Assembly Bill 646
Registration of recovery residences and disciplinary action against a state employee who is receiving medication-assisted treatment. (FE)
Became law
The governor signed it on Mar 3, 2020. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Dec 5, 2019
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Jan 21, 2020
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Feb 19, 2020
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2019 Wisconsin Act 120
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 3, 2020: “Published 3-4-2020”
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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
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill creates a registry for recovery residences and specifies circumstances under which a state employee may not be disciplined for using controlled substances as part of medication-assisted treatment.
Recovery residences This bill requires the Department of Health Services to establish and maintain a registry of approved recovery residences. DHS must approve a recovery residence for registration if the recovery residence is either certified by a nationally recognized recovery residence certification organization that is approved by DHS or a chapter of a national recovery residence organization that is approved by DHS, and the certification organization or national organization has requirements for recovery residences as described in the bill. DHS may not include a recovery residence in the registry if the recovery residence excludes any resident solely on the basis that the resident participates in medication-assisted treatment. DHS must revoke the registration of a recovery residence if it ceases to be certified by or have chapter status from whichever organization had approved it. A recovery residence is not required to register unless the recovery residence seeks referrals or funds from the state or federal funds passing through the state treasury. Upon request for referrals to recovery residences, DHS must provide a list of registered recovery residences but may limit the list of registered recovery residences it provides based on the geographical and other preferences specified by the person requesting referrals. The bill prohibits a recovery residence from using the designation of or holding itself out as “registered” or “state approved” unless the recovery residence is included in the registry under this bill.
Read the full summary Show less
State employee discipline This bill provides that a state employee is not subject to discipline without prior progressive discipline if the person is under the influence of a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog while on duty if the employee is using the controlled substance or controlled substance analog as dispensed, prescribed, or recommended as part of medication-assisted treatment. The bill also provides that a state employee is not subject to discipline without prior progressive discipline for possession of a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog without a prescription while on duty if the employee is using the controlled substance or controlled substance analog as dispensed, prescribed, or recommended as part of medication-assisted treatment.
Under current law, a state employee may be removed, suspended without pay, discharged, demoted, or receive a reduction in pay without receiving prior progressive discipline for being under the influence of or in possession of a controlled substance or controlled substance analog while on duty.
Who's behind it
24 lawmakers are its . 23 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.
6 more lawmakers .
See all 30 names Hide the names
Authors (24)
- Scott Allen · Republican, Assembly
- Jill Billings · Democrat, Assembly
- Mark Born · Republican, Assembly
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- James Edming · Republican, Assembly
- Mary Felzkowski · Republican, Senate
- John Jagler · Republican, Senate
- Joel Kitchens · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Kulp · Republican, Assembly
- Gae Magnafici · Republican, Assembly
- Jeff Mursau · Republican, Assembly
- Todd Novak · Republican, Assembly
- John Nygren · Republican, Assembly
- Kevin Petersen · Republican, Assembly
- Warren Petryk · Republican, Assembly
- Jon Plumer · Republican, Assembly
- Timothy Ramthun · Republican, Assembly
- Mike Rohrkaste · Republican, Assembly
- Pat Snyder · Republican, Assembly
- John Spiros · Republican, Assembly
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt · Republican, Assembly
- Travis Tranel · Republican, Assembly
- Ron Tusler · Republican, Assembly
- Shannon Zimmerman · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (6)
- Alberta Darling · Republican, Senate
- Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
- Luther S. Olsen · Republican, Senate
- Amanda Stuck · Democrat, Assembly
- Van Wanggaard · Republican, Senate
- Chuck Wichgers · Republican, Assembly
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 3 votes on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Substance Abuse and Prevention vote on an amendment
Passed, 9 to 0 · Jan 16, 2020
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Substance Abuse and Prevention, Ayes 9, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly Committee on Substance Abuse and Prevention vote to recommend it
Passed, 9 to 0 · Jan 16, 2020
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Substance Abuse and Prevention, Ayes 9, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate vote
Passed, 5 to 0 · Feb 14, 2020
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
What happened
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Mar 3, 2020
The new law was published.
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Mar 3, 2020
The governor signed it. It became 2019 Wisconsin Act 120.
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Feb 28, 2020
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 19, 2020
The Senate passed it too.
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Feb 14, 2020
“Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Jan 27, 2020
Sent to the Senate Committee on Senate Organization.
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Jan 22, 2020
The Senate received it.
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Jan 21, 2020
The Assembly passed it.
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Jan 21, 2020
The Assembly adopted it.
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Jan 16, 2020
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Jan 16, 2020
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 9 to 0.
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Jan 16, 2020
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Jan 8, 2020
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jan 7, 2020
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Dec 6, 2019 to Jan 6, 2020
2 more representatives signed on in support.
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Dec 5, 2019
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Substance Abuse and Prevention.
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Dec 5, 2019
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Dec 5, 2019 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Nygren, Plumer, Allen, Novak, Snyder, Petersen, Kitchens, Felzkowski, Edming, Kulp, Magnafici, Rohrkaste, Tusler, Petryk, Dittrich, Tranel, Thiesfeldt, Jagler, Zimmerman, Spiros, Mursau, Ramthun, Born and Billings; cosponsored by Senators Darling, Olsen, Wanggaard and Marklein
- Dec 5, 2019 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Substance Abuse and Prevention
- Dec 6, 2019 · Assembly
Representative Wichgers added as a coauthor
- Jan 6, 2020 · Assembly
Representative Stuck added as a coauthor
- Jan 7, 2020 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Jan 8, 2020 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Jan 10, 2020 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Nygren
- Jan 15, 2020 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Jan 16, 2020 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Jan 16, 2020 · Assembly
Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Substance Abuse and Prevention, Ayes 9, Noes 0
- Jan 16, 2020 · Assembly
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Substance Abuse and Prevention, Ayes 9, Noes 0
- Jan 16, 2020 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Jan 16, 2020 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 1-21-2020 by Committee on Rules
- Jan 21, 2020 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jan 21, 2020 · Assembly
Assembly Amendment 1 adopted
- Jan 21, 2020 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 21, 2020 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jan 21, 2020 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed
- Jan 21, 2020 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 22, 2020 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Jan 27, 2020 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization
- Jan 27, 2020 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 14, 2020 · Senate
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Feb 14, 2020 · Senate
Placed on calendar 2-19-2020 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 19, 2020 · Senate
Read a second time
- Feb 19, 2020 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 19, 2020 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Feb 19, 2020 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 19, 2020 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 20, 2020 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Feb 25, 2020 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 2-25-2020
- Feb 28, 2020 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 2-28-2020 by directive of the Speaker
- Mar 3, 2020 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 3-3-2020. 2019 Wisconsin Act 120
- Mar 3, 2020 · Assembly
Published 3-4-2020
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
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
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote