This draft makes various changes to the discharge and supervised release
provisions of ch. 980. These changes include the following:
Assigning the burden of proof regarding supervised release criteria to the
petitioner.
Extending the timelines within which a court must hold a supervised release
hearing or discharge trial.
Altering the pleading requirement a petitioner must meet before receiving a
discharge trial.
Repealing parts of s. 980.075, stats., relating to the supervised release and
discharge petition process, and renumbering certain provisions to the statutory sections
specifically relating to supervised release and discharge.
Requiring a court to make a supervised release determination after denying
discharge at a discharge trial.
Requiring a delay of up to 10 days in the execution of a court order granting
discharge to a committed individual.
Altering the criteria which a committed person must meet before a court may
grant supervised release.
Expanding the list of activities for which a committed person on supervised
release may leave his or her residence under direct supervision of a department of
corrections (DOC) escort.
AB28,1 3Section 1. 980.01 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB28,3,2
1980.01 (3) Except in ss. 980.075, 980.09, and 980.095, "petitioner" "Petitioner"
2means the agency or person that filed a petition under s. 980.02.
Note: Part of s. 980.075 is repealed in this bill and parts are renumbered to be parts
of s. 980.07, but the only instance of "petitioner" in s. 980.075 was changed to "person."
See Section 11 . Section 980.09 contains one occurrence of "petitioner"; this bill changes
it to "person" for consistency. See Section 24. Section 980.095 contains one occurrence
of "petitioner"; this bill changes it to "person" to be consistent and to eliminate any
confusion since that statutory section also discusses the petition under s. 980.02. See
Section 26.
AB28,2 3Section 2 . 980.01 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB28,3,54 980.01 (8) "Significant progress in treatment" means that the person has done
5is doing all of the following:
AB28,3,86 (a) Meaningfully participated participating in the treatment program
7specifically designed to reduce his or her risk to reoffend offered at a facility described
8under s. 980.065.
AB28,3,129 (b) Participated Participating in the treatment program at a level that was is
10sufficient to allow the identification of his or her specific treatment needs and then
11demonstrated
demonstrating, through overt behavior, a willingness to work on
12addressing the specific treatment needs.
AB28,3,1513 (c) Demonstrated Demonstrating an understanding of the thoughts, attitudes,
14emotions, behaviors, and sexual arousal linked to his or her sexual offending and an
15ability to identify when the thoughts, emotions, behaviors, or sexual arousal occur.
AB28,3,1916 (d) Demonstrated Demonstrating sufficiently sustained change in the
17thoughts, attitudes, emotions, and behaviors and sufficient management of sexual
18arousal such that one could reasonably assume that, with continued treatment, the
19change could be maintained.
Note: Revises the definition of "significant progress in treatment" to specify that
the individual must be participating in treatment programs at a sufficient level and
demonstrating the requisite behavior, understanding, and changes, rather than

specifying that the individual has already participated in the treatment or has already
demonstrated these behaviors, understandings, and changes.
Under current law, a committed individual must meet 5 specified criteria before a
court may grant him or her supervised release. One of the criteria requires that the
individual has made "significant progress in treatment" and that the progress can be
sustained while on supervised release. Because the draft revises the definition of
"significant progress in treatment", a committed individual must currently be engaged
in or working towards the requirements set forth in the definition to meet the criterion
for supervised release. Corresponding revisions are made in Sections 5 and 18.
AB28,3 1Section 3. 980.065 (1r) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB28,4,52 980.065 (1r) Notwithstanding sub. (1m), the department may place a female
3person committed under s. 980.06 at Mendota Mental Health Institute, Wisconsin
4Women's Resource Center,
Winnebago Mental Health Institute, or a privately
5operated residential facility under contract with the department of health services.
Note: Expands the list of facilities at which DHS may place a female committed
as an SVP to include the Wisconsin Women's Resource Center.
AB28,4 6Section 4. 980.07 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB28,5,27 980.07 (1) If a person is committed under s. 980.06 and has not been discharged
8under s. 980.09 (4), the department shall appoint an examiner to conduct a
9reexamination of the person's mental condition within 12 months after the date of
10the initial commitment order under s. 980.06 and again thereafter at least once each
1112 months to determine whether the person has made sufficient progress for the
12court to consider whether the person should be placed on supervised release or
13discharged. The examiner shall apply the criteria under s. 980.08 (4) (cg) when
14considering if the person should be placed on supervised release and shall apply the
15criteria under s. 980.09 (3) when considering if the person should be discharged. At
16the time of a reexamination under this section, the person who has been committed
17may retain or have the
court shall appoint an examiner as provided under s. 980.031
18(3) upon request of the committed person or the person may retain an examiner. The

1county shall pay the costs of an examiner appointed by the court as provided under
2s. 51.20 (18) (a).
Note: Clarifies that a court must appoint an examiner for the committed person
if the person requests an examiner at the time of the 12-month reexamination. Removes
ambiguity regarding whether a court may choose not to appoint an examiner when a
committed person requests an examiner.
AB28,5 3Section 5 . 980.07 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB28,5,54 980.07 (4) (b) Whether the person has made is making significant progress in
5treatment or has refused treatment.
Note: This change corresponds with the revision in Section 2.
AB28,6 6Section 6 . 980.07 (6) of the statutes is renumbered 980.07 (6) (a).
Note: This bill renumbers 980.075 (1m) (a) to 980.07 (6) (b); see Section 9 .
AB28,7 7Section 7. 980.07 (6m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB28,5,148 980.07 (6m) If a person committed under s. 980.06 is incarcerated at a county
9jail, state correctional institution, or federal correction institution for a new criminal
10charge or conviction or because his or her parole was revoked, any reporting
11requirement under sub. (1), (4), or (6) (a) does not apply during the incarceration
12period. A court may order a reexamination of the person under sub. (3) if the courts
13finds reexamination to be necessary. The schedule for reporting established under
14sub. (1) shall resume upon the release of the person.
****Note: This bill renumbers s. 980.07 (6) to be 980.07 (6) (a). See Section 6 .
AB28,8 15Section 8. 980.075 (title), (1), (1m) (b) and (2) of the statutes are repealed.
Note: This bill relocates portions of s. 980.075 into ss. 980.07 and 980.09, stats.,
as described in the notes appearing beneath Sections 9, 10 , 11, 12 , and 13. This draft also
adds identical language from s. 980.075 to s. 980.08. See the note following Section 15 .
Portions of s. 980.075, patient petition process, which this bill repeals and does not
relocate to other portions of the chapter appear in s. 980.075 (2), stats., and contain the
following: (1) a 30-day deadline for submitting a supervised release or discharge petition
that may conflict with more specific deadlines appearing within s. 980.08 and 980.09,
stats; and (2) language stating that a person remains committed or remains on
supervised release without court review if the person does not file a timely discharge
petition.
AB28,9
1Section 9 . 980.075 (1m) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 980.07 (6) (b) and
2amended to read:
AB28,6,73 980.07 (6) (b) When the department provides a copy of the report under s.
4980.07 (6)
par. (a) to the person who has been committed under s. 980.06, the
5department shall provide to the person a standardized petition form for supervised
6release under s. 980.08 and a standardized petition form for discharge under s.
7980.09.
Note: Requires DHS to provide petition forms to committed individuals when
providing a copy of the person's reexamination report.
AB28,10 8Section 10 . 980.075 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 980.09 (1m) (a) and
9amended to read:
AB28,6,1510 980.09 (1m) (a) If the person files a petition for discharge under s. 980.09 sub.
11(1)
without counsel, the court shall serve a copy of the petition and any supporting
12documents on the district attorney or department of justice, whichever is applicable.
13If the person petitions for discharge under s. 980.09 sub. (1) through counsel, his or
14her attorney shall serve the district attorney or department of justice, whichever is
15applicable.
Note: This Section relocates s. 980.075 (3), stats., which requires that a
committed person or his or her attorney serve a copy of the person's discharge petition and
supporting documents on the prosecuting entity.
AB28,11 16Section 11 . 980.075 (4) (a) and (b) of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered
17980.09 (1m) (c) and amended to read:
AB28,6,2118 980.09 (1m) (c) The petitioner If a person files a petition for discharge under
19sub. (1), the person
may use experts or professional persons to support his or her
20petition. (b) The district attorney or the department of justice may use experts or
21professional persons to support or oppose any petition filed under sub. (1).

Note: This Section relocates s. 980.075 (4) (a) and (b), which permits the
committed individual and the prosecution to use experts or other professionals to support
or oppose a discharge petition.
AB28,12 1Section 12 . 980.075 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 980.09 (1m) (b) and
2amended to read:
AB28,7,73 980.09 (1m) (b) Subject to s. 980.03 (2) (a), before proceeding under s. 980.08
4or 980.09 but
If the person files a petition for a discharge under sub. (1) without
5counsel,
as soon as circumstances permit, the court shall refer the matter to the
6authority for indigency determinations under s. 977.07 (1) and appointment of
7counsel under s. 977.05 (4) (j) if the person is not represented by counsel.
Note: This Section relocates s. 980.075 (5), stats., which requires the court to refer
a committed person who does not have an attorney to the office of the state public
defender for an indigency determination and appointment of counsel.
AB28,13 8Section 13 . 980.075 (6) of the statutes is renumbered 980.07 (7) and amended
9to read:
AB28,7,1410 980.07 (7) At any time before a hearing under s. 980.08 or 980.09, the
11department may file a supplemental report if the department determines that court
12should have additional information. The court shall accept the supplemental report
13and permit testimony from the department regarding the report or any relevant
14portion of the report.
Note: Permits the department of health services (DHS) to file a supplemental
report at any time prior to a supervised release or discharge hearing.
Creates new language requiring the court to accept any supplemental reports filed
by DHS prior to a supervised release or discharge hearing and requires the court to allow
DHS to testify about the supplemental report.
AB28,14 15Section 14. 980.08 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB28,8,316 980.08 (1) Any person who is committed under s. 980.06 may petition the
17committing court to modify its order by authorizing supervised release if at least 12
18months have elapsed since the initial commitment order was entered or at least 12
19months have elapsed since the most recent release petition was denied , since

1supervised release was denied under s. 980.09 (4),
or since the most recent order for
2supervised release was revoked. The director of the facility at which the person is
3placed may file a petition under this subsection on the person's behalf at any time.
Note: Prohibits a committed individual from filing a supervised release petition
for at least 12 months after a court considers and denies supervised release at a discharge
hearing.
Currently, if an individual is denied discharge at a discharge trial, then the court
may proceed to consider whether the individual qualifies for supervised release. Section
24 of this bill eliminates court discretion to decide whether or not to consider supervised
release at a discharge trial and instead requires the court to consider supervised release
after denying discharge.
AB28,15 4Section 15 . 980.08 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB28,8,85 980.08 (2m) The person submitting the petition may use experts or
6professional persons to support his or her petition. The district attorney or the
7department of justice may use experts or professional persons to support or oppose
8any petition.
Note: Provides that a committed individual and the prosecution may use experts
or professionals in supporting or opposing a petition for supervised release. The language
is currently contained in s. 980.075 (4) (a) and (b), stats., which this bill renumbers to s.
980.09 (1m) (c) to apply to discharge. It needs to be repeated to apply to s. 980.08,
supervised release.
AB28,16 9Section 16. 980.08 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 980.08 (3) (a) and
10amended to read:
AB28,9,411 980.08 (3) (a) Within 20 days after receipt of the petition, the court shall
12appoint one or more examiners having for the court who have the specialized
13knowledge determined by the court to be appropriate, who shall examine the person
14and furnish a written report of the examination to the court within 30 60 days after
15appointment, unless the court for good cause extends this time limit. If the person
16requests appointment of an examiner within 20 days after the filing of the petition,
17the court shall appoint an examiner for the person, unless the court appointed an
18examiner under s. 980.031 (3) or 980.07 (1) for the current reexamination period. If

1a report filed by an examiner appointed under s. 980.07 (1) to conduct a
2reexamination of the person's mental condition within the 6 months preceding the
3filing of the petition supports supervised release, the court may appoint that
4examiner as the examiner for the person under this subsection
.
AB28,9,12 5(b) The examiners appointed under par. (a) shall have reasonable access to the
6person for purposes of examination and to the person's past and present treatment
7records, as defined in s. 51.30 (1) (b), and patient health care records, as provided
8under s. 146.82 (2) (c). If any such examiner believes that the person is appropriate
9for supervised release under the criteria specified in sub. (4) (cg), the examiner shall
10report on the type of treatment and services that the person may need while in the
11community on supervised release. The county shall pay the costs of an examiner
12appointed under this subsection par. (a) as provided under s. 51.20 (18) (a).
Note: Renumbers existing s. 980.08 (3) as 2 separate paragraphs.
The Section also extends the time period for an examiner to complete an
evaluation of the committed person and submit the report to the court from 30 to 60 days,
and authorizes the court to extend the time limit for good cause.
The Section clarifies that the court appoints an examiner at this stage for purposes
of the court. The draft also requires the court to appoint an examiner for the committed
person if: (1) the person requests appointment of an examiner; and (2) the court has not
previously appointed an examiner for the person under other sections of the chapter
during the relevant 12-month reexamination period.
If the committed person requests appointment of his or her own examiner, the
Section allows the court to appoint the DHS examiner who conducted the person's
annual reexamination if: (1) the examiner conducted the examination within the 6
months before the person filed his or her supervised release petition; and (2) the
examiner's report supports a grant of supervised release. This will allow the court to
appoint an examiner who already conducted an examination of the individual and
generated a report favorable to the individual, rather than requiring the court to appoint
an additional examiner on behalf of the person.
AB28,17 13Section 17. 980.08 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB28,9,1614 980.08 (4) (a) The court, without a jury, shall hear the petition within 30 120
15days after the report of the court-appointed examiner appointed under sub. (3) (a)
16is filed with the court, unless the court for good cause extends this time limit.

1Expenses of proceedings under this subsection shall be paid as provided under s.
251.20 (18) (b), (c), and (d).
Note: Extends the time period for the supervised release hearing from 30 to 120
days after the examiner's report is filed.
AB28,18 3Section 18 . 980.08 (4) (cg) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB28,10,54 980.08 (4) (cg) 1. The person has made is making significant progress in
5treatment and the person's progress can be sustained while on supervised release.
Note: Revises one of the 5 criteria a committed individual must meet before being
granted supervised release to require that the individual is making significant progress
in treatment, rather than requiring that the individual has made significant progress in
treatment. This change corresponds with the revision in Section 2.
AB28,19 6Section 19. 980.08 (4) (cj) of the statutes is created to read:
AB28,10,87 980.08 (4) (cj) The person has the burden of proving by clear and convincing
8evidence that the person meets the criteria in par. (cg).
Note: Provides that the person petitioning for supervised release bears the burden
of proving he or she meets the criteria by clear and convincing evidence, codifying the
Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision in State v. West, 2011 WI 83.
AB28,20 9Section 20. 980.08 (9) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB28,10,1610 980.08 (9) (a) As a condition of supervised release granted under this chapter,
11for the first year of supervised release, the court shall restrict the person on
12supervised release to the person's home residence except for outings approved by the
13department of health services
that are under the direct supervision of a department
14of corrections escort and that are for employment or volunteer purposes, for religious
15purposes, educational purposes, treatment and exercise purposes, supervision
16purposes, or residence maintenance,
or for caring for the person's basic living needs.
Note: Expands the list of activities for which a committed individual on supervised
release may leave his or her residence under direct supervision of a DOC escort and
requires that all outings be approved by DHS. Specifically, in addition to existing
purposes, the bill provides that a committed individual may leave his or her residence for
volunteer, educational, treatment, exercise or supervision purposes, or for maintenance
of his residence. The bill also replaces use of the term "home", with the term "residence".
AB28,21 17Section 21. 980.09 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB28,11,9
1980.09 (1) A committed person may petition the committing court for discharge
2at any time. The court shall deny the petition under this section without a hearing
3unless the petition alleges facts from which the court or jury may would likely
4conclude the person's condition has changed since the date of his or her initial
5commitment order
the most recent order denying a petition for discharge after a
6hearing on the merits, or since the date of his or her initial commitment order if the
7person has never received a hearing on the merits of a discharge petition,
so that the
8person does not meet no longer meets the criteria for commitment as a sexually
9violent person.
Note: Alters the pleading requirement which a petitioner must meet before his or
her discharge petition will receive a discharge trial. The Section requires a petitioner
to allege facts which would likely lead a fact-finder to determine he or she no longer
qualifies as an SVP, rather than alleging facts which may lead a fact-finder to this
determination.
This Section also alters the time period during which a petitioner must show his
or her "condition has changed" in order to merit a discharge trial. The language requires
a petitioner to allege a change occurring since the last discharge trial at which a
fact-finder determined that he or she remains an SVP.
AB28,22 10Section 22. 980.09 (1m) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB28,12,211 980.09 (1m) (d) After receiving a petition for discharge under sub. (1) and upon
12the request of the person filing the petition, unless the court previously appointed
13an examiner under s. 980.031 (3) or 980.07 (1) for the current reexamination period,
14the court shall appoint for the person an examiner having the specialized knowledge
15determined by the court to be appropriate. If an examination conducted under s.
16980.07 (1) within the 6 months preceding the filing of the petition supports discharge,
17the court may appoint the examiner who conducted that examination as the
18examiner for the person. The examiner shall have reasonable access to the person
19for purposes of examination and to the person's past and present treatment records,
20as defined in s. 51.30 (1) (b), and patient health care records, as provided in s. 146.82

1(2) (c). The county shall pay the costs of an examiner appointed under this paragraph
2as provided under s. 51.20 (18) (a).
Note: The Section creates a new statutory section relating to appointment of an
examiner for the person petitioning for discharge. The bill specifies that a court must
appoint an examiner for the person if the person is indigent and requests an examiner
after submitting a discharge petition to the court.
However, the court is not required to appoint an additional examiner for the person
if the court previously appointed an examiner for the person at the time of the person's
annual reexamination. Further, instead of appointing a new examiner for the person, the
court may appoint an examiner who already completed an examination of the person
under certain circumstances. The court may appoint an examiner who previously
examined the person if: (1) the examiner completed a reexamination of the person within
the 6 months before the person filed his or her petition for discharge; and (2) the
examination recommended discharge.
AB28,23 3Section 23 . 980.09 (2) and (3) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB28,13,34 980.09 (2) The court shall review the petition within 30 days and In reviewing
5the petition, the court
may hold a hearing to determine if it contains facts from which
6the court or jury may conclude that the person does not meet
the person's condition
7has sufficiently changed such that a court or jury would likely conclude the person
8no longer meets
the criteria for commitment as a sexually violent person. In
9determining under this subsection whether facts exist that might warrant such a
10conclusion
the person's condition has sufficiently changed such that a court or jury
11would likely conclude that the person no longer meets the criteria for commitment
,
12the court shall may consider the record, including evidence introduced at the initial
13commitment trial or the most recent trial on a petition for discharge,
any current or
14past reports filed under s. 980.07, relevant facts in the petition and in the state's
15written response, arguments of counsel, and any supporting documentation
16provided by the person or the state. If the court determines that the petition record
17does not contain facts from which a court or jury may would likely conclude that the
18person does not meet no longer meets the criteria for commitment, the court shall
19deny the petition. If the court determines that facts exist the record contains facts

1from which a court or jury could would likely conclude the person does not meet no
2longer meets the
criteria for commitment, the court shall set the matter for hearing
3trial.
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