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Bill > AB417


WI AB417

WI AB417
Emergency testing of a criminal defendant for certain diseases. (FE)


summary

Introduced
09/15/2025
In Committee
10/16/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Under current law, in a criminal case for throwing or expelling bodily substances at a public safety worker or prosecutor or at specified individuals in a prison, if the district attorney has probable cause to believe that the act carried a potential for transmitting a communicable disease to the victim and involved the defendant[s blood, semen, vomit, saliva, urine, or feces or other bodily substance of the defendant, the district attorney must apply to the circuit court for an order to require the defendant to submit to testing to detect the presence of communicable diseases, and those results must be disclosed to the victim if certain criteria are met. This bill amends the process under current law to apply to any crime if the district attorney has probable cause to believe that the act carried a potential for transmitting a communicable disease to a public safety worker, prosecutor, or correctional staff member and involved the defendant[s blood, semen, vomit, saliva, urine, or feces or other bodily substance of the defendant. The bill also creates an expedited process for testing when it is requested by a public safety worker, prosecutor, or correctional staff member. Under the bill, the district attorney may, at any time, regardless of whether criminal proceedings have commenced, apply to the circuit court for a waiver of the normal hearing requirement and for an emergency order to require the defendant to immediately submit to testing. Under the bill, the district attorney may make such an application only if the district attorney has probable cause to believe that waiving the hearing and expediting a defendant to submit to testing will prevent a public safety worker, prosecutor, or correctional staff member from experiencing bodily harm that could result from delaying the test. Under the bill, the court must immediately hear the application for an emergency order and grant the order if it finds that the existing requirements for such an order are met and also finds that waiving the hearing and expediting the defendant to submit to testing will prevent a public safety worker, prosecutor, or correctional staff member from experiencing bodily harm that could result from delaying the test. The bill also provides that if a defendant is found guilty of a crime for which the court has required the defendant to submit to communicable disease testing, the defendant must be required to pay, as restitution, the costs of any communicable disease testing that was ordered. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

AI Summary

This bill expands and streamlines the process for testing criminal defendants for communicable diseases, primarily focusing on protecting public safety workers, prosecutors, and correctional staff members. Under the proposed legislation, the district attorney can now apply for a court order to require a defendant to undergo testing for communicable diseases in any criminal case where there is probable cause to believe that the defendant's bodily substance could transmit a disease to a public safety worker, prosecutor, or correctional staff member. The bill introduces an expedited, emergency testing process that allows the district attorney to request an immediate order without a standard hearing if they believe delaying the test could cause bodily harm to the potential victim. If a defendant is found guilty, they will be required to pay for the cost of the testing as part of their restitution. The bill also modifies various statutes to support this new process, including how test results can be disclosed and maintained, and creates specific definitions for terms like "public safety worker," "prosecutor," and "correctional staff member." These changes aim to provide faster and more comprehensive protection for workers who may be exposed to potential disease transmission during the course of their professional duties.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (12)

Last Action

Representative Doyle added as a coauthor (on 01/23/2026)

bill text


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