SB 546

Under current law, Kenosha County has eight circuit court branches, Brown County has eight circuit court branches, and Menominee and Shawano Counties have two circuit court branches. This bill adds four circuit court branches: one in Brown County beginning August 1, 2027, one in Menominee and Shawano Counties beginning August 1, 2027, one in Brown County beginning August 1, 2028, and one in Kenosha County beginning August 1, 2028.

This bill provides position authority for many court and criminal justice system employees in the 2027-29 biennium, as follows:

1. Beginning August 1, 2027, two judges.

2. Beginning August 1, 2028, two judges.

3. Beginning August 1, 2027, two court reporters.

4. Beginning August 1, 2028, two court reporters.

5. Beginning July 1, 2027, 30.5 assistant district attorneys.

6. Beginning July 1, 2028, 34 assistant district attorneys.

7. Beginning July 1, 2027, 13 assistant state public defenders.

8. Beginning July 1, 2028, nine assistant state public defenders.

9. Beginning July 1, 2027, 23 state public defender support staff positions.

10. Beginning July 1, 2028, 18 state public defender support staff positions.

The bill requires the director of state courts, the district attorneys, and the public defender board to include a request for funding for the positions authorized under this bill in their 2027-29 biennial budget requests.

This bill also requires the director of state courts, the public defender board, and the district attorneys to submit to the legislature by December 31, 2032 a report that analyzes the workload and assesses the personnel needs for their operations.