NEWS
Gov. Doyle approves new legislation
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Also by Ann Babe:
- Legislators introduce Jessica's Law (October 20, 2005)
- Parisi seeks prison releases (October 21, 2005)
- State Street getting 'freaky' (September 14, 2006)
- Concealed-carry veto override attempt fails in Capitol (February 1, 2006)
- Doyle signs bill redefining abuse law (February 17, 2006)
Related Stories:
- Campaign Finance legislation halted (February 27, 2002)
- Doyle signs bill redefining abuse law (February 17, 2006)
- Doyle wants legislators in session (December 10, 2007)
- Speaker Jensen to push campaign-finance legislation (February 26, 2002)
- Assembly stalls campaign-finance reform (March 1, 2002)
by Ann Babe
Friday, October 14, 2005
Thursday proved an eventful day at the State Capitol, as Gov. Jim Doyle approved two Senate and five Assembly bills, including Aaron's Law and a number of other initiatives intended to reform Wisconsin legislation.
Assembly Bill 214
Dubbed "Aaron's Law" after Aaron Wake, 24, a Door County man who died in June 2001 after inhaling butane, AB 214 aims to fight the dangerously growing trend of "huffing" by establishing the act as a Class A misdemeanor.
"More and more kids are huffing the fumes of paint thinner, glue and other common household products," Doyle said in a press release. "And they are not only getting high — they are putting their lives in great danger."
According to the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition, more than 20 percent of teens have used inhalants to get high by the time they have reached the eighth grade. Though inhalant abuse seems minor when compared to marijuana and alcohol use, concern intensifies as the accessibility of each drug is considered.
While alcohol and marijuana are more difficult for teens to obtain, hundreds of common inhalants can be found in every household, whether it is the glue and markers found in the office, hairspray and nail-polish remover in the bathroom or paint thinner and spray paint in the garage.
Authored by Rep. Garey Bies, R-Sister Bay, AB 214 also establishes the distribution of hazardous inhalants as a Class I felony.
"The purpose of 'Aaron's Bill' is not to make a new group of criminals for our justice system, but to be a tool for law enforcement and groups like the Wisconsin Inhalant Prevention Coalition to help those affected," Bies said in a release.
Senate Bill 218
Authored by Rep. Samantha Kerkman, R-Powers Lake, and Sen. Carol Roessler, R-Oshkosh, SB 218 was also signed into law Thursday.
The "Taxpayer-Friendly Bill" makes a number of changes to certain provisions of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Code, bringing the state's laws in accordance with those of the Internal Revenue Service.
Additionally, "[SB 218] includes a provision that specifically allows an interest-free time for anyone who is unable to pay their taxes on time due to Operation Iraqi Freedom," Roessler added, referring to soldiers serving overseas.
The bill was included by Doyle in his Grow Wisconsin initiative and will apply to April 2006 tax filings.
Assembly Bill 316
Aligning Wisconsin county-forest-planning regulations with those of the state and nation, AB 316, authored by Rep. John Ainsworth, R-Shawano, extends forest-organization plans from 10 to 15 years.
"I think it's important because it allows the county forest the time to manage the forest rather than just spend time on paperwork developing new plans," Ainsworth said, adding what the state needs is "a little less talk and a lot more action."
Senate Bill 266
Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, authored SB 266 to correct the oversight of state law, which had previously prohibited people under age 21 from entering any premises operating under an alcoholic-beverage license, even when attending a family gathering at a banquet hall.
"We sort of view this bill as a common-sense reaction to the discovery of this outdated law," Fitzgerald spokesperson Mike Prentiss said.
Other legislation
Other bills signed into law Thursday included AB 39, which assures safe housing standards in compliance with federal regulations; AB 193, which alters two provisions regarding Kenosha's tax incremental districts; and AB 296, which lessens the state's financial accountability in the placement of developmentally disabled people.
