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Much work undone as Legislature nears end

By: Associated Press//March 13, 2014//

Much work undone as Legislature nears end

By: Associated Press//March 13, 2014//

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State Sen. Luter Olsen, R-Ripon, speaks in support of his bill that would require private voucher schools to report test scores and other data for inclusion on a statewide report card on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)
State Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon, speaks in support of a bill recently in Madison. Proposals on DNA collection and abortions are still on the table as the Legislature winds down its work for the year. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — As the Legislature nears the end of its work for the year, numerous bills remain in limbo or unlikely to pass. A proposal on DNA collection is in jeopardy, along with bills on the following issues:

— Abortions: Bills to prohibit abortions because of the gender of the fetus and to ban abortions from being covered under public-employee health care plans passed the Assembly but stalled in the Senate.

— DNA: When DNA is collected upon arrest for people suspected of a felony, it would immediately be sent to the state crime lab instead of kept by local law enforcement, under a bill passed by the Senate. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said that change from current law, which takes effect next year, “could be problematic.”

— Police custody deaths: Police departments would have to enlist outside investigators to look into officer-involved deaths under a bill passed by the Assembly, but that has yet to clear the Senate.

— High capacity wells: A proposal to limit the state Department of Natural Resources’ ability to regulate high-capacity wells used by large farms and food processors appears to be dead as legislative leaders have said they may not have the votes to pass it. Republicans introduced the bill to restrict the DNR’s scope in the wake of a 2011 Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that broadened its authority. Environmental groups and lake property owners want tighter rules, arguing that high-capacity wells are sucking small central Wisconsin streams and lakes dry.

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