Governor Walker Signs Delinquent Library Account Bill into Law

Governor Walker signed Senate Bill 466 into law today, which allows a public library to provide a collections agency or law enforcement agency with  information about patrons who have delinquent accounts.  Under the bill, a delinquent account must total $50 before it can be referred to law enforcement.

You can read a statement from the Wisconsin Library Association here.

Assembly Approves Bill to Increase CSF Funds, Delinquent Library Account Bill

The State Assembly met for one of the last times this session on Tuesday afternoon.  Included among the proposals are several items of interest to WEMTA:

Unclaimed Savings Bonds to CSF: The Assembly unanimously voted to approve Assembly Bill 721, which would allow the state to claim savings bonds that haven't been cashed in within 5 years. The money would go into the Common School Fund. A fiscal note released by the Department of Revenue said that the fiscal effect of the bill on the Common School Fund is indeterminate. However, they estimate that they currently have possession of $500,000 worth of savings bonds that they consider unclaimed property.  AB 721 must now be approved by the Senate.

Delinquent Library Accounts: The Assembly unanimously voted to approve Assembly Bill 609/Senate Bill 466, which allows a public library to provide a collections agency or law enforcement agency with  information about patrons who have delinquent accounts.  Under the bill, a delinquent account must total $50 before it can be referred to law enforcement. The Senate previously passed this proposal on February 9. The bill now goes to the Governor for his signature.

Distance Learning Authorization Board: The Assembly unanimously approved Senate Bill 511/Assembly Bill 632 which would create a Distance Learning Authorization Board.  The Distance Learning Authorization (DLA) Board would authorize Wisconsin postsecondary institutions to offer distance education programs to students located outside of Wisconsin. The bill defines a “distance education program" as the offering of courses for credit, to students outside Wisconsin, that will lead to a degree or certificate from the institution.  The DLA Board would also be allowed to enter Wisconsin into the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement. The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is a voluntary agreement among its member states that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance-education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. The Senate passed this bill on February 9, so it may now go to the Governor for his signature.

The Assembly will meet for what is likely the last time for the 2015-17 legislative session on February 18. The Senate plans to adjourn in March. 

State Assembly Debates Broadband Expansion

The State Assembly voted 81-15 on Thursday to pass Assembly Bill 647, which would allow the Public Service Commission (PSC) to make a total of $6,000,000 in broadband expansion grants in any fiscal year until the total appropriation is depleted. Under current law, PSC can only make up to $1.5 million in grant awards each year.  Libraries and schools are not currently eligible for these grants.

Democrats argued throughout the debate for increased funding for broadband infrastructure. An amendment offered by Democrats would have accepted federal money for Medicaid expansion,  increased funding for broadband expansion grants by $23 million; and allowed schools, public libraries and technical colleges to apply for broadband expansion grants. The amendment was not adopted.

The Senate must approve the bill before it can become law. 

Assembly Committee Passes Bill that Could Put More Money into Common School Fund

The Assembly Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations voted 13-0 on Wednesday to pass Assembly Bill 721, which would allow the state to claim savings bonds that haven't been cashed in within 5 years. The money collected by the state would go into the Common School Fund. AB 721 can now be voted on by the full Assembly.

A fiscal note released by the Department of Revenue said that the fiscal effect of the bill on the Common School Fund is indeterminate. However, they estimate that they currently have possession of $500,000 worth of savings bonds that they consider unclaimed property.  

Other legislative action from Wednesday that may be of interest to WEMTA include:

The Assembly Committee on Mining and Rural Development voted 9-2 to pass Assembly Bill 799, which creates a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) grant program for rural schools. AB 799 would provide grants between $3,000 and $20,000 to schools with less than 1,000 students to establish, maintain, and expand educational programming related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  The bill’s author estimates that 191 rural school districts would be eligible to apply for the grants. AB 799 can now be voted on by the full Assembly.

The Committee on Mining and Rural Development also voted 8-2 to approve Assembly Bill 793, which would extend the current teacher loan assistance program to students who take jobs in rural counties. Under current law, the loan assistance program is only available to teachers who take jobs in Milwaukee. AB 793 can now be voted on by the full Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Assembly Committee on Education held a public hearing on legislation that would create a system to track incidences of school violence. 

The Assembly is expected to finish up their work for the 2015-16 legislative session by February 18 while the Senate is expected to finish up in early March. 

State Senate Passes Delinquent Library Account Bill

The State Senate unanimously voted to approve Senate Bill 466 on Tuesday, which allows a public library to provide a collections agency or law enforcement agency with  information about patrons who have delinquent accounts.  Under the bill, a delinquent account must total $50 before it can be referred to law enforcement.

The Assembly Committee on  Urban and Local Affairs recently passed the companion bill,   Assembly Bill 609, by a vote of 7-1. The bill can now be voted on by the full Assembly. 

Once the State Assembly passes this bill, it will go to Governor Walker for his signature. 

Assembly Committees Pass Library Account, Broadband Grant Bills

The Assembly Committee on  Urban and Local Affairs passed  Assembly Bill 609, which allows a public library to provide a collections agency or law enforcement agency with  information about patrons who have delinquent accounts, on a vote of 7-1 Wednesday.  Under the bill, a delinquent account must total $50 before it can be referred to law enforcement. AB 609 can now be voted on by the full Assembly.  Senate Bill 466, the companion bill, is available for a vote before the full senate.

The Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities unanimously approved Assembly Bill 647, which allows the Public Service Commission to make a total of $6 million in broadband expansion grants in any fiscal year until the $6 million is spent. Under current law, PSC is only allowed to issue $1.5 million in grants each year. There is separate legislation pending in the Legislature that would increase funding for the broadband grants to $10 million. AB 647 can now be voted on by the full Assembly.