Friday, March 6, 2009

SJ0002 Defense of Marriage - Constitutional Amendment

SJ0002 Defense of Marriage-Constitutional Amendment.
Sponsored by: MEIER
A joint resolution proposing to amend the Wyoming Constitution by creating a new section specifying that a marriage between a man and a woman shall be the only legal union that shall be valid or recognized in Wyoming.

OPPOSE. Failed. We will continue to oppose legislation that serves no purpose other than discrimination.

SF0136 Homicide Aggravated Circumstances

SF0136 Homicide Aggravating Circumstances.
Sponsored by: DECARIA
An act relating to crimes and offenses: providing that homicide of a pregnant woman is an aggravating circumstance for the imposition of the death penalty as specified, and providing for an effective date.

WATCHING. Failed.

SF0129 Juvenile Justice Amendments

SF0129 Juvenile Justice Amendments.
Sponsored by: SESSIONS
An act relating to juveniles; amending the definition of status offender as specified; amending the offense of minor in possession of alcohol; amending penalties; amending authority of courts as specified; authorizing the district attorney to determine jurisdiction in specified cases; requiring criteria and procedures for determining jurisdiction; requiring compliance with procedures contained in the Juvenile Justice Act as specified; conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

OPPOSE. Passed. This bill gives far too much power to district attorneys. It has been amended to include municipal prosecuting attorneys and does not solve the problem of the lack of a single unified juvenile justice system. This is just another band aid that will continue a system of “local control” where some kids go to jail and others get treatment.

SF0097 Unborn Victims of Violence Act

SF0097 Unborn Victims of Violence Act.
Sponsored by: JENNINGS
An act relating to crimes and offenses; defining “human being” and “person” to include unborn children for purposes of specified crimes; and providing for effective date.

OPPOSE. Failed. We oppose all legislation that attempts to define a fetus as a person.

SF0096 Juvenile Detention Facilities

SF0096 Juvenile Detention Facilities.
Sponsored by: JENNINGS
An act relating to juvenile detention facilities; providing for grants to counties to build or remodel short term detention facilities; providing for rules and regulations; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

WATCHING. Failed. Will go to interim study.

SF0094 Campaign Finance Reporting - Election Periods

SF0094 Campaign Finance Reporting – Election Periods.
Sponsored by: JENNINGS
An act relating to campaign finance; limiting contributions during each election; clarifying when contributions may be accepted; and providing for an effective date.

THE ACLU OPPOSE CAMPAIGN FINANCE LIMITS. Passed.

SF0084 Aggravated Assault - Choking

SF0084 Aggravated Assault - Choking.
Sponsored by: HASTERT
An act relating to crimes and offenses; adding strangulation and suffocation as new means of committing aggravated assault; providing definitions; providing an exemption; and providing for an effective date.

SUPPORT. Appointed joint concurrence committee.

SF0061 Sex Offender Registration

SF0061 Sex Offender Registration.
Sponsored by: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee
An act relating to registration of sex offenders; amending sex offender registration requirements; amending a definition; clarifying with which law enforcement agency an offender is required to register; amending information an offender is required to provide; conforming registration deadlines; specifying the category of offense under which an offender will be classified if information is not available to determine the proper classification; clarifying the procedure for seeking a reduction in the registration period for an offender; and providing for an effective date.

ASKING FOR AMENDMENTS; GENERALLY OPPOSE REGISTRATION OF ALL BUT VIOLENT, REPEAT PREDATORS. Passed.

SF0026 Voter Registration Deadline

SF0026 Voter Registration Deadline.
Sponsored by: Case
An act relating to elections; amending the voter registration deadline, clarifying when registration must occur in order to vote in an election; and providing for an effective date.

SUPPORT. Passed.

SF0012 Campaign Contributions

SF0012 Campaign Contributions.
Sponsored by: BURNS
An act relating to elections; increasing the maximum allowable amount for individual contributions to candidates for political office and candidate campaign committees as specified; and providing for an effective date.

THE ACLU OPPOSES ANY CAPS ON CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION AS A BURDEN ON FREE SPEECH. Failed.

HJ0017 Defense of Marriage

HJ0017 Defense of Marriage.
Sponsored by: PETERSEN
A joint resolution proposing to amend the Wyoming Constitution by creating a new section specifying that a marriage between a man and a woman shall be the only legal union that shall be valid or recognized in Wyoming.

OPPOSE. Failed. We will continue to oppose this type of discriminatory legislation and work for equal rights for all people.

HJ0016 Immigration Reform

HJ0016 Immigration Reform.
Sponsored by: PHILP
A joint resolution requesting that Congress pass effective and meaningful immigration law reform designed to protect Wyoming's workforce and economic strength of the state's business environment by effectively protecting and guarding our nation's borders.

WATCHING. Failed.

HB0153 Voter Identification

HB0153 Voter Identification.
Sponsored by: HARSHMAN
An act relating to elections; providing for display of proof of identification at polling places; providing exceptions; providing for challenge of voters; providing for waiver of fees for state issued identification cards; and providing for an effective date.

OPPOSE. Failed. These bills make voting more difficult and are discriminatory towards minorities, seniors and poor people. They erect unnecessary barriers to voting in a state that has virtually no fraud complaints regarding voting issues.

HB0144 Transparency in Government

HB0144 Transparency in Government.
Sponsored by: WALLIS
An act relating to government information; providing definitions; creating the Wyoming public finance website; requiring the creation and maintenance of the website; providing rulemaking authority; establishing the select committee on technology, reporting and analytics; requiring a report; providing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

SUPPORT. Received for concurrence.

HB0123 Homicide During Pregnancy

HB0123 Homicide During Pregnancy.
Sponsored by: DAVISON
An act relating to crimes and offenses; establishing the offense of involuntary termination of pregnancy; imposing a penalty; and providing for an effective date.

OPPOSE. Failed. These types of bills are unnecessary as we already have both life without parole and the death penalty for homicide.

HB0120 Assisted Suicide

HB0120 Assisted Suicide.
Sponsored by: DAVISON
An act relating to crimes and offenses; creating the crime of assisting suicide; providing a penalty; providing exceptions; and providing for an effective date.

OPPOSE. Failed. This legislation would have provided for a 20 year sentence for anyone assisting or attempting to assist in a suicide. This was another attempt to interfere in private medical and family decisions and we strongly oppose this type of legislation.

HB0116 Recording of Custodial Interrogations

HB0116 Recording of Custodial Interrogation.
Sponsored by: MERCER
An act relating to criminal procedure; requiring electronic recording of custodial interrogations as specified; establishing procedures for interrogations of suspects; prohibiting the admission in court of statements that were not recorded as specified; providing exceptions; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date.

SUPPORT. Failed. The committee testimony from law enforcement was that most agencies recorded testimony but did not want laws that said they had to. We think this type of legislation would be a protection for both law enforcement and those being interrogated, and should be mandatory for all law enforcement agencies.

HB0106 Firearm Ownership - Domestic Violence Offenses

HB0106 Firearm Ownership – Domestic Violence Offenses.
Sponsored by: LUBNAU
An act relating to criminal procedure; amending the purposes for which an expungement under W.S. 7‑13‑1501 may be used; and providing for an effective date.

WATCHING. Passed.

HB0076 Election Code - Revisions

HB0076 Election Code - Revisions.
Sponsored by: ILLOWAY
An act relating to elections; providing for withdrawal of applications for nomination during a primary election; deleting state generated unique voter identification numbers from confidentiality provisions; providing for voter registration if an elector reaches the age of eighteen prior to the next general election; providing for the sharing of information for the creation of jury lists; providing for names of candidates for president and vice president of the United States if no certified names are received from a party; repealing archaic language; and providing for an effective date.

NEUTRAL. Passed.

HB0060 Sex Offense by Corrections Personnel

HB0060 Sex Offenses by Corrections Personnel.
Sponsored by: BUCHANAN
An act relating to crimes and offenses; establishing a crime for sex offenses committed by corrections staff against persons under supervision by the corrections facility as specified; providing that consent by the victim is not a defense to specified offenses; and providing for an effective date.

SUPPORT. Passed.

HB0020 Criminal Procedure - Administration of Antipsychotic Drugs

HB0020 Criminal Procedure - Administration of Antipsychotic Drugs.
Sponsored by: Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
An act relating to criminal procedure; providing standards for the involuntary administration of antipsychotic medications to a mentally ill person accused of a serious crime; requiring findings; and providing for an effective date.

Passed. This bill complies with all current Supreme Court requirements.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

SF0070 Loss of Firearms Rights - Protections

SF0070 Loss of Firearms Rights – Protections.
Sponsored by: CASE
An act relating to crimes and criminal procedure; requiring advisement of potential loss of firearms rights prior to conviction upon a plea of guilty or nolo contendere; providing for public defender representation for misdemeanor cases in which firearms rights are subject to loss; and providing for an effective date.

NEUTRAL. Passed.

SF0038 Real ID Compliance

SF0038 Real ID Compliance.
Sponsored by: Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Interim Committee
An act relating to the federal Real ID Act; amending Wyoming's motor vehicle statutes to allow Wyoming to comply with federal law; establishing an expiration for prior hazardous materials endorsement test results; conforming other statutes; and providing for an effective date.

OPPOSE. Passed.

SF0019 Costs of Emergency Detention and Hospitalization

SF0019 Costs of Emergency Detention & Hospitalization.
Sponsored by: Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
An act relating to emergency detention and involuntary hospitalization costs; limiting authority to seek recovery of costs from patients as specified; and providing for an effective date.

WATCHING. Passed.

SF0017 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Appropriations

SF0017 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Appropriations.
Sponsored by: Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
An act relating to mental health and substance abuse services; providing appropriations; specifying conditions; authorizing a competitive bid process as specified; identifying the regions designated by the department of health for purposes of certain appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

WATCHING. Passed.

HJ0013 Employee Free Choice Act

HJ0013 Employee Free Choice Act.
Sponsored by: COHEE
A joint resolution requesting Congress to defeat the Employee Free Choice Act.

WATCHING. Failed.

HB0203 Discrimination

HB0203 Discrimination.
Sponsored by: CONNOLLY
An act relating to discrimination; prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation as specified; and providing for an effective date.

SUPPORT. Failed. We will continue to support protection for sexual orientation in our statutes.

HB0181 Fair Employment Practices

HB0181 Fair Employment Practices.
Sponsored by: BYRD
An act relating to fair employment practices; providing that retaliation or discrimination for the use of sick leave is an unfair employment practice; providing penalties; and providing for an effective date.

WATCHING. Failed.

HB0159 Criminal Street Gangs

HB0159 Criminal Street Gangs.
Sponsored by: STEWARD
An act relating to crimes and offenses; creating the crime of intimidation in furtherance of the interests of a criminal street gang; amending the offense of property destruction and defacement to explicitly include graffiti; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date.

OPPOSE. Failed. This law would provide more statutes to jail juveniles and are unnecessary as these acts are already offenses under other statutes. Wyoming currently has the second highest rate of juveniles in detention in the nation and no gang prevention or intervention programs.

HB0154 Abortion-Reporting Requirements

HB0154 Abortion-Reporting Requirements.
Sponsored by: BRECHTEL
An act relating to public health and safety; amending reporting requirements relating to abortions; providing a penalty; and providing for an effective date.

OPPOSE. Failed. These laws are unnecessary and are simply another attempt to interfere in private medical decisions.

HB0151 Ultrasound Requirement for Abortions

HB0151 Ultrasound Requirement for Abortions.
Sponsored by: BRECHTEL
An act relating to public health and safety; requiring physicians to perform ultrasound examinations prior to obtaining a pregnant woman's consent to an abortion; providing exceptions; providing penalties; providing for a civil remedy and injunctive relief; providing for physician license suspension or revocation; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date.

OPPOSE. Failed. These laws are unnecessary and are simply another attempt to interfere in private medical decisions.

HB0117 Campaign Finance

HB0117 Campaign Finance.
Sponsored by: THRONE
An act relating to campaign finance reporting; modifying persons required to file campaign receipts reports; removing a requirement that contributors annually renew their consent to automatic contributions; requiring reporting from political action committees and candidate's campaign committees; requiring amendment of campaign finance reports as specified; providing and modifying criminal penalties; and providing for an effective date.

WATCHING. Failed

HB0103 Illegal Immigration

HB0103 Illegal Immigration.
Sponsored by: ILLOWAY
An act relating to illegal immigration; establishing an offense for transportation or concealment of illegal aliens; requiring certain employers to verify the citizenship status of employees; establishing an offense for hiring unauthorized aliens or failing to verify the citizenship status of employees; providing for penalties; requiring state agencies and political subdivisions to verify the citizenship status of applicants for certain public benefits; requiring a report; authorizing the attorney general to negotiate a memorandum of understanding regarding immigration with the appropriate federal agency; establishing rules for the communication of information related to immigration status; requiring the determination of the immigration status of certain prisoners; requiring certain documentation for the issuance of a driver's license or identification card; requiring rulemaking; and providing for an effective date.

OPPOSE. Failed. States cannot individually make immigration laws. Immigration law is primarily the function of the Federal Government. States that have put forth discriminatory regulations and laws have ended up with lawsuits and unintended consequences to the state and the economy.

HB0098 Mandatory Minimum Sentence for Sex Abuse of a Minor

HB0098 Mandatory Minimum Sentence for Sex Abuse of a Minor.
Sponsored by: MILLIN
An act relating to crimes and offenses; establishing a mandatory minimum sentence for first degree sexual assault of a minor; and providing for an effective date.

WE DO NOT SUPPORT ANY MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING. Failed. We will continue to work against mandatory minimum sentencing laws as they take discretion away from judges and give to prosecutors. There is no indication that judges in Wyoming are not thorough and fair in their sentencing.

HB0053 Unfair Employment Practices

HB0053 Unfair Employment Practices.
Sponsored by: MILLIN
An act relating to fair employment practices; providing that discriminatory and unfair employment practices include retaliatory acts as specified; and providing for an effective date.

SUPPORT. Failed.

HB0018 Voting Rights

HB0018 Voting Rights.
Sponsored by: Rep. D-D. Zwonitzer, Connolly; Sen. Burns and Vasey
An act relating to elections and voting rights; reducing the time period required before the restoration of voting rights of convicted felons as specified; and providing for an effective date.

SUPPORT. Failed. We will continue to support legislation to streamline the process to restore voting rights to felons. Our current process still has a long waiting period (5 years) and is cumbersome. We would like to see automatic restoration of rights for all felons.

Friday, February 6, 2009

HB0285 Mandatory Minimum Sentence for Sexual Abuse of a Minor - 2

HB0285 Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Sexual Abuse of a Minor - 2.
Sponsored by: GINGERY
An act relating to crimes and offenses; establishing a mandatory minimum sentence for first degree sexual assault of a minor when the actor is at least eighteen years of age and the victim is less than thirteen years of age; and providing for an effective date.

OPPOSE. Passed Committee of the whole 02/02/09.

HB0278 Sex Offenders - Internet Access

HB0278 Sex Offenders – Internet Access.
Sponsored by: HARSHMAN
An act relating to criminal offenses; providing for imposition of restrictions on Internet access for sex offenders; and providing for an effective date.

WATCHING. Died in Committee.

HB0137 Videotape Depositions - Minors

HB0137 Videotape Depositions - Minors.
Sponsored by: MERCER
An act relating to criminal procedure; adding to the list of sexual assault offenses for which a child under 12 years of age may be allowed to testify by videotape deposition; and providing for an effective date.

SUPPORT.