A bill that came out of the meeting space of the Door County YMCA’s Youth in Government program has been signed into law. Known as the Kelsey Smith Act, Assembly Bill 960 now requires wireless providers to turn over device location information to law enforcement without a warrant. It could only occur if a customer or subscriber consents if the provider believes an emergency involves a possible death or serious bodily harm and if the location information is relevant and crucial. Over 30 states across the country have similar laws on the books. Rep. Joel Kitchens said last week that he worked with the American Civil Liberties Union to iron out certain aspects of the bill to address privacy concerns. He also applauded Door County YMCA Youth in Government member Connor Waterstreet for bringing it to his attention.

With Governor Tony Evers’ signature, Wisconsin became the 31st state to turn the Kelsey Smith Act into a law. Kitchens also celebrated Evers signing his peer support bill into law, which will help emergency personnel better deal with the trauma faced on the job. That bill came to be after Door County Sheriff Chief Deputy Pat McCarty brought the effectiveness of peer support programs to Kitchens’ attention. “The best ideas don’t come from Madison,” Kitchens said, “I’m grateful to represent people who come to me with ideas that should become law. Both bills came from local folks who want to make our great state even better. I believe these bills do just that.”