AB 1038

1.

agriculture

Eligibility for local fair aids

This bill modifies the eligibility requirements for agricultural societies, boards,

and associations to receive local fair aid provided by the Department of Agriculture,

Trade and Consumer Protection. To remain eligible for local fair aid from DATCP,

current law requires local agricultural societies, boards, and associations to operate

a fair each year. The bill allows agricultural societies, boards, and associations to

remain eligible for local fair aid if a local fair is not held during 2020 because of the

public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72.

Prohibiting retailers from accepting certain returns

This bill prohibits a retailer from accepting a return of food products, personal

care products, cleaning products, and paper products during the public health

emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72, or during the 30 days

immediately after the end of that public health emergency. The bill contains

exceptions, allowing retailers to accept returns of food, personal care, cleaning, or

paper products made within seven days of purchase and returns of adulterated or

defective food, personal care, cleaning, or paper products. Under the bill, retailers

may accept returns of other types of products.

2.

campaign finance

Communications relating to public health emergency

Currently, under Wisconsin's campaign finance law, a person elected to a state

or local government elective office who becomes a candidate for a national, state, or

local government office may not use public funds to pay the cost of materials or

distribution for 50 or more pieces of substantially identical material during the

campaign season. This bill exempts from this prohibition communications during

the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72, that

relate to the public health emergency.

3.

Correctional system

Death of an inmate

Under current law, if an individual dies while he or she is in the legal custody

of the Department of Corrections and confined to a correctional facility located in this

state, an autopsy on the deceased individual must be performed. Under this bill, for

the duration of the public health emergency relating to COVID-19, if an individual

who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 dies, the coroner or medical examiner may

perform limited examination of the deceased individual instead of a full autopsy,

which may include an external examination of the body of the deceased individual,

a review of the deceased individual's medical records, or a review of the deceased