SB406: Bill Text

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB406, s. 1 Section 1. 119.23 (7) (am) of the statutes is renumbered 119.23 (7) (am) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB406,2,7 119.23 (7) (am) (intro.) Each private school participating in the program under this section is subject to uniform financial accounting standards established by the department and annually. Annually by September 1 following a school year in which a private school participated in the program under this section, the private school shall submit to the department an all of the following:

SB406,2,10 1. An independent financial audit of the private school conducted by a certified public accountant, accompanied by the auditor's statement that the report is free of material misstatements and fairly presents pupil costs under sub. (4) (b) 1.

SB406, s. 2 Section 2. 119.23 (7) (am) 2. and 3. of the statutes are created to read:

SB406,2,13 119.23 (7) (am) 2. Evidence of sound fiscal practices, as prescribed by the department by rule.

SB406,3,2 3. Certification by the auditor under subd. 1. that criminal background checks of all newly hired school employees were conducted as specified under par. (d) 2.

SB406, s. 3 Section 3. 119.23 (7) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

SB406, s. 4 Section 4. 119.23 (7) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

SB406,3,6 119.23 (7) (d) Each private school participating in the program under this section shall submit to the department all of the following:

SB406,3,9 1. By August 1 before the first school term of participation in the program, or by May 1 if the private school begins participating in the program during summer school, all of the following:

SB406,3,15 a. A copy of the school's current certificate of occupancy issued by the city. If the private school moves to a new location, the private school shall submit a copy of the new certificate of occupancy issued by the city to the department before the attendance of pupils at the new location and before the next succeeding date specified in s. 121.05 (1) (a). A temporary certificate of occupancy does not meet the requirement of this subd. 1. a.

SB406,3,16 b. Evidence of financial viability, as prescribed by the department by rule.

SB406,3,18 c. Proof that the private school's administrator has participated in a fiscal management training program approved by the department.

SB406,4,2 2. Annually by February 1, a notarized statement by a person legally authorized to act on behalf of the private school that the private school will conduct a criminal background check through the department of justice on each person who will be employed by the private school for the first time in the following school year. If the person is a nonresident, the department of justice may provide for the submission of information to the federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identity of the person and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrest and conviction.

SB406, s. 5 Section 5. 119.23 (7) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

SB406,4,9 119.23 (7) (e) 1. Notwithstanding subch. II of ch. 111, except as provided in subd. 2. a private school participating in the program under this section may not employ a person convicted of any Class A, B, C, D, E, F, G, or H felony under ch. 940 or 948, except ss. 940.08 and 940.205, for 6 years following the date of the conviction, and may employ such a person after 6 years only if the person establishes by clear and convincing evidence that he or she is entitled to be employed.

SB406,4,14 2. A private school participating in the program under this section may employ a person convicted of a crime enumerated in subd. 1., prior to the expiration of the 6-year period following the conviction, if the private school receives from the court in which the conviction occurred a certificate stating that the conviction has been reversed, set aside, or vacated.

SB406, s. 6 Section 6. 119.23 (7) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

SB406,4,21 119.23 (7) (f) Notwithstanding subch. II of ch. 111, a private school participating in the program under this section may refuse to employ or may terminate the employment of any person who has been convicted of a felony within the previous 6 years unless the private school receives from the court in which the conviction occurred a certificate stating that the conviction has been reversed, set aside, or vacated.

SB406, s. 7 Section 7. 119.23 (10) of the statutes is created to read:

SB406,5,2 119.23 (10) (a) The state superintendent may issue an order barring a private school from participating in the program under this section in the succeeding school year if the state superintendent determines that the private school has done any of the following:

SB406,5,3 1. Misrepresented information required under sub. (7) (d).

SB406,5,5 2. Failed to provide the notice required under sub. (2) (a) 3., or the information required under sub. (7) (am) or (d), by the date or within the period specified.

SB406,5,7 3. Failed to refund to the state any overpayment made under sub. (4) (b) or (rm) by the date specified by department rule.

SB406,5,9 4. Failed to meet at least one of the standards under sub. (7) (a) by the date specified by department rule.

SB406,5,13 (b) The state superintendent may issue an order immediately terminating a private school's participation in the program under this section if he or she determines that conditions at the private school present an imminent threat to the health or safety of pupils.

SB406,5,16 (c) Whenever the state superintendent issues an order under par. (a) or (b), he or she shall immediately notify the parent or guardian of each pupil attending the private school under this section.

SB406,5,19 (d) The state superintendent may withhold payment from a parent or guardian under subs. (4) and (4m) if the private school attended by the child of the parent or guardian violates this section.

SB406, s. 8 Section 8. 119.23 (11) of the statutes is created to read:

SB406,5,22 119.23 (11) The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

SB406, s. 9 Section 9 . Nonstatutory provisions.

SB406,6,3 (1) Notwithstanding section 119.23 (7) (d) 2. of the statutes, as created by this act, the first notarized statement required under that subdivision is due within 60 days after the effective date of this subsection.

SB406,6,10 (2) Within 120 days after the effective date of this subsection, a private school participating in the program under section 119.23 of the statutes shall conduct a criminal background check through the department of justice on each person employed by the private school. If the person is a nonresident, the department of justice may provide for the submission of information to the federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identity of the person and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrest and conviction.

SB406, s. 10 Section 10. Initial applicability.

SB406,6,16 (1) This act first applies to private schools that participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program under section 119.23 of the statutes in the 2004-05 school year, except as provided in Section 9 of this act and except that the treatment of section 119.23 (7) (am) 3. of the statutes first applies to reports under that subdivision that are due by September 1, 2005.

SB406,6,17 (End)