SB146: Bill Text

2. Permits representatives of tribal schools to serve on the DPI Council on Special Education. [Section 3 .]

3. Permits the Governor to nominate a representative to the Educational Communications Board who may represent either a tribal school or private school. [Section 5.]

4. Requires the Department of Administration (DOA) to include tribal schools in the educational telecommunication access program under s. 16.997, Stats., which provides access to data lines and video links under certain conditions to certain educational agencies (including private schools) at certain costs. This program is the part of the Technology for Educational Achievement (TEACH) program that applies to private schools. The bill permits DOA to provide telecommunications services to tribal schools that DOA considers appropriate and permits DOA to charge for such services. [Sections 6, 7 , 8, 9 , 11, and 12.]

5. Exempts a motor vehicle transporting tribal school pupils to a state park or recreational area from the requirement to display a state park admission receipt. [Section 13.]

6. Extends to tribal schools the requirement that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) create boating safety courses and offer them in cooperation with, among others, schools. [Section 16 .]

7. Requires the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin (UW) System to direct the UW schools of education to work with tribal schools, among others, on researching improving school safety and reducing school discipline problems and to share with tribal schools the results of such research. [Section 17.]

8. Provides that the purposes of the Technical College System (TCS) include contracting, coordinating, and cooperating with tribal schools; requires the TCS Board to work with tribal schools on researching improving school safety and reducing school discipline problems and to share with tribal schools the results of such research; and authorizes a technical college district board to contract with tribal schools, among others, to provide educational services or fiscal and management services. [Sections 18, 19, 20 , and 21.]

9. Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to award a certificate of achievement and appreciation to a veteran who completes 20 hours of volunteer service in a tribal school in a school term if certain conditions are met. [Sections 25 and 26.]

10. Clarifies that a tribal school is not required to obtain a day care license. [Section 34.]

11. Requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to cooperate with various entities, including tribal schools, to establish alcoholism prevention and treatment programs and to prepare curriculum materials on this subject. [Section 38.]

12. Establishes a process by which driver education courses offered in a tribal school can be accepted by the Department of Transportation (DOT) for purposes of obtaining a driver's license under certain circumstances. [Sections 48, 97, 98 , and 99.]

13. Requires the State Superintendent to make online courses available for a reasonable fee, through a statewide web academy, to tribal schools located in Wisconsin. [Section 49.]

14. Provides that tribal schools are eligible for the school lunch program, school breakfast program, school day milk program, and food services plan for the elderly. [Sections 50, 51, 52 , and 53.] (According to DPI staff, tribal schools currently receive funds for the school lunch program and school breakfast program, and no tribal schools currently offer the school day milk program or food services plan for the elderly.)

15. Includes tribal schools in DPI's programs to assist schools in developing: alcohol and other drug abuse programs; suicide prevention programs; and protective behavior programs. The bill also requires DPI to provide a model notice to the governing body of a tribal school, which can be used to inform professional staff of the tribal school about suicide prevention services that DPI has developed and how to access those services. [Sections 54 , 55, and 56.]

16. Includes tribal schools with those groups to which the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing may provide technical assistance and consultation services and other specified services. [Sections 59 , 60, 61 , and 62.]

17. Authorizes cooperative educational service agencies (CESAs) to facilitate communication and cooperation among public, private, and tribal schools, agencies, and organizations that provide services to pupils; subject to certain conditions, authorizes a CESA to contract with a tribal school. [Sections 63 and 64 .]

18. Specifies that tribal schools may request trees from the state forest nursery for Arbor Day observance. The bill also provides that tribal school pupils may be included in the distribution to school pupils by state forest nurseries of planting stock to celebrate Arbor Day. [Sections 14 and 65.]

19. Requires DPI to provide information to tribal schools about meningococcal disease. [Section 66 .]

20. Requires the authority in charge of a street or highway to erect school warning signs, including signs for tribal schools. [Section 67.]

21. Provides for the disclosure of certain confidential records to tribal schools under certain circumstances if enforceable protections are in place to ensure that tribal school officials will not disclose the records except under the same situations that private schools may do so. This includes: police and law enforcement records in a ch. 48, Stats. (Children's Code), proceeding; public school records in certain circumstances; records of the Department of Children and Families (DCF), a county department of human services or county department of social services, a licensed child welfare agency, or a licensed day care center, or of the Department of Corrections in a ch. 938, Stats. (Juvenile Justice Code), proceeding; records of a juvenile court in a ch. 938 proceeding; and law enforcement records in a ch. 938 proceeding. [Sections 33, 35 , 68, 70 , 109, 110 , 111, 112 , and 113.]

22. Adds to the county committee that advises on school districts' truancy plans: (a) a representative of each tribal school in the county; and (b) a parent of a tribal school pupil. [Section 77 .]

23. Requires the annual school district report submitted by the school district clerk to DPI to include certain information about tribal schools and tribal school pupils, if the information is voluntarily provided to the school district by the tribal school. [Section 85.]

24. Requires the State Superintendent to include tribal schools in the category of entities to which information about eye safety is provided. [Section 94.]

25. Adds tribal schools to the list of entities that may request information about persons on the sex offender registry; also amends the definition of "student" for the purpose of the sex offender registration law to also include students at a tribal educational institution, which would include tribal colleges as well as tribal schools. [Sections 95 and 96.]

26. Permits a dental hygienist to be employed at or independently contract with a tribal school. [Section 100 .]

Benefits or Protections Provided to Tribal School Pupils

The bill provides the following benefits or protections to tribal school pupils:

1. Permits certain tribal school pupils to serve as inspectors at a polling place under certain conditions. [Section 2 .]

2. Includes seniors at a tribal high school in the Academic Excellence Higher Education Scholarship Program. [Sections 22, 23 , and 24.]

3. Provides that a veteran is eligible for reimbursement for a course taken at a tribal high school under certain circumstances. [Section 27.]

4. Includes a tribal school in the list of schools that may serve a person relocated to the community by DHS from a state center for the developmentally disabled. [Section 28.]

5. Provides that in entering a child in need of protection or services (CHIPS), juvenile in need of protection or services (JIPS), or delinquency dispositional order, a court may order a child to attend a tribal school if the school district has a contract with the tribal school for such placements and also requires the court to order the supervising agency to disclose information to the tribal school necessary to assure appropriate educational services in such cases. The bill also provides that, in such cases, the educational placement at a tribal school must be paid for by the school district. [Sections 29, 30 , 31, 87 , 88, 89 , 103, 104 , and 105.]

6. If a CHIPS, JIPS, delinquency, or truancy or habitual truancy municipal ordinance dispositional order includes attendance at a tribal school as a condition of the order, requires that the court order request that a tribal school notify the court within five days of a violation of the condition. [Sections 32, 107 , and 108.]

7. Counts attendance at a tribal school for purposes of the Learnfare Program. [Sections 36 and 37.]

8. Provides that minors doing fund raising by selling for a tribal school are exempt from the statutes relating to minors working in the street trades or fund raising on the same basis as minors doing fund raising for public or private schools. [Sections 39, 40, 41, 42 , 43, 44 , and 45.]

9. Permits a child who has completed tribal high school to be employed during school hours. [Section 46 .]

10. Clarifies that when a pupil transfers from a public school to a tribal school, the school district is required to transfer records to the tribal school. [Section 69.]

11. Permits a tribal school to file with DPI information about the elementary school course of study which entitles a pupil having completed that course of study to be admitted to a public high school. [Section 71.]

12. Permits a tribal school pupil who has met the standards for admission to high school to take up to two courses each semester at a public high school in the school district in which the pupil resides if the school board determines that there is sufficient space in the classroom. [Section 71 .]

13. Explicitly provides that attendance at a tribal school satisfies the compulsory school attendance laws and provides that a child attending tribal school is not a "dropout." The bill also requires a school attendance officer to request information about the attendance of a child between the ages of 6 and 18 who is a resident of the school district and who claims or is claimed to be attending a tribal school. [Sections 72, 74, 75 , and 76.]

14. Permits a child's parent or the child to request that a school board provide a program or curriculum modification to attend a tribal school. If the school board approves, the bill also provides that, in such cases, the educational placement at a tribal school must be paid for by the school district. [Sections 73, 86 , 87, 88 , and 90.]

15. Permits school boards, CESAs, and county children with disabilities education boards to provide health treatment services to tribal school pupils at tribal schools under certain circumstances. [Section 78 .]

16. Adds tribal schools to the definition of "school" for purposes of the statute that provides that it is a Class H felony for school staff at a public or private school to have sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a child who is age 16 or 17. [Section 116 .]

17. Adds tribal schools to the definition of "school" for purposes of the statute that provides a criminal penalty for strip searches of pupils by school employees. [Section 118.]

18. Adds tribal schools to the definition of "school" for purposes of the statutes that: restrict possession of alcohol beverages on school premises; generally restrict the location of premises that have a Class A or Class B liquor license from being within 300 feet from the main entrance of a school; prohibit hunting within 1,700 feet of certain facilities, including a school; prohibit a retailer from placing a vending machine that dispenses cigarettes within 500 feet of a school; provide a criminal penalty for possessing (subject to certain exceptions) certain dangerous weapons other than firearms on school premises; prohibit (subject to certain exceptions) possession of a firearm in or on the grounds of a school or within 1,000 feet of a school (school zone) and provide certain criminal penalties under certain circumstances for the discharge of a firearm in a school zone; and specify additional consequences for a delinquency disposition for firearms violation on school premises. [Sections 15 , 79 (cross-referenced definition of school in s. 134.66 (1) (h), Stats.), 91, 92, and 119.]

19. Provides that the criminal penalty for possession of certain controlled substances on or within 1,000 feet of the premises of a school also applies to tribal schools and also extends the penalty enhancement to such violations. [Sections 106, 120, and 121.]

20. Applies penalty enhancement for violent crimes committed in a school zone to tribal schools. [Section 114 .]

Benefits or Protections Provided to Tribal School Staff

The bill provides the following benefits or protections to tribal school staff:

1. Permits a licensed teacher employed by a tribal school to serve on the DPI Professional Standards Council for Teachers. [Section 4.]

2. Includes tribal school teachers in the DOA program to facilitate the purchase of computers by school teachers. [Section 10.]

3. Provides that, although state law does not require that teachers in tribal schools have a state license, a state license may be issued if the applicant who teaches in a tribal school meets the state license criteria. Further provides that appropriate experience in a tribal school is counted in determining teaching experience under the state licensure law. [Section 48 .]

4. For the alternative education program license, specifies that, like a private school, an alternative educational program does not include a tribal school. [Section 48 .]

5. Makes teachers employed at a tribal school eligible for grants if they are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or are licensed by DPI as a master educator and meet other criteria. [Sections 57 and 58 .]

6. Extends immunity from liability under several state laws to certain tribal school officials and others, including: for removing a pupil from school premises or from school-sponsored activities for suspicion of certain activities relating to controlled substances; for administering certain drugs to pupils under certain circumstances; for rendering emergency care; for permitting or prohibiting the use of an asthma inhaler under certain circumstances; for a good faith attempt to prevent suicide; for rendering free health care by certain health care providers at an athletic event at a tribal school; and for death or injury caused by the donation by certain individuals of commercial equipment or technology to a tribal school. [Sections 79, 80 , 81, 82 , 83, 84 , 101, and 102.]

Extending immunity under state law does not affect liability under tribal law or whatever right a person may have to raise a defense of tribal sovereign immunity if sued.

7. Includes tribal school employees and certain health care providers who provide free health care at a tribal school athletic event in the category of persons who, when significantly exposed to an individual (for example, by contact with the individual's blood) may require testing of that individual for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and receive the results of the test. [Sections 93 and 101 .]

8. Provides that an employee, member of the board of directors, or trustee of a tribal school, while in his or her capacity as such, may not be prosecuted under s. 944.21 (crimes relating to obscene materials or performance) or 948.11, Stats. (crimes relating to exposing a child to harmful material or harmful descriptions or narrations). [Sections 115 and 117.]

SB146, s. 1 Section 1 . 6.28 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB146,10,9 6.28 (2) (c) The principal of any private high school having or of any tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), that operates high school grades that has a substantial number of students residing in a municipality may request the municipal clerk to establish registration dates when a special registration deputy will be present in the high school, or to appoint a special school registration deputy in accordance with par. (b). The clerk shall establish registration dates or appoint a special school registration deputy in the high school if the clerk determines the school to have a substantial number of students residing in the municipality.

Note: Permits a tribal school with high school grades that has a substantial number of students to ask the municipal clerk to conduct voter registration at the high school.

SB146, s. 2 Section 2 . 7.30 (2) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB146,11,15 7.30 (2) (am) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, a pupil who is 16 or 17 years of age and who is enrolled in grades 9 to 12 in a public or private school or in a tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), may serve as an inspector at the polling place serving the pupil's residence, with the approval of the pupil's parent or guardian. Any pupil who has at least a 3.0 grade point average or the equivalent may serve. In addition, a school board or governing body of a private school or tribal school may establish criteria for service by a pupil who does not have at least a 3.0 grade point average or the equivalent. A pupil may serve as an inspector at a polling place under this paragraph only if at least one election official at the polling place other than the chief inspector is a qualified elector of this state. No pupil may serve as chief inspector at a polling place under this paragraph. Before appointment by any municipality of a pupil as an inspector under this paragraph, the municipal clerk shall obtain written authorization from the pupil's parent or guardian for the pupil to serve for the election for which he or she is appointed. In addition, if a pupil does not have at least a 3.0 grade point average or the equivalent, the municipal clerk shall obtain written certification from the principal of the school where the pupil is enrolled that the pupil meets any criteria established by the school board or governing body for service as an inspector. Upon appointment of a pupil to serve as an inspector, the municipal clerk shall notify the principal of the school where the pupil is enrolled of the name of the pupil and the date of the election at which the pupil has been appointed to serve.

Note: Permits certain tribal school pupils to serve as inspectors at a polling place under certain conditions.

SB146, s. 3 Section 3 . 15.377 (4) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB146,11,18 15.377 (4) (f) Representatives of private schools and, charter schools, and tribal schools, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m).

Note: Provides that representatives of tribal schools may serve on the DPI Council on Special Education.

SB146, s. 4 Section 4 . 15.377 (8) (c) 14. of the statutes is created to read:

SB146,11,22 15.377 (8) (c) 14. One person licensed as a teacher and actively employed in a tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), recommended by a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state that has a tribal school.

Note: Current law permits one licensed teacher actively employed in a private school, recommended by the Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools, to serve on the DPI Professional Standards Council for Teachers. The council currently has 19 members who, with one limited exception, are appointed for three-year terms. With three exceptions, a vacancy in any category is filled by having the entity that is authorized to make a recommendation in that category provide three names to the State Superintendent, who then makes the selection for that category.

This Section increases the number of members to 20 by adding a provision for a licensed teacher employed by a tribal school. The State Superintendent must select this teacher based on the recommendation of a tribe that has a tribal school.

SB146, s. 5 Section 5 . 15.57 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB146,12,3 15.57 (3) One representative of public schools and one representative of private schools or of tribal schools, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), appointed for 4-year terms.

Note: The Educational Communications Board has 16 members who, with limited exceptions not applicable to this provision, are nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. This Section permits the Governor to nominate a representative who may represent either a tribal school or private school.

SB146, s. 6 Section 6 . 16.971 (15) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB146,12,7 16.971 (15) Provide private schools and tribal schools, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), with telecommunications access under s. 16.997 and contract with telecommunications providers to provide that access.

Note: Requires DOA to include tribal schools in the educational telecommunication access program under s. 16.997, stats., which provides access to data lines and video links under certain conditions to certain educational agencies (including private schools) at certain costs. This program is the part of the TEACH program that applies to private schools.

SB146, s. 7 Section 7 . 16.972 (1) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:

SB146,12,10 16.972 (1) (cm) "Qualified tribal school" means a tribal school as defined in s. 115.001 (15m).

SB146, s. 8 Section 8 . 16.972 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB146,13,13 16.972 (2) (b) Except as provided in par. (a), provide such computer services and telecommunications services to local governmental units and the broadcasting corporation and provide such telecommunications services to qualified private schools, tribal schools, postsecondary institutions, museums, and zoos, as the department considers to be appropriate and as the department can efficiently and economically provide. The department may exercise this power only if in doing so it maintains the services it provides at least at the same levels that it provides prior to exercising this power and it does not increase the rates chargeable to users served prior to exercise of this power as a result of exercising this power. The department may charge local governmental units, the broadcasting corporation, and qualified private schools, tribal schools, postsecondary institutions, museums, and zoos, for services provided to them under this paragraph in accordance with a methodology determined by the department. Use of telecommunications services by a qualified private school, tribal school, or postsecondary institution shall be subject to the same terms and conditions that apply to a municipality using the same services. The department shall prescribe eligibility requirements for qualified museums and zoos to receive telecommunications services under this paragraph.

SB146, s. 9 Section 9 . 16.974 (2) and (3) of the statutes are amended to read:

SB146,13,20 16.974 (2) Subject to s. 16.972 (2) (b), enter into and enforce an agreement with any agency, any authority, any unit of the federal government, any local governmental unit, or any entity in the private sector , or any tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), to provide services authorized to be provided by the department to that agency, authority, unit, or entity, or tribal school at a cost specified in the agreement.

SB146,14,9 (3) Develop or operate and maintain any system or device facilitating Internet or telephone access to information about programs of agencies, authorities, local governmental units, or entities in the private sector, or any tribal schools, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), or otherwise permitting the transaction of business by agencies, authorities, local governmental units, or entities in the private sector, or tribal schools by means of electronic communication. The department may assess executive branch agencies, other than the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, for the costs of systems or devices relating to information technology or telecommunications that are developed, operated, or maintained under this subsection in accordance with a methodology determined by the department. The department may also charge any agency, authority, local governmental unit, or entity in the private sector , or tribal school for such costs as a component of any services provided by the department to that agency, authority, local governmental unit, or entity, or tribal school.

Note: Sections 7 to 9 permit DOA to provide telecommunications services to tribal schools that DOA considers appropriate and charge for such services. Also see the treatment of s. 20.505 (1) (is), stats., below.

SB146, s. 10 Section 10 . 16.9785 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB146,14,17 16.9785 Purchases of computers by teachers. The department shall negotiate with private vendors to facilitate the purchase of computers and other educational technology, as defined in s. 24.60 (1r), by public and, private, and tribal elementary and secondary school teachers for their private use. The department shall attempt to make available types of computers and other educational technology under this section that will encourage and assist teachers in becoming knowledgeable about the technology and its uses and potential uses in education.

Note: Includes tribal school teachers in the DOA program to facilitate the purchase of computers by school teachers.

SB146, s. 11 Section 11 . 16.99 (2g) of the statutes is amended to read: