Wisconsin 2019-2020 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

SB 8 — Relating to: mandatory period of confinement for homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and providing a penalty. (FE)

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

  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 2019-2020 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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis.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

65 added · 20 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Senate Bill 8 made significant changes to the sentencing guidelines for homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. Originally, the bill mandated a minimum sentence of five years in prison with very few exceptions. The amendment allows a court to impose a lesser sentence if it finds a compelling reason to do so, provided that this reason is documented in writing. This change is important as it offers judges more discretion in sentencing, which could lead to more tailored justice in cases where circumstances warrant a lighter penalty.

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- 2020 LEGISLATURE LRBa0495/1 CMH:amn&kjf SENATE AMENDMENT 2, TO SENATE BILL 8 September 4, 2019 - Offered by SenatoARLIN.
- 2020 LEGISLATURE LRB-1204/1 CMH:ahe SENATE BILL 8 January 29, 2019 - Introduced by Senators DARLING,BERNIER ,CRAIG and M ARKLEIN, cosponsored by Representatives O TT, ANDERSON , GUNDRUM , KERKMAN , SPIROS and W ICHGERS .
At the locations indicated, amend the bill as follows:
Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
A N A CT to renumber and amend 940.09 (1c) (a) and 940.09 (1c) (b);
and to create 940.09 (1c) (a) 2.
and 940.09 (1c) (b) 2.
of the statutes;
relating to:
mandatory period of confinement for homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and providing a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Under this bill, a person who is convicted of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle must be sentenced to a mandatory minimum period of confinement in prison of five years.
The bill creates an exception to the mandatory minimum sentence created in this bill if the decedent was a passenger in the person's car and the court finds that the best interests of the community will be served and that the public will not be harmed.
If the court sentences a person to a period of confinement that is less than the mandatory minimum sentence, the bill requires the court to put its findings in writing.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
- 2020 Legislature - 2 - LRB-1204/1 CMH:ahe SENATE BILL 8 SECTION 1 SECTION 1.
940.09 (1c) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 940.09 (1c) (a) 1.
and amended to read:
940.09 (1c) (a) 1.
Except as provided in par.
(b), a person who violates sub.
(1) is guilty of a Class D felony.
Upon conviction, the court shall impose a bifurcated sentence under s.
973.01 and the term of confinement in prison portion of the bifurcated sentence shall be at least 5 years.
SECTION 2.
940.09 (1c) (a) 2.
of the statutes is created to read:
940.09 (1c) (a) 2.
If a person whose death was caused by the violation was in the vehicle operated by the convicted person at the time of the violation, the court may impose a sentence that is less than the sentence required under subd.
Page 2, line 1:
if the court finds that the best interests of the community will be served and the public will not be harmed, and if the court places its reasons on the record.
delete “renumbered 940.09 (1c) (a) 1.
SECTION 3.
and".
940.09 (1c) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 940.09 (1c) (b) 1.
2.
and amended to read:
Page 2, line 3:
940.09 (1c) (b) 1.
on lines 3 and 15, delete “1.".
A person who violates sub.
3.
(1) is guilty of a Class C felony if the person has one or more prior convictions, suspensions, or revocations, as counted under s.
Page 2, line 6:
343.307 (2).
after “yearsert “except that a court may impose a term of confinement that is less than 5 years if the court finds a compelling reason and places its reason on the record".
Upon conviction, the court shall impose a bifurcated sentence under s.
4.
973.01 and the term of confinement in prison portion of the bifurcated sentence shall be at least 5 years.
Page 2, line 7:
SECTION 4.
delete lines 7 to 12.
940.09 (1c) (b) 2.
Show all 50 changed rows (10 more)
Previous
Latest
5.
of the statutes is created to read:
Page 2, line 13:
940.09 (1c) (b) 2.
delete “renumbered 940.09 (1c) (b) 1.
If a person whose death was caused by the violation was in the vehicle operated by the convicted person at the time of the violation, the court may impose a sentence that is less than the sentence required under subd.
and".
1.
6.
if the court finds that the best interests of the community will be served and the public will not be harmed, and if the court places its reasons on the record.
Page 2, line 19:
LRB-1204/1 - 2020 Legislature - 3 - CMH:ahe SECTION 5 SENATE BILL 8 SECTION 5.Initial applicability.
after “years" insert “except that a court may impose a term of confinement that is less than 5 years if the court finds a compelling reason and places its reason on the record".
(1) This act first applies to violations committed on the effective date of this subsection, but does not preclude the counting of other convictions, suspensions, or revocations as prior convictions, suspensions, or revocations for purposes of administrative action by the department of transportation or sentencing by a court.
LRBa0495/1 - 2020 Legislature - 2 - CMH:amn&kjf 7.
Page 2, line 20:
delete lines 20 to 25.
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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 0

  4. Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  5. Executive action taken

  6. Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senator Darling

  7. Public hearing held

  8. Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Darling

  9. Representative Rohrkaste added as a cosponsor

  10. Fiscal estimate received

  11. Fiscal estimate received

  12. Fiscal estimate received

  13. Senator Wanggaard added as a coauthor

  14. Fiscal estimate received

  15. Fiscal estimate received

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

  17. Introduced by Senators Darling, Bernier, Craig and Marklein; cosponsored by Representatives Ott, Anderson, Gundrum, Kerkman, Spiros and Wichgers

Sponsors

  • Darling · Primary
  • Bernier · Primary
  • Craig · Primary
  • Howard Marklein · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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4 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 128 not signed on

Sponsors (4)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (128)

128 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 128 →

"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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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 8?
SB 8 is sponsored by Darling, Bernier, Craig, and Marklein, Howard (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 8?
This bill died with 2019-2020 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 8?
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