LRB-0738/1
JTK:kmg:jf
2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE
January 30, 2003 - Introduced by Representatives Krug, Freese, Sinicki, Ott, J.
Lehman, Jeskewitz, Staskunas, Gundrum, Bies, Ladwig, Gielow, Gunderson,
Underheim
and Albers, cosponsored by Senators Kanavas, Reynolds and
Schultz. Referred to Committee on Urban and Local Affairs.
AB18,1,2 1An Act to create 59.10 (2) (d) of the statutes; relating to: the size of the county
2board of supervisors in populous counties.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law requires each county board to redistrict its supervisory districts
once every ten years based on the results of the decennial federal census. This bill
permits the board of supervisors of any county with a population of at least 500,000
(currently, only Milwaukee County) to decrease the number of supervisors on the
board and adopt a new redistricting plan during the ten-year period between the
adoption of decennial redistricting plans. Under the bill, the board may make such
a change only by a two-thirds vote of all of its members and only once every four
years. The bill requires the redistricting plan to satisfy certain criteria that also
apply to decennial redistricting plans. For example, the bill requires the districts
created under the redistricting plan to be substantially equal in population and in
as compact a form as possible, and requires each district to contain whole contiguous
municipalities or contiguous parts of the same municipality. The bill further
requires the districts to consist of contiguous whole wards in existence at the time
at which the redistricting plan is adopted and requires the original numbers of the
districts in their geographic outlines, to the extent possible, to be retained. Under
the bill, supervisors are elected from the districts created under the redistricting
plan at the next spring election when supervisors would normally be elected.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB18, s. 1
1Section 1. 59.10 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB18,2,172 59.10 (2) (d) Changes during decade. 1. `Number of supervisors; redistricting.'
3The board may, by a two-thirds vote of all of its members and not more frequently
4than once every 4 years, decrease the number of supervisors after the enactment of
5a supervisory district plan under par. (a). In that case, the board shall redistrict,
6readjust, and change the boundaries of supervisory districts, so that the number of
7districts equals the number of supervisors, the districts are substantially equal in
8population according to the most recent countywide federal census, the districts are
9in as compact a form as possible, and the districts consist of contiguous whole wards
10in existence at the time at which the redistricting plan is adopted. In the
11redistricting plan, the board shall adhere to the requirements under sub. (3) (b) 2.
12and 3. with regard to contiguity and shall, to the extent possible, place whole
13contiguous municipalities or contiguous parts of the same municipality within the
14same district. In redistricting under this subdivision, the original numbers of the
15districts in their geographic outlines, to the extent possible, shall be retained. The
16chairperson of the board shall file a certified copy of any redistricting plan adopted
17under this subdivision with the secretary of state.
AB18,3,318 2. `Election; term.' Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, any
19redistricting plan enacted under subd. 1. that becomes effective before November 15
20preceding the expiration of the term of office of supervisors in the county first applies
21to the spring election following the plan's effective date; otherwise, the plan first
22applies to the 2nd succeeding spring election following the plan's effective date at
23which supervisors are regularly elected in the county. Any redistricting plan enacted
24under subd. 1. shall remain in effect until the effective date of a subsequent
25redistricting plan enacted under subd. 1. or until the effective date of a redistricting

1plan subsequently enacted under par. (a). Supervisors elected from the districts
2created under subd. 1. shall serve for 4-year terms and shall take office on the 3rd
3Monday in April following their election.
AB18,3,44 (End)
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