SB 718

This bill eliminates an expired provision of the open enrollment program and

a provision in the OEP that permits a school district to deny the transfer of a pupil

into or out of the school district if the transfer would increase racial imbalance in the

school district. In December 2007, the Wisconsin attorney general issued an opinion

finding this provision to be unenforceable based upon a decision of the U.S. Supreme

Court in

Parents Involved in Community Schools, et al. v. Seattle School District No.

1

, 551 U.S. 701 (2007).

In addition, this bill adds a missing cross-reference to make the changes to the

tuberculosis screening requirements under

2017 Wisconsin Act 107

applicable to the

Milwaukee Public Schools. Act 107 requires a school district to, with limited

exceptions, condition employment in the school district on the completion of a

physical examination that includes a screening questionnaire for tuberculosis. Prior

to Act 107, the physical examination requirements, including tuberculosis screening

requirements, applied to all school districts except MPS. Act 107 eliminated the

language exempting MPS, but did not insert a cross-reference to the statutory

provision that makes general school laws applicable to a first class city school

district.

This bill also eliminates a number of expired or outdated reporting

requirements imposed on the Department of Public Instruction. Eliminated in this

bill are a requirement to submit a report to the legislature and to the governor, by

January 1, 2001, and January 1, 2003, regarding DPI's progress in securing school

safety funding; a requirement to submit to the standing committees of the legislature

a report summarizing the physical condition and capacity of the state's public

schools; and a requirement to submit, by July 1, 2005, a report to the standing

committees of the legislature on the imposition of school uniforms by school boards.

Finally, the bill corrects an incorrect cross-reference in a provision requiring

DPI to provide notice of educational options.

For further information, see the

Notes

provided by the Law Revision

Committee of the Joint Legislative Council.