For those of you that have been following my blog, you are well aware that State Rep. Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) has introduced yet another bill attempting to restrict the public’s access to CCAP. This new bill also will remove certain information from even being included on CCAP. My prior blogs on this topic can be read here, here and here.
The Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin (AASEW), a collection of landlords and rental property managers, are strongly opposed to Schenider’s new bill which is entitled AB 340, and have decided to do something about it. The AASEW has created a web page that can be found at www.DefeatAB340.org or by clicking here, which contains links to the actual bill as well as links to your state senators and representative so that you can contact them and convey your displeasure with this bill.
Please visit the AASEW’s web page and consider contacting your elected officials to express your views as to AB 340. You should also forward the link to anyone and everyone you know that may be affected by this legislation.
If passed, this bill will affect more than just landlords. Parents, employers, day care providers and more, will be unable to use CCAP without paying an annual fee and having their CCAP searches recorded by the state. Additionally, you will be unable to learn whether a person has been charged with a crime, found liable in a civil lawsuit, or had an eviction action filed against them – until after the case has been resolved, which is often months or years after the action was filed.
The bill will also allow a person who has information contained on CCAP but which did not result in a convictions or judgment (even if this was the result of a stipulated dismissal) to remove all reference to that information from CCAP. The concept of open records will be hurt severly should AB 340 pass.
Please do your part to insure that AB340 fails.
#1 by Jason on August 26th, 2009
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Do our part to make sure it fails? Please do our part to make sure this passes so the invasion of privacy can finally end!
#2 by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. on August 27th, 2009
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Jason — This information is all included under the open records law. It is not an invasion of privacy to look at documents and review information that is a matter of open records.
#3 by Rick W on August 29th, 2009
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I agree with Jason! Our open records laws are a good thing – but only to a point. As it stands right now, TOO MUCH information is available on CCAP. Specifically, when someone is found not guilty of charges or the charges are dismissed – the charges ought to be removable. It is not fair to allow someone who was wrongfully arrested (which happens a lot more than many would think) to have that follow them for the rest of their life. And the little disclaimer about “this person was found not guilty” does not do anything to stop this. I welcome AB 340 as bringing about necessary change!
#4 by FreeSpirited1 on September 22nd, 2009
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Access should be limited for all civil matters and dismissed cases.
Discrimination is occurring but do you think the LL & employers will admit this?
CCAP’s anti-discriminatory disclaimer is a law without teeth.
CCAP is a bad idea and allows victims of domestic abuse to also be discriminated against.
Close the public access! If people are so nosy, let them get off their butts and go downtown and fill out a form.
This notion that it protects us? HAH!
“Those who are willing to sacrifice liberty for temporary safety deserve neither”.
#5 by Jeff B. on November 26th, 2009
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I sincerely hope this bill gets passed. How can you expect people to be rehabilitated, or become contributing members of society, when they are branded with a scarlet letter on CCAP for the rest of their lives?
I support Marlin Schneider!