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Bills from the 2015–16 session

Senate Bill 248

Strip searches of certain detained persons. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Mar 2, 2016. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Sep 3, 2015

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, passed

    Passed 19 to 14

  4. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 18, 2016

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2015 Wisconsin Act 206

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 2, 2016: “Published 3-2-2016”

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.

Current law sets forth guidelines for conducting a strip search of a person who is arrested and incarcerated, imprisoned, or otherwise detained for a felony, certain misdemeanors, or otherwise taken into the custody of a law enforcement agency or correctional institution.

Under current law, a person who is arrested or otherwise detained or taken into custody but who is not arrested for a felony or for certain misdemeanors, and who is not reasonably suspected of concealing a weapon or concealing evidence, may be strip searched if the person will be detained with one or more other persons, if that person is to be incarcerated, imprisoned, or otherwise detained for at least 12 hours.

Read the full summary

This bill removes the requirement, for a person who is arrested or otherwise detained or taken into custody but who is not arrested for a felony or for certain misdemeanors, and who is not reasonably suspected of concealing a weapon or concealing evidence, that the person be incarcerated, imprisoned, or otherwise detained for at least 12 hours.

Who's behind it

5 senators are its ⁠. All 5 are Republicans.

11 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 16 names

Authors (5)

Signed on in support (11)

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 11 votes on this bill.

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Oct 29, 2015

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

Official motion: “Report introduction of Senate Amendment 1 by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Oct 29, 2015

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

Official motion: “Report introduction of Senate Amendment 2 by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Oct 29, 2015

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

Official motion: “Report introduction of Senate Amendment 3 by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 5 to 0 · Oct 29, 2015

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

Official motion: “Report introduction of Senate Amendment 4 by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety vote to recommend it

Passed, 3 to 2 · Oct 29, 2015

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 and Public Safety, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 19 to 14 · Jan 20, 2016

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 19, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 19 to 14 · Jan 20, 2016

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 19, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 19 to 14 · Jan 20, 2016

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 7 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 19 to 14 · Jan 20, 2016

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 8 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 19 to 14 · Jan 20, 2016

See how each of the 33 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 19, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 62 to 33 · Feb 18, 2016

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 62, Noes 33”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Mar 2, 2016

    The new law was published.

  2. Mar 2, 2016

    The governor signed it. It became 2015 Wisconsin Act 206.

  3. Feb 29, 2016

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 18, 2016

    The Assembly passed it too.

  5. Jan 25, 2016

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Jan 21, 2016

    The Assembly received it.

  7. Jan 20, 2016

    The Senate passed it, 19 to 14.

  8. Jan 20, 2016

    “Placed on the foot of the 11th order of business on the calendar of 1-20-2016” (the official wording)

  9. Jan 6, 2016

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  10. Oct 30, 2015

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  11. Oct 29, 2015

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

  12. Oct 29, 2015

    “Report introduction of Senate Amendment 4 by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  13. Oct 29, 2015

    “Report introduction of Senate Amendment 3 by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  14. Oct 29, 2015

    “Report introduction of Senate Amendment 2 by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  15. Oct 29, 2015

    “Report introduction of Senate Amendment 1 by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  16. Oct 22, 2015

    The committee held a public hearing.

  17. Sep 29, 2015

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  18. Sep 14, 2015

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  19. Sep 3, 2015

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

  20. Sep 3, 2015

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Sep 3, 2015 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators Harsdorf, Wanggaard, Marklein, Stroebel and Olsen; cosponsored by Representatives Kleefisch, Allen, Ballweg, Born, E. Brooks, Edming, Gannon, Horlacher, Knodl, Kulp and A. Ott

  2. Sep 3, 2015 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

  3. Sep 14, 2015 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  4. Sep 29, 2015 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Oct 22, 2015 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  6. Oct 28, 2015 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  7. Oct 29, 2015 · Senate

    Report introduction of Senate Amendment 1 by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  8. Oct 29, 2015 · Senate

    Report introduction of Senate Amendment 2 by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  9. Oct 29, 2015 · Senate

    Report introduction of Senate Amendment 3 by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  10. Oct 29, 2015 · Senate

    Report introduction of Senate Amendment 4 by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  11. Oct 29, 2015 · Senate

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 3, Noes 2

  12. Oct 29, 2015 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  13. Oct 30, 2015 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  14. Jan 6, 2016 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  15. Jan 19, 2016 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 1-20-2016 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  16. Jan 20, 2016 · Senate

    Read a second time

  17. Jan 20, 2016 · Senate

    Placed on the foot of the 11th order of business on the calendar of 1-20-2016

  18. Jan 20, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 5 offered by Senator L. Taylor

  19. Jan 20, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 6 offered by Senator L. Taylor

  20. Jan 20, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 7 offered by Senator L. Taylor

  21. Jan 20, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 8 offered by Senator L. Taylor

  22. Jan 20, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 5 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 14

  23. Jan 20, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 6 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 14

  24. Jan 20, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 7 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 14

  25. Jan 20, 2016 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 8 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 14

  26. Jan 20, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  27. Jan 20, 2016 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  28. Jan 20, 2016 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 19, Noes 14

  29. Jan 20, 2016 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  30. Jan 21, 2016 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  31. Jan 25, 2016 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  32. Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 2:17 PM on 2-18-2016 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 29

  33. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  34. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Barnes

  35. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 62, Noes 33

  36. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  37. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  38. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in

  39. Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  40. Feb 19, 2016 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  41. Feb 25, 2016 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  42. Feb 29, 2016 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 2-29-2016

  43. Mar 2, 2016 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 3-1-2016. 2015 Wisconsin Act 206

  44. Mar 2, 2016 · Senate

    Published 3-2-2016

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

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