Senate Bill 384
Defense to criminal prosecutions for parent or guardian for using spiritual treatment in lieu of medical treatment on a child and the election of Christian Science treatment for a child in lieu of medical or surgical treatment for the cure of disease
Topics: Children, Court: Procedure, Guardian and ward, Medical service, Religious societies
Stopped before the full Senate voted
The recommended passing it, but the full Senate never voted on it. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Nov 3, 2009
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, stopped here
Stopped here. The full Senate never voted on it.
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Assembly vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 28, 2010: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
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Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under current law, a person is not guilty of the crime of physical abuse of a child soley because the person provides a child with treatment by spiritual means instead of medical or surgical treatment. This bill creates a general affirmative defense for a parent or guardian of an individual under the age of 18 who reasonably uses, on the individual, spiritual treatment instead of medical treatment.
Also under current law, a person who elects Christian Science treatment in lieu of medical or surgical treatment for the cure of disease may not be compelled to submit to medical or surgical treatment. The bill specifies that this prohibition does not apply where medical or surgical treatment of a child is required under current provisions that permit a child to be taken into custody if the child is suffering from illness or injury or is in immediate danger from his or her surroundings, or to be taken to a hospital or a physician if the child is believed to be suffering from a serious physical condition which requires either prompt diagnosis or prompt treatment, or if medical or surgical treatment is otherwise required by law.
Who's behind it
3 senators are its . 2 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.
3 more lawmakers .
See all 6 names Hide the names
Authors (3)
- Mary Lazich · Republican, Senate
- Luther S. Olsen · Republican, Senate
- Lena Taylor · Democrat, Senate
Signed on in support (3)
- Steve Kestell · Republican, Assembly
- John Nygren · Republican, Assembly
- John Townsend · Republican, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Judiciary vote to recommend it
Passed, 4 to 1 · Dec 2, 2009
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage recommended by committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing, Ayes 4, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 28, 2010
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Feb 9, 2010
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Dec 2, 2009
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 4 to 1.
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Nov 18, 2009
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Nov 17, 2009
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Nov 10, 2009
The committee held a public hearing.
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Nov 3, 2009
Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing.
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Nov 3, 2009
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Nov 3, 2009 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Taylor, Lazich and Olsen;Cosponsored by Representatives Kestell, Townsend and Nygren
- Nov 3, 2009 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing
- Nov 10, 2009 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Nov 17, 2009 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Nov 17, 2009 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Nov 17, 2009 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Nov 18, 2009 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Dec 1, 2009 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Dec 2, 2009 · Senate
Report passage recommended by committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing, Ayes 4, Noes 1
- Dec 2, 2009 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 9, 2010 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Apr 28, 2010 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote