AB765: Bill Text

LRB-4492/1

RJM&JTK:kmg:ch

2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE

2001 Assembly BILL 765

January 31, 2002 - Introduced by Representatives Travis, Black and Pocan, cosponsored by Senator Erpenbach. Referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections.

AB765,1,2 An Act to amend 15.61 of the statutes; relating to: composition of the elections board.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the governor appoints all members of the elections board as follows: one member is selected by the governor and one member each is designated by the chief justice of the supreme court, the speaker of the assembly, the senate majority leader, the minority leader in each house of the legislature, and the chief officer of each political party qualifying for a separate ballot at the September primary whose candidate for governor at the most recent gubernatorial election received at least 10% of the vote (currently, the Republican and the Democratic parties). Members serve for 2-year terms beginning on May 1 of each odd-numbered year.

Under this bill, the elections board consists of eight members, each of whom must be designated on a nonpartisan basis by the supreme court, with the concurrence of at least five justices. The members are appointed by the governor.

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

AB765, s. 1 Section 1. 15.61 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB765,2,7 15.61 Elections board; creation. There is created an elections board consisting of 8 persons, each of whom shall be designated on a nonpartisan basis by the supreme court, with the concurrence of at least 5 justices, who shall be appointed by the governor for 2-year terms as follows: one member selected by the governor; one member each designated by the chief justice of the supreme court, the speaker of the assembly, the senate majority leader, the minority leader in each house of the legislature, and the chief officer of each political party qualifying for a separate ballot under s. 5.62 (1) (b) or (2) whose candidate for governor received at least 10% of the vote in the most recent gubernatorial election.

AB765, s. 2 Section 2. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB765,2,9 (1) Transitional provision.

AB765,2,16 (a) New appointees. No later than the first day of the 2nd month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph, the justices of the supreme court shall designate 8 persons for membership on the elections board under section 15.61 of the statutes, as affected by this act. No later than the first day of the 3rd month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph, the governor shall appoint 8 persons to membership on the elections board under section 15.61 of the statutes, as affected by this act.

AB765,2,23 (b) Terms of office; current members. Notwithstanding section 15.61, 1999 stats., section 15.61 of the statutes, as affected by this act, and section 15.07 (1) (c) of the statutes, all members of the elections board holding office at the time at which all members of the elections board appointed as provided in paragraph (a) are qualified to take office shall cease to hold office at that time. This paragraph does not apply to members of the elections board who take office as provided in paragraph (c).

AB765,3,4 (c) Terms of office; new appointees. All members of the elections board appointed as provided in paragraph (a ) and qualified to take office shall take office immediately upon the expiration of the terms of office under paragraph (b). Notwithstanding section 15.61 of the statutes, as affected by this act, and section 15.07 (1) (c) of the statutes, the terms of office of members of the elections board who take office as provided in this paragraph shall expire on May 1, 2003.

AB765,3,5 (End)