Amendment AA2-AB873

LRBa1369/1

MCP:ahe

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT 2, TO ASSEMBLY BILL 873

February 20, 2020 - Offered by Representatives Considine, Spreitzer, Billings, Bowen, Brostoff, Cabrera, Doyle, Emerson, Fields, Goyke, Haywood, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hintz, Kolste, McGuire, B. Meyers, Neubauer, Ohnstad, Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Shankland, Sinicki, Subeck, C. Taylor, Vining, Vruwink and Zamarripa.

AB873-AA2,1,1 At the locations indicated, amend the bill as follows:

AB873-AA2,1,3 1. Page 1, line 6: after “improvements" insert “, regional farmer support for stress and mental illness,".

AB873-AA2,1,4 2. Page 13, line 6: after that line insert:

AB873-AA2,1,5 “ Section 1. Fiscal changes.

AB873-AA2,2,2 (1) Regional farmer support agents. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 20.115 (3) (a), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2020-21 is increased by $350,500 to increase the authorized FTE positions for the department by 5.0 GPR positions to serve as on-the-ground agents to assist farmers in accessing mental health support, to coordinate local and regional peer support programming, and to provide confidential, one-on-one counseling tailored to concerns facing farmers, and one-on-one assistance to farmers that face a crisis due to a natural disaster or financial problem. The 5.0 positions authorized under this subsection shall cover different regions of the state.

AB873-AA2,2,8 (2) Regional farmer support supervisor. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 20.115 (3) (a), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2020-21 is increased by $90,600 to increase the authorized FTE positions for the department by 1.0 GPR position for supervising and coordinating the positions authorized under sub. (1).

AB873-AA2,2,18 (3) Regional farmer support training program. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 20.115 (3) (a), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2020-21 is increased by $200,000 to provide trainings for mental health professionals and agribusiness professionals. Trainings funded under this subsection shall provide the skills necessary to understand sources of stress and issues facing the agricultural community, identify the warning signs of stress and suicide, identify effective communication strategies, reduce the stigma associated with mental health concerns, and connect farmers with appropriate mental health resources and other resources.”.

AB873-AA2,2,19 (End)