AB261: Bill Text

LRB-2739/1

FFK:skw

2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Assembly BILL 261

April 14, 2021 - Introduced by Representative Wittke, cosponsored by Senator Stroebel. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB261,1,4 An Act to amend 118.38 (4) (a) (intro.), 118.38 (4) (a) 2. a., 118.38 (4) (a) 2. b. and 118.38 (4) (c) of the statutes; relating to: the department of public instruction's waiver authority related to parental choice programs, the Special Needs Scholarship Program, and independent charter schools.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

During the period beginning on March 12, 2020, and ending on October 31, 2020, 2019 Wisconsin Act 185 granted the Department of Public Instruction the authority to waive state education statutes, and rules promulgated under those statutes, related to 1) a parental choice program or the Special Needs Scholarship Program, 2) private schools participating in a parental choice program or the SNSP, and 3) independent charter schools. This bill extends the period of time that DPI is authorized to waive these state statutes and rules to October 31, 2021.

During the period beginning on March 12, 2020, and ending on October 31, 2020, 2019 Wisconsin Act 185 also allowed DPI to establish alternate deadlines for requirements related to parental choice programs or the SNSP if the original deadline occurred between March 12, 2020, and October 31, 2020, or the original deadline related to another event that occurred between the same dates. The bill extends the period of time that DPI has the authority to establish such alternate deadlines to October 31, 2021, and extends DPI's authority to deadlines that would otherwise occur or are related to events that would otherwise occur on or before October 31, 2021.

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

AB261,1 Section 1. 118.38 (4) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB261,2,4 118.38 (4) (a) (intro.) Beginning on the first day of the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72, and ending on October 31, 2020 2021, the department may do all of the following:

AB261,2 Section 2. 118.38 (4) (a) 2. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB261,2,8 118.38 (4) (a) 2. a. A deadline that occurs during the period beginning on the first day of the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72, and ending on October 31, 2020 2021.

AB261,3 Section 3. 118.38 (4) (a) 2. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB261,2,12 118.38 (4) (a) 2. b. A deadline for a requirement that affects a date during the period beginning on the first day of the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72, and ending on October 31, 2020 2021.

AB261,4 Section 4. 118.38 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB261,2,17 118.38 (4) (c) A waiver under par. (a) 1. applies may apply only to the 2019-20 school year, the 2020-21 school year, or both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years. In each waiver under par. (a) 1., the department shall specify the school year or school years to which the waiver applies.

AB261,2,18 (End)