The Wisconsin state Assembly passed two significant bills Thursday to prohibit broadcasting 911 recordings and enact the C.O.R.E. Jobs Act to strengthen statewide employment.
State representatives passed the bill to restrict the broadcasting of 911 recordings 67-30. The bill allows media to review 911 audio recordings and receive an audio's transcript, but prohibits copying and broadcasting 911 recordings over the air.
The legislation was amended on the floor to allow media to review audio recordings. The original legislation only allowed the release of the recordings' transcripts. Prior to the bill, 911 recordings were considered public records.
The bill hit the session floor after pressure come from the families of Jordan Gonnering and Brittany Zimmermann to prohibit the airing of 911 recordings. Allegedly, news outlets sued to acquire the audio of Gonnering's calls to police after discovering Zimmermann's body, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
The Assembly also passed the C.O.R.E. Jobs Act late in the session on an 88-9 vote. The act aims to build upon Wisconsin's strengths by three central strategies—creating new jobs and businesses, retaining and building existing businesses and constructing an educated and trained workforce.
The C.O.R.E. Jobs Act is a package of 18 proposals, one of which allocates $2 million for post-secondary education tax credits for businesses. Another provision increases the state's angel and venture capital investment tax credit program by $3 million for 2010, and $12 million for every year thereafter.
The bill also creates micro-loan pilot programs to enable entrepreneurs to open new small businesses with loans typically between $1,000 to $25,000. These micro-loans are available to any Wisconsin resident.
After passage by the Assembly Thursday, the bill will need to return to the Senate for final approval before reaching the governor.
Also passed by the Assembly was a bill changing the drinking age for minors when accompanied by a parent or spouse. On a 56-41 bipartisan vote, no one under 18 can drink in a bar even with parental consent. Under current law, minors of any age can consume alcohol when given consent by a parent and the bar obliges.
