Wisconsin Senate to end with votes on youth prison, schools

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Senate prepared to wrap up Wisconsin's two-year legislative session Tuesday with votes on a bipartisan proposal to create a new juvenile prison and Republican-backed efforts likely headed for vetoes that would break up the Milwaukee school district and expand the state's voucher school program.

The Assembly met for the final time last week and the Senate planned to finish its work with a marathon day Tuesday. Lawmakers will then largely shift their focus to campaigning for the fall election.

Up for final approval Tuesday is a bipartisan proposal that would authorize borrowing $42 million to build a new youth prison in Milwaukee County, the latest step in a years-long effort to close the troubled Lincoln Hills juvenile prison in northern Wisconsin.

The facility in Irma has been dogged by allegations of prisoner abuse, sexual assault, witness intimidation and record tampering. An FBI probe in 2015 ended with no charges filed but legal settlements with inmates' families has cost the state Department of Corrections more than $25 million.

The Legislature four years ago voted to close the prison but lawmakers never came through with the money for a replacement facility.

Under the bill, Lincoln Hills would become a minimum security adult prison. The measure doesn't specify where in Milwaukee County the new youth prison would be located but mandates construction would be contingent upon the local government entity's approval.

Senate passage would send the measure on to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who has called the proposal “a step in the right direction.” The Assembly passed the bill unanimously last week.

The Milwaukee school district bill calls for dividing the district into four to eight smaller districts beginning in 2024. Republicans say the...