AB396: Bill Text

LRB-3004/1

JTK:kaf:km

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Assembly BILL 396

May 27, 1997 - Introduced by Representatives Ladwig, Albers, Goetsch, Grothman, Hoven, Olsen, Owens, Powers, Schafer, Turner and Vrakas, cosponsored by Senators Plache and Huelsman. Referred to Committee on Urban and Local Affairs.

AB396,1,3 An Act to amend 755.01 (4) of the statutes; relating to: the filing officer for candidates for the office of municipal judge in municipal courts serving 2 or more municipalities.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, 2 or more municipalities may enter into an agreement providing for a municipal court to jointly serve the municipalities. Under the election laws, candidates for the office of municipal judge file nomination papers and declarations of candidacy in the office of the elections board, instead of in the office of a municipal clerk, whenever a municipal judge is elected to jointly serve 2 or more municipalities.

This bill amends the law governing municipal courts to provide for municipalities to notify the elections board whenever they create or abolish joint municipal courts and to provide that the board serves as filing officer for candidates for the office of municipal judge whenever an agreement providing for a joint municipal court is in effect.

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

AB396, s. 1 Section 1. 755.01 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB396,2,17 755.01 (4) Two or more cities, towns or villages of this state may enter into an agreement under s. 66.30 for the joint exercise of the power granted under sub. (1), except that for purposes of this subsection, any agreement under s. 66.30 shall be effected by the enactment of identical ordinances by each affected city, town or village. Electors of each municipality entering into the agreement shall be eligible to vote for the judge of the municipal court so established. If a municipality enters into an agreement with a municipality that already has a municipal court, the municipalities may provide by ordinance or resolution that the judge for the existing municipal court shall serve as the judge for the joint court until the end of the term or until a special election is held under s. 8.50 (4) (fm). Each municipality shall adopt an ordinance or bylaw under sub. (1) prior to entering into the agreement. The contracting municipalities need not be contiguous and need not all be in the same county. Upon entering into or discontinuing such an agreement, the contracting municipalities shall each transmit a certified copy of the ordinance effecting or discontinuing the agreement to the elections board. The elections board shall serve as filing officer for candidates for the office of municipal judge in any municipality where an agreement is in effect.

AB396,2,18 (End)