MADISON, Wis. — A proposal that would allow public schools to start anytime they want in the fall is being circulated in the state Legislature.

Under current law passed in 2000, schools can't open any earlier than Sept. 1.

Attempts to change that have been opposed strongly by Wisconsin's restaurant and tourism industries, which rely on high school workers to fill shifts during the busy summer months.

The proposal was circulated Monday for co-sponsors by Republican Rep. Jim Ott and Sen. Alberta Darling. A similar attempt to change the law proposed in 2007 went nowhere.

The soonest this year's version could be considered is September. The Legislature, like most schools, is on its summer break.