Senate Bill 86
Permitting an educational agency to refuse to employ or to terminate from employment an unpardoned felon
Topics: Blind and visually impaired, Crime and criminals: Felony, Deaf and hearing impaired, Discrimination in employment, Educational Service Agency, Cooperative, Juvenile detention facility, Mental health: Hospitals and institutes, Milwaukee: School, Parochial and private educational institutions, Prison, School, School: Employee
Became law
The governor signed it on Nov 23, 2011. It's .
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Introduced, passed
May 4, 2011
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Oct 27, 2011
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Nov 3, 2011
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2011 Wisconsin Act 83
Latest entry in the official record, Nov 28, 2011: “Published 12-8-2011”
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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
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Current law, subject to certain exceptions, prohibits discrimination in employment based on conviction record. Current law specifies, however, that it is not employment discrimination because of conviction record to refuse to employ or to terminate from employment an individual who has been convicted of a felony, misdemeanor, or other offense, the circumstances of which substantially relate to the circumstances of the particular job. This bill specifies that it is not employment discrimination because of conviction record for an educational agency to refuse to employ or to terminate from employment an individual who has been convicted of a felony and who has not been pardoned for that felony, whether or not the circumstances of the felony substantially relate to the circumstances of the particular job.
Under the bill, an "educational agency" is defined as a school district, a cooperative educational service agency, a county children with disabilities education board, a state prison, a juvenile correctional facility, a secured residential care center for children and youth, the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Mendota Mental Health Institute, the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, a state center for the developmentally disabled, a private school, a charter school, an agency under contract with a school board to provide a program for children at risk, or a nonsectarian private school or agency under contract with the Milwaukee Public Schools board to provide educational programs for children enrolled in the school district.
Who's behind it
6 senators are its . All 6 are Republicans.
26 more lawmakers .
See all 32 names Hide the names
Authors (6)
- Alberta Darling · Republican, Senate
- Pam Galloway · Republican, Senate
- Mary Lazich · Republican, Senate
- Joe Leibham · Republican, Senate
- Dale Schultz · Republican, Senate
- Van Wanggaard · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (26)
- Alvin Ott · Republican, Assembly
- Tyler August · Republican, Assembly
- Kathleen Bernier · Republican, Senate
- Garey Bies · Republican, Assembly
- Edward Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- Mike Endsley · Republican, Assembly
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- Samantha Kerkman · Republican, Assembly
- Steve Kestell · Republican, Assembly
- Joel Kleefisch · Republican, Assembly
- Bill Kramer · Republican, Assembly
- Daniel LeMahieu · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
- John Nygren · Republican, Assembly
- Kevin Petersen · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry Petrowski · Republican, Senate
- Don Pridemore · Republican, Assembly
- Richard Spanbauer · Republican, Assembly
- Jim Steineke · Republican, Assembly
- Jeffrey Stone · Republican, Assembly
- Gary Tauchen · Republican, Assembly
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt · Republican, Assembly
- Robin Vos · Republican, Assembly
- Mary Williams · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Ziegelbauer · Independent, Assembly
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 6 votes on this bill. Taking a bill up right away needs two-thirds of the members, a higher bar than passing it, so that vote can draw more yeses than the final one.
Senate Committee on Labor vote to recommend it
Passed, 4 to 1 · Jun 8, 2011
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 Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs, Ayes 4, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote on an amendment
Passed, 17 to 14 · Oct 27, 2011
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Senate amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 17, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote on an amendment
Passed, 16 to 15 · Oct 27, 2011
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Senate amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 16, Noes 15”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to take it up right away
Passed, 62 to 34 · Nov 1, 2011 · 2 didn't vote
See how each of the 98 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, I: Independent, R: Republican
Yes (62)
- Alvin Ott (R, 3)
- Amy Loudenbeck (R, 31)
- André Jacque (R, 1)
- Bill Kramer (R, 97)
- Bob Ziegelbauer (I, 25)
- Chad Weininger (R, 4)
- Chris Kapenga (R, 33)
- Dale Kooyenga (R, 5)
- Dan Knodl (R, 24)
- Dan Meyer (R, 34)
- Daniel LeMahieu (R, 59)
- David Craig (R, 28)
- Dean Kaufert (R, 53)
- Dean Knudson (R, 30)
- Don Pridemore (R, 22)
- Duey Stroebel (R, 20)
- Edward Brooks (R, 50)
- Erik Severson (R, 28)
- Evan Wynn (R, 43)
- Garey Bies (R, 1)
- Gary Tauchen (R, 6)
- Howard Marklein (R, 17)
- Jeff Fitzgerald (R, 39)
- Jeff Mursau (R, 36)
- Jeffrey Stone (R, 82)
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R, 52)
- Jerry Petrowski (R, 29)
- Jim Ott (R, 23)
- Jim Steineke (R, 5)
- Joan Ballweg (R, 14)
- Joe Knilans (R, 44)
- Joel Kleefisch (R, 38)
- John Klenke (R, 88)
- John Murtha (R, 29)
- John Nygren (R, 89)
- Karl Van Roy (R, 90)
- Kathleen Bernier (R, 23)
- Keith Ripp (R, 42)
- Kevin Petersen (R, 57)
- Lee Nerison (R, 96)
- Margaret Krusick (D, 7)
- Mark Honadel (R, 21)
- Mark Radcliffe (D, 92)
- Mary Williams (R, 87)
- Michelle Litjens (R, 56)
- Mike Endsley (R, 26)
- Mike Kuglitsch (R, 84)
- Pat Strachota (R, 58)
- Paul F. Farrow (R, 33)
- Richard Spanbauer (R, 53)
- Robin Vos (R, 33)
- Roger Rivard (R, 75)
- Samantha Kerkman (R, 61)
- Scott Krug (R, 72)
- Scott Suder (R, 69)
- Steve Kestell (R, 27)
- Steve Nass (R, 11)
- Thomas Larson (R, 67)
- Thomas Tiffany (R, 12)
- Travis Tranel (R, 49)
- Tyler August (R, 31)
- Warren Petryk (R, 93)
No (34)
- Amy Sue Vruwink (D, 70)
- Andy Jorgensen (D, 43)
- Brett Hulsey (D, 78)
- Chris Danou (D, 92)
- Chris Taylor (D, 76)
- Christine Sinicki (D, 20)
- Cory Mason (D, 66)
- David Cullen (D, 13)
- Donna Seidel (D, 85)
- Elizabeth Coggs (D, 10)
- Fred Clark (D, 81)
- Frederick Kessler (D, 12)
- Gordon Hintz (D, 54)
- Janet Bewley (D, 25)
- Janis Ringhand (D, 15)
- Jason Fields (D, 11)
- JoCasta Zamarripa (D, 8)
- John Steinbrink (D, 65)
- Jon Richards (D, 19)
- Josh Zepnick (D, 9)
- Kelda Roys (D, 26)
- Leon Young (D, 16)
- Louis Molepske Jr. (D, 71)
- Mark Pocan (D, 78)
- Nick Milroy (D, 73)
- Penny Bernard Schaber (D, 57)
- Peter Barca (D, 64)
- Robert Turner (D, 61)
- Sandy Pasch (D, 10)
- Sondy Pope (D, 80)
- Steve Doyle (D, 94)
- Tamara Grigsby (D, 18)
- Terese Berceau (D, 77)
- Tony Staskunas (D, 15)
Didn't vote (2)
- Barbara Toles (D, 17)
- Gary Hebl (D, 46)
Official motion: “Refused to suspend rules to read a third time, Ayes 62, Noes 34”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote on an amendment
Passed, 61 to 35 · Nov 1, 2011
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 61, Noes 35”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote on an amendment
Passed, 65 to 31 · Nov 1, 2011
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Assembly substitute amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 65, Noes 31”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Nov 28, 2011
The new law was published.
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Nov 23, 2011
The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 83.
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Nov 22, 2011
Sent to the governor.
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Nov 3, 2011
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Nov 3, 2011
The Assembly passed it too.
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Oct 28, 2011
“Read first time and referred to calendar” (the official wording)
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Oct 28, 2011
The Assembly received it.
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Oct 27, 2011
The Senate passed it.
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Aug 19, 2011
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Jun 8, 2011
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 4 to 1.
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Jun 7, 2011
The committee held a public hearing.
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May 23, 2011
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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May 19, 2011
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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May 11, 2011
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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May 4, 2011
Sent to the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs.
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May 4, 2011
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- May 4, 2011 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Darling, Schultz, Galloway, Leibham, Lazich and Wanggaard;Cosponsored by Representatives Thiesfeldt, Petrowski, Kestell, Ziegelbauer, Jacque, Spanbauer, Endsley, A. Ott, Nygren, Bernier, Kerkman, Steineke, Brooks, Mursau, Kleefisch, LeMahieu, Kramer, Nass, Williams, Bies, Tauchen, Stone, Petersen, Pridemore and Vos
- May 4, 2011 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs
- May 11, 2011 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- May 19, 2011 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- May 19, 2011 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- May 23, 2011 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Jun 7, 2011 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jun 7, 2011 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jun 8, 2011 · Senate
Report passage recommended by committee on Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs, Ayes 4, Noes 1
- Jun 8, 2011 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Aug 19, 2011 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Oct 26, 2011 · Senate
Placed on calendar 10-27-2011 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Read a second time
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Senate amendment 1 offered by Senators Vinehout, Taylor and Hansen
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Senate amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 17, Noes 14
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Senate amendment 2 offered by Senator S. Coggs
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Senate amendment 2 withdrawn and returned to author
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Senate amendment 3 offered by Senators Taylor, Holperin, Miller, Lassa and Hansen
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Senate amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 16, Noes 15
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Oct 27, 2011 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Oct 28, 2011 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Oct 28, 2011 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to calendar
- Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly
Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representatives C. Taylor, Kessler, Young, E. Coggs, Grigsby, Sinicki, Berceau, Bernard Schaber, Pocan, Milroy, Roys, Pope-Roberts and Turner
- Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly
Assembly substitute amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 65, Noes 31
- Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 1 offered by Representatives C. Taylor, Kessler, Young, E. Coggs, Grigsby, Sinicki, Berceau, Bernard Schaber, Pocan, Roys, Seidel, Pope-Roberts and Turner
- Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 61, Noes 35
- Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly
Refused to suspend rules to read a third time, Ayes 62, Noes 34
- Nov 1, 2011 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 11:05 A.M. on 11-03-2011 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 18
- Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly
Representative August added as a cosponsor
- Nov 3, 2011 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 4, 2011 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Nov 7, 2011 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled on 11-7-2011
- Nov 22, 2011 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 11-22-2011
- Nov 23, 2011 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 11-23-2011. 2011 Wisconsin Act 83
- Nov 28, 2011 · Senate
Published 12-8-2011
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
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