POLITICS

Wisconsin lawmakers take aim at opiate epidemic in advancing host of bills

Patrick Marley

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MADISON – The Legislature’s budget committee approved legislation Monday to fight Wisconsin’s opiate epidemic.

On unanimous votes, the Joint Finance Committee signed off on bills to expand treatment, hire special agents to investigate drug crimes and establish a new charter school to treat teens with addiction.

The 16-0 vote sends the bills to the state Senate and Assembly, which could take them up in the coming weeks as part of a special session that is occurring at the same time as the Legislature’s regular session.

Also Monday, Republicans on the committee advanced a bill that would end the need for 16- and 17-year-olds to get work permits — or the permission of their parents — to get a job.

Republicans said Assembly Bill 25 would make it easier to secure jobs for children who have parents who are incarcerated or otherwise absent. Democrats argued it would hurt parental rights and make it harder for parents to know what their children are doing.

Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) noted minors can't sign up for the military or get a driver's license without their parents' permission.

"I don’t think we should be eliminating that choice for parents," Taylor said.

Rep. Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton) said the bill would help kids with tough family situations. Parents don't need to sign off on that, she said.

"This isn’t a tattoo. It’s a job," she said.

Currently, the work permits are required for children under 18 and they can only be issued with the permission of parents or guardians. The bill would change the law to require work permits only for those under age 16.

The committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 49, which would see the state investing $11 million more a year in broadband projects in underserved areas.

On a 12-4 vote, the committee rejected a plan to help purchase 10 acres in Dane County so it could remain a natural area. All Republicans were against the deal and all Democrats were for it. The proposal would have given the Natural Heritage Land Trust a $346,000 grant — enough to cover about half the cost of buying the land.

Here’s a look at the measures aimed at addressing opiate abuse:

Diversion. Counties would get more than $2 million in annual grants to treat people with drug or alcohol offenses instead of sending them to jail under Special Session Assembly Bill 2. The funds would go to counties that already have such programs, as well as ones that so far do not.
School for recovering addicts. A new charter school serving up to 15 high school students with addiction would be established under Special Session Assembly Bill 6. Lawmakers want to try out the school over the next four years, with the idea that similar schools could be established if this one were successful. The University of Wisconsin System's office that authorizes charter schools would determine where the school would be located.
Addiction specialists. The state would give grants totaling $63,000 a year to hospitals that hire more doctors who specialize in addiction under Special Session Assembly Bill 7.
Treatment centers. Two or three new regional opioid treatment programs would be established under Special Session Assembly Bill 8. The new programs would get a total of $1 million a year.
Addiction consultation. A new program would provide doctors with expert guidance on treating addiction under Special Session Assembly Bill 9. The state would spend $500,000 a year on the program.
Agents. The state Department of Justice would get $420,000 a year to hire special agents to investigate drug trafficking under Special Session Assembly Bill 10.
Mental health. The state would create a program to provide training to teachers and schools on mental health under Special Session Assembly Bill 11. The program would cost $200,000 a year.