Bills · 2015-2016 Regular Session
Relating to: special needs scholarship program. (FE)
Children — Special educational needs Parochial and private schools Public instruction, department of Scholarships and loans School — Attendance School — Finance
- Introduced, completed
- Passes Senate, completed
- Passes Assembly, completed
- Governor signs, completed
- Law, completed
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill makes several changes to the Special Needs Scholarship Program,
created in the 2015-17 Biennial Budget Act. Under the program, beginning in the
2016-17 school year, children with disabilities who are enrolled in a public school in
this state may apply to the Department of Public Instruction to annually receive
financial assistance from the state to attend a participating private school in this
state.
Among other changes, this bill requires a child with a disability who wishes to
participate in the program to have an Individualized Education Program or services
plan in effect prior to being eligible to participate. Current law requires only that
the IEP or services plan to be completed for the child. The bill also permits a child
with a disability to apply for a scholarship and to attend a private school under the
program at any time during a school year. In addition, the bill requires the parent
or guardian of a child attending a private school under the program to make the child
available no more than once every three years for a reevaluation of the child's IEP
and services plan. Finally, the bill requires a participating private school that
receives more applications under the program than the number of spaces available
at the school to accept applications in the order in which they are received; current
law requires the private school to select applicants on a random basis.
What it would cost
Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs
Sponsors
Votes
Senate: Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 4, Noes 3
Passed 4–3 Feb 2, 2016 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Senate: Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 13
Passed 19–13 Feb 16, 2016 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Senate: Read a third time and passed, Ayes 19, Noes 13
Passed 19–13 Feb 16, 2016 official source full pageAye · 19
- Alberta Darling (8)
- Chris Kapenga (33)
- Devin LeMahieu (9)
- Duey Stroebel (20)
- Frank G. Lasee (1)
- Howard Marklein (17)
- Jerry Petrowski (29)
- Leah Vukmir (5)
- Luther S. Olsen (14)
- Mary Lazich (28)
- Richard Gudex (18)
- Rob Cowles (2)
- Roger Roth (19)
- Scott L. Fitzgerald (13)
- Sheila Harsdorf (10)
- Steve Nass (11)
- Terry Moulton (23)
- Thomas Tiffany (12)
- Van Wanggaard (21)
Nay · 13
- Bob Wirch (22)
- Chris Larson (7)
- Dave Hansen (30)
- Fred A. Risser (26)
- Janet Bewley (25)
- Janis Ringhand (15)
- Jennifer Shilling (32)
- Jon Erpenbach (27)
- Julie M. Lassa (24)
- Kathleen Vinehout (31)
- Lena Taylor (4)
- Mark Miller (16)
- Tim Carpenter (3)
Not voting · 1
Assembly: Decision of the Chair upheld, Ayes 61, Noes 33
Passed 61–33 Feb 18, 2016 official source full pageAye · 61
- Adam Jarchow (28)
- Adam Neylon (15)
- Alvin Ott (3)
- Amy Loudenbeck (31)
- André Jacque (1)
- Bob Gannon (58)
- Bob Kulp (69)
- Cindi Duchow (97)
- Cody Horlacher (33)
- Dan Knodl (24)
- Dave Murphy (56)
- David Craig (28)
- David Heaton (85)
- David Steffen (4)
- Edward Brooks (50)
- Gary Tauchen (6)
- James Edming (87)
- Janel Brandtjen (22)
- Jeff Mursau (36)
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt (52)
- Jesse Kremer (59)
- Jessie Rodriguez (21)
- Jim Ott (23)
- Jim Steineke (5)
- Joan Ballweg (14)
- Joe Sanfelippo (15)
- Joel Kitchens (1)
- Joel Kleefisch (38)
- John Jagler (13)
- John Macco (88)
- John Murtha (29)
- John Nygren (89)
- John Spiros (86)
- Kathleen Bernier (23)
- Keith Ripp (42)
- Ken Skowronski (82)
- Kevin Petersen (57)
- Lee Nerison (96)
- Mark Born (37)
- Mary Czaja (35)
- Michael Schraa (53)
- Mike Kuglitsch (84)
- Mike Rohrkaste (55)
- Nancy VanderMeer (70)
- Paul Tittl (25)
- Rob Brooks (59)
- Rob Hutton (5)
- Rob Swearingen (34)
- Robin Vos (33)
- Romaine Quinn (25)
- Samantha Kerkman (61)
- Scott Allen (82)
- Scott Krug (72)
- Terry Katsma (26)
- Thomas Larson (67)
- Thomas Weatherston (62)
- Todd Novak (51)
- Travis Tranel (49)
- Tyler August (31)
- Tyler Vorpagel (27)
- Warren Petryk (93)
Nay · 33
- Amanda Stuck (57)
- Andy Jorgensen (43)
- Beth Meyers (74)
- Chris Danou (92)
- Chris Taylor (76)
- Christine Sinicki (20)
- Cory Mason (66)
- David Bowen (10)
- Debra Kolste (44)
- Dianne Hesselbein (27)
- Eric Genrich (90)
- Evan Goyke (18)
- Frederick Kessler (12)
- Gary Hebl (46)
- Gordon Hintz (54)
- Jill Billings (95)
- JoCasta Zamarripa (8)
- Jonathan Brostoff (19)
- Josh Zepnick (9)
- Katrina Shankland (71)
- LaTonya Johnson (6)
- Leon Young (16)
- Lisa Subeck (79)
- Mandela Barnes (11)
- Mark Spreitzer (15)
- Melissa Sargent (48)
- Nick Milroy (73)
- Peter Barca (64)
- Robb Kahl (47)
- Sondy Pope (80)
- Steve Doyle (94)
- Terese Berceau (77)
- Tod Ohnstad (65)
Not voting · 5
- Dale Kooyenga (5)
- Dana Wachs (91)
- Daniel Riemer (7)
- Dave Considine (81)
- Dean Knudson (30)
Assembly: Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 56, Noes 37, Paired 4
Passed 56–37 Feb 18, 2016 official source full pageAye · 56
- Adam Jarchow (28)
- Adam Neylon (15)
- Alvin Ott (3)
- Amy Loudenbeck (31)
- André Jacque (1)
- Bob Gannon (58)
- Bob Kulp (69)
- Cindi Duchow (97)
- Cody Horlacher (33)
- Dan Knodl (24)
- Dave Murphy (56)
- David Craig (28)
- David Heaton (85)
- David Steffen (4)
- Edward Brooks (50)
- Gary Tauchen (6)
- James Edming (87)
- Janel Brandtjen (22)
- Jeff Mursau (36)
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt (52)
- Jesse Kremer (59)
- Jessie Rodriguez (21)
- Jim Ott (23)
- Jim Steineke (5)
- Joan Ballweg (14)
- Joe Sanfelippo (15)
- Joel Kitchens (1)
- Joel Kleefisch (38)
- John Jagler (13)
- John Murtha (29)
- John Nygren (89)
- John Spiros (86)
- Kathleen Bernier (23)
- Keith Ripp (42)
- Ken Skowronski (82)
- Kevin Petersen (57)
- Lee Nerison (96)
- Mark Born (37)
- Mary Czaja (35)
- Michael Schraa (53)
- Mike Kuglitsch (84)
- Mike Rohrkaste (55)
- Paul Tittl (25)
- Rob Brooks (59)
- Rob Hutton (5)
- Rob Swearingen (34)
- Robin Vos (33)
- Romaine Quinn (25)
- Samantha Kerkman (61)
- Scott Allen (82)
- Scott Krug (72)
- Terry Katsma (26)
- Thomas Larson (67)
- Thomas Weatherston (62)
- Tyler August (31)
- Tyler Vorpagel (27)
Nay · 37
- Amanda Stuck (57)
- Andy Jorgensen (43)
- Beth Meyers (74)
- Chris Danou (92)
- Chris Taylor (76)
- Christine Sinicki (20)
- Cory Mason (66)
- David Bowen (10)
- Debra Kolste (44)
- Dianne Hesselbein (27)
- Eric Genrich (90)
- Evan Goyke (18)
- Frederick Kessler (12)
- Gary Hebl (46)
- Gordon Hintz (54)
- Jill Billings (95)
- JoCasta Zamarripa (8)
- Jonathan Brostoff (19)
- Josh Zepnick (9)
- Katrina Shankland (71)
- LaTonya Johnson (6)
- Leon Young (16)
- Lisa Subeck (79)
- Mandela Barnes (11)
- Mark Spreitzer (15)
- Melissa Sargent (48)
- Nancy VanderMeer (70)
- Nick Milroy (73)
- Peter Barca (64)
- Robb Kahl (47)
- Sondy Pope (80)
- Steve Doyle (94)
- Terese Berceau (77)
- Tod Ohnstad (65)
- Todd Novak (51)
- Travis Tranel (49)
- Warren Petryk (93)
Not voting · 2
- Dale Kooyenga (5)
- Dana Wachs (91)
Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 61, Noes 33
Passed 61–33 Feb 18, 2016 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Assembly: Assembly Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 61, Noes 33
Passed 61–33 Feb 18, 2016 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Senate: Assembly Amendment 1 concurred in, Ayes 19, Noes 13
Passed 19–13 Mar 15, 2016 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Full history
- Jan 22, 2016 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Vukmir and Kapenga; cosponsored by Representatives Jagler, E. Brooks, Gannon, Horlacher, Katsma, Knudson, Knodl, Kremer, Murphy, Petersen, Quinn, Rodriguez, Sanfelippo and Spiros
- Jan 22, 2016 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Education
- Jan 27, 2016 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Feb 2, 2016 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Feb 2, 2016 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 4, Noes 3
- Feb 2, 2016 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 3, 2016 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Feb 15, 2016 · Senate
Placed on calendar 2-16-2016 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 16, 2016 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 19, Noes 13
- Feb 16, 2016 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 16, 2016 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Feb 16, 2016 · Senate
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 19, Noes 13
- Feb 16, 2016 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 16, 2016 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 2:43 PM on 2-18-2016 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 29
- Feb 16, 2016 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Hansen, Wirch, Carpenter, L. Taylor, C. Larson, Ringhand, Vinehout, Miller, Erpenbach, Risser and Shilling
- Feb 16, 2016 · Senate
Read a second time
- Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Vos, Thiesfeldt, Loudenbeck, Murphy, Kitchens and Jagler
- Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly
Point of order that Assembly Amendment 1 not germane under Assembly Rule 54 not well taken
- Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly
Decision of the Chair appealed
- Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly
Decision of the Chair upheld, Ayes 61, Noes 33
- Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Pope, Barca and Hebl
- Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 61, Noes 33
- Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 adopted
- Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representative Mason
- Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 61, Noes 33
- Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 56, Noes 37, Paired 4
- Feb 18, 2016 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 19, 2016 · Senate
Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Amendment 1 adopted
- Mar 14, 2016 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-15-2016 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 15, 2016 · Senate
Assembly Amendment 1 concurred in, Ayes 19, Noes 13
- Mar 15, 2016 · Senate
Action ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 29, 2016 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Mar 29, 2016 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 3-29-2016
- Mar 31, 2016 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 3-30-2016. 2015 Wisconsin Act 289
- Mar 31, 2016 · Senate
Published 3-31-2016