http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/women-missing-afamer-s460.jpgSenate Bill 568, creating a task force on missing and murdered African American women and girls, gets its day in the Senate.

MADISON, WI – On March 5, 2024, Senate Bill 568, creating a task force on missing and murdered African American women and girls, was removed from the Senate Committee on Government Operations and was re-referred to the Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families, where it was promptly scheduled for a public hearing. After testifying in support of SB 568, Representative Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) released the following statement: 

"I am overjoyed that today, after a lot of hard work, Senate Bill 568 finally received a public hearing. I appreciate Senator Stroebel, Senator LeMahieu, and Senator Kapenga agreeing to release this bill from the Senate Committee on Government Operations and re-referring it to the Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families. From the beginning, it was clear that Government Operations was not the appropriate committee for this legislation.

I am eternally grateful to my co-authors, Representative Michael Schraa, Senator Jesse James, and Senator LaTonya Johnson, for supporting my bill. Senator James and Representative Schraa have been instrumental in advocating for this bill in the Republican caucus in both houses of the legislature. Additionally, I would also like to thank Senator James for scheduling SB 568 for a public hearing.

I am also deeply appreciative of everyone who has testified, written letters of support, and advocated for this legislation in the community, including my mother, Mrs. Linda Hoskins, Ms. Georgia Hill, whose daughter Lasheky Hill went missing from Racine a year ago, Dr. Chief Shon Barnes of the Madison Police Department, Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, Minnesota Senator Mary Kunesh, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc--Wisconsin Delegation, Antonia Drew Norton of the Asha Project, Mariah Cooley of Community Justice Action Fund, Blacks for Political and Social Action of Dane County, Inc, March for Our Lives, and Black Feminist Future.

Senate Bill 568 has finally had its day in the Senate, a day that has been long awaited by supporters of this legislation and by the families impacted by the crisis of missing and murdered African American women and girls in the state of Wisconsin. Today is a historic day, and I am so pleased that this bill is one step closer to becoming law.

This is our chance to prevent and address gender-based violence against African American women and girls and address the underlying root causes that affect everyone in our state: domestic violence, sexual violence, gun violence, and human trafficking. By investigating the factors that lead Wisconsin to have the highest Black female homicide rate in the country, we will learn more about how to prevent and address violent crime for all populations in our state.

Today's public hearing underscores the support this critical legislation has in the Wisconsin State Legislature and across the state. I am beyond optimistic that this bill will make it to the Senate floor and then to the Governor's desk, so we can get to work addressing the violence and disparities facing our state."