1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE
April 21, 1995 - Introduced by Representatives TRAVIS, DUFF, ZIEGELBAUER,
R. YOUNG, HAHN, BALDWIN, HUBER, ALBERS, LA FAVE, BELL, BOCK
and NOTESTEIN, cosponsored by Senators MOEN, BURKE, WINEKE and
CHVALA. Referred to Committee on Elections and Constitutional Law.
AB327,1,4 1An Act to amend 19.59 (1m) and 19.59 (7) and (8) (a) and (c); and to create 19.48
2(10) and 19.59 (1e) of the statutes; relating to: disclosure of certain
3information by persons who file applications with local governmental units and
4issuance of alternative model codes of ethics for local governmental units.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Currently, a statutory code of ethics applies to elective and major appointive
officials of all local governmental units. The code prohibits local officials from taking
certain actions and prohibits any person from offering or giving certain things to
local officials. In addition, any county, city, village or town may enact an ordinance
establishing additional ethics requirements, including requirements to identify
economic interests and provisions prescribing ethical standards of conduct and
prohibiting conflicts of interest.
This bill amends the statutory code to create a requirement for each applicant
for any license, permit, variance, exception or zoning change which may be granted
by a local government to disclose, at the time that the applicant makes application,
any business relationship, financial relationship or spousal relationship that the
applicant has with any official who is empowered to act upon the application, either
individually or as a member of a governmental body. The requirement does not apply
if the license, permit, variance, exception or zoning change is granted under a law
or ordinance that does not empower the official or body to exercise discretion.
The bill also directs the state ethics board to promulgate, by rule, alternative
suggested model codes of ethics for consideration by local governmental units. The
bill specifies that in promulgating the codes, the board must take into account the
ethical issues confronting various types and sizes of local governments and must
incorporate provisions designed to address varied needs.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB327, s. 1 1Section 1. 19.48 (10) of the statutes is created to read:
AB327,2,32 19.48 (10) Prescribe forms for compliance with s. 19.59 (1e) by persons who file
3applications with local governmental units.
AB327, s. 2 4Section 2. 19.59 (1e) of the statutes is created to read:
AB327,2,65 19.59 (1e) (a) In this subsection, "applicant" includes an officer or partner of
6a corporation, organization or partnership.
AB327,2,157 (b) Each applicant for any license, permit, variance, exception or zoning change
8which may be granted by a local governmental unit shall, at the time that the
9applicant makes application, disclose on a form prescribed by the board any business
10relationship, financial relationship or spousal relationship that the applicant has
11with any official who is empowered to act upon the application, either individually
12or as a member of a governmental body. This paragraph does not apply to any license,
13permit, variance, exception or zoning change which an official or governmental body
14grants under a law or ordinance that does not empower the official or body to exercise
15discretion.
AB327, s. 3 16Section 3. 19.59 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB327,2,2017 19.59 (1m) In addition to the requirements of sub. (1) subs. (1) and (1e), any
18county, city, village or town may enact an ordinance establishing a code of ethics for
19public officials and employes of the county or municipality and candidates for county
20or municipal elective offices.
AB327, s. 4 21Section 4. 19.59 (7) and (8) (a) and (c) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB327,3,2
119.59 (7) Any person who violates sub. (1) or (1e) may be required to forfeit not
2more than $1,000 for each violation.
AB327,3,5 3(8) (a) Subsection (1) Subsections (1) and (1e) shall be enforced in the name and
4on behalf of the state by action of the district attorney of any county wherein a
5violation may occur, upon the verified complaint of any person.
AB327,3,106 (c) If the district attorney fails to commence an action to enforce sub. (1) or (1e)
7within 20 days after receiving a verified complaint or if the district attorney refuses
8to commence such an action, the person making the complaint may petition the
9attorney general to act upon the complaint. The attorney general may then bring an
10action under par. (a) or (b), or both.
AB327, s. 5 11Section 5. Nonstatutory provisions.
AB327,3,16 12(1)  Submittal of proposed rules. The ethics board shall submit in proposed
13draft form rules interpreting the terms "business relationship" and "financial
14relationship" under section 19.59 (1e) (b) of the statutes, as created by this act, to the
15legislative council staff under section 227.15 (1) of the statutes no later than the first
16day of the 6th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection.
AB327,3,2417 (2) Alternative model codes of ethics. The ethics board shall, no later than
18the first day of the 9th month beginning after the effective date of this subsection,
19adopt and disseminate to all local governmental units that are authorized to enact
20codes of ethics under section 19.59 (1m) of the statutes alternative suggested model
21codes of ethics for consideration by those local governmental units. In adopting the
22codes, the board shall take into account the ethical issues confronting various types
23and sizes of local governmental units and shall incorporate provisions designed to
24address varied needs.
AB327,3,2525 (End)
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