The legislative session is beginning its fifth week. Friday, February 4, 2011was the last day for bills to be reported out of committee in the house of origin. This is the turning point week with deadlines for bills passing Committee of the Whole in the house of origin, and bills passing second and third readings in the house of origin. Bills which failed are annotated below. We have grouped bills by subject, facilitating your ability to determine whether there are other bills around the same subject area that are still active. After we have reported that a bill has failed once, we will no longer include it in our Legislative Watch. (All information is based on most current information available at http://legisweb.state.wy.us/ ).
WYWF is not providing opinions on bills; we are providing information during the session. We hope you will use the updates to become informed and able to converse with your local legislators. Legislative contact information can be found here:
(http://legisweb.state.wy.us/LSOWeb/LegInfo.aspx)
Please share with us any information you receive from your legislators about these bills to help us keep our supporters informed with up-to-date information.
HB20 Medicaid Reimbursement of Services, Sponsored by Select Committee on Developmental/Intellectual Programs.
Amended, passed House third reading, and referred to Senate Labor Health and Social Services Committee.
Authorizes Medicaid payment to relatives of persons with developmental disabilities or acquired brain injuries.
HB21 Battery Against a Family Member, Sponsored by Representatives Barbuto, Buchanan, and Throne and Senator Hastert.
Passed House third reading and referred to Senate Judiciary Committee.
Removes restrictions relating to second and subsequent convictions for simple battery against family members.
HB23 Sex Offender Registration Amendments, Sponsored by Joint Judiciary Interim Committee.
Amended, passed House third reading, and referred to Senate Judiciary Committee.
Amends and increases the amount of information sex offenders are required to provide and requires specified juveniles to register as sex offenders.
HB27 School Year Required Contact Days, Sponsored by Representatives Gingery and McOmie and Senator Coe.
Amended, passed House third reading, and referred to Senate Education Committee.
Changes the number of school days from 175 to 180.
HB28 Child Protection Shelter Care and Initial Hearings, Sponsored by Joint Judiciary Interim Committee.
Amended, passed House third reading, and referred to Senate Judiciary Committee.
Changes the judicial procedures and requirements to follow after a child is placed into emergency protective shelter care.
HB35 Health Care Choices and Protection Act, Sponsored by Representatives Brechtel, Burkhart, Edmonds, Gay, Jaggi, Kroeker, Peasley, Quarberg, Semlek, and Teeters and Senators Jennings, Meier, and Nutting.
Amended and passed House third reading, and referred to Senate Labor Health and Social Services Committee.
Establishes the Health Care Choice and Protection Act and deems enforcement of federal Health Care Reform as a criminal offense.
HB39 Health Litigation Fund, Sponsored by Joint Labor Health and Social Services Interim Committee.
Amended and passed house second reading.
Provides funding to litigate issues relating to federal health care reform.
HJ9 Health Care Freedom- 4, sponsored by Representatives Edmonds, Davison, Jaggi, Kroeker, McKim, Quarberg, and Teeters.
Joint Resolution failed to be reported out of House Judiciary Committee.
This Joint Resolution proposed to amend the Wyoming Constitution specifying that no law shall compel participation in any health care system.
SJ2 Health Care Freedom, Sponsored by Senators Nutting, Case, Driskell and Jennings and Representatives Brechtel, Gay, Jaggi and Kroeker.
Amended, passed Senate third reading, and referred to House Judiciary Committee.
Joint Resolution to amend state constitution to specify no federal or state law shall compel participation in any health care system by any person, employer or health care provider.
SJ3 Health Care Freedom-2, Sponsored by Senators Scott, Hines and Von Flatern and Representatives Blikre, Brown, Gay, Harvey, Kasperik, Lubnau and Wallis.
Resolution failed to be reported out of Senate Judiciary Committee.
Joint Resolution to amend the state constitution to recognize the right of individuals to make health care decisions and prohibiting state actions that limit the right of individuals to make health care decisions.
HB36 Cancer Control Act Amendments, Sponsored by Representatives K. Esquibel, Bonner, Botten, Childers, Goggles, and Pedersen and Senators Dockstader, Landen, Martin, Nutting and Peterson.
Passed House Labor Health and Social Services Committee. Introduced and referred to Sentate Labor Health and Social Services Committee.
Amends the Wyoming Cancer Control Act by allowing follow-up colorectal cancer screening when medically indicated.
HB49 Primary Care Support Program, Sponsored by Joint Labor Health and Social Services Committee.
Amended, passed House third reading, and referred to Senate Labor Health and Social Services Committee.
Creates the primary care support program which would provide support to Wyoming primary care centers in need of immediate financial assistance. The intended result is to enhance delivery of services for underserved and vulnerable populations. Community matching funds will be required to receive grant dollars to build or enhance new primary care facilities and services.
HB65 Marital Counseling, Sponsored by Representatives Buchanan and Brechtel and Senators Dockstader and Ross.
Bill failed to be reported out of House Judiciary Committee.
Requires premarital counseling before obtaining a marriage license or imposes a waiting period for those who do not complete marriage counseling. It also requires marital counseling before receiving a divorce decree and requires a waiting period for those who do not obtain marriage counseling.
HB72 Teacher Merit Pay, Sponsored by Representatives Madden and Teeters and Senator Coe.
Amended, passed House, and referred to Senate Education Committee.
Requires the state superintendant of public instruction to develop recommendations regarding a teacher merit pay program.
HB85 Teacher Suspensions, Sponsored by Representatives McKim, Davison, Jaggi, McOmie and Teeters and Senator Dockstader.
Amended, passed House third reading, and referred to Senate Education Committee.
Changes the process for teacher suspension and requires an investigation.
HB166 School District-Teacher Evaluations, Sponsored by Representatives Harshman, Burkhart, Kroeker, Krone, Madden and Teeters and Senators Barnard, Burns, Coe and Landen.
Bill failed to pass House Education Committee.
This bill provides criteria for teacher evaluations, including increased frequency and allowing for video mentoring and recording systems.
HB212 Teacher Tenure- 3, Sponsored by Representative Teeters.
Bill failed to pass House Education Committee.
This bill removes "continuing contract" status from current law and requires annual evaluation of any "nonprobationary" teacher.
SF52 Teacher Tenure, Sponsored by Senators Coe, Anderson, Jennings and Von Flatern and Representatives Buchanan, Childers, Lubnau, McOmie, Quarberg and Teeters.
Amended and passed Senate Committee of the Whole.
Removes continuing contract status from the Wyoming teacher employment law, meaning that both new and experienced teachers become at-will employees (voiding tenure) and are evaluated annually.
SF114 Teacher Evaluations, Sponsored by Senator Peterson and Representative Harshman.
Amended, failed to pass Senate Committee of the Whole, and indefinitely postponed.
This bill would have created an evaluation pilot program for teachers.
SF146 Teacher Accountability Action, Sponsored by Senators P. Nicholas, Anderson, Coe, Meier, and Rothfuss and Representatives Buchanan, Harshman, and Teeters.
Passed out of Senate Education Committee and placed on Senate general file.
This bill would tie teacher evaluations and contract determinations to student performance and achievement.
HB74 Validity of Marriage, Sponsored by Representatives Petersen, Brechtel, Buchanan, Gay, Hunt, Kroeker, Luna and Teeters and Senators Geis, Hicks and Nutting.
Amended, passed House third reading, and passed out of Senate Agriculture, PublicLands, and Water Resources Committee, placed on Senate general file.
Makes any marriage that is not between a man and a woman (and only two parties) null and void and specifies that Wyoming courts have no jurisdiction over such void marriages.
HB149 Marriage-Definition, Sponsored by Representatives Connolly, Childers, Petroff
and Dan Zwonitzer and Senator Rothfuss.
Bill failed to pass House Judiciary Committee.
Defines marriage as a contract between two natural persons.
HB150 Civil Unions, Sponsored by Representatives Connolly, Childers, Wallis and Dan Zwonitzer and Senator Von Flatern.
Bill failed to pass house Judiciary Committee.
Establishes civil unions and related rights and responsibilities, which are the same as those whose marriages are recognized as lawful in Wyoming, and provides for the recognition of foreign civil unions.
SJ5 Defense of Marriage-Constitutional Amendment, Sponsored by Senators Meier, Cooper, Dockstader, Geis, Jennings, Nutting, Perkins, and Peterson and Representatives Brechtel, Buchanan, Davison, Jaggi, Kroeker, McKim, Petersen, Semlek, and Teeters.
Amended, passed Senate third reading, and referred to House Judiciary Committee.
Joint Resolution to amend the state constitution to specify marriage is between a man and a woman and is the only type of recognized legal union in Wyoming.
HB75 Victim Notification Amendments Sponsored by Representatives K. Esquibel, Brown, Buchanan, Connolly, Davison, Gingery ,Lubnau, and Throne and Senators Anderson, F. Esquibel, Ross and Rothfuss.
Passed House third reading and referred to Senate Judiciary Committee.
This bill modifies provisions requiring medical examinations for sexually transmitted diseases of persons accused of sex offense and crimes involving exchange of bodily fluid.
HB80 Service of Process in Family Violence and Stalking Cases, Sponsored by Representatives Davison, Brown, Buchanan, Craft, Harvey, Jaggi, Lubnau and Throne and Senators Cooper and Dockstader.
Passed House third reading and referred to Senate Judiciary Committee.
Requires in-state and out-of-state service of specified documents in family violence and stalking cases.
HB82 Unfair Employment Practices, Sponsored by Representatives Byrd and Connolly and Senator Hastert.
Bill failed to pass House Third Reading.
Includes retaliatory acts as discriminatory and unfair employment practices.
HB94 Illegal Immigration, Sponsored by Representatives Illoway, Childers, Davison, Jaggi, Kroeker, Petersen, Quarberg and Shepperson and Senators Driskill and Hicks.
Bill failed to pass House Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee.
This bill makes it an offense for failing to carry an alien registration card; establishes that it is illegal to solicit employment or to hire from a vehicle; transporting of unauthorized aliens; and establishes unlawful hiring and employment of unauthorized aliens.
HB118 Abortion-Available Information for Decision, Sponsored by Representatives Brechtel, McKim, and Peasley and Senators Dockstader, Jennings, Meier and Nutting.
Amended, failed House Committee of the Whole and indefinitely postponed.
Requires physicians to provide patients with specified information before certain nonemergency abortion procedure.
HB251 Abortion-Ultrasound Information, Sponsored by Representatives Brechtel, Edmonds, Eklund, Jaggi, Kroeker, Loucks, McKim, and Peasley and Senators Dockstader and Meier.
Placed on House General File.
This bill requires physicians to provide patients with the right to view an ultrasound and hear the heartbeat before nonemergency abortions.
HB131 Tip Sharing, Sponsored by Representatives Stubson, Brown, Gingery and Dan Zwonitzer and Senators Christensen, Coe, Jennings and Perkins.
Amended, failed House Committee of the Whole and indefinitely postponed.
Allows employers to require employees to share tips and gratuities to the extent it is permissible under the Fair Labor and Standards Act.
HB142 Discrimination, Sponsored by Representatives Connolly, Bonner, Childers, Petroff, Shepperson, Wallis, Dan Zwonitzer and Senators Burns and Von Flatern.
Failed House Committee of the Whole and indefinitely postponed.
Prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
HB164 Sexual Assault Victim Advocate, Sponsored by Representatives Davison, Barbuto, Brechtel, Brown, Harvey, Jaggi, McKim, Roscoe, and Throne, and Senators Cooper, Dockstader, Jennings and Meier.
Bill failed to be reported out of House Judiciary Committee.
This bill allows for victims to have an advocate present with them if requested at the time of questioning by law enforcement.
HB165 Insurance-Coverage of Inherited Disorders, Sponsored by Representatives Dan Zwonitzer, Craft, Krone and Teeters.
Bill failed to be reported out of House Labor, Health, and Social Services Committee.
This bill requires insurance coverage for inherited enzymatic disorders.
HB181 Wage Rates-Penalties, Sponsored by Representatives Connolly, Davison, Greene, McKim, and Throne and Senator Hastert.
Bill failed to be reported out of House Labor Health and Social Services Committee.
This bill allows the Department of Employment to confidentially investigate required payment to tipped employees.
HB 184 Minimum Wage Statutes Repeal, Sponsored by Representatives Gingery, Brechtel, Peasley, Pedersen, Stubson and Dan Zwonitzer and Senators Case and Scott.
Passed out of House Labor Health and Social Services Committee and placed on House general file.
This bill repeals state minimum wage statutes.
HB198 Admissibility of Evidence in Sex Offense Cases, Sponsored by Representatives Burkhart and Krone.
Passed out of House Judiciary Committee and placed on House General File.
This bill allows for admissibility of evidence of similar acts and offenses in criminal and civil cases involving sexual assault and child molestation.
HB210 Landlord/Tenant Return of Deposits, Sponsored by Representatives Greene, Connolly, Harvey, Illoway, and Nicholas and Senators Hastert and Rothfuss.
Bill failed to pass House third reading.
This bill provides that an owner of a rental property who does not return a rental deposit is liable for double the amount of the full deposit.
HB239 Child Caring Facilities- Certification, Sponsored by Representative Quarberg.
Bill failed to pass House Labor Health and Social Services Committee.
This bill would allow in-home providers that chose not to receive state or federal funding to be exempt from licensing requirements.
HB244 Unemployment Insurance Amendments, Sponsored by Representative Connolly and Senator Hastert.
Placed on General File and rereferred to House Appropriations Committee.
This bill would authorize compensation for people unemployed due to specified compelling family circumstances, due to a spouse's employment transfer, amends the amount of duration for benefits, and provides for an extension for those enrolled in training.
SF11 CHINS- Administrative Change of Placement, Sponsored by Joint Judiciary Interim
Committee.
Passed Senate and placed on House General File.
Allows for the placement of children who are in need of supervision and are in state custody without a court hearing.
SF25 Long-term Services and Support, Sponsored by Senators Martin, Hastert, Landen, Scott, and Von Flatern and Representatives Connolly, Craft and Davison.
Amended and passed Senate third reading, and referred to House Labor Health and Social Services Committee.
Authorizes a statewide network of aging and disability resource centers.
SF29 Developmental Disabilities Services, sponsored by Select Committee on Developmental/Intellectual Programs.
Amended and passed Senate second reading.
Provides requirements for Medicaid reimbursement of home and community based waiver service providers, including enhanced reimbursement of certified
behavioral specialists, and provides for the development of a training and certification program for behavior specialists.
SF 30 Wyoming Safe Homes Act, Sponsored by Senators Hastert and Cooper and Representatives Barbuto, Connolly, Craft, Davison and Pedersen
Bill failed to be reported out of Senate Judiciary Committee.
Allows a victim of sexual or domestic violence to terminate a lease, and allows for a tenant to require the landlord to change locks if requirements are met.
SF53 Child Preference in Custody Determinations, Sponsored by Senator Landen.
Bill failed to be referred out of Senate Judiciary Committee.
Allows for the wishes of a child to be considered in child custody determinations.
SF89 Adult Protective Services, Sponsored by Senator Ross and Representatives
Gingery, Stubson and Throne.
Bill failed to pass out of Senate Judiciary Committee.
Specifies that the Department of Family Services shall not act as a caregiver but may furnish protective services.
SF93 Dietetics Licensure, Sponsored by Senators Martin and Landen and Representatives Bonner, Craft, and Pedersen.
Amended and passed Senate. Referred to House Labor Health and Social Services Committee.
This bill creates the dietetics licensure board.
SF96 Open Primaries, Sponsored by Senator Rothfuss and Representative Throne.
Billed failed to pass out of Senate Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee.
Allows for any voter to request any ballot at the primary election meaning a voter can cross party lines without having to change party affiliation.
SF115 DUI-Child Endangerment Fines, Sponsored by Senator Ross.
Passed Senate third reading and referred to House Transportation and Highways Committee.
This bill provides an added fine for child endangerment while driving under the influence.
SF118 Career and Technical Training Grants, Sponsored by Senators Hastert, Cooper, Martin, Rothfuss, and Von Flatern and Representatives Connolly, Craft, Freeman, Krone and Loucks.
Amended and passed Senate third reading.
This bill establishes a career and technical training scholarship program in the Dept. of Workforce Services.
SF138 Child Custody Orders Abandonment, Sponsored by Senator Perkins and Representative B. Nicholas and Throne.
Passed Senate and referred to House Judiciary Committee.
This bill would terminate parental rights if child has been left in the care of another person without the provision for the child's support and without communication from absent parent for a period of one year.
SF140 Kindergarten Attendance, Sponsored by Senator Barnard and Representative Bonner and Jaggi.
Amended and passed Senate Committee of the Whole.
This bill would require completion of kindergarten before enrolling in first grade.
SF153 Health Education and Law Enforcement Prevention Grants, Sponsored by Senators Hastert and Nutting and Representative Barbuto.
Passed out of Senate Education Committee and placed on Senate general file.
This bill designates funding for health prevention grants to be administered by law enforcement to prevent bullying, cyberbullying, internet safety, prescription drug abuse, positive internet safety, prescription drug abuse, and positive healthy choices.
