An Act to create 20.435 (1) (gd) and 255.20 (4) of the statutes; Relating to: violence prevention grants and making an appropriation. (FE)
Summary
SB842 creates a new state violence prevention grant program administered by the Department of Health Services (DHS). The bill directs DHS to distribute money to local health departments and tribal health centers that apply to run violence prevention programs, and it also allows those entities to award grants to outside organizations for the same purpose. Grant applications would be due by June 30 of each fiscal year.
The bill dedicates revenue from the excise taxes collected on vapor products to fund the program. It also adds a new appropriation account for these funds and makes a fiscal adjustment to DHS staffing and operating costs so the department can administer the program. In addition, the bill defines “law enforcement agency” and “tribal law enforcement agency” by reference to existing statutes.
Impact
SB842 would amend Wisconsin statutes by creating s. 20.435 (1) (gd) to earmark vapor product tax revenue for violence prevention grants and by creating s. 255.20 (4) to establish the grant program itself. It would affect DHS, local health departments, tribal health centers, and organizations receiving subgrants, while expressly excluding law enforcement agencies and entities that provide services in conjunction with law enforcement from receiving grant funds through the program. The bill also increases DHS’s authorized staffing and appropriations by one position and related funding for administration.
Sentiment
The available context shows no recorded committee debate or votes, so there is no direct evidence of opposition or support from hearings. Based on the bill’s structure and sponsorship, the measure appears to be framed as a public health and violence prevention initiative, with support from a broad group of Democratic senators and representatives. The absence of transcripts or vote history means the overall sentiment can only be characterized as generally favorable among sponsors, with no documented floor or committee sentiment in the provided materials.
Contention
The main policy point of contention built into the bill is the restriction on who may receive grant funds: local health departments and tribal health centers could not pass money to law enforcement agencies, tribal law enforcement agencies, or entities working in conjunction with them. That limitation suggests a likely divide over whether violence prevention funding should be kept separate from policing or could be coordinated with law enforcement. Another possible area of debate is the funding source, since the program is financed by vapor product excise tax revenue rather than the general fund, and the bill also adds DHS administrative costs and staffing.
To enact sections 3701.147 and 3701.148 of the Revised Code to create the Office of Violence Prevention within the Department of Health and to make an appropriation.