Sen. Affie Ellis

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 115) modifies Wyoming law to automatically pause the expiration date of an order of protection when the person subject to the order is imprisoned. It directly affects victims seeking protection and individuals who are incarcerated under such orders. The key provision states that the order’s effective period stops running during the person’s imprisonment, resuming upon release. This ensures the protection order remains in effect without requiring court action during incarceration. The change applies to orders granted or modified on or after July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 204 establishes a standardized course numbering and transcript system for Wyoming's community colleges and the University of Wyoming. It requires common course numbers, electronic course catalogs, and shared transfer software to simplify credit transfers between institutions and support student program planning. The system mandates that all community colleges and UW use consistent course numbering to automatically transfer credits for students moving between schools, particularly for those with articulation agreements. This directly affects students transferring between institutions, faculty developing curricula, and administrators managing course equivalencies and data systems.

Maddy summaryHB 170 amends Wyoming law to require child protective service workers to complete training on specific federal and state child welfare laws. The bill directly affects all state-employed child protective service workers by mandating they understand key legislation, including the Adoption and Safe Families Act, Indian Child Welfare Act, Multi-Ethnic Placement Act, Child Abuse Prevention Treatment Act, and Family First Prevention Services Act. This training requirement ensures workers are knowledgeable about legal standards governing child welfare practice. The law took effect on July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 129 eliminates several existing education reporting requirements for school districts, tribal councils, and the state superintendent. Specifically, it removes mandates for annual reports on statewide technology plans, school quality assessments, preschool program evaluations, tribal education expenditures, special education spending, and curriculum waivers. The bill directly affects school districts, tribal education programs, and state education officials who previously had to submit these detailed reports. This change reduces administrative burdens by removing these specific data collection and reporting obligations. The bill focuses on streamlining compliance rather than altering educational standards or funding.

Maddy summaryThis Wyoming bill (SF 127) changes penalties for fleeing police by elevating certain cases to a felony. It makes fleeing a felony if the driver causes bodily injury, damages property over $5,000, or violates another specific traffic law (W.S. 31-5-229). Drivers convicted under these aggravated circumstances face up to 10 years in prison or a $10,000 fine, instead of the previous misdemeanor penalties (up to 6 months or $750). The law directly affects drivers who flee police and cause serious harm or significant property damage. It took effect on July 1, 2019.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming law to strengthen protections for children under 16 by specifically prohibiting caregivers from exposing children to methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, or LSD in any setting (including manufacturing, storage, or use locations). It clarifies that "in the presence of a child" includes situations where a caregiver knows a child is present and may witness domestic violence or drug activity. The law also limits temporary protective custody to 48 hours for the affected child and 24 hours for siblings in the same household, requiring court orders for extended custody. These changes became effective July 1, 2019, directly impacting caregivers, law enforcement, and child protective agencies.

Maddy summarySF 80 requires all Wyoming school buses transporting students to have external video systems starting with the 2016-2017 school year. It allows recordings from these systems to be used as evidence for violations of passing a stopped school bus (W.S. 31-5-507), with a $195 fine issued to the vehicle's registered owner if the driver cannot be identified. This fine does not count as a moving violation for license suspension or as a conviction for other purposes. The bill also specifies defenses for owners who did not consent to the driver using the vehicle or who sold the vehicle before the violation occurred.

Maddy summarySF 72 requires Wyoming criminal justice agencies to report on sexual assault biological evidence (like DNA samples) collected during investigations, starting January 1, 2020. Agencies must report evidence submission status, lab details, and reasons for non-submission, while protecting victim identities. The bill also changes who pays for medical examinations related to sexual assaults (first victim services, then law enforcement if funds run out) and prohibits destroying evidence until all legal time limits expire. These provisions affect law enforcement, crime labs, and victim services, aiming to improve evidence tracking and transparency.