Education Related Bills Signed Into Law
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | March 3, 2020
The following education related bills were signed into law yesterday by Governor Tony Evers:
AB-531 ID Card Info (Stafsholt, Rob) Requiring that student identification cards include contact information for suicide prevention hotlines. Signed (Act 116) (SAA did not take a position on this bill).
AB-644 School Mental Health (Steineke, Jim) Creating a school-based mental health consultation pilot program and making an appropriation. Signed (Act 117) (The SAA supported this bill).
SB-527 Pupil Restraint (Olsen, Luther) The seclusion and physical restraint of pupils. Signed (Act 118) (The SAA was neutral on this bill, but was involved in the negotiations that shaped the bill”s key provisions. Please see the SAA’s testimony on SB 527 for more information.)
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Felzkowski to Run for Tiffany’s Senate Seat
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | March 2, 2020
From WisPolitics.com …
State Rep. Mary Felzkowski announced today she will run this fall for the Senate seat of fellow Republican Tom Tiffany, who’s running in a May special election for the 7th CD.
Tiffany, R-Minocqua, planned to join Felzkowski, R-Irma, at two of her announcement events today in the northern Wisconsin 12th Senate District.
“As a state representative, I have been proud to work alongside leaders like Governor Scott Walker and State Senator Tom Tiffany to protect our Second Amendment rights, fight against job-killing regulations and usher in bold reforms that have saved taxpayers billions and made our economy strong,” Felzkowski said. “I will continue that fight in the State Senate and make sure we have a strong voice down in Madison.”
Felzkowski, first elected to the Assembly in 2012, serves as assistant majority leader this session and previously served two terms on the powerful Joint Finance Committee. She also owns an insurance agency.
Under state law, any vacancy in a legislative seat occurring before the second Tuesday in May of an election year “shall be filled as promptly as possible by special election.” But May 12 is the second Tuesday in May this year, and Gov. Tony Evers scheduled the congressional election for that day, in part, to avoid having to call another election to fill a legislative seat if a sitting lawmaker won the northern Wisconsin district.
Tiffany faces Dem Tricia Zunker in the special election.
See the release here.
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BoardmanClark: Coronavirus Guidance
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 27, 2020
From the Legal Side…
The most recent School Law Update from BoardmanClark focuses on guidance for school districts in responding to the coronavirus.
The SAA regularly receives these updates and we believe this is valuable information for SAA members. We are distributing this update to SAA members with the permission of BoardmanClark.
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Evers Vetoes GOP Tax, Debt Plan; Calls for Compromise
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 26, 2020
From WisPolitics.com . . .
Gov. Tony Evers today vetoed a GOP plan to cut taxes and reduce state debt, knocking Republicans for failing to embrace his proposal to pump a portion of an anticipated state surplus into school funding.
Along with upping state aid to schools, Evers’ plan would’ve resulted in a $130 million reduction in property taxes. In vetoing the GOP bill during a ceremony in suburban Milwaukee, Evers said he was willing to work on a compromise with Republican lawmakers.
Evers said he would support legislation with an income tax cut and larger rainy day fund payment, but it must include a property tax cut and increased school funding.
“It’s time for the Republicans to put politics aside so we can do what’s right for our kids, our schools, and of course, our property tax payers,” Evers said. “I’m ready to work across the aisle to get this done, and I’m willing to come to a compromise that works for everyone.”
GOP legislative leaders didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The state now expects a $451.9 million surplus by mid-2021, and that could grow if Foxconn fails to qualify for the full $212 million in tax credits that were anticipated in the current two-year budget.
The GOP package, which passed largely along party lines, included reducing income taxes by $247.7 million, paying off $100 million in state debt and sending $44.7 million to local governments to offset lost revenue from an expanded property tax break for businesses.
Evers, meanwhile, proposed a $251.9 million plan for schools. That includes pumping $130 million into school aids, which would then trigger a corresponding reduction in the property taxes that districts can collect.
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Wisconsin Joins Investigation of JUUL Labs
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 26, 2020
From WisPolitics.com . . .
Wisconsin yesterday joined a bipartisan coalition of 39 states investigating JUUL Labs’ marketing practices and health claims.
AG Josh Kaul in a statement called JUUL the “driving force” behind an increase in vaping among young people. The statement said the DOJ will join the multi-state investigation to look into youth targeting in JUUL’s ads and its claim that vaping is an effective tool to help wean off smoking.
“E-cigarette use has increased dramatically among young people in Wisconsin and nationally, and we must act to reduce it,” Kaul said.
Between 2014 and 2018, vaping increased among Wisconsin high school teens from 7.9 percent to 20.1 percent, according to a Department of Health Services survey.
JUUL spokesman Austin Finan said the company “will continue to reset the vapor category in the U.S. and seek to earn the trust of society” by working with officials on curbing youth e-cigarette use. He said the company has already stopped selling most flavored pods and ended TV, print and digital advertising.
“Our customer base is the world’s 1 billion adult smokers and we do not intend to attract underage users,” Finan said.
See the DOJ release here.
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