LRB-2576/1
MES&PG:cjs:km
2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE
March 15, 2001 - Introduced by Representatives Travis, Musser, Ryba, Turner, J.
Lehman, Berceau
and Staskunas, cosponsored by Senators Risser and Burke.
Referred to Committee on Labor and Workforce Development.
AB219,1,4 1An Act to amend 59.26 (8) (b) 3. and 62.13 (5) (d); and to create 59.52 (8) (am)
2of the statutes; relating to: time limits for a police and fire commission or
3another governing body to render a decision related to the suspension of a law
4enforcement officer or firefighter.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Generally, under current law, a local law enforcement officer or firefighter (a
county sheriff's deputy or a city, village, or town police officer or firefighter) may be
suspended for just cause by his or her "superior." A "superior" of a local law
enforcement officer or firefighter is a county sheriff or undersheriff, a majority of the
members of a county civil service commission, a county board, a police or fire chief,
or a majority of the members of a board of police and fire commissioners. Before a
a local law enforcement officer or firefighter may be suspended, charges must be filed
against the individual. Such charges are filed in writing with the grievance
committee of a county civil service commission or with a board of police and fire
commissioners.
If a suspended deputy sheriff requests a hearing on the charges that are filed,
the grievance committee must schedule a hearing within 3 weeks after the filing of
the request. If a suspended police officer or firefighter requests a hearing on the
charges that are filed, the board of police and fire commissioners must schedule a
hearing not less than 10 days or more than 30 days following service of charges.

Generally, current law also prohibits a local law enforcement officer or
firefighter from being deprived of pay or benefits while suspended pending
disposition of the charges.
Under this bill, the body that holds a hearing on charges that are filed against
a law enforcement officer of firefighter must render a final decision on the charges
not later than 180 days after the hearing is commenced.
For further information see the local 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:
AB219, s. 1 1Section 1. 59.26 (8) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB219,2,142 59.26 (8) (b) 3. The grievance committee shall, if the officer requests a hearing,
3appoint a time and place for the hearing of the charges, the time to be within 3 weeks
4after the filing of such request for a hearing and the committee shall notify the sheriff
5or undersheriff or the members of the civil service commission, whichever filed the
6complaint with the committee, and the accused of the time and place of such hearing.
7If the accused officer makes no request to the grievance committee, then the
8committee may take whatever action it considers justifiable on the basis of the
9charges filed and shall issue an order in writing as provided in subd. 5. The
10committee may take testimony at the hearing, and any testimony taken shall be
11transcribed. The chairperson of the committee shall issue subpoenas for the
12attendance of such witnesses as may be requested by the accused. The grievance
13committee shall render a final decision on the charges not later than 180 days after
14the date on which the hearing commences.
AB219, s. 2 15Section 2. 59.52 (8) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB219,3,316 59.52 (8) (am) If a law enforcement employee of the county is suspended or
17suspended and demoted by the civil service commission or the board under the
18system established under par. (a) and if that system requires charges to be filed and

1allows or requires a hearing regarding the charges be held, the civil service
2commission or the board shall render a final decision on the charges not later than
3180 days after the date on which the hearing, if one is held, commences.
AB219, s. 3 4Section 3. 62.13 (5) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB219,3,125 62.13 (5) (d) Following the filing of charges in any case, a copy thereof shall be
6served upon the person charged. The board shall set date for hearing not less than
710 days nor more than 30 days following service of charges. The hearing on the
8charges shall be public, and both the accused and the complainant may be
9represented by an attorney and may compel the attendance of witnesses by
10subpoenas which shall be issued by the president of the board on request and be
11served as are subpoenas under ch. 885. The board shall render a final decision on
12the charges not later than 180 days after the date on which the hearing commences.
AB219, s. 4 13Section 4. Initial applicability.
AB219,3,1514 (1) This act first applies to suspensions that occur on the effective date of this
15subsection.
AB219,3,1616 (End)
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