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2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 66
February 24, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives B. JACOBSON, BEHNKE, BRILL,
DITTRICH, DONOVAN, DUCHOW, GUNDRUM, KNODL, KREIBICH, KRUG, MOSES,
MURPHY, MURSAU and WICHGERS, cosponsored by Senators HUTTON, NASS
and TOMCZYK. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to repeal 971.37; to amend 20.410 (1) (gL), 20.437 (1) (hh), 814.75 (8),
814.75 (8m), 814.76 (6), 814.80 (6), 814.81 (6), 971.38 (1) and 971.39 (1)
(intro.); to create 967.056 and 968.075 (7) (c) of the statutes; relating to:
dismissing or amending certain criminal charges and deferred prosecution
agreements for certain crimes.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a prosecutor may dismiss or amend a criminal charge
without approval from the court. Under this bill, a prosecutor must get the court[s
approval to dismiss or amend a charge if the charge is for any of the following: 1) a
crime of domestic abuse or a violation of a domestic violence temporary restraining
order or injunction; 2) theft of an automobile; 3) a crime of abuse of an individual at
risk or a violation of an individual-at-risk TRO or injunction; 4) first-degree,
second-degree, or third-degree sexual assault; 5) a crime against a child; 6) illegal
possession of a firearm if the person has been convicted of, adjudicated delinquent
for, or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of, committing,
soliciting, conspiring, or attempting to commit a violent felony, as defined under
current law; or 7) reckless driving that results in great bodily harm. The court may
approve the dismissal or amendment of such a charge only if the court finds the
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action is consistent with the public[s interest in deterring the commission of these
crimes and with the legislature[s intent, expressed in this bill, to vigorously
prosecute individuals who commit these crimes. If the court approves any
dismissal or amendment in a year, the court must submit an annual report to the
legislature detailing each approval.
Current law allows a prosecutor to enter into a deferred prosecution
agreement with a defendant who is charged or may be charged with a crime.
Generally, under a deferred prosecution agreement, the prosecutor agrees to
dismiss a charge or not file a charge if the defendant complies with specified
conditions. In addition, current law provides specific criteria for a deferred
prosecution agreement if the defendant is or may be charged with child sexual
abuse if the defendant is the parent of, the guardian of, a close relative of, or
residing with the child; with a crime of domestic violence; or with a violation of a
domestic violence TRO or injunction. Current law also prohibits a prosecutor from
entering into a deferred prosecution agreement with a defendant who is charged or
may be charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant
or a controlled substance, causing injury to another while operating a vehicle while
under the influence, or homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. The bill prohibits a
prosecutor from entering into a deferred prosecution agreement with a defendant if
a complaint or information is filed that alleges the person committed any of the
same crimes listed in items 1 to 7 above.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 20.410 (1) (gL) of the statutes is amended to read:
20.410 (1) (gL) Global positioning system tracking devices for certain violators
of restraining orders. All moneys received under s. 301.49 (5) and all moneys
received from the global positioning system tracking surcharge on court fines, as
authorized under s. 971.37 (1m) (c) 1. or 973.057, for expenditures related to the
global positioning system tracking program under s. 301.49. If the unencumbered
balance in this appropriation account exceeds $100,000 immediately before the end
of any fiscal year, the department of corrections shall transfer the excess to the
appropriation account under s. 20.437 (1) (hh) at the end of that fiscal year.
SECTION 2. 20.437 (1) (hh) of the statutes is amended to read:
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20.437 (1) (hh) Domestic abuse surcharge grants. All moneys received from
the domestic abuse surcharge on court fines, as authorized under s. 971.37 (1m) (c)
1. or 973.055, to provide grants to domestic abuse services organizations under s.
49.165.
SECTION 3. 814.75 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
814.75 (8) The domestic abuse surcharge under s. 971.37 (1m) (c) 1. or
973.055.
SECTION 4. 814.75 (8m) of the statutes is amended to read:
814.75 (8m) The global positioning system tracking surcharge under s.
971.37 (1m) (c) 1. or 973.057.
SECTION 5. 814.76 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
814.76 (6) The domestic abuse surcharge under s. 971.37 (1m) (c) 1. or
973.055.
SECTION 6. 814.80 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
814.80 (6) The domestic abuse surcharge under s. 971.37 (1m) (c) 1. or
973.055.
SECTION 7. 814.81 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
814.81 (6) The domestic abuse surcharge under s. 971.37 (1m) (c) 1. or
973.055.
SECTION 8. 967.056 of the statutes is created to read:
967.056 Prosecution of certain crimes. (1) INTENT. The legislature
intends to encourage the vigorous prosecution of persons who commit offenses that
are covered crimes.
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(2) DEFINITION. In this section, Xcovered crimeY means any of the following:
(a) An act of domestic abuse, as defined in s. 968.075 (1) (a), that constitutes
the commission of a crime or a violation of a temporary restraining order or
injunction issued under s. 813.12.
(b) A violation of s. 943.23.
(c) A violation of s. 940.198 or 940.285 or a violation of a temporary
restraining order or injunction issued under s. 813.123.
(d) A violation of s. 940.225 (1), (2), or (3).
(e) A crime specified in ch. 948, including a crime specified in s. 948.015.
(f) A violation of s. 941.29 (1m) if the individual has been convicted of,
adjudicated delinquent for, or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect
of, committing, soliciting, conspiring, or attempting to commit a violent felony, as
defined in s. 941.29 (1g) (a).
(g) A violation of s. 346.62 (4).
(3) DISMISSING OR AMENDING CHARGE. Notwithstanding s. 971.29, if an
individual is charged with a covered crime, a prosecutor may not dismiss or amend
the charge without the approval of the court. In the application to the court, the
prosecutor shall state the reasons for the proposed amendment or dismissal. The
court may approve the application only if the court finds that the proposed
amendment or dismissal is consistent with the public[s interest in deterring the
commission of covered crimes and consistent with the legislature[s intent expressed
in sub. (1). If a court approves at least one application in a year, the court shall
submit to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3)
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an annual report detailing each application the court approved that year and how
each approval is consistent with the public[s interest and the legislature[s intent.
(4) NO DEFERRED PROSECUTION. A prosecutor may not place a person in a
deferred prosecution program if a complaint or information is filed that alleges the
person committed a covered crime or if the person is charged with a covered crime.
SECTION 9. 968.075 (7) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
968.075 (7) (c) A policy indicating how the office may best execute the intent
of s. 967.056.
SECTION 10. 971.37 of the statutes is repealed.
SECTION 11. 971.38 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
971.38 (1) Except as provided in s. 967.055 (3) or 967.056 (4), the district
attorney may require as a condition of any deferred prosecution program for any
crime that the defendant perform community service work for a public agency or a
nonprofit charitable organization. The number of hours of work required may not
exceed what would be reasonable considering the seriousness of the alleged offense.
An order may only apply if agreed to by the defendant and the organization or
agency. The district attorney shall ensure that the defendant is provided a written
statement of the terms of the community service order and that the community
service order is monitored.
SECTION 12. 971.39 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
971.39 (1) (intro.) Except as provided in s. 967.055 (3) or 967.056 (4), in
counties having a population of less than 100,000, if a defendant is charged with a
crime, the district attorney, the department and a defendant may all enter into a
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deferred prosecution agreement which includes, but is not limited to, the following
conditions:
SECTION 13. Initial applicability.
(1) This act first applies to a complaint, information, or charge filed on the
effective date of this subsection.
(END)
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