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Bills from the 2015–16 session

Assembly Bill 497

Residency requirements for sexually violent persons on supervised release

Became law

The governor signed it on Mar 1, 2016. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Nov 10, 2015

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 9, 2016

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Feb 16, 2016

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2015 Wisconsin Act 156

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 1, 2016: “Published 3-1-2016”

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.

This bill makes changes to the procedure for releasing certain violent sex offenders into the community. Under current law, a person who commits certain sex offenses may be involuntarily committed as a sexually violent person to the Department of Health Services (DHS) for control, care, and treatment. If a person is committed and placed in institutional care, the person may periodically petition the court for supervised release. If a court determines that supervised release is appropriate, the court authorizes the person, the person's attorney, the district attorney, any law enforcement agency in the county of intended placement, and any local governmental unit in the county of intended placement to submit to DHS prospective residential options for community placement. Current law requires DHS and the county in which the person is to be placed to prepare a plan that identifies potential sites for the person to reside, taking into consideration the options submitted.

This bill requires DHS to consult with a local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over any prospective residential option identified by DHS or the county and to request the law enforcement agency to submit a written report that provides information on the prospective residential option. The bill requires DHS to take into consideration the written report of the law enforcement agency to determine where the victims of the person live, and to ensure that any potential residential placement of the person meets certain guidelines.

Read the full summary

Under the bill, no sexually violent person generally may be placed in a residence within 1,500 feet of any school, child care facility, youth center, place of worship, or public park. If the person committed a sexually violent offense against a child, he or she may not be placed in a residence in a property adjacent to a property where a child resides. If the person committed a sexually violent offense against an elderly or disabled person, he or she may not be placed in a residence within 1,500 feet of a nursing home or other assisted living facility.

Who's behind it

12 lawmakers are its ⁠. All 12 are Republicans.

5 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 17 names

Authors (12)

Signed on in support (5)

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 11 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Corrections vote on an amendment

Passed, 8 to 0 · Feb 3, 2016

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

Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Corrections, Ayes 8, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Corrections vote on an amendment

Passed, 8 to 0 · Feb 3, 2016

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

Official motion: “Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Corrections, Ayes 8, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly Committee on Corrections vote to recommend it

Passed, 5 to 3 · Feb 3, 2016

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

Official motion: “Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Corrections, Ayes 5, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 64 to 34 · Feb 9, 2016

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

Official motion: “Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 64, Noes 34”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 64 to 34 · Feb 9, 2016

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

Official motion: “Assembly Amendment 3 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 64, Noes 34”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 64 to 34 · Feb 9, 2016

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

Official motion: “Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted, Ayes 64, Noes 34”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 63 to 35 · Feb 9, 2016

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

Official motion: “Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 63, Noes 35”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Failed, 32 to 66 · Feb 9, 2016 · 1 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

No (66)

Didn't vote (1)

Official motion: “Refused to reject Assembly Substitute Amendment 1, Ayes 32, Noes 66”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 64 to 34 · Feb 9, 2016 · 1 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (64)

Didn't vote (1)

Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 64, Noes 34”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote

Failed, 33 to 65 · Feb 9, 2016

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

Official motion: “Refused to refer to committee on Children and Families, Ayes 33, Noes 65”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 15, 2016

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

Official motion: “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Mar 1, 2016

    The new law was published.

  2. Mar 1, 2016

    The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 156.

  3. Feb 25, 2016

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 16, 2016

    The Senate passed it too.

  5. Feb 15, 2016

    “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  6. Feb 11, 2016

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.

  7. Feb 10, 2016

    The Senate received it.

  8. Feb 9, 2016

    The Assembly passed it, 64 to 34.

  9. Feb 9, 2016

    The Assembly adopted it, 64 to 34.

  10. Feb 9, 2016

    The Assembly adopted it.

  11. Feb 3, 2016

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  12. Feb 3, 2016

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 3.

  13. Jan 28, 2016

    The committee held a public hearing.

  14. Jan 11, 2016

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  15. Nov 10, 2015

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Corrections.

  16. Nov 10, 2015

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Nov 10, 2015 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Born, Tittl, Jagler, Kremer, T. Larson, Murphy, J. Ott, Skowronski, Swearingen, Vorpagel, Quinn and Bernier; cosponsored by Senators Wanggaard, S. Fitzgerald, Gudex and Moulton

  2. Nov 10, 2015 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Corrections

  3. Jan 11, 2016 · Assembly

    Representative Schraa added as a coauthor

  4. Jan 14, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Born and Schraa

  5. Jan 26, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Born

  6. Jan 28, 2016 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  7. Feb 2, 2016 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  8. Feb 3, 2016 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Corrections, Ayes 8, Noes 0

  9. Feb 3, 2016 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Corrections, Ayes 8, Noes 0

  10. Feb 3, 2016 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Corrections, Ayes 5, Noes 3

  11. Feb 3, 2016 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  12. Feb 4, 2016 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 2-9-2016 by Committee on Rules

  13. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  14. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

  15. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Barca, Shankland and Mason

  16. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 64, Noes 34

  17. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Refused to reject Assembly Substitute Amendment 1, Ayes 32, Noes 66

  18. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representatives C. Taylor, Barca and Shankland

  19. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 63, Noes 35

  20. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 3 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Barca, Ohnstad and Mason

  21. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 3 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 64, Noes 34

  22. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted, Ayes 64, Noes 34

  23. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  24. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  25. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Refused to refer to committee on Children and Families, Ayes 33, Noes 65

  26. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 64, Noes 34

  27. Feb 9, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  28. Feb 10, 2016 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  29. Feb 11, 2016 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

  30. Feb 11, 2016 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  31. Feb 15, 2016 · Senate

    Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  32. Feb 15, 2016 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-16-2016 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  33. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Read a second time

  34. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  35. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  36. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in

  37. Feb 16, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  38. Feb 17, 2016 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  39. Feb 25, 2016 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 2-25-2016

  40. Feb 25, 2016 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 2-25-2016

  41. Mar 1, 2016 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 2-29-2016. 2015 Wisconsin Act 156

  42. Mar 1, 2016 · Assembly

    Published 3-1-2016

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

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

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote

More in the glossary