The State Assembly met Thursday for what is likely its last floor session of the year. Among the bills voted for approval was a revision of the current strip search law, as well as an addition to the existing teacher loan program. Representatives also unanimously approved a series of measures to increase funding for dementia treatment and research.
Assembly approves controversial strip search bill
As part of a series of criminal justice bills, the Assembly passed a strip search bill that eliminates the current 12-hour waiting period on strip searches. The previous waiting period allowed people charged with lesser crimes to post bail before being searched.
"If someone brings something into a jail with intent to harm themselves, an officer or another inmate, that person having more time gives them time to plan how they can use that item to harm somebody," said bill author Joel Kleefisch, R-Oconomowoc.
The bill has generated controversy in light of past cases of police abuse. Assembly Democrats have raised questions of the legality of the measure and if it will violate Fourth Amendment rights.
“This is an issue we need to move with caution on,” said state Rep. Mandela Barnes, D-Milwaukee.
The bill cleared the Senate and will now go to the governor’s desk for final approval.
Student loan forgiveness approved for rural teachers
Representatives also voted to an expansion to the teacher loan program. The bill extends loan forgiveness for schools in a high-demand, teacher-lacking location to include teachers from rural counties.
The Higher Educational Aids Board can now grant up to $10,000 per year to teachers located in rural areas with teacher shortages.
The bill, co-sponsored by state Sens. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, and Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, and state Rep. Romaine Quinn, R-Rice Lake, provides a maximum of $30,000 over a period of three years to teachers who meet the qualifications.
Bills to fight Alzheimer’s advance unanimously
In a less contested vote, the body also voted to pass Bill 784, which allocates funds to the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center for the 2016-'17 budget.
Under the bill, $50,000 in funding will be provided to the research center, located at UW-Madison. The money will be used in part on a virtual dementia tour, which will be used as an educational tool, and a blood study for adult children of parents with Alzheimer’s.
The bill comes in a package of other proposals to treat and research Alzheimer’s and dementia that were also passed in this Assembly session.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, who formed a task force on the subject, touted the bills as an example of bipartisan cooperation that benefits Wisconsinites.
“This is something we can all work together to solve … these are the kinds of things we should go home proud [about],” Vos said.
Bill 784, as well as its companions, will go to the Senate for approval.
