An Act Relating to: allocation of building trust funds to develop preliminary plans and specification for expansion of the mother-young child care program under the Department of Corrections. (FE)
Summary
AB1238 would direct the Wisconsin Building Commission to allocate $1,000,000 from the building trust funds in the 2025-27 biennium to develop preliminary plans and specifications for expanding the Department of Corrections’ mother-young child care program. The bill is focused on advance planning, not construction itself: it would fund evaluation of infrastructure needs and design work for expanding existing women’s correctional facilities so they can better support incarcerated mothers and their infants.
The bill specifically contemplates creating a prison nursery program in one or more women’s institutions operated by DOC. Under that concept, eligible incarcerated mothers and children born while the mother is in custody could reside together, bond, breast-feed if possible, and receive support intended to promote healthy infant development and postpartum recovery. The bill ties this expansion to the existing statutory mother-young child care program under s. 301.049.
Impact
If enacted, AB1238 would not immediately change eligibility rules for the mother-young child care program, but it would commit state building trust funds to planning for facility expansion and infrastructure upgrades within the women’s correctional system. It would affect the Department of Corrections, the Building Commission, and the state’s capital planning process by authorizing $1,000,000 for preliminary plans and specifications related to a prison nursery and related support services. The bill references and builds on existing law governing DOC’s mother-young child care program under s. 301.049.
Sentiment
The available context suggests the bill was introduced as a supportive, program-expansion measure aimed at improving outcomes for incarcerated mothers and infants. Because there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials, there is no direct evidence of debate or bipartisan support levels. The bill’s framing indicates a generally rehabilitative and family-supportive policy approach rather than a punitive one.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is the use of public building trust funds for a correctional facility expansion that includes a prison nursery program. Supporters would likely emphasize infant health, maternal bonding, postpartum support, and rehabilitation, while critics may question whether prison nurseries are an appropriate use of state capital funds or whether resources should instead be directed to community-based alternatives for mothers and children. No specific objections or named opponents are provided in the supplied record.
Crossfiled
An Act Relating to: allocation of building trust funds to develop preliminary plans and specification for expansion of the mother-young child care program under the Department of Corrections. (FE)
Allocation of building trust funds to develop preliminary plans and specification for expansion of the mother-young child care program under the Department of Corrections. (FE)
A bill for an act relating to matters under the purview of the economic development authority, the utilities commission, and the department of education, including creation of the headquarters expansion and development for growth and employment program, and the business incentives for growth program training fund; repeal of the new jobs tax credit program; the major economic growth attraction program; load forecasting and analysis of electric transmission system expansion plans; creation of the electric transmission system expansion planning and analysis and load forecasting fund; the industrial new jobs training program; and including effective date provisions.(Formerly SSB 3103; See SF 2506.)
Requesting The Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation To Expand Its Personal And Professional Development Programs To Include Community Service Programs.
A bill for an act relating to matters under the purview of the economic development authority, the utilities commission, and the department of education, including creation of the headquarters expansion and development for growth and employment program, and the business incentives for growth program training fund; repeal of the new jobs tax credit program; the major economic growth attraction program; load forecasting and analysis of electric transmission system expansion plans; creation of the electric transmission system expansion planning and analysis and load forecasting fund; the industrial new jobs training program; and including effective date provisions.(See SF 2301, SF 2506.)
Relating to developing a strategic plan for the improvement and expansion of early learning and educational opportunities for young children with disabilities.
A bill for an act relating to matters under the purview of the economic development authority, the utilities commission, and the department of education, including creation of the headquarters expansion and development for growth and employment program, and the business incentives for growth program training fund; repeal of the new jobs tax credit program; the major economic growth attraction program; load forecasting and analysis of electric transmission system expansion plans; creation of the electric transmission system expansion planning and analysis and load forecasting fund; the industrial new jobs training program; and including effective date provisions.(See HF 2799.)
A Department of Children and Families program to make payments to child care programs, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)