March 24, 2009

 

  

Traveling Sales Crew Bill Up For Vote In Both Houses

Madison – After ten years of fighting for the protection of Wisconsin youth and communities from the pitfalls of traveling sales crews, Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee) is elated Malinda’s Law, Senate Bill 4, is finally up for a vote in both the State Senate and Assembly and slated to pass both houses.

 “This is a simple bill. People who work in traveling sales crews will have the same employee protections a part-time worker at McDonald’s currently has in Wisconsin. The bill also provides protection in our communities by making sure all members of the crew register with local law enforcement so that we can know if they are criminals from another state,” said Erpenbach.        

 “Malinda’s Act” is named in honor of Malinda Turvey who was one of seven young people to lose their lives in a tragic van accident on the interstate in Janesville of a traveling sales crew on March 25th, 1999. Malinda’s father Phil Ellenbecker had been the catalyst for this bill. This heartbreaking event helped shed light on the often unfair and dangerous practices of these traveling sales crews.

 “This is a day of great joy for me personally having worked on this issue for so long. I am also overjoyed for Phil Ellenbecker who is a tireless advocate for this Legislation and for the young men and women who find themselves going door to door. He knows every tragedy, every crime in a community, and has turned that bad news into advocacy for change: he is an inspiration to me,” said Erpenbach.

SB 4 requires that any traveling sales crew wishing to operate or recruit crew members within the state must first obtain a “certificate of registration” from the Department of Workforce Development. Crewmembers would be required to carry these certificates with them and register with the municipal clerk before going door to door in any one community. These measures will allow the state to know who is knocking on doors and where they are knocking.

Once the bill passes the legislature today, the bill will be available for the Governor’s signature.