Governor Doyle: Signs 18 Bills into Law

Contact:
Jessica Erickson, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2156

MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle signed into law 18 bills in his office today:


* Assembly Bill 195, authored by Representative Michael Lehman and Senator Carol Roessler, clarifies that state tax warrants and liens on real property last 20 years.


* * Assembly Bill 209 allows aunts, uncles, and great-grandparents to deduct contributions made to an EdVest College Saving Program account. The bill’s authors are Representatives Rob Kreibich and Mark Miller and Senators Alberta Darling and Bob Wirch.


* * Assembly Bill 554 clarifies that powers of attorney and declarations to physicians developed in other states are valid to the extent allowable under Wisconsin law. The bill’s authors are Representatives Judy Krawczyk and Pedro Colon and Senators Carol Roessler and Jon Erpenbach.


* * Assembly Bill 628, authored by Representative Garey Bies and Senator Alan Lasee, provides a property tax exemption to the Peninsula Players Theater Foundation, which operates one of the nation’s oldest open-air live theaters in Door County.


* * Assembly Bill 709, authored by Representative Jean Hundertmark and Senator Carol Roessler, allows a law enforcement agency and school officials to share information regarding a juvenile who has committed a violation of state or federal criminal law.


* * Assembly Bill 730, authored by Representative John Gard, broadens the Department of Financial Institutions’ regulatory authority on the acquisition of in-state banks and holding companies.


* * Assembly Bill 755, authored by Representatives Ann Nischke and Mark Miller and Senators Ted Kanavas and Fred Risser, removes barriers to electronic commerce by enacting the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) in Wisconsin. UETA allows the use of electronic records and electronic signatures in most transactions, with a few limited exceptions.


* * Assembly Bill 925, authored by Representative Jeff Wood and Senator Ron Brown, gives municipalities more time to comply with a recent change in the dwelling code by delaying the implementation date. Cities, villages, or towns with populations 2,500 or less can now remain exempt from enforcement of the dwelling code until January 1, 2005.


* * * Assembly Bill 932, authored by Representative Dean Kaufert and Senator Alberta Darling, enables Wisconsin to receive federal funding necessary to implement the required election administration improvements in the Help America Vote Act of 2002.


* * Senate Bill 3 improves the safety of human service vehicle passengers by bringing the requirements to operate a human service vehicle in line with requirements that must be met to operate a school bus. The bill also increases the penalty for unlicensed operators and those who lack proper training in vehicle restraints. The bill’s authors are Senator Mary Lazich and Representative Mark Gundrum.


* * Senate Bill 75, introduced by the Joint Legislative Council, provides municipalities with protection from civil liability for damages resulting from the issuance of a fireworks permit in accordance with the law.


* * Senate Bill 380, authored by Senator Dale Schultz and Representative Phil Montgomery, codifies existing reporting procedures at the State of Wisconsin Investment Board and provides the board with more flexibility in managing fixed income assets.


* * Senate Bill 399, authored by Senator Carol Roessler and Representatives Mark Honadel and Barbara Gronemus, requires the Department of Health and Family Services to develop a certificate of birth resulting in a stillbirth, and issue the certificate to the parents of a stillborn child.


* * Senate Bill 401, authored by Senator Dave Hansen and Representatives Garey Bies and Terese Berceau, allows a greater number of qualified candidates to apply for licensure as a clinical social worker by making various changes to the licensure of clinical social workers.


* * Senate Bill 446, authored by Senators Dale Schultz and Dave Hansen and Representative Bonnie Ladwig, classifies vehicle protection product warranties as warranty products and not as insurance products.


* * Senate Bill 489 provides beer wholesalers with additional protections of distribution rights in addition to those already afforded under the Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law. The bill’s authors are Senators Scott Fitzgerald and Judy Robson and Representatives Jeff Fitzgerald and Jim Kreuser.


* * Senate Bill 504, authored by Senator Dale Schultz and Representatives Bonnie Ladwig and John Lehman, makes explicit that an unmatured annuity is also exempt from a creditor’s claim in a bankruptcy proceeding, and increases the case value that can be exempt from $4,000 to $150,000.


* * Senate Bill 526, authored by Senator Jeff Plale and Representatives Jeff Fitzgerald and Tony Staskunas, adds March 17 to the list of special observance days in Wisconsin public schools to be observed for “The Great Hunger” in Ireland from 1845 to 1850.