December 12, 1995 - Introduced by Representatives Duff, Jensen, Klusman,
Freese, Albers, Ourada, Ott, Johnsrud, Hoven, Huebsch, Kelso, Seratti,
Silbaugh, Hahn, Lazich, Powers, F. Lasee, Olsen, Gunderson, Vrakas,
Ladwig, Goetsch, Grothman
and Springer, cosponsored by Senators Farrow,
Rude, Petak, Breske
and Rosenzweig. Referred to Committee on
Environment and Utilities.
AB722,1,2 1An Act to create 15.107 (16) and 16.08 of the statutes; relating to: creating an
2environmental science council.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill creates an environmental science council in the department of
administration, consisting of 9 members, nominated by the governor, and with the
advice and consent of the senate appointed, who have expertise in the engineering
sciences, economic sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, human medical
sciences or statistical or risk assessment sciences. At the request of the governor, the
council is required to do any of the following: advise on issues affecting the protection
and management of the environment and natural resources in this state; review
proposed rules that establish environmental or natural resources standards or other
criteria; review the scientific and technical adequacy of environmental programs,
guidelines, methodologies, protocols and tests; recommend scientific standards or
other criteria for protection of human health and the environment; review new
information needs, the adequacy of data collection and analysis and the quality of
agency environmental plans or programs of research, development and
demonstration; assess the importance of natural and anthropogenic sources of
pollution; and perform any other duty requested by the governor.
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:
AB722, s. 1 3Section 1. 15.107 (16) of the statutes is created to read:
AB722,2,64 15.107 (16) Environmental science council. (a) There is created in the
5department of administration an environmental science council. The council shall

1consist of 9 members who have expertise in at least one of the following: the
2engineering sciences, economic sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences,
3human medical sciences or statistical or risk assessment sciences. The governor
4shall designate one member as chairperson and one member as vice chairperson.
5The members shall be nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent
6of the senate appointed, for 3-year terms.
AB722,2,127 (b) No person who has a potential conflict of interest may accept an
8appointment to the environmental science council without first disclosing the
9conflict to the governor. A potential conflict of interest includes a situation in which
10a person is employed by, or has received financial benefits from, a person whose
11economic interests may be substantially affected by a council review or
12recommendation.
AB722, s. 2 13Section 2. 16.08 of the statutes is created to read:
AB722,2,19 1416.08 Environmental science council. (1) In this section, "agency" means
15any office, department, agency, institution of higher education, association, society
16or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the
17constitution or any law which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law,
18including the legislature and the courts, and any authority created under ch. 231 or
19234.
AB722,2,21 20(2) At the request of the governor, the environmental science council shall do
21any of the following:
AB722,2,2322 (a) Advise on issues affecting the protection and management of the
23environment and natural resources in this state.
AB722,2,2524 (b) Review proposed rules that establish environmental or natural resources
25standards or other criteria.
AB722,3,2
1(c) Review the scientific and technical adequacy of environmental programs,
2guidelines, methodologies, protocols and tests.
AB722,3,43 (d) Recommend any scientific standard or other criteria for protection of human
4health and the environment that the council determines is appropriate.
AB722,3,75 (e) Review new information needs, the adequacy of data collection and analysis
6and the quality of agency environmental plans or programs of research, development
7and demonstration.
AB722,3,88 (f) Assess the importance of natural and anthropogenic sources of pollution.
AB722,3,99 (g) Perform any other duty requested by the governor.
AB722,3,13 10(3) In performing its duties under sub. (2), the council shall be strictly
11nonpartisan, shall consult and work closely with agencies, shall use sound, objective
12and scientific reasoning, shall assess the relative risk to human health and the
13environment and shall consider economic consequences.
AB722,3,19 14(4) The council may create any committee necessary to carry out the council's
15duties under sub. (2). If the council creates a committee under this subsection, the
16council shall appoint members to the committee who have the scientific and technical
17expertise to carry out the purpose of the committee. The council may appoint council
18members and citizens to a committee, but the council shall appoint one council
19member to serve as chairperson of each committee created under this subsection.
AB722,3,23 20(5) A member of the council and a member of a committee who is not a member
21of the council shall disclose any conflict of interest that may arise during the
22member's appointment to the governor, and to the council during a public meeting
23of the council.
AB722,3,25 24(6) All agencies shall fully cooperate with and assist the council and any
25committee created by the council under sub. (4).
AB722, s. 3
1Section 3. Nonstatutory provisions.
AB722,4,8 2(1)  initial terms of members of environmental science council.
3Notwithstanding the length of terms of the members of the environmental science
4council specified under section 15.107 (16) (a) of the statutes, as created by this act,
53 members initially appointed to the council shall be appointed for a term expiring
6on July 1, 1997, 3 members initially appointed to the council shall be appointed for
7a term expiring on July 1, 1998, and 3 members initially appointed to the council
8shall be appointed for a term expiring on July 1, 1999.
AB722,4,99 (End)
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