Wisconsin Assembly plans vote on victims amendment

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Assembly plans to vote next week on a constitutional amendment bolstering crime victim rights next week.

Constitutional amendments must pass two consecutive legislative sessions and a statewide referendum.

Both the Assembly and Senate passed the victims amendment, known as Marsy’s Law, in 2017. The Assembly expects to vote on it for a second time on May 15. If the amendment passes the Senate this year the earliest it could appear on the ballot would be the April 2020 election.

The amendment largely duplicates existing victim protections but goes further in several areas. Victims would have the right to be heard at plea, parole and revocation proceedings, the right to refuse defense attorneys’ interview, deposition or discovery requests and the right to attend all proceedings in their cases.