Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session Status: In Committee 7 R cosponsors

SB 48 — Relating to: public access to actions by Parole Commission.

Last action — Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

96 added · 59 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to Senate Bill 48 enhance public access to the activities of the Parole Commission. Key changes include the removal of exceptions that previously kept some meetings closed to the public, meaning all deliberations will now be open, and the requirement for the Department of Corrections to post details online about parole decisions, including who has been granted or denied parole. This improved transparency is significant as it aims to keep the public informed and accountable regarding parole processes and outcomes.

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- 2024 LEGISLATURE LRBs0055/1 CMH:amn&cjs SENATE SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1, TO SENATE BILL 48 May 16, 2023 - Offered by SenatoANGGAARD .
- 2024 LEGISLATURE LRB-0946/2 CMH:amn SENATE BILL 48 February 14, 2023 - Introduced by Senators W ANGGAARD , BRADLEY, JAMES , B ALLWEG, CABRAL-GUEVARA , OWLES , ACQUE , MARKLEIN, ASS and STROEBEL , cosponsored by Representatives PIROS, UCHOW , CHRAA , LLEN , RANDTJEN , D ITTRIC, D ONOVAN , E DMING, K NODL , M ICHALSKI, M URPHY, O C ONNOR , R ETTINGER, OZAR, SCHUTT, TEFFEN and W ICHGERS.
A N A CT to amend 304.06 (1) (c) 3., 304.06 (1) (d) 1., 304.06 (1) (d) 2., 304.06 (1) (d) 3g., 304.06 (1) (eg) and 304.063 (2) (a);
Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
and to create 304.01 (3) and (4) of the statutes;
A N A CT to amend 19.85 (1) (a), 19.85 (1) (d), 304.06 (1) (d) 1., 304.06 (1) (d) 3g.
and 304.06 (1) (eg);
and to create 304.01 (3), (4) and (5) of the statutes;
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Under current law, the Parole Commission is the authority for granting discretionary release to parole to a person who committed a felony before December 31, 1999.
This bill changes the open meetings requirement for the Parole Commission, provides specific notice requirements for meetings of the Parole Commission, and requires information about parole decisions to be posted on the Department of Corrections Internet site.
Eliminating the exception to the open meetings law Current law requires that every meeting of a governmental body be held in a place reasonably accessible to members of the public and open to all citizens at all times.
Current law provides exceptions to the open meetings requirement.
One exception is for the consideration of specific applications of release to probation, extended supervision, or parole.
The bill eliminates that exception so that the Parole Commission is subject to the open meetings requirement when considering specific applications for release.
Notice requirements Current law regulates public notice of all meetings of a governmental body.
In addition to any requirements specific to a governmental body, the notice must be posted in at least three public places likely to give notice to affected persons, posted - 2024 Legislature - 2 - LRB-0946/2 CMH:amn SENATE BILL 48 in one such public place and on the governmental body's Internet site, or published in a news medium likely to give notice to affected persons.
The bill requires that the Parole Commission provide notice of all meetings on the DOC Internet site.
Posting requirements The bill requires DOC to post certain information about the actions of the Parole Commission on its Internet site for public access.
Under the bill, DOC must post any guidance documents that the Parole Commission uses when making parole decisions.
DOC must post individuals granted parole, denied parole, and returned to prison following the revocation of parole.
DOC must also post monthly and annual totals of the number of persons granted parole, denied parole, and returned to prison following the revocation of parole.
The annual totals must be presented by the crime for which the individual was convicted;
the sex, race, and age of the individual;
and the locality in which the individual was convicted.
SECTION 1.
S ECTION 1.
304.01 (3) and (4) of the statutes are created to read:
19.85 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
304.01 (3) The department shall post on the department's public Internet site the individuals granted parole, denied parole, and returned to prison following the revocation of parole.
19.85 (1) (a) Deliberating concerning a case which was the subject of any judicial or quasi-judicial trial or hearing before that governmental body.
This paragraph does not authorize a closed session for considering specific applications of probation, extended supervision, or parole.
S ECTION 2.
19.85 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
19.85 (1) (d) Except as provided in s.
304.06 (1) (eg) and by rule promulgated under s.
304.06 (1) (em), considering specific applications of probation, extended supervision or parole, or considering Considering strategy for crime detection or prevention.
S ECTION 3.
304.01 (3), (4) and (5) of the statutes are created to read:
304.01 (3) The public notice required under s.
19.84 for meetings of the parole commission shall include the names of the individuals who are being considered for parole and shall be posted on the department's public Internet site.
LRB-0946/2 - 2024 Legislature - 3 - CMH:amn SECTION 3 SENATE BILL 48 (4) The department shall post on the department's public Internet site the individuals granted parole, denied parole, and returned to prison following the revocation of parole.
(4) Any guidance documents that the parole commission uses to guide parole decisions shall be posted on the department's public Internet site.
(5) Any guidance documents that the parole commission uses to guide parole decisions shall be posted on the department's public Internet site.
LRBs0055/1 - 2024 Legislature - 2 - CMH:amn&cjs SECTION 2 SECTION 2.
SECTION 4.
304.06 (1) (c) 3.
of the statutes is amended to read:
304.06(1) (c) 3.
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The victim of the crime committed by the inmate or, if the victim died as a result of the crime, an adult member of the victim's family and any member of the victim's family who was younger than 18 years old at the time the crime was committed but is now 18 years old or older or, if the victim is younger than 18 years old, the victim's parent or legal guardian, upon submission of a card under par.
(f) requesting notification.
SECTION 3.
SECTION 4.
304.06 (1) (d) 2.
of the statutes is amended to read:
304.06 (1) (d) 2.
The notice shall be by 1st class mail to an office's or a person's last-known address sent at least 3 weeks days before the interview or hearing upon the application for parole.
If applicable, the notice shall state the date of the interview or hearing that is the person may attend subject of the notice.
If applicable, the notice shall state the date of the interview or hearing that ise person may attend subject of the notice.
LRBs0055/1 - 2024 Legislature - 3 - CMH:amn&cjs SECTION 6 SECTION 6.
SECTION 6.
304.06 (1) (eg) The parole commission shall permit any person under par.
- 2024 Legislature - 4 - LRB-0946/2 CMH:amn SENATE BILL 48 SECTION 6 304.06 (1) (eg) The parole commission shall permit any person under par.
to attenmake a statement at any interview or hearing on the application for parole of an applicable inmate and to make a statement at that interview or hearing.
to attendmake a statement at any interview or hearing on the application for parole of an applicable inmate and to make a statement at that interview or hearing.
SECTION 7.
304.063 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
304.063 (2) (a) The victim of the crime committed by the prisoner or, if the victim died as a result of the crime, an adult member of the victim's family and any member of the victim's family who was younger than 18 years old at the time the crime was committed but is now 18 years old or older or, if the victim is younger than 18 years old, the victim's parent or legal guardian.
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Action History

  1. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  2. Available for scheduling

  3. Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 2

  4. Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 0

  5. Executive action taken

  6. Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Wanggaard

  7. Senator Hutton added as a coauthor

  8. Public hearing held

  9. Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

  10. Introduced by Senators Wanggaard, Bradley, James, Ballweg, Cabral-Guevara, Cowles, Jacque, Marklein, Nass and Stroebel; cosponsored by Representatives Spiros, Duchow, Schraa, Allen, Brandtjen, Dittrich, Donovan, Edming, Knodl, Michalski, Murphy, O'Connor, Rettinger, Rozar, Schutt, Steffen and Wichgers

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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10 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 122 not signed on

Sponsors (10)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (122)

122 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 48?
SB 48 is sponsored by Wanggaard, Van (Republican), Bradley, Julian (Republican), James, Jesse (Republican), Ballweg, Cabral-Guevara, Rachael (Republican), Cowles, Jacque, André (Republican), Marklein, Howard (Republican), Nass, Steve (Republican), and Stroebel.
What is the current status of SB 48?
This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 48?
Track SB 48 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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