AB582: Bill Text

LRB-0938/1

PJD/JTK/RJM:kmg:rs

2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Assembly BILL 582

October 15, 2003 - Introduced by Representative Schneider. Referred to Committee on Assembly Organization.

AB582,1,4 An Act to renumber and amend 11.36 (1); to amend 13.14 (3), 13.20 (1), 20.923 (6) (h) and 230.08 (2) (f); and to create 11.36 (1) (b) of the statutes; relating to: restoration of legislative partisan caucus staffs and solicitation or receipt of services for a political purpose from state officers and employees.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill permits the Joint Committee on Legislative Organization (JCLO) or either house of the legislature to employ such number of research staff assigned to legislative party caucuses as in the judgment of JCLO or the committee on organization of either house are necessary to enable it to perform its functions and duties and to best serve the people of this state. This bill does not increase the number of positions authorized for the assembly or the senate.

Currently, with limited exceptions, no person may solicit or receive from any state officer or employee any service for a political purpose while the officer or employee is engaged in his or her official duties. This bill creates an exception which permits a partisan elective state official to solicit and receive services for a political purpose from a state officer or employee who is assigned to a party caucus during the period beginning on June 1 immediately preceding a general election and the day of that election, or during the period beginning 30 days before a special election for a partisan state office and the day of that election.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB582, s. 1 Section 1. 11.36 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 11.36 (1) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB582,2,6 11.36 (1) (intro.) No person may solicit or receive from any state officer or employee or from any officer or employee of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority any contribution or service for any political purpose while the officer or employee is engaged in his or her official duties, except that an:

AB582,2,10 (a) An elected state official may solicit and receive services not constituting a contribution from a state officer or employee or an officer or employee of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority with respect to a referendum only.

AB582,2,12 (1m) Agreement to perform services authorized under this subsection sub. (1) may not be a condition of employment for any such officer or employee.

AB582, s. 2 Section 2. 11.36 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB582,2,19 11.36 (1) (b) A partisan elective state official may solicit and receive services not constituting a contribution from a state officer or employee who is assigned to a party caucus authorized under s. 13.20 (1) during the period beginning on June 1 immediately preceding a general election and ending on the day of that election, or during the period beginning 30 days before a special election for a partisan elective state office and ending on the day of that election.

AB582, s. 3 Section 3. 13.14 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB582,3,5 13.14 (3) Travel; legislative personnel. The actual and necessary expenses of legislative policy research personnel, assistants to legislators, and research staff assigned to legislative committees and party caucuses incident to attending meetings outside the capital shall be reimbursed from the appropriation under s. 20.765 (1) (a) or (b).

AB582, s. 4 Section 4. 13.20 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB582,3,15 13.20 (1) Number and pay range of legislative employees. The legislature or either house thereof may employ under the unclassified service such policy research personnel, assistants to legislators, and research staff assigned to legislative committees and party caucuses and such clerical, professional, or other assistants as in the judgment of the joint committee on legislative organization or the committee on organization in each house are necessary to enable it to perform its functions and duties and to best serve the people of this state, except that the legislature or a house thereof may not employ a person for, or assign a person to, a party caucus.

AB582, s. 5 Section 5. 20.923 (6) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB582,3,19 20.923 (6) (h) Legislature: policy research personnel, assistants to legislators, research staff assigned to legislative committees and party caucuses, and other persons employed under s. 13.20.

AB582, s. 6 Section 6. 230.08 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB582,3,23 230.08 (2) (f) All legislative officers and, in addition, policy research personnel, assistants to legislators, research staff assigned to legislative committees and party caucuses, and other persons employed under s. 13.20.

AB582,3,24 (End)