Advocacy Alert: Important Disability Legislation

Important disability bills are advancing through the legislature but need a final push from disability advocates like you before they can be sent to the Governor and signed into law! Read about these two important bills and how you can help below!

Equal treatment of reports of abuse and neglect (SB395/AB 400)

  • The state Senate passed its version of the bill Monday October 25th!

  • Now the state Assembly must schedule a floor vote and pass SB 395/AB400.

What does this bill do?

  • This bill makes a technical change to make sure reports of abuse are equally investigated regardless of a person’s age.

  • Current law required Adult Protective Services (APS) to investigate reports of abuse for adults 60 and over.

  • Current law allows counties discretion on whether to investigate reports of abuse for people ages 18-59 living with disabilities, known as Adults at Risk

  • Bill has no fiscal impact

How to help:

  • Call Rep. Jim Steineke, Assembly Majority Leader and Chair of Assembly Rules Committee, at (608) 266-2418 (Rep.Steineke@legis.wisconsin.gov)

  • Call Rep Robin Vos, Assembly Speaker Assembly Majority Leader and Vice-Chair of Assembly Rules Committee, at (608) 266-9171 (Rep.Vos@legis.wisconsin.gov)

  • ASK THEM TO SCHEDULE AN ASSEMBLY FLOOR VOTE FOR SB 395/AB 400 THIS FALL SESSION

  • Thank your state Senator for passing SB 395

Improve access to ABLE savings accounts (SB 158/AB 167)

  • The state Senate passed its version of the bill June 9th!

  • Now the state Assembly must schedule a floor vote and pass SB 158/AB 167.

What does this bill do?

  • Direct the state to study establishing a Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program so people with disabilities and families can earn and save more either directly or by entering into an agreement with another state or alliance of states

  • This bill will take concrete steps to make ABLE accounts more accessible for Wisconsin families.

  • ABLE accounts allow people who have a disability that developed before age 26 to have a tax-exempt savings account set up to cover allowable expenses (like transportation, assistive technology, personal support services, education, etc.).

  • ABLE accounts do not affect eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid.
    Bill has no fiscal impact

How to Help:

  • Call Rep. Jim Steineke, Assembly Majority Leader, at (608) 266-2418 (Rep.Steineke@legis.wisconsin.gov)

  • Call Rep Robin Vos, Assembly Speaker, at (608) 266-9171 (Rep.Vos@legis.wisconsin.gov)

  • ASK THEM TO SCHEDULE AN ASSEMBLY FLOOR VOTE FOR SB 158/AB 167 THIS FALL SESSION