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LRB-5438/1
MCP:skw
January 2020 Special Session
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
February 5, 2020 - Introduced by Committee on Senate Organization, by request
of Governor Tony Evers. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Revenue and
Financial Institutions.
SB2,1,2 1An Act relating to: regional farmer support for stress and mental illness and
2making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill authorizes five positions in the Department of Agriculture, Trade and
Consumer Protection to serve as regional 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 and assistance to farmers. The
bill also authorizes one position in DATCP to serve as a supervisor for these five
regional agents. The bill also increases funding to provide trainings to mental health
professionals and agribusiness professionals to understand sources of stress,
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.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB2,1 3Section 1 . Fiscal changes.
SB2,2,84 (1) Regional farmer support agents. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for
5the appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection

1under s. 20.115 (3) (a), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2020-21 is increased by
2$350,500 to increase the authorized FTE positions for the department by 5.0 GPR
3positions to serve as on-the-ground agents to assist farmers in accessing mental
4health support, to coordinate local and regional peer support programming, and to
5provide confidential, one-on-one counseling tailored to concerns facing farmers, and
6one-on-one assistance to farmers that face a crisis due to a natural disaster or
7financial problem. The 5.0 positions authorized under this subsection shall cover
8different regions of the state.
SB2,2,149 (2) Regional farmer support supervisor. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3)
10for the appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer
11protection under s. 20.115 (3) (a), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2020-21 is
12increased by $90,600 to increase the authorized FTE positions for the department
13by 1.0 GPR position for supervising and coordinating the positions authorized under
14sub. (1).
SB2,2,2415 (3) Regional farmer support training program. In the schedule under s.
1620.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and
17consumer protection under s. 20.115 (3) (a), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2020-21
18is increased by $200,000 to provide trainings for mental health professionals and
19agribusiness professionals. Trainings funded under this subsection shall provide the
20skills necessary to understand sources of stress and issues facing the agricultural
21community, identify the warning signs of stress and suicide, identify effective
22communication strategies, reduce the stigma associated with mental health
23concerns, and connect farmers with appropriate mental health resources and other
24resources.
SB2,2,2525 (End)
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