Ten years ago on the 25th of March, seven young men and women lost their lives in a van crash on I-90 near Janesville - another five were severely injured. The families of the 14 members of this traveling sales crew were forever damaged. In the aftermath of this incredible tragedy, Phil Ellenbecker came to my office a man broken with the loss of his daughter, but also a man with a mission: Stop traveling sales crews.
Malinda, Phil's daughter, had been with the crew for two days after answering an ad placed in the Wisconsin State Journal that promised travel, money, every day a party, and most of all escape. For young adults wanting to get away from home in the moment of their lives where they are struggling with becoming an adult, a traveling sales crew pitches the story they want to hear. All too often however, this trip ends in tragedy.
Not all traveling sales crews end is a van crash, but many end with members of the crew or members of the community hurt. Members of the crew often have cell phones taken away, never see a paycheck, and are kept up all hours of the night to "train" for better sales tactics. If a crew member gets sick, they may be left behind in a town where they know no one, with nothing. Our neighbors and family open the door when the bell rings and may be opening the door to a criminal or a con artist. These practices need to stop.
The first in the nation, Malinda's Law gives members of a traveling sales crew the basic employee rights they would have if they worked part-time at McDonalds. The law also makes sure any crew in Wisconsin registers with state and local government - individual crew members must list their name and personal information so we can know who they are and what their past is. These basic changes will make sure our communities are safer. Local law enforcement will be able to stop any crew they see going door to door and ask for their registration information to make sure they are legally in Wisconsin.
Malinda's Law was a long time coming. There were many setbacks along the way, but the persistence of Phil Ellenbecker finally paid off. On Tuesday, March 24, Malinda's Law passed both houses of the Legislature - not without a political fight - and on Thursday the 26th it was signed by Governor Doyle.
If you would like additional information on Malinda's Law, please contact my office at 608-266-6670 or 888-549-0027 or email sen.erpenbach@legis.wi.gov.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, serves the 27th State Senate District.
Malinda, Phil's daughter, had been with the crew for two days after answering an ad placed in the Wisconsin State Journal that promised travel, money, every day a party, and most of all escape. For young adults wanting to get away from home in the moment of their lives where they are struggling with becoming an adult, a traveling sales crew pitches the story they want to hear. All too often however, this trip ends in tragedy.
Not all traveling sales crews end is a van crash, but many end with members of the crew or members of the community hurt. Members of the crew often have cell phones taken away, never see a paycheck, and are kept up all hours of the night to "train" for better sales tactics. If a crew member gets sick, they may be left behind in a town where they know no one, with nothing. Our neighbors and family open the door when the bell rings and may be opening the door to a criminal or a con artist. These practices need to stop.
The first in the nation, Malinda's Law gives members of a traveling sales crew the basic employee rights they would have if they worked part-time at McDonalds. The law also makes sure any crew in Wisconsin registers with state and local government - individual crew members must list their name and personal information so we can know who they are and what their past is. These basic changes will make sure our communities are safer. Local law enforcement will be able to stop any crew they see going door to door and ask for their registration information to make sure they are legally in Wisconsin.
Malinda's Law was a long time coming. There were many setbacks along the way, but the persistence of Phil Ellenbecker finally paid off. On Tuesday, March 24, Malinda's Law passed both houses of the Legislature - not without a political fight - and on Thursday the 26th it was signed by Governor Doyle.
If you would like additional information on Malinda's Law, please contact my office at 608-266-6670 or 888-549-0027 or email sen.erpenbach@legis.wi.gov.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, serves the 27th State Senate District.
