State Senate Panel Passes Scaled Back Version Of Bill That Would Close Lincoln Hills

A state Senate Republican panel has passed a scaled back version of a bill that would close the troubled Lincoln Hills youth prison, a move that could kill the proposal in the waning days of the legislative session.

The Assembly unanimously passed a bill last month that would close Lincoln Hills and pay for new state and county-run facilities to replace it. The Senate version of the plan removed that funding.

Assembly leaders have said they won’t make changes to their plan, raising the prospect that nothing will pass the full Legislature, and Lincoln Hills will continue to operate.

“The Senate will be the killer of the bill,” said Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee. “I want you to know blood is on your hands in the Senate.”

While both the Senate and Assembly proposals would close Lincoln Hills by Jan. 1, 2021, they differ in substantial ways.

The Assembly version would require the creation of new state-run institutions to replace Lincoln Hills and require the creation of new county-run facilities to house less violent offenders closer to their home communities. The Assembly would also set aside state funding for both provisions.

Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, who chairs the committee that passed the amended Senate bill, said the Assembly’s proposal provided a good framework for closing Lincoln Hills. But Wanggaard said senators had concerns with the plan, including questions about how much the new facilities would actually cost.

“We need to know what that amount’s going to be,” Wanggaard said.

But when asked if the Assembly would agree to the Senate’s changes, a spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, suggested that was unlikely.

“The Assembly has completed its regular session work,” said Vos spokeswoman Kit Beyer.

If that standoff continues, it raises the prospect that nothing will become law and Lincoln Hills will remain open.

“Then it will be on the Assembly,” Wanggaard said.

Wanggaard suggested that if lawmakers don’t agree to changes, Gov. Scott Walker might be able to take some of these steps unilaterally.