Bill Expanding UW & Technical College Fee Remissions
for Survivors of Public Safety Employees Becomes Law

On April 11, 2006, Governor Jim Doyle signed Senate Bill 414 to expand fee remissions at the University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Technical College systems for spouses and children of law enforcement officers and other certain public safety employees who sustain injuries on the job that eventually lead to their death.  Under the previous law, such public safety employees had to be killed in the line of duty for their children and spouses to qualify for these benefits. 

The new law applies to the surviving children who are under the age of 21 when their parent dies and to surviving spouses.  SB 414 provides a full remission of UW or technical college fees until the student reaches a sufficient number of credits to be eligible for a Bachelor’s degree in their field of study and for no more than five consecutive years.

SB 414 was introduced by Senators Dave Zien and Dave Hansen, and Representatives Terry Moulton, Thomas Nelson, Robert Turner, John Lehman, and Robin Vos.

Governor Doyle also signed Senate Bill 386 to protect child passenger safety technicians and organizations that provide child passenger safety programs from civil liability lawsuits, allowing them to perform their services without fear of possible liability lawsuits, unless the services were done recklessly or intentionally wrong. 

SB 386 was introduced by Senator Cathy Stepp and Representative Any Lamb.

WPPA members and representatives stand with Gov. Jim Doyle at the Racine bill signing ceremony for Senate Bill 414 and Senate Bill 386.		WPPA Executive Director Tom Bahr thanks Gov. Doyle for signing legislation expanding the higher education fee remissions for survivors of public safety employees.