Senate Bill 24
Prohibiting the out-of-home placement of a child with a person with a record of a crime against a child. (FE)
Became law
The governor signed it on Jul 16, 2021. It's .
-
Introduced, passed
Jan 28, 2021
-
Committee, passed
Approved
-
Senate vote, passed
Passed Mar 16, 2021
-
Assembly vote, passed
Passed May 11, 2021
-
Governor, passed
Signed
-
Law, here now
2021 Wisconsin Act 72
Latest entry in the official record, Jul 16, 2021: “Published 7-16-2021”
Following saves it on this device. New actions show on your Following page. You can also get updates in a feed reader.
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.
Under current law, if the juvenile court places a child who is found to be in need of protection or services in an out-of-home placement in a foster home, a shelter care facility, a group home, a subsidized guardianship, or with a relative who receives kinship care payments, the out-of-home placement is required to be licensed under the Children's Code. A licensed out-of-home placement may not employ a person or house a person as a nonclient resident if the person has been convicted or adjudicated delinquent of certain offenses, including certain crimes against a child, or has been determined by a child protective services agency to have abused or neglected a child. Under this bill, a licensed out-of-home placement may not employ a person or house a person as a nonclient resident if the person has pled no contest to a charge of certain crimes against a child or has had a charge for those crimes dismissed or amended as a result of a plea agreement.
Under current law, the juvenile court may place a child who is found to be in need of protection or services in the home of a relative without a license or may temporarily place a child with another person who is not licensed under the Children's Code, unless the relative or unlicensed person has been convicted of first-degree or second-degree intentional homicide of a parent of the child. Under current law, the juvenile court may still place a child with such a person if the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the placement is in the best interests of the child, taking into account the wishes of the child.
Read the full summary Show less
Under this bill, the juvenile court also may not place a child or juvenile with a relative other than a parent or with another person who is not licensed under the Children's Code if the relative or unlicensed person has been convicted of, pled no contest to, or been subject to a plea agreement for a crime against a child. Under the bill, the juvenile court may still place a child with such a person if the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the placement is in the best interests of the child.
Who's behind it
4 senators are its . 3 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.
10 more lawmakers .
See all 14 names Hide the names
Authors (4)
- Tim Carpenter · Democrat, Senate
- Rob Cowles · Republican, Senate
- André Jacque · Republican, Senate
- Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (10)
- Calvin Callahan · Republican, Assembly
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Dora Drake · Democrat, Senate
- Rick Gundrum · Republican, Assembly
- Dave Murphy · Republican, Assembly
- Donna Rozar · Republican, Assembly
- Michael Schraa · Republican, Assembly
- Lisa Subeck · Democrat, Assembly
- Paul Tittl · Republican, Assembly
- 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.
Senate Committee on Human Services vote on an amendment
Passed, 5 to 0 · Mar 3, 2021
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Human Services, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Human Services vote on an amendment
Passed, 5 to 0 · Mar 3, 2021
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Human Services, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Human Services vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Mar 3, 2021
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 Human Services, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
-
Jul 16, 2021
The new law was published.
-
Jul 16, 2021
The governor signed it. It became 2021 Wisconsin Act 72.
-
Jul 12, 2021
Sent to the governor.
-
May 11, 2021
1 more representative signed on in support.
-
May 11, 2021
The Assembly passed it too.
-
May 6, 2021
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
-
Mar 17, 2021
The Assembly received it.
-
Mar 16, 2021
The Senate passed it.
-
Mar 16, 2021
The Senate adopted it.
-
Mar 3, 2021
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
-
Mar 3, 2021
“Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Human Services, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
-
Mar 3, 2021
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Human Services, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0” (the official wording)
-
Feb 22, 2021
The committee held a public hearing.
-
Feb 17, 2021
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
-
Jan 28, 2021
Sent to the Senate Committee on Human Services, Children and Families.
-
Jan 28, 2021
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 28, 2021 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Jacque, Nass, Carpenter and Cowles; cosponsored by Representatives Tittl, Murphy, Callahan, Dittrich, Drake, Gundrum, Rozar, Wichgers and Subeck
- Jan 28, 2021 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Human Services, Children and Families
- Feb 17, 2021 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Feb 22, 2021 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Mar 1, 2021 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senators Jacque and Johnson
- Mar 2, 2021 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Jacque
- Mar 2, 2021 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Mar 3, 2021 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Human Services, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Mar 3, 2021 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Human Services, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Mar 3, 2021 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Human Services, Children and Families, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Mar 3, 2021 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 12, 2021 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-16-2021 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 16, 2021 · Senate
Read a second time
- Mar 16, 2021 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 adopted
- Mar 16, 2021 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 adopted
- Mar 16, 2021 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 16, 2021 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Mar 16, 2021 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Mar 16, 2021 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 17, 2021 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- May 6, 2021 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- May 6, 2021 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 5-11-2021 by Committee on Rules
- May 11, 2021 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- May 11, 2021 · Assembly
Read a second time
- May 11, 2021 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- May 11, 2021 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- May 11, 2021 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- May 11, 2021 · Assembly
Representative Schraa added as a cosponsor
- May 11, 2021 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- May 12, 2021 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- May 18, 2021 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Jul 12, 2021 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 7-12-2021
- Jul 16, 2021 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 7-15-2021. 2021 Wisconsin Act 72
- Jul 16, 2021 · Senate
Published 7-16-2021
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