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Bills from the 2017–18 session

Assembly Bill 710

Criminal penalties for fraud in obtaining unemployment insurance benefits and providing a criminal penalty. (FE)

Became law

The governor signed it on Mar 28, 2018. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Dec 4, 2017

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed 62 to 35

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed 18 to 14

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2017 Wisconsin Act 147

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 28, 2018: “Published 3-29-2018”

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 establishes penalties for certain violations under the unemployment insurance (UI) law, including for knowingly making a false statement or representation to obtain any UI benefit payment, for which the penalty is a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both. Current law provides that each such false statement or representation constitutes a separate offense.

This bill instead provides that a person who knowingly makes a false statement or representation to obtain any UI benefit payment: 1) if the value of any benefits obtained does not exceed $2,500, is subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 9 months, or both; 2) if the value of any benefits obtained exceeds $2,500 but does not exceed $5,000, is guilty of a Class I felony; 3) if the value of any benefits obtained exceeds $5,000 but does not exceed $10,000, is guilty of a Class H felony; or 4) if the value of any benefits obtained exceeds $10,000, is guilty of a Class G felony. The bill provides that multiple violations may be prosecuted as a single crime.

Who's behind it

7 lawmakers are its ⁠. All 7 are Republicans.

3 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 10 names

Authors (7)

Signed on in support (3)

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 8 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Public Benefit Reform vote to recommend it

Passed, 5 to 3 · Feb 13, 2018

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 Public Benefit Reform, Ayes 5, Noes 3”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 62 to 35 · Feb 15, 2018

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 62, Noes 35”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 62 to 35 · Feb 15, 2018

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 62, Noes 35”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 62 to 35 · Feb 15, 2018 · 1 didn't vote

See how each of the 98 representatives voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Yes (62)

Didn't vote (1)

Official motion: “PASSAGE”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 5 to 0 · Feb 16, 2018

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 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 14 · Feb 20, 2018

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote on an amendment

Passed, 18 to 14 · Feb 20, 2018

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

Official motion: “Senate Amendment 2 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 14”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote to pass it

Passed, 18 to 14 · Feb 20, 2018

See how each of the 32 senators voted

D: Democrat, R: Republican

Official motion: “CONCURRENCE”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Mar 28, 2018

    The new law was published.

  2. Mar 28, 2018

    The governor signed it. It became 2017 Wisconsin Act 147.

  3. Mar 27, 2018

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 20, 2018

    The Senate passed it too, 18 to 14.

  5. Feb 16, 2018

    “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)

  6. Feb 16, 2018

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.

  7. Feb 16, 2018

    The Senate received it.

  8. Feb 15, 2018

    The Assembly passed it, 62 to 35.

  9. Feb 13, 2018

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  10. Feb 13, 2018

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

  11. Feb 6, 2018

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  12. Jan 30, 2018

    The committee held a public hearing.

  13. Jan 23, 2018

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  14. Jan 3, 2018

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  15. Dec 14, 2017

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  16. Dec 4, 2017

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Public Benefit Reform.

  17. Dec 4, 2017

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Dec 4, 2017 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Kerkman, R. Brooks, Horlacher, Neylon, Hutton, Tusler and Jacque; cosponsored by Senators Kapenga and Craig

  2. Dec 4, 2017 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Public Benefit Reform

  3. Dec 14, 2017 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  4. Dec 14, 2017 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Jan 3, 2018 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  6. Jan 23, 2018 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  7. Jan 30, 2018 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  8. Feb 6, 2018 · Assembly

    Representative Brandtjen added as a coauthor

  9. Feb 12, 2018 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Kolste

  10. Feb 13, 2018 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  11. Feb 13, 2018 · Assembly

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Public Benefit Reform, Ayes 5, Noes 3

  12. Feb 13, 2018 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  13. Feb 13, 2018 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 1:06 PM on 2-15-2018 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 23

  14. Feb 15, 2018 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  15. Feb 15, 2018 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representatives Kolste, Billings, Brostoff, Crowley, Hebl, Hesselbein, Meyers, Ohnstad, Riemer, Sinicki, Spreitzer, Vruwink and Zamarripa

  16. Feb 15, 2018 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 62, Noes 35

  17. Feb 15, 2018 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 3 offered by Representatives Barca, Sinicki, Zamarripa, Ohnstad, Hebl, Hesselbein, Vruwink, Kolste, Kessler and Spreitzer

  18. Feb 15, 2018 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 3 laid on table, Ayes 62, Noes 35

  19. Feb 15, 2018 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  20. Feb 15, 2018 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  21. Feb 15, 2018 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 62, Noes 35

  22. Feb 15, 2018 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  23. Feb 16, 2018 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  24. Feb 16, 2018 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

  25. Feb 16, 2018 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  26. Feb 16, 2018 · Senate

    Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 5, Noes 0

  27. Feb 16, 2018 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-20-2018 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  28. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Vinehout, Carpenter, Erpenbach, Risser, Ringhand, Miller, Shilling, Bewley, Wirch, Hansen, L. Taylor, Larson, Schachtner and Johnson

  29. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senators Hansen, L. Taylor, Larson, Schachtner, Johnson, Vinehout, Carpenter, Erpenbach, Risser, Ringhand, Miller, Shilling, Bewley and Wirch

  30. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Read a second time

  31. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  32. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  33. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  34. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  35. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  36. Feb 20, 2018 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  37. Feb 20, 2018 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  38. Feb 26, 2018 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 2-26-2018

  39. Mar 27, 2018 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 3-27-2018

  40. Mar 28, 2018 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 3-28-2018. 2017 Wisconsin Act 147

  41. Mar 28, 2018 · Assembly

    Published 3-29-2018

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