Assembly Bill 778
Prohibiting the out-of-home placement of a child with a person with a record of a crime against a child. (FE)
Stopped in committee
It never got a , so it never came up for a vote. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Jan 22, 2020
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Committee, stopped here
Stopped here. No public hearing was held.
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Assembly vote, not reached
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Senate vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 1, 2020: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
It never got a hearing in the Assembly Committee on Children and Families. See every bill that never got a hearing this session.
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Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill prohibits the out-of-home placement of a child with a nonparent relative or other unlicensed person if that relative or person has been convicted, pled no contest, or had a charge for a crime against a child against him or her dismissed or amended as a result of a plea agreement. This bill also prohibits subsidized guardianships and licensing of child welfare agencies, foster homes, group homes, and shelter care facilities under the Children's Code if the license applicant, an employee, or a nonclient resident has pled no contest to certain crimes against a child or had a charge against them for certain crimes against a child dismissed or amended as the result of a plea agreement.
Under current law, a court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under the Children's Code (juvenile court) may designate an out-of-home placement for a child found to be in need of protection or services (CHIPS). Under current law, the juvenile court may place a child in the home of a relative or may temporarily place a child with a person who is not licensed under the Children's Code, unless the relative or unlicensed person has been convicted of the first- or second-degree intentional homicide of a parent of the child. Under this bill, the juvenile court may not place a child with a relative other than a parent or with a person who is not licensed under the Children's Code if the relative or unlicensed person has been convicted, pled no contest, or been subject to a plea agreement for a crime against a child.
Read the full summary Show less
Under current law, if the juvenile court places a child in out-of-home care, including in a foster home, a shelter care facility, a group home, subsidized guardianship, or with a relative, the out-of-home care placement is required to apply for a license. Under current law, any licensee, its employees, and its nonclient residents are required to undergo a background investigation, and the out-of-home placement may not receive a license if the background investigation indicates that the licensee, an employee, or a nonclient resident has been convicted or adjudicated delinquent of certain offenses, including certain crimes against a child, or if there has been a final determination by a child protective services agency that the person has abused or neglected a child. Under this bill, the out-of-home care placement may not receive a license if the background investigation shows that the licensee, employee, or nonclient resident has pled no contest to a charge of certain crimes against a child or has had a charge against them for certain crimes against a child dismissed or amended as a result of a plea agreement.
Who's behind it
4 representatives are its . 3 are Democrats and 1 is a Republican.
5 more lawmakers .
See all 9 names Hide the names
Authors (4)
- Chris Taylor · Democrat, Assembly
- Staush Gruszynski · Democrat, Assembly
- Lisa Subeck · Democrat, Assembly
- Paul Tittl · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (5)
- Tim Carpenter · Democrat, Senate
- Hansen and Cowles
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
- Tod Ohnstad · Democrat, Assembly
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
What happened
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Apr 1, 2020
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Mar 25, 2020
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Feb 20, 2020
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Feb 14, 2020
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Jan 24, 2020
2 more senators signed on in support.
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Jan 22, 2020
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Children and Families.
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Jan 22, 2020
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 22, 2020 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Tittl, C. Taylor, Subeck and Gruszynski; cosponsored by Senators Jacque, Carpenter and Nass
- Jan 22, 2020 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Children and Families
- Jan 24, 2020 · Assembly
- Feb 14, 2020 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Feb 20, 2020 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Mar 25, 2020 · Assembly
Representative Ohnstad added as a coauthor
- Apr 1, 2020 · Assembly
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. 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
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
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