Wisconsin News and Sports
Several education reforms seen as key to Wisconsin’s application for federal stimulus funding under the “Race to the Top” program were able to clear the Legislature before the end of the fall session.
Lawmakers in both chambers were able to approve the legislative package, with final action coming in the Assembly in the early hours of Friday morning. The package includes bills that encourage the opening of more charter schools and create a system for tracking student performance. [Read more...]
Wisconsin students would learn about more than just the birds and the bees in sexual education classes, under legislation approved in the Assembly on Thursday night.
The bill would require any school offering growth and development courses to include information about sexually transmitted diseases and contraceptives. State Representative Tamara Grigsby (D-Milwaukee) says the bill provides teens with information they need, even if opponents don’t like to admit that many students are already sexually active. [Read more...]
Legislation which will establish licensing requirements for commercial dog breeders in Wisconsin passed the state Senate Thursday, on a 36-0 vote. The bill (AB 250), which earlier passed the state Assembly on a unanimous vote, now heads to Governor Jim Doyle, who’s expected to sign it into law. The legislation also establishes minimum standards of care for licensed facilities.
“This bill represents the work of individuals and groups across Wisconsin that understand the need for regulation that protects responsible breeders and cracks down on problem operations,” said state Representative Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire), the measure’s Assembly author.
The bill grants the state Department of Agriculture,Trade and Consumer Protection authority to provide workable standards for the dog breeding industry. An advisory committee composed of individuals from all interested groups will participate in the rule making process and ensure broad stakeholder involvement, according to Smith and the bill’s Senate author, Senator Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls).
“The consensus behind this bill reflects the efforts we made to include all those who will be affected by this legislation,” said Kreitlow.
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