Governor Jim Doyle today signed 12 bills into law:
Assembly Bill 426 increases the flexibility counties have in spending funds from the Specialized Transportation Assistance Program by allowing counties to hold unused funds in trust in order to provide services in future years and distribute an increased amount of unused funds to other counties.
Governor Doyle thanked Representatives John Ainsworth and Louis Molepske, as well as Senators Dave Zien and Roger Breske for their work on the bill.
Assembly Bill 432 expands the pool of eligible people to serve summons to initiate a civil action by allowing adult residents of neighboring states to serve a summons in Wisconsin provided that they are not a party to the action.
Governor Doyle thanked Representatives John Gard and Bobby Gronemus, as well as Senator Alberta Darling for their work on the bill.
Assembly Bill 856 authorizes the villages of Sister Bay and Ephraim to become premier resort areas, increasing revenues for the villages and promoting development of the tourism industry.
Governor Doyle thanked Representatives Garey Bies and Judy Krawczyk, as well as Senator Alan Lasee for their work on the bill.
Assembly Bill 1186 allows for the creation of Unincorporated Cooperative Associations to help cooperatives raise needed capital through non-patron investment partners.
Governor Doyle thanked Representatives John Ainsworth and Louis Molepske, as well as Senators Dan Kapanke and Roger Breske for their work on the bill.
Senate Bill 99 promotes timely resolutions to court proceedings by decreasing the response time for pleadings, such as a complaint in a civil action, to twenty days.
Governor Doyle thanked Senator Ted Kanavas, as well as Representatives Curt Gielow and Jeff Fitzgerald for their work on the bill.
Senate Bill 123 revises and reorganizes Chapter 767 of the State Statutes, last updated in 1959, increasing efficiency of child support proceedings as well as modernizing the statutory style and language.
Governor Doyle thanked Senator Glenn Grothman for his work on the bill.
Senate Bill 226 allows parents of minor children older than 14 years of age to require mental health treatment even when the child refuses to consent, pending the review of the case by a juvenile court.
Governor Doyle thanked Senators Carol Roessler and Joe Leibham, as well as Representatives Mark Gundrum and Pat Strachota for their work on the bill.
Senate Bill 286 requires school health classes to emphasize that abstinence is the preferred behavior among students and that it is the most effective way to protect against sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies.
Governor Doyle thanked Senators Mary Lazich and Glenn Grothman, as well as Representatives Mark Gundrum and Garey Bies for their work on the bill.
Senate Bill 499 modernizes and expedites the process for the Department of Transportation and municipalities to file plans for public projects reducing existing workload and time delays.
Governor Doyle thanked Senators Glenn Grothman and Carol Roessler, as well as Representatives Eugene Hahn and Judy Krawczyk for their work on the bill.
Senate Bill 575 allows a court to award money to a crime victim for their losses from a cash deposit a defendant forfeited by not meeting his or her bond conditions, providing counties with resources for the payment of costs and judgment.
Governor Doyle thanked Senators Dave Zien and Carol Roessler, as well as Representatives Scott Suder and Bobby Gronemus for their work on the bill.
Senate Bill 606 requires caseworkers to give consideration to sibling relationships when placing children in out-of-home care or in adoptive placement. Placing children with their siblings can lessen the trauma of being removed from their birth mother.
Governor Doyle thanked Senators Mary Lazich and Alberta Darling, as well as Representative Jeff Stone and Robin Vos for their work on the bill.
Senate Bill 650 clarifies the definition of records relating to treatment for mental health, developmental disability, alcoholism, and drug dependence issues, and clarifies the circumstances under which records need to be shared. The bill will improve access to records in situations involving medical emergencies, and will help improve the effectiveness of treatment in health care organizations with multiple service providers, maximizing the utility of electronic medical record systems.
Governor Doyle thanked Senator Carol Roessler, as well as Representatives Pat Strachota and Eugene Hahn for their work on the bill.
