WisconsinChild welfare agencies would refer certain abuse reports to police
The failed measure proposed adding some child welfare agency employees to the reporting list and setting referral rules for agencies that receive abuse reports.
What it does
Employees whose agency jobs involve direct work with children or child welfare cases are included in the text's list of people covered by child abuse reporting requirements.
Covered child welfare agencies would send certain suspected or threatened abuse reports to the sheriff or police within 12 hours, excluding weekends and legal holidays. For other specified abuse reports and neglect, each agency would set a written policy on routine referrals.
Argument forPolice could learn sooner about certain suspected or threatened abuse cases because agencies would have to refer them within 12 hours, excluding weekends and legal holidays.
Argument againstAgency employees whose jobs involve children or child welfare cases could face added reporting duties, and agencies would need to decide which other reports to send to police.
More detail
The text lists employees of certain agencies among people covered by child abuse reporting requirements. The listed employees work for an agency and have duties that include direct interaction with children or handling child welfare cases.
Covered agencies must refer certain reported abuse cases to the sheriff or police within 12 hours, and adopt written policies for routine referrals of other specified reports. Covered agencies are county departments, the state department, and licensed child welfare agencies under contract with the state department. The reports must have been made to one of these agencies. The 12-hour rule covers suspected or threatened abuse under the categories listed in s. 48.02 (1) (b) to (f). For suspected or threatened abuse under s. 48.02 (1) (a), (am), (g), or (gm), or neglect, each covered agency must adopt a written policy that says which reports it will routinely refer to local law enforcement. The text says the 12-hour rule is subject to sub. (3m), whose terms are not included here. The 12-hour period excludes Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82Latest
- May 12Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- Mar 27Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 3-27-2026Major
- Mar 26Presented to the Governor on 3-26-2026To Governor
- Feb 20Report correctly enrolledMinor
- Feb 13Received from Assembly concurred inMinor
- Feb 12Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded CONCURRENCE. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 12Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 61, Noes 37Passed House
- Feb 12Rules suspended
- Feb 12Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 12Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 12Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take upMajor
- Feb 10Placed on calendar 2-12-2026 by Committee on Rules
- Jan 16Read first time and referred to committee on RulesMinor
- 2025
- Nov 19Received from SenateMinor
- Nov 18Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Upper
- Nov 18Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 15Passed Senate
- Nov 18Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Nov 18Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Nov 18Read a second timeMinor
- Nov 14Placed on calendar 11-18-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Nov 12Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3. Result: pass.Upper
- Nov 12Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3Minor
- Nov 12Executive action taken
- Oct 29Public hearing held
- Oct 23Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Sep 29Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public SafetyMinor
- Sep 29Introduced by Senators Quinn, James and Marklein; cosponsored by Representatives Green, B. Jacobson, Piwowarczyk, Brill, Dittrich, Duchow, Goeben, Gundrum, Hurd, Kitchens, Knodl, Kreibich, Maxey, Melotik, Murphy, Novak, Penterman, Petersen, Snyder, Summerfield and TittlIntroduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety