AB1-ASA2, s. 58 12Section 58. 11.60 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,40,513 11.60 (4) Actions Except as otherwise provided in ss. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. and 16.
14and (h), 5.08, and 5.081, actions
under this section arising out of an election for state
15office or a statewide referendum
may be brought by the board or by the district
16attorney of for the county where the defendant resides or, if the defendant is a
17nonresident, by the district attorney for
the county where the violation is alleged to
18have occurred, except as specified in s. 11.38. Actions under this section arising out
19of an election for local office or a local referendum may be brought by the district
20attorney of the county where the violation is alleged to have occurred. Actions under
21this section arising out of an election for county office or a county referendum may
22be brought by the county board of election commissioners of the county wherein the
23violation is alleged to have occurred. If a violation concerns a district attorney or
24circuit judge or candidate for such offices, the action shall be brought by the attorney
25general. If a violation concerns the attorney general or a candidate for such office,

1the governor may appoint special counsel under s. 14.11 (2)
to bring suit in behalf of
2the state. The counsel shall be independent of the attorney general and need not be
3a state employee at the time of appointment
. For purposes of this subsection, a
4person other than a natural person resides within a county if the person's principal
5place of operation is located within that county
.
AB1-ASA2, s. 59 6Section 59. 11.60 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,40,127 11.60 (5) Any elector may file a verified petition with the board, the county
8board of election commissioners
or the appropriate district attorney or with more
9than one of them where their authority is concurrent under sub. (4), requesting that
10civil action under this chapter be brought against any person, committee or group.
11The petition shall allege such facts as are within the knowledge of the petitioner to
12show probable cause that a violation of this chapter has occurred.
AB1-ASA2, s. 60 13Section 60. 11.61 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,41,314 11.61 (2) Except as otherwise provided in s. 11.38 (5) ss. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. and
1516. and (i), 5.08, and 5.081
, all prosecutions under this section shall be conducted by
16the district attorney of for the county where the defendant resides or, if the defendant
17is a nonresident, by the district attorney for the county where
the violation is alleged
18to have occurred. If the district attorney refuses to act upon a sworn complaint, or
19fails to act upon such a complaint within 60 days of the date on which the complaint
20is received, the attorney general may then conduct the prosecution under this
21section. If a violation concerns a district attorney or circuit judge or candidate for
22such offices, the prosecution shall be conducted by the attorney general. If a violation
23concerns the attorney general or a candidate for such office, the governor may
24appoint a special prosecutor under s. 14.11 (2) to conduct the prosecution in behalf
25of the state. The prosecutor shall be independent of the attorney general and need

1not be a state employee at the time of appointment
For purposes of this subsection,
2a person other than a natural person resides within a county if the person's principal
3place of operation is located within that county
.
AB1-ASA2, s. 61 4Section 61. 12.13 (5) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1-ASA2,41,55 12.13 (5) Unauthorized release of records or investigatory information.
AB1-ASA2,41,146 (a) Except as specifically authorized by law and except as provided in par. (b),
7no investigator, prosecutor, employee of an investigator or prosecutor, or member or
8employee of the board may disclose information related to an investigation or
9prosecution under chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 or any other
10law specified in s. 978.05 (1) or (2) or provide access to any record of the investigator,
11prosecutor, or the board that is not subject to access under s. 5.05 (5s) to any person
12other than an employee or agent of the prosecutor or investigator or a member,
13employee, or agent of the board prior to presentation of the information or record in
14a court of law.
AB1-ASA2,41,1715 (b) This subsection does not apply to any of the following communications made
16by an investigator, prosecutor, employee of an investigator or prosecutor, or member
17or employee of the board:
AB1-ASA2,41,1918 1. Communications made in the normal course of an investigation or
19prosecution.
AB1-ASA2,41,2120 2. Communications with a local, state, or federal law enforcement or
21prosecutorial authority.
AB1-ASA2,41,2422 3. Communications made to the attorney of an investigator, prosecutor,
23employee, or member of the board or to a person or the attorney of a person who is
24investigated or prosecuted by the board.
AB1-ASA2, s. 62 25Section 62. 12.60 (1) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1-ASA2,42,2
112.60 (1) (bm) Whoever violates s. 12.13 (5) may be fined not more than $10,000
2or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.
AB1-ASA2, s. 63 3Section 63. 13.123 (3) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,42,74 13.123 (3) (b) 2. In making the determination under subd. 1., the chief clerk is
5bound by the determination of the chairperson of the elections government
6accountability
board or the chairperson's designee if such determination has been
7issued.
AB1-ASA2, s. 64 8Section 64. 13.23 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,42,18 913.23 Election contests; notice. Any person wishing to contest the election
10of any senator or member of the assembly shall, within 30 days after the decision of
11the board of canvassers, serve a notice in writing on the person whose election the
12contestant intends to contest, stating briefly that the election will be contested and
13the cause of such contest, and shall file a copy thereof in the office of the elections
14government accountability board at least 10 days before the day fixed by law for the
15meeting of the legislature. The elections government accountability board shall then
16send a copy of s. 13.24 to both contestants. If any contestant fails to so file a copy of
17such notice, the contestant shall not be entitled to any mileage or salary in case
18payment has been made therefor to the sitting member.
AB1-ASA2, s. 65 19Section 65. 13.62 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,42,2020 13.62 (4) "Board" means the ethics government accountability board.
AB1-ASA2, s. 66 21Section 66. 13.685 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,42,22 2213.685 (title) Duties of the ethics government accountability board.
AB1-ASA2, s. 67 23Section 67. 13.69 (8) of the statutes is repealed.
AB1-ASA2, s. 68 24Section 68. 13.94 (1) (k) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,43,2
113.94 (1) (k) Provide auditing services at the direction of the elections
2government accountability board under s. 5.05 (2).
AB1-ASA2, s. 69 3Section 69. 14.58 (20) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,43,64 14.58 (20) Election campaign fund. Make disbursements to each candidate
5certified under s. 7.08 (2) (c) or (cm) by the elections government accountability board
6as eligible to receive moneys from the Wisconsin election campaign fund.
AB1-ASA2, s. 70 7Section 70. 15.07 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
AB1-ASA2,43,118 15.07 (1) (a) 2. Members of the government accountability board shall be
9nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of two-thirds of the
10members of the senate present and voting shall be appointed, to serve for terms
11prescribed by law.
AB1-ASA2, s. 71 12Section 71. 15.07 (1) (cm) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,44,313 15.07 (1) (cm) The term of one member of the ethics government accountability
14board shall expire on each May 1. The terms of 3 members of the development
15finance board appointed under s. 15.155 (1) (a) 6. shall expire on May 1 of every
16even-numbered year and the terms of the other 3 members appointed under s.
1715.155 (1) (a) 6. shall expire on May 1 of every odd-numbered year. The terms of the
183 members of the land and water conservation board appointed under s. 15.135 (4)
19(b) 2. shall expire on January 1. The term of the member of the land and water
20conservation board appointed under s. 15.135 (4) (b) 2m. shall expire on May 1 of an
21even-numbered year. The terms of members of the real estate board shall expire on
22July 1. The terms of the appraiser members of the real estate appraisers board and
23the terms of the auctioneer and auction company representative members of the
24auctioneer board shall expire on May 1 in an even-numbered year. The terms of the
25members of the cemetery board shall expire on July 1 in an even-numbered year.

1The term of the student member of the Board of Regents of the University of
2Wisconsin System who is at least 24 years old shall expire on May 1 of every
3even-numbered year.
AB1-ASA2, s. 72 4Section 72. 15.07 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1-ASA2,44,75 15.07 (2) (b) The chairperson of the governmental accountability board shall
6be chosen by lot by the current chairperson of the board at the first meeting of the
7board in January of each year.
AB1-ASA2, s. 73 8Section 73. 15.07 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,44,149 15.07 (4) Quorum. A majority of the membership of a board constitutes a
10quorum to do business and, unless a more restrictive provision is adopted by the
11board, a majority of a quorum may act in any matter within the jurisdiction of the
12board. This subsection does not apply to actions of the ethics government
13accountability
board or the school district boundary appeal board as provided in ss.
1419.47 (4) 5.05 (1e) and 117.05 (2) (a).
AB1-ASA2, s. 74 15Section 74. 15.07 (5) (k) of the statutes is repealed.
AB1-ASA2, s. 75 16Section 75. 15.07 (5) (m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB1-ASA2,44,1917 15.07 (5) (m) Members of the government accountability board, a per diem
18equal to the amount prescribed under s. 753.075 (3) (a) for reserve judges sitting in
19circuit court.
AB1-ASA2, s. 76 20Section 76. 15.07 (5) (n) of the statutes is repealed.
AB1-ASA2, s. 77 21Section 77. 15.60 of the statutes is created to read:
AB1-ASA2,44,24 2215.60 Government accountability board; creation. (1) There is created
23a government accountability board consisting of 6 persons. Members shall serve for
246-year terms.
AB1-ASA2,45,8
1(2) All members of the board shall be appointed from nominations submitted
2to the governor by a nominating committee to be called the governmental
3accountability candidate committee, which shall consist of one court of appeals judge
4from each of the court of appeals districts. The members of the committee shall serve
5for 2-year terms expiring on March 1. The court of appeals judges shall be chosen
6as members by lot by the chief justice of the supreme court in the presence of the other
7justices of the supreme court. Service on the committee is mandatory except as
8provided in s. 758.19 (9).
AB1-ASA2,45,11 9(3) Each member of the board shall be an individual who formerly served as
10a judge of a court of record in this state and who was elected to the position in which
11he or she served.
AB1-ASA2,45,14 12(4) No member may hold another office or position that is a state public office
13or a local public office, as defined in s. 19.42, except the office of circuit judge or court
14of appeals judge under s. 753.075.
AB1-ASA2,45,18 15(5) No member, for one year immediately prior to the date of nomination may
16have been, or while serving on the board may become, a member of a political party,
17an officer or member of a committee in any partisan political club or organization,
18or an officer or employee of a registrant under s. 11.05.
AB1-ASA2,45,20 19(6) No member, while serving on the board, may become a candidate, as defined
20in s. 11.01 (1), for state office or local office, as defined in s. 5.02.
AB1-ASA2,45,25 21(7) No member, while serving on the board, may make a contribution, as
22defined in s. 11.01 (6), to a candidate, as defined in s. 11.01 (1) for state office or local
23office, as defined in s. 5.02. No individual who serves as a member of the board, for
2412 months prior to beginning that service, may have made a contribution, as defined
25in s. 11.01 (6), to a candidate for a partisan state or local office, as defined in s. 5.02.
AB1-ASA2,46,3
1(8) No member may be a lobbyist, as defined in s. 13.62 (11), or an employee
2of a principal, as defined in s. 13.62 (12), except that a member may serve as a circuit
3judge or court of appeals judge under s. 753.075.
AB1-ASA2, s. 78 4Section 78. 15.603 of the statutes is created to read:
AB1-ASA2,46,8 515.603 Same; specified divisions. (1) Ethics and Accountability division.
6There is created in the government accountability board an ethics and accountability
7division. The ethics and accountability division shall be under the direction and
8supervision of an administrator, who shall be appointed by the board.
AB1-ASA2,46,11 9(2) Elections division. There is created in the government accountability
10board an elections division. The elections division shall be under the direction and
11supervision of an administrator, who shall be appointed by the board.
AB1-ASA2, s. 79 12Section 79. 15.61 of the statutes is repealed.
AB1-ASA2, s. 80 13Section 80. 15.617 of the statutes is renumbered 15.607, and 15.607 (1) of the
14statutes, as renumbered, is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,46,2315 15.607 (1) Election administration council. There is created in the elections
16government accountability board an election administration council consisting of
17members appointed by the executive director of the elections administrator of the
18elections division of the government accountability
board, including the clerk or
19executive director of the board of election commissioners of the 2 counties or
20municipalities in this state having the largest population, one or more election
21officials of other counties or municipalities, representatives of organizations that
22advocate for the interests of individuals with disabilities and organizations that
23advocate for the interests of the voting public, and other electors of this state.
AB1-ASA2, s. 81 24Section 81. 15.62 of the statutes is repealed.
AB1-ASA2, s. 82 25Section 82. 16.753 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,47,6
116.753 (2) Except as otherwise expressly provided, each agency shall provide
2to the ethics government accountability board for posting on the Internet a list
3identifying each solicitation for bids or competitive sealed proposals and each
4proposed order or contract of the agency for which bids or competitive sealed
5proposals will not be solicited that involves a major expenditure, together with all
6information required under sub. (4).
AB1-ASA2, s. 83 7Section 83. 16.79 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,47,158 16.79 (2) The department shall distribute in pamphlet form copies of the
9constitution and such laws as may be required to meet the public demand, including
10the election laws. The department shall distribute election manuals, forms, and
11supplies specified by the elections government accountability board. The laws,
12manuals, forms, and supplies shall be sold by the department at cost, including
13distribution cost as determined under s. 35.80. The elections government
14accountability
board shall inform the department in writing as to which election
15manuals, forms, and supplies shall be offered for distribution under this subsection.
AB1-ASA2, s. 84 16Section 84. 16.96 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,47,2017 16.96 (3) (b) Maintain and keep current throughout the decade the maps of
18congressional and legislative district boundaries received from the legislative
19reference bureau under s. 13.92 (1) (a) 6. and provide copies thereof to the elections
20government accountability board.
AB1-ASA2, s. 85 21Section 85. 16.973 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,47,2522 16.973 (6) With the advice of the ethics government accountability board, adopt
23and enforce standards of ethical conduct applicable to its paid consultants which are
24similar to the standards prescribed in subch. III of ch. 19, except that the department
25shall not require its paid consultants to file statements of economic interests.
AB1-ASA2, s. 86
1Section 86. 17.17 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,48,52 17.17 (1) Senators and members of congress. In the office of United States
3senator or member of congress from this state, by the county clerk of the county
4wherein such officer resided at the time of election, to the elections government
5accountability
board.
AB1-ASA2, s. 87 6Section 87. 17.17 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,48,97 17.17 (4) Justices and judges. In the office of justice of the supreme court, court
8of appeals judge, or judge of a circuit court, by the director of state courts to the
9governor and the elections government accountability board.
AB1-ASA2, s. 88 10Section 88. 19.42 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,48,1111 19.42 (3) "Board" means the ethics government accountability board.
AB1-ASA2, s. 89 12Section 89. 19.42 (10) (a) of the statutes is repealed.
AB1-ASA2, s. 90 13Section 90. 19.43 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,49,714 19.43 (4) A candidate for state public office shall file with the board a statement
15of economic interests meeting each of the requirements of s. 19.44 (1) no later than
164:30 p.m. on the 3rd day following the last day for filing nomination papers for the
17office which the candidate seeks, or no later than 4:30 p.m. on the next business day
18after the last day whenever that candidate is granted an extension of time for filing
19nomination papers or a declaration of candidacy under s. 8.05 (1) (j), 8.10 (2) (a), 8.15
20(1), or 8.20 (8) (a), no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 5th day after notification of
21nomination is mailed or personally delivered to the candidate by the municipal clerk
22in the case of a candidate who is nominated at a caucus, or no later than 4:30 p.m.
23on the 3rd day after notification of nomination is mailed or personally delivered to
24the candidate by the appropriate official or agency in the case of a write-in candidate
25or candidate who is appointed to fill a vacancy in nomination under s. 8.35 (2) (a).

1The information contained on the statement shall be current as of December 31 of
2the year preceding the filing deadline. Before certifying the name of any candidate
3for state public office under s. 7.08 (2) (a), the elections government accountability
4board, municipal clerk, or board of election commissioners shall ascertain whether
5that candidate has complied with this subsection. If not, the elections government
6accountability
board, municipal clerk, or board of election commissioners may not
7certify the candidate's name for ballot placement.
AB1-ASA2, s. 91 8Section 91. 19.43 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,49,199 19.43 (5) Each member of the investment board and each employee of the
10investment board who is a state public official shall complete and file with the ethics
11government accountability board a quarterly report of economic transactions no
12later than the last day of the month following the end of each calendar quarter during
13any portion of which he or she was a member or employee of the investment board.
14Such reports of economic transactions shall be in the form prescribed by the ethics
15government accountability board and shall identify the date and nature of any
16purchase, sale, put, call, option, lease, or creation, dissolution , or modification of any
17economic interest made during the quarter for which the report is filed and
18disclosure of which would be required by s. 19.44 if a statement of economic interests
19were being filed.
AB1-ASA2, s. 92 20Section 92. 19.45 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,50,921 19.45 (6) No state public official, member of a state public official's immediate
22family, nor any organization with which the state public official or a member of the
23official's immediate family owns or controls at least 10% of the outstanding equity,
24voting rights, or outstanding indebtedness may enter into any contract or lease
25involving a payment or payments of more than $3,000 within a 12-month period, in

1whole or in part derived from state funds, unless the state public official has first
2made written disclosure of the nature and extent of such relationship or interest to
3the board and to the department acting for the state in regard to such contract or
4lease. Any contract or lease entered into in violation of this subsection may be voided
5by the state in an action commenced within 3 years of the date on which the ethics
6board, or the department or officer acting for the state in regard to the allocation of
7state funds from which such payment is derived, knew or should have known that
8a violation of this subsection had occurred. This subsection does not affect the
9application of s. 946.13.
AB1-ASA2, s. 93 10Section 93. 19.46 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB1-ASA2,50,1211 19.46 (1) (intro.) Except in accordance with the board's advice under sub. (2)
12s. 5.05 (6a) and except as otherwise provided in sub. (3), no state public official may:
AB1-ASA2, s. 94 13Section 94. 19.46 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (6a) and amended to
14read:
AB1-ASA2,52,815 5.05 (6a) Advisory opinions. Any individual, either personally or on behalf of
16an organization or governmental body, may make a written or electronic request of
17the board for an advisory opinion regarding the propriety under chs. 5 to 12, subch.
18III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19
of any matter to which the person is or may become
19a party; and any appointing officer, with the consent of a prospective appointee, may
20request of the board an advisory opinion regarding the propriety under chs. 5 to 12,
21subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19
of any matter to which the prospective
22appointee is or may become a party. The board shall review a request for an advisory
23opinion and may advise issue a formal written or electronic advisory opinion to the
24person making the request. Advisory opinions and requests therefor shall be in
25writing. The
Except as authorized or required for opinions specified in sub. (5s) (f)

12., the
board's deliberations and actions upon such requests shall be in meetings not
2open to the public. It is prima facie evidence of intent to comply with this subchapter
3or subch. III of ch. 13 when a person refers a matter to the board and abides by the
4board's advisory opinion
No person acting in good faith upon an advisory opinion
5issued by the board is subject to criminal or civil prosecution for so acting
, if the
6material facts are as stated in the opinion request. To have legal force and effect, each
7advisory opinion issued by the board must be supported by specific legal authority
8under a statute or other law, or by specific case or common law authority. Each
9advisory opinion shall include a citation to each statute or other law and each case
10or common law authority upon which the opinion is based, and shall specifically
11articulate or explain which parts of the cited authority are relevant to the board's
12conclusion and why they are relevant.
The board may authorize the executive
13director
its legal counsel to act in its stead in instances where delay is of substantial
14inconvenience or detriment to the requesting party. No
issue an informal written
15advisory opinion or to transmit an informal advisory opinion electronically on behalf
16of the board, subject to such limitations as the board deems appropriate. Every
17informal advisory opinion shall be consistent with applicable formal advisory
18opinions issued by the board. If the board disagrees with an informal advisory
19opinion that has been issued on behalf of the board, the board may withdraw the
20opinion or issue a revised advisory opinion and no person acting after the date of the
21withdrawal or issuance of the revised advisory opinion is exempted from prosecution
22under this subsection if the opinion upon which the person's action is based has been
23withdrawn or revised in relevant degree. Except as authorized or required under
24sub. (5s) (f) 2., no
member or employee of the board may make public the identity of
25the individual requesting an a formal or informal advisory opinion or of individuals

1or organizations mentioned in the opinion. Any person receiving a formal or informal
2advisory opinion under this subsection who disagrees with the opinion may request
3a public or private hearing before the board to discuss the opinion. The board shall
4grant a request for a public or private hearing under this subsection. After hearing
5the matter, the board may reconsider its opinion and may issue a revised opinion to
6the person. Promptly upon issuance of each formal advisory opinion that is not open
7to public access, the board shall publish a summary of the opinion that is consistent
8with applicable requirements under sub. (5s) (f).
AB1-ASA2, s. 95 9Section 95. 19.47 (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
AB1-ASA2,52,10 1019.47 (title) Statements of economic interests.
AB1-ASA2, s. 96 11Section 96. 19.47 (1) and (2) of the statutes are repealed.
AB1-ASA2, s. 97 12Section 97. 19.47 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 19.47.
AB1-ASA2, s. 98 13Section 98. 19.47 (4) of the statutes is repealed.
AB1-ASA2, s. 99 14Section 99. 19.47 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (5e) and amended to
15read:
AB1-ASA2,53,216 5.05 (5e) Biennial report. No later than September 1 of each year, the board
17shall submit a report concerning its actions in the preceding fiscal year to the
18governor and the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the
19legislature under s. 13.172 (2). Such
The board shall include in its biennial report
20shall contain under s. 15.04 (1) (d) the names and duties of all individuals employed
21by the board and a summary of its determinations and advisory opinions . The issued
22under sub. (6a). Except as authorized or required under sub. (5s) (f) 2., the
board
23shall make sufficient alterations in the summaries to prevent disclosing the
24identities of individuals or organizations involved in the decisions or opinions. The
25board may also include in its biennial report any information compiled under s. 11.21

1(7).
The board shall make such further reports on the matters within its jurisdiction
2and such recommendations for further legislation as it deems desirable.
AB1-ASA2, s. 100 3Section 100. 19.47 (6) of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (5f).
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