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Bills from the 2011–12 session

Senate Bill 426

Intentional program violations of public assistance programs

Topics: Children and Families, Department of, Day care, Public assistance, Wisconsin Works

Became law

The governor signed it on Apr 3, 2012. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Feb 3, 2012

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Mar 6, 2012

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 66 to 27

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2011 Wisconsin Act 202

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 5, 2012: “Published 4-16-2012”

Read the bill

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What it does

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

The Wisconsin Works (W-2) program provides work experience and benefits for low-income custodial parents who are at least 18 years old, as well as job search assistance to noncustodial parents who are required to pay child support, to minor custodial parents, and to pregnant women who are not custodial parents. Under Wisconsin Shares, which is also part of the W-2 program, an individual who is the parent of a child under the age of 13 or, if the child is disabled, under the age of 19, who needs child care services to participate in various educational or work activities, and who satisfies other eligibility criteria, may receive a child care subsidy for child care services. The W-2 program is currently administered by the Department of Children and Families (DCF). DCF also administers a program that provides emergency assistance to needy persons in cases of fire, flood, natural disaster, energy crisis, or homelessness or impending homelessness (emergency assistance program).

Under current law, if a court finds or if it is determined after an administrative hearing that an individual has intentionally violated any statute or rule governing the W-2 program on three separate occasions, a W-2 agency may permanently deny the individual benefits under the W-2 program. Under this bill, a W-2 agency, an entity administering Wisconsin Shares, or DCF is required deny an individual benefits under the W-2 program or the emergency assistance program as follows:

Read the full summary

1. For a first intentional program violation, for six months.

2. For a second intentional program violation, for one year.

3. For a third intentional program violation, permanently.

Under the bill, an intentional program violation is defined as making a false or misleading statement, intentionally misrepresenting or withholding facts, or committing any act that constitutes a violation of state or federal law for the purpose of using, presenting, transferring, acquiring, receiving, possessing, or trafficking public assistance benefits. The bill also specifies that DCF, a W-2 agency, or an entity administering Wisconsin Shares determines whether an individual has committed an intentional program violation for purposes of denying benefits.

Who's behind it

2 senators are its ⁠. All 2 are Republicans.

21 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 23 names

Authors (2)

Signed on in support (21)

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

How lawmakers voted

There were 9 votes on this bill.

Senate Committee on Judiciary vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Mar 2, 2012

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 15 · Mar 6, 2012

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Senate amendment 5 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 17 to 16 · Mar 6, 2012

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Senate amendment 6 laid on table, Ayes 17, Noes 16”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 18 to 15 · Mar 6, 2012

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 66 to 27 · Mar 15, 2012 · 6 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, I: Independent, R: Republican

Yes (66)

Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 66, Noes 27”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 59 to 34 · Mar 15, 2012

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Assembly amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 59, Noes 34”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 59 to 34 · Mar 15, 2012

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Assembly amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 59, Noes 34”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 59 to 34 · Mar 15, 2012

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Assembly amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 59, Noes 34”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 60 to 33 · Mar 15, 2012

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Assembly amendment 5 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 33”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Apr 5, 2012

    The new law was published.

  2. Apr 3, 2012

    The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 202.

  3. Mar 30, 2012

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 15, 2012

    The Assembly passed it too, 66 to 27.

  5. Mar 6, 2012

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Mar 6, 2012

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Mar 6, 2012

    The Senate passed it, 18 to 15.

  8. Mar 6, 2012

    The Senate adopted it.

  9. Mar 2, 2012

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.

  10. Mar 2, 2012

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  11. Mar 2, 2012

    “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  12. Feb 16, 2012

    The committee held a public hearing.

  13. Feb 15, 2012

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  14. Feb 3, 2012

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations.

  15. Feb 3, 2012

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Feb 3, 2012 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Darling and Lazich;Cosponsored by Representatives Krug, Knodl, Ballweg, Endsley, Jacque, Kerkman, Kestell, Knudson, T. Larson, Marklein, A. Ott, Pridemore, Spanbauer, Steineke, Strachota, Thiesfeldt, Van Roy, Vos, Wynn, Ziegelbauer and J. Ott

  2. Feb 3, 2012 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations

  3. Feb 6, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 offered by Senator Darling

  4. Feb 15, 2012 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Feb 16, 2012 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  6. Feb 20, 2012 · Senate

    LRB correction

  7. Feb 24, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 2 offered by Senator Darling

  8. Feb 27, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 3 offered by Senator Erpenbach

  9. Feb 27, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 4 offered by Senators Risser and Erpenbach

  10. Mar 1, 2012 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  11. Mar 2, 2012 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  12. Mar 2, 2012 · Senate

    Report adoption of Senate Amendment 2 recommended by committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  13. Mar 2, 2012 · Senate

    Report passage as amended recommended by committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  14. Mar 2, 2012 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  15. Mar 6, 2012 · Senate

    Read a second time

  16. Mar 6, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 adopted

  17. Mar 6, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 2 adopted

  18. Mar 6, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 5 offered by Senators Erpenbach and Risser

  19. Mar 6, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 5 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  20. Mar 6, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 6 offered by Senators Risser and Erpenbach

  21. Mar 6, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 6 laid on table, Ayes 17, Noes 16

  22. Mar 6, 2012 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  23. Mar 6, 2012 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  24. Mar 6, 2012 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  25. Mar 6, 2012 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  26. Mar 6, 2012 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  27. Mar 6, 2012 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  28. Mar 6, 2012 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 1 offered by Representatives Molepske Jr and Vruwink

  29. Mar 6, 2012 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 2 offered by Representative Molepske Jr

  30. Mar 6, 2012 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 11:23 A.M. on 3-13-2012 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 22

  31. Mar 13, 2012 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 3 offered by Representative Hebl

  32. Mar 13, 2012 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 4 offered by Representative Molepske Jr

  33. Mar 13, 2012 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 5 offered by Representative Molepske Jr

  34. Mar 13, 2012 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 6 offered by Representative Berceau

  35. Mar 13, 2012 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 7 offered by Representative Berceau

  36. Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  37. Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 59, Noes 34

  38. Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 59, Noes 34

  39. Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 59, Noes 34

  40. Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 4 withdrawn and returned to author

  41. Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 5 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 33

  42. Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 6 withdrawn and returned to author

  43. Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly

    Assembly amendment 7 withdrawn and returned to author

  44. Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  45. Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  46. Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 66, Noes 27

  47. Mar 15, 2012 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  48. Mar 16, 2012 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  49. Mar 22, 2012 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled on 3-22-2012

  50. Mar 30, 2012 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 3-30-2012

  51. Apr 3, 2012 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 4-2-2012. 2011 Wisconsin Act 202

  52. Apr 5, 2012 · Senate

    Published 4-16-2012

Terms on this page

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act. 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

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act

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