures required under ch. 230 for an employee in the classified service at the Green Bay Correctional Institution during the period in which the facility is decommissioned so that the employee may be hired into a different position within the department of corrections if the individual is qualified to perform the duties of the position and the position meets either of the following requirements:

AB50,1624,12 (a) The position is assigned to a class having the same pay range as the position in which the individual was employed at the Green Bay Correctional Institution.

AB50,1624,15 (b) The position is assigned to a class having a lower pay range than the position in which the individual was employed at the Green Bay Correctional Institution.

AB50,1625,4 (7) Position funding and incumbent staff. On January 1, 2027, the funding source for 3.0 FTE FED positions in the department of administration changes from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (mb) to the general purpose revenue appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (a), and the incumbent employees holding the positions on that date retain their positions. On January 1, 2027, the funding source for 1.0 FTE FED position in the department of administration changes from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (mb) to the program revenue appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (ka), and the incumbent employee holding the position on that date retains their position. On January 1, 2027, the funding source for 20.0 FTE FED positions in the department of administration changes from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (mb) to the program revenue appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (kz), and the incumbent employees holding the positions on that date retain their positions.

AB50,1625,14 (8) Position funding and incumbent staff transfer. On January 1, 2027, 17.5 FTE FED positions in the department of administration, funded from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (mb), and the incumbent employees holding those positions are transferred to the employment relations commission, and the funding for the positions is changed to the GPR appropriation under s. 20.425 (1) (a). Employees transferred under this subsection have all the rights and the same status under ch. 230 in the employment relations commission that they enjoyed in the department of administration immediately before the transfer. Notwithstanding s. 230.28 (4), no employee transferred under this subsection who has attained permanent status in class is required to serve a probationary period.

AB50,9102 Section 9102. Nonstatutory provisions; Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

AB50,1626,5 (1) Emergency rules for sandhill crane damage reimbursement program. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection may use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate emergency rules under s. 93.67 (4) for the period before the date on which permanent rules under s. 93.67 (4) take effect. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until the first day of the 25th month beginning after the effective date of the emergency rules, the date on which the permanent rules take effect, or the effective date of the repeal of the emergency rules, whichever is earlier. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB50,9103 Section 9103. Nonstatutory provisions; Arts Board.

AB50,9104 Section 9104. Nonstatutory provisions; Building Commission.

AB50,9105 Section 9105. Nonstatutory provisions; Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board.

AB50,9106 Section 9106. Nonstatutory provisions; Children and Families.

AB50,1626,20 (1) Child care quality improvement program. Using the procedure under s. 227.24, the department of children and families may promulgate the rules required under s. 49.133 (2) as emergency rules. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until July 1, 2027, or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a), (2) (b), and (3), the department of children and families is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB50,1627,6 (2) Child care partnership grant program; emergency rule making. The department of children and families may promulgate emergency rules under s. 227.24 to implement s. 49.132. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until July 1, 2027, or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a), (2) (b), and (3), the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB50,1627,15 (3) Benefits eligibility screening; emergency rule-making authority. The department of children and families may use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate rules under s. 48.49 for the period before the effective date of any permanent rules promulgated under s. 48.49, notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c). Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department of children and families is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB50,1627,21 (4) Foster care aid-related child support arrears. Any balance of court- ordered child support obligations assigned to this state under s. 48.645 (3), 2023 stats., is set to $0 and is unenforceable and uncollectable. Any warrant or lien issued prior to July 1, 2026, is vacated if it is based on the alleged failure to pay such a balance or the failure to appear to a court hearing set for the purpose of enforcing the obligation assigned to the state.

AB50,1628,8 (5) Grants for out-of-school time programs; emergency rule-making authority. The department of children and families may use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate emergency rules under s. 48.483 for the period before the date on which permanent rules under s. 48.483 take effect. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until July 1, 2027, or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department of children and families is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB50,1628,17 (6) Child support debt reduction; emergency rule making. The department of children and families may promulgate emergency rules under s. 227.24 to implement s. 49.226. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until July 1, 2027, or the date on which permanent rules take effect, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection.

AB50,1628,18 (7) Juvenile justice reform review committee.