SB128: Bill Text

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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE

2023 Senate BILL 128

March 14, 2023 - Introduced by Senators Jacque, Taylor, Spreitzer and Ballweg, cosponsored by Representatives Snyder, Dittrich, C. Anderson, Baldeh, Brandtjen, Donovan, Murphy, Subeck, Tittl, Wichgers and Behnke. Referred to Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families.

SB128,1,2 An Act relating to: expanding the Court-Appointed Special Advocate program and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under the existing Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, a CASA is an individual who is appointed by the children's court in a proceeding relating to a child who is alleged to be in need of protection or services (CHIPS). The CASA's role is to gather information and make observations about the child and the child's family environment, make regular contact with the child, monitor the family's compliance with the permanency plan and any court orders and any agency's provision of necessary services, promote the best interest of the child, and provide information about these observations to the court. Currently, the Wisconsin Court- Appointed Special Advocate Association coordinates CASA programs in 13 counties.

This bill increases funding to the CASA program by $6.8 million in the 2023-24 fiscal biennium to expand the existing CASA program, to create two new CASA county programs in 2023, and to create two new CASA county programs in 2024.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

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

SB128,1 Section 1. Fiscal changes.

SB128,2,10 (1) Court-appointed special advocates.. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of justice under s. 20.455 (5) (es), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2023-24 is increased by $3,400,000 to expand court-appointed special advocate programs as described in s. 48.07 (5). In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of justice under s. 20.455 (5) (es), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2024-25 is increased by $3,400,000 to expand court- appointed special advocate programs as described in s. 48.07 (5). Funding provided under this subsection shall be used to create court-appointed special advocate programs in 2 counties in 2023 and 2 counties in 2024 and may be used to expand services in any county with such a program.

SB128,2 Section 2. Effective date.

SB128,2,13 (1) This act takes effect on the day after publication, or the 2nd day after the publication of the 2023 biennial budget act, whichever occurs later.

SB128,2,14 (End)