For the City-Times

Governor Scott Walker on Wednesday signed three bills in law which he says strengthen laws against domestic violence and adding protections for domestic abuse victims.  Assembly Bill 464, Assembly Bill 176, and Senate Bill 160 were all signed in Milwaukee at Zimmerman Architectural Studios, the firm designing the new Family Justice Center building.  Survivors of domestic violence and family members of victims joined Governor Walker at the bill signing.

“Every year in Wisconsin, thousands of people, mostly women, seek help from law enforcement and the legal system, because they believe someone they have a relationship with, may harm them,” Governor Walker said.  “These laws empower the system that serves them, so we can do better in protecting the victims, and potential victims, of domestic abuse and connect them with crucial services, when they need our help the most.”

Assembly Bill 464 – The SAFE Act (Stopping Abuse through Enforcement) strengthens victim protections by establishing a procedure for persons prohibited from possessing a firearm under domestic abuse, child abuse, or harassment injunctions to turn over their firearms.  If the person does not surrender firearms as required, the court can issue a warrant for the person’s arrest.  Outagamie, Winnebago, Waushara, and Sauk Counties have already implemented the procedures in a successful pilot program.  Representative Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) and Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) authored the bill, which passed both the Assembly and the Senate on voice votes; it is Act 321.

Assembly Bill 176 – closes loopholes and strengthens protections for domestic abuse victims.  Allows victims of stalking to seek a domestic abuse restraining order, makes it harder to vacate a Temporary Restraining Order by closing a loophole in the current law, allows a judge to prohibit all contact with the victim through a harassment restraining order, ensures child abuse restraining order hearings are closed and the records are sealed, and prohibits charging guardian ad litem fees to child victims and their non-offending parent.  Representative André Jacque (R-De Pere) and Senator Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon) authored this bill, which passed by a voice vote in the Assembly and Senate; it is Act 322.

Senate Bill 160 – improves access to services for victims of domestic violence by requiring law enforcement officers inform them of shelters and services in their community, give notice of legal rights, and provide a statement informing the victim of steps to take to plan for their safety.  The bill also requires the Department of Administration (DOA) to maintain and give the Department of Justice (DOJ) a system to allow district attorneys to manage and share case information.  Senator Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon) and Representative André Jacque (R-De Pere) authored the bill, which passed both the Assembly and Senate on a voice vote; it is Act 323.

Investments in protections for domestic abuse victims included in Governor Walker’s budget:

• $10.6 million to partner with Children’s Hospital and the Sojourner Family Peace Center on the Family Justice Center project in Milwaukee to provide services and shelter for families.  The Family Justice Center will be able to provide integrated support to both parents and children together to help them recover.
• $560,000 for the Domestic Abuse Intervention Services Center (DAIS) in Madison to assist with the construction of a new facility.  The new location will have extensive security measures in place to allow more individuals to be served by DAIS.
• Increased funding for Sexual Assault Victim Services.
• $1,500,000 in additional grants to fund abuse shelters, which will be run by the Department of Children and Families.