Please, vote NO on HB2620 when it comes before the House Finance, Ways and Means subcommittee on Tuesday.
This bill puts the State on the hook for legal settlements and attorney fees related to policies affecting transgender students. The State has no way of knowing in advance what kinds of dangerous policies various school districts or school employees might adopt. Such policies and actions will surely be litigated on the basis of Title IX, leading to expensive settlements.
The January 12 online edition of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that transgender student Ash Whitaker won a settlement of $800,000 when he challenged his district's policy in federal court.
This is the wrong policy for students and it makes no financial sense for the State to back local policies that will result in expensive litigation.
Thank you for considering my views.