LRB-2815/2
JTK:kmg:jf
2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE
October 23, 2003 - Introduced by Representatives Underheim, Suder, F. Lasee,
Bies, LeMahieu, Nass
and Albers, cosponsored by Senators Kanavas, Kedzie
and Risser. Referred to Committee on Urban and Local Affairs.
AB606,1,2 1An Act to amend 59.10 (3) (c) (title); and to create 59.10 (3) (cm) of the statutes;
2relating to: the size of the county board of supervisors in certain 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, except that
in counties having a population of 500,000 or more (currently only Milwaukee
County) the board may, after enactment of a decennial redistricting plan, redistrict
to reduce the size of the board not more than once prior to November 15, 2010.
This bill permits the board of supervisors of any county with a population of less
than 500,000, except a county having only one town (currently, all counties except
Milwaukee and Menominee) 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. 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.
The bill also permits the electors of any county whose board is permitted to
enact an intradecade redistricting plan to require the enactment of such a plan by

petition and referendum. A petition must be signed by a number of electors of the
county equal to at least 25% of the total votes cast for the office of supervisor at the
most recent supervisory election. If a valid petition is filed, a referendum must be
held at the next regularly scheduled election in the county that follows the date of
filing by at least 42 days. The question must specify the proposed number of
members of the board. If the question is approved, a committee consisting of one
person appointed by the chairperson of the board and two persons appointed by the
county clerk enacts an ordinance prescribing revised boundaries for the supervisory
districts in the county in accordance with the approved question at the referendum.
The districts are subject to the same requirements that apply to districts created by
the board in an intradecade plan enacted by the board.
Under the bill, supervisors are elected from the districts created under any
intradecade 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:
AB606, s. 1 1Section 1. 59.10 (3) (c) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB606,2,22 59.10 (3) (c) (title) Changes during decade ; municipal boundary adjustments.
AB606, s. 2 3Section 2. 59.10 (3) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB606,3,64 59.10 (3) (cm) Changes during decade; reduction in size. 1. `Number of
5supervisors; redistricting.' The board may decrease the number of supervisors after
6the enactment of a supervisory district plan under par. (b). In that case, the board
7shall redistrict, readjust, and change the boundaries of supervisory districts, so that
8the number of districts equals the number of supervisors, the districts are
9substantially equal in population according to the most recent countywide federal
10census, the districts are in as compact a form as possible, and the districts consist of
11contiguous whole wards in existence at the time at which the redistricting plan is
12adopted. In the redistricting plan, the board shall adhere to the requirements under
13par. (b) 2. and 3. with regard to contiguity and shall, to the extent possible, place
14whole contiguous municipalities or contiguous parts of the same municipality within

1the same district. In redistricting under this subdivision, the original numbers of the
2districts in their geographic outlines, to the extent possible, shall be retained. No
3plan may be enacted under this subdivision during review of the sufficiency of a
4petition filed under subd. 2. nor after a referendum is scheduled on such a petition.
5The chairperson of the board shall file a certified copy of any redistricting plan
6adopted under this subdivision with the secretary of state.
AB606,4,47 2. `Petition and referendum.' The electors of the county may, by petition and
8referendum, decrease the number of supervisors after the enactment of a
9supervisory district plan under par. (b). The petition for a change in the number of
10supervisors may be filed with the county clerk. The petition shall specify the
11proposed number of supervisors to be elected. The petition shall be in the form
12specified in s. 8.40 and shall contain a number of signatures of electors of the county
13equal to at least 25% of the total votes cast in the county for the office of supervisor
14at the most recent spring election preceding the date of filing. Any signatures on the
15petition that are dated later than 50 days after the date of the earliest signature on
16the petition are invalid. The county clerk shall promptly determine the sufficiency
17of a petition filed under this subdivision. Upon determination that a petition is
18sufficient, the county clerk shall call a referendum concurrently with the next
19regularly scheduled election in the county that is held not earlier than 42 days after
20the determination is made. The question proposed at the referendum shall be: "Shall
21the Board of Supervisors of .... County be decreased from .... members to ....
22members?". If the question is approved by a majority of the electors voting on the
23question, a committee consisting of one person appointed by the chairperson of the
24board and 2 persons appointed by the county clerk shall enact an ordinance
25prescribing revised boundaries for the supervisory districts in the county in

1accordance with the approved question. The districts are subject to the same
2requirements that apply to districts in any plan enacted by the board under subd. 1.
3The county clerk shall file a certified copy of any redistricting plan adopted under
4this subdivision with the secretary of state.
AB606,4,195 3. `Election; term.' Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, any
6redistricting plan enacted under subd. 1. or 2. that becomes effective before
7November 15 immediately preceding the expiration of the term of office of
8supervisors in the county first applies to the spring election following the plan's
9effective date at which supervisors are regularly elected in the county; otherwise, the
10plan first applies to the 2nd succeeding spring election following the plan's effective
11date at which supervisors are regularly elected in the county. If a question is
12approved at a referendum held under subd. 2., no subsequent plan under subd. 1. or
132. may take effect before 2 years have elapsed after the effective date of the plan
14enacted pursuant to the referendum. Any redistricting plan enacted under subd. 1.
15or 2. shall remain in effect until the effective date of a subsequent redistricting plan
16enacted under subd. 1. or 2. or until the effective date of a redistricting plan
17subsequently enacted under par. (b). Supervisors elected from the districts created
18under subd. 1. or 2. shall serve for 2-year terms and shall take office on the 3rd
19Monday in April following their election.
AB606,4,2020 (End)
Loading...
Loading...