AB837, s. 2 7Section 2. 15.79 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,3,15 815.79 Public service commission; creation. There is created a public
9service commission. No member of the commission may have a financial interest in
10a railroad or public utility. If any member voluntarily becomes so interested, the
11member's office shall become vacant. If the member involuntarily becomes so
12interested, the member's office shall become vacant unless the member divests
13himself or herself of the interest within a reasonable time. No commissioner may
14serve on or under any committee of a political party. Each commissioner shall hold
15office until a successor is appointed and qualified.
AB837, s. 3 16Section 3. 15.795 (title) of the statutes is renumbered 15.469 (title).
AB837, s. 4 17Section 4. 15.795 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 2003 Wisconsin Act 89, is
18renumbered 15.469 (1) and amended to read:
AB837,4,219 15.469 (1) Office of the commissioner of railroads. There is created an office
20of the commissioner of railroads which is attached to the public service commission
21department of transportation under s. 15.03, provided that s. 85.02 (1) does not apply
22to the office of the commissioner of railroads. The commissioner of railroads shall
23have expertise in railroad issues and may not have a financial interest in a railroad,
24as defined in s. 195.02 (1). The commissioner may not serve on or under any

1committee of a political party. The commissioner shall hold office until a successor
2is appointed and qualified.
AB837, s. 5 3Section 5. 20.155 (2) of the statutes is repealed.
AB837, s. 6 4Section 6. 20.395 (2) (gg) of the statutes is created to read:
AB837,4,75 20.395 (2) (gg) Railroad payments. From the general fund, all moneys received
6from railroads under s. 195.60 and credited to this appropriation account for
7activities related to railroad regulation under chs. 190 to 195, for such purposes.
AB837, s. 7 8Section 7. 20.395 (2) (gq) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,4,129 20.395 (2) (gq) Railroad crossing improvement and protection maintenance
10and railroad regulation, state funds. The amounts in the schedule to pay the costs
11for railroad crossing protection maintenance under s. 195.28 (3) and for activities
12related to railroad regulation under chs. 190 to 195
.
AB837, s. 8 13Section 8. 20.395 (2) (gx) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,4,1814 20.395 (2) (gx) Railroad crossing improvement and railroad regulation, federal
15funds.
All moneys received from the federal government for the purposes of railroad
16crossing protection under s. 195.28, for activities related to railroad regulation under
17chs. 190 to 195,
and for the purposes of railroad crossing gates under 1999 Wisconsin
18Act 9
, section 9150 (9g), for such purposes.
AB837, s. 9 19Section 9. 20.923 (4) (e) 11. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,4,2120 20.923 (4) (e) 11. Public service commission Transportation, department of;
21office of the commissioner of railroads: commissioner.
AB837, s. 10 22Section 10. 25.40 (1) (a) 12m. of the statutes is created to read:
AB837,4,2523 25.40 (1) (a) 12m. Moneys collected under s. 195.60 that are deposited in the
24general fund, 90 percent of which are credited to the appropriation under s. 20.395
25(2) (gg).
AB837, s. 11
1Section 11. 25.40 (1) (f) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,5,42 25.40 (1) (f) 1. Moneys received from the federal government, for the regulation
3of railroads, that are deposited in the general fund and credited to the appropriation
4under s. 20.155 (2) (m) 20.395 (2) (gx).
AB837, s. 12 5Section 12. 84.05 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,5,6 684.05 (title) Railroad crossing improvements crossings.
AB837, s. 13 7Section 13. 84.05 of the statutes is renumbered 84.05 (2) and amended to read:
AB837,6,28 84.05 (2) On a highway which the department has authority to construct and
9which crosses a railroad, if the department determines that the construction or
10reconstruction of a grade separation or the rearrangement or elimination of a grade
11crossing or other rearrangement of the highway or tracks is necessary in the interest
12of public safety or for convenience of public travel, the department shall make a plan
13of the construction proposed and an estimate of the cost thereof, including the cost
14of needed right-of-way; and shall endeavor to make an arrangement with all
15persons concerned as to all matters involved in the plan, including the portion of the
16cost of the contemplated work which the persons shall defray. If the department is
17unable to contract with the persons concerned as to the distribution and payment of
18the cost of the work or the maintenance thereof, the department shall lay the matter
19before
may petition the office of the commissioner of railroads, and the office of the
20commissioner of railroads
shall review the proceedings and hold a hearing thereon
21in accordance with ss. 195.28 and 195.29, and shall fix the portion of the cost of the
22construction and of the maintenance which is to be paid by the persons or
23corporations concerned, and the portion of the cost, if any, to be paid by the public,
24which portion shall be paid from the transportation fund. The office of the
25commissioner of railroads
shall determine the benefits, if any, which will inure to

1other highways, and apportion and charge to the units of government responsible for
2the construction of such other highways a fair portion of the cost.
AB837, s. 14 3Section 14. 84.05 (1) and (3) of the statutes are created to read:
AB837,6,54 84.05 (1) In this section, "office" means the office of the commissioner of
5railroads.
AB837,6,21 6(3) Whenever the department may petition, or file a complaint with, the office
7under sub. (2) or s. 86.13 (3), 195.28, 195.285, or 195.29, the department may, on its
8own motion and in lieu of such a petition or complaint, provide notice to the office and
9the parties in interest and proceed to investigate and determine the matter itself
10under this subsection. In proceeding under this subsection, the department shall
11have the same power and authority, and proceed in the same manner, specified for
12the office under sub. (2) and ss. 86.13, 195.28, 195.285, and 195.29, including the
13making of any determination and issuance of any order authorized for the office
14under sub. (2) and ss. 86.13, 195.28, 195.285, and 195.29. The department may
15proceed under this subsection regardless of any prior order of the office or any
16pending proceeding before the office, and, notwithstanding sub. (2) and ss. 86.13,
17195.28, 195.285, and 195.29, notice from the department to the office under this
18subsection shall divest the office of authority over the matter specified in the notice.
19Notwithstanding sub. (2) and ss. 86.13, 195.28, 195.285, and 195.29, all decisions
20and orders of the department under this subsection are final and are not subject to
21review by the office or to judicial review under ch. 227.
AB837, s. 15 22Section 15. 86.13 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,7,823 86.13 (5) Any railroad company that receives notice from the department
24under this section, or under s. 84.05 (3) with respect to a matter arising under this
25section,
with respect to a state trunk highway may file a claim for reimbursement

1with the department. The department shall reimburse claimants for 85% 85 percent
2of the eligible costs incurred in the repair of a highway grade crossing. No claim for
3reimbursement may be paid by the department under this subsection unless the
4department approved the plans and estimated cost of the project prior to the start
5of the project. The department may inspect each completed project to verify the
6amount of the claim for reimbursement. The department shall create a procedure
7for establishing the priority for projects with respect to state trunk highways under
8this section for the purpose of programming reimbursements.
AB837, s. 16 9Section 16. 182.36 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,7,2210 182.36 (3) The corporation may enter into contracts with public utilities,
11including
and railroads, for the removal or change in location of the lines of such
12public utilities and railroads where the same is deemed necessary by the corporation
13in the construction of the project. Such contracts shall be for the payment of damages
14caused the utilities and railroads by the relocation of their lines. In the event the
15corporation and the utility or railroad are unable to reach an agreement, the public
16service commission in the case of a utility or the office of the commissioner of
17railroads in the case of a railroad
shall direct the manner, location and time allowed
18for the change in the utility or railroad line and the corporation shall be liable for the
19reasonable costs of such change. In the event the public utility or railroad fails to
20comply with the order of the public service commission or the office of the
21commissioner of railroads
it shall be liable to the corporation for all damages
22occasioned by such failure.
AB837, s. 17 23Section 17. 189.02 (3m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,8,3
1189.02 (3m) (a) Except as provided in s. 15.03 , and subject to s. 84.05 (3), the
2public service commission department of transportation shall have no control or
3jurisdiction over the office in matters relating to railroad regulation.
AB837,8,74 (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), the commissioner of railroads shall seek the input
5of, and give considerable weight to the advice given by, the chairperson of the public
6service commission
secretary on matters relating to the employment of persons by
7the office.
AB837, s. 18 8Section 18. 189.02 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,8,119 189.02 (4) Decisions Subject to s. 84.05 (3), decisions of the office are not
10appealable to the public service commission department. Decisions of the office are
11subject to judicial review under ch. 227.
AB837, s. 19 12Section 19. 189.02 (7) of the statutes is repealed.
AB837, s. 20 13Section 20. 195.055 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,8,15 14195.055 Judicial review. All Subject to s. 84.05 (3), all orders and
15determinations of the office are subject to judicial review under ch. 227.
AB837, s. 21 16Section 21. 195.28 (2) to (4) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB837,8,2117 195.28 (2) Installation costs. The cost of any signal or other crossing
18protection device which is ordered installed under sub. (1), or under s. 84.05 (3) with
19respect to a matter arising under sub. (1),
and the cost of installing any such device
20shall be paid by the department from the appropriations under s. 20.395 (2) (gj), (gr)
21and (gx).
AB837,9,10 22(3) Maintenance costs. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the
23cost of maintaining crossing protection devices ordered under sub. (1), or under s.
2484.05 (3) with respect to a matter arising under sub. (1),
shall be the responsibility
25of the railroad or railroad historical society. Any railroad company or railroad

1historical society that incurs expenses for maintenance of signals or other safety
2devices may file a claim for reimbursement with the department regardless of the
3date of installation of the signals or devices. At the close of each fiscal year the
4department shall reimburse claimants under this subsection for 50% 50 percent of
5the costs, as determined by the office or, with respect to an order under s. 84.05 (3),
6as determined by the department
, incurred for maintenance of railroad crossing
7protection devices from the appropriations under s. 20.395 (2) (gj) and (gq). If the
8amount in the appropriations under s. 20.395 (2) (gj) and (gq) is not adequate to fund
9maintenance reimbursement under this subsection, the amount shall be prorated in
10the manner determined by the office.
AB837,9,13 11(4) Previous office orders. Subsection (3) applies to maintenance costs for all
12crossing protection devices regardless of any prior order of the office or of the
13department under s. 84.05 (3)
apportioning maintenance costs.
AB837, s. 22 14Section 22. 195.285 (2) and (3) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB837,9,1815 195.285 (2) Signs placed upon the order of the office under this section, or of
16the department under s. 84.05 (3) with respect to a matter arising under this section,

17shall exempt vehicles from stopping as required under s. 346.45, unless a train or
18engine is occupying or approaching the crossing.
AB837,9,24 19(3) The department shall establish standards for the type of signs, signals,
20markings or other devices for exempting vehicles from stopping as required under
21s. 346.45 and their location in relation to the highway and railroad track. The Except
22with respect to a sign placed upon order of the department under s. 84.05 (3), the

23office may upon petition or its own motion, with or without a hearing, order the
24removal of a sign exempting vehicles from stopping at a crossing.
AB837, s. 23 25Section 23. 195.286 (2) and (5) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB837,10,4
1195.286 (2) Signs described. Such signs shall be round and of a size, color and
2message as specified by the department and, except with respect to a sign subject to
3the department's authority under s. 84.05 (3),
approved by the office. Any change in
4these signs shall not be retroactive.
AB837,10,9 5(5) Other signs prohibited. No other sign of the general size or appearance of
6the signs provided for in this section shall be placed or permitted upon any highway,
7nor any sign between such advance signs except signs or signals now required by law
8or, except with respect to signs subject to the department's authority under s. 84.05
9(3),
permitted by the office for protection at railway crossings.
AB837, s. 24 10Section 24. 195.29 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,11,1011 195.29 (6) View at crossings; trees and brush near crossings; forfeiture.
12Every railroad shall keep its right-of-way clear of brush or trees for a distance of not
13less than 330 feet in each direction from the center of its intersection at grade with
14any public highway, and for such further distance as is necessary to provide an
15adequate view of approaching trains, from the highway. Every municipality shall
16keep the public highways within its jurisdiction clear of brush and shall adequately
17trim all trees within 330 feet of the center of any railroad highway grade crossing.
18Every person or corporation owning or occupying any land adjacent to any railroad
19highway grade crossing shall keep all brush cut and adequately trim all trees on the
20land within the triangles bounded on 2 sides by the railway and the highway, and on
21the 3rd side by a line connecting points on the center lines of the railway and the
22highway, 330 feet from the intersection of the center lines. The office, upon its own
23motion, or upon any complaint to the effect that any work required by this subsection
24has not been performed, after due notice and hearing, may order the corporation,
25municipality or person at fault to perform the work; provided, however, that if the

1physical conditions at any crossing are such that the performance of the required
2work will not materially improve the view for highway traffic, or, if unreasonable loss
3would be caused thereby, the office may excuse the party in interest from performing
4the same. The office may also order the cutting of brush and the trimming of trees
5at private farm crossings as may be necessary and reasonable. If any person shall
6violate any provision of this section, or shall fail, neglect or refuse to obey any order
7made by the office under this section or by the department under s. 84.05 (3) with
8respect to a matter arising under this section
, or any judgment or decree made by any
9court upon such an order, for every such violation, failure or refusal such person shall
10forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $150.
AB837, s. 25 11Section 25. 195.60 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,12,1212 195.60 (1) Whenever the office in a proceeding upon its own motion, on
13complaint, or upon an application to it deems it necessary in order to carry out the
14duties imposed upon it by law to investigate the books, accounts, practices and
15activities of, or make appraisals of the property of any railroad or to render any
16engineering or accounting services to any railroad, the railroad shall pay the
17expenses attributable to such investigation, appraisal or service. The office shall
18ascertain such expenses, including all expenses incurred by the department at the
19request or direction of the office and shall render a bill therefor, by mail, to the
20railroad, either at the conclusion of the investigation, appraisal or services, or during
21its progress. The bill shall constitute notice of assessment and demand of payment
22thereof. The railroad shall, within 30 days after the mailing thereof, pay to the office
23the amount of the special expense for which it is billed. Ninety percent of the
24payment shall be deposited in the general fund and credited to the appropriation
25account under s. 20.155 (2) (g) 20.395 (2) (gg). The total amount, in any one calendar

1year, for which any railroad becomes liable, by reason of costs incurred by the office
2within such calendar year, shall not exceed four-fifths of one percent of its gross
3operating revenues derived from intrastate operations in the last preceding calendar
4year. Where, under this subsection, costs are incurred within any calendar year,
5which are in excess of four-fifths of one percent of such gross operating revenues, the
6excess costs shall not be chargeable as part of the remainder under sub. (2) but shall
7be paid out of the general appropriation to the office. Nothing in this subsection shall
8prevent the office from rendering bills in one calendar year for costs incurred within
9a previous year. For the purpose of calculating the costs of investigations, appraisals
10and other services under this subsection, 90% 90 percent of the costs determined
11shall be costs of the office and 10% 10 percent of the costs determined shall be costs
12of state government operations.
AB837, s. 26 13Section 26. 195.60 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,13,614 195.60 (2) The office shall annually, within 90 days after the close of each fiscal
15year, ascertain the total of its expenditures during such year which are reasonably
16attributable to the performance of its duties relating to railroads. For purposes of
17such calculation, 90% 90 percent of the expenditures so determined shall be
18expenditures of the office and 10% 10 percent of the expenditures so determined shall
19be expenditures for state government operations. The office shall deduct therefrom
20all amounts chargeable to railroads under sub. (1) and s. 201.10 (3). A sum equal to
21the remainder plus 10% 10 percent of the remainder shall be assessed by the office
22to the several railroads in proportion to their respective gross operating revenues
23during the last calendar year, derived from intrastate operations. Such assessment
24shall be paid within 30 days after the bill has been mailed to the several railroads,
25which bill shall constitute notice of assessment and demand of payment thereof. The

1total amount which may be assessed to the railroads under authority of this
2subsection shall not exceed 1.85% 185 percent of the total gross operating revenues
3of such railroads, during such calendar year, derived from intrastate operations.
4Ninety percent of the payment shall be deposited in the general fund and credited
5to the appropriation account under s. 20.155 (2) (g) 20.395 (2) (gg). The railroads
6shall furnish such financial information as the office requires.
AB837, s. 27 7Section 27. 197.10 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,14,28 197.10 (4) Insofar as the use, operation, service, management, control, sale,
9lease, purchase, extension, improvement, rates, value or earnings of the properties
10of the public utility or provisions looking toward the ultimate acquisition of the same
11are made subject to the terms of any contract provided for in sub. (1), and so long as
12said contract remains in force, the following sections of the statutes shall be
13inapplicable to the same: ss. 195.05, 195.10, 196.02 (1) and (2), 196.05, 196.09,
14196.10, 196.11, 196.15, 196.16, 196.19 (6), 196.20, 196.21, 196.22, 196.26, 196.28,
15196.30, 196.37, 196.39, 196.40, 196.58, 196.70, 197.01 (2) to (4), 197.02, 197.03,
16197.04, 197.05, 197.06, 197.08 and 197.09; provided that nothing in any contract
17made hereunder shall operate to prevent an appeal to the public service commission
18by any person, other than a party to said contract, upon any complaint alleging that
19any rate, fare, charge or classification, or any joint rate, or any regulation, act or
20practice relating to the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of gas, heat,
21light or power, or any service in connection therewith, is unjustly discriminatory, or
22that any such service is inadequate or cannot be obtained. Upon said appeal the
23commission shall, as provided by law, determine and by order fix a rate, fare, charge,
24classification, joint rate or regulation, act or practice or service to be imposed,

1observed or followed in the future in lieu of that found to be unjustly discriminatory
2or inadequate.
AB837, s. 28 3Section 28. 201.01 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,14,64 201.01 (1) "Commission" means the office of the commissioner of railroads in
5the case of railroads and the
public service commission in the case of other public
6service corporations
.
AB837, s. 29 7Section 29. 201.01 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,14,258 201.01 (2) "Public service corporation" means and embraces every corporation,
9except municipalities and other political subdivisions, which is a public utility as
10defined in s. 196.01, and every corporation which is a railroad as defined in s. 195.02,
11but shall not include a public utility corporation receiving an annual gross revenue
12of less than $1,000 for the calendar year next preceding the issuance of any securities
13by it. "Public service corporation" includes a holding company, as defined under s.
14196.795 (1) (h), which is a public utility, as defined under s. 196.01 (5). "Public service
15corporation" does not include a telecommunications utility, as defined in s. 196.01
16(10). "Public service corporation" does not include any other holding company unless
17the holding company was formed after November 28, 1985, and unless the
18commission has determined, under s. 196.795 (7) (a), that each nonutility affiliate,
19as defined under s. 196.795 (1) (j), does not and cannot reasonably be expected to do
20at least one of the items specified in s. 196.795 (7) (a). "Public service corporation"
21does not include a company, as defined in s. 196.795 (1) (f), which owns, operates,
22manages or controls a telecommunications utility, as defined in s. 196.01 (10), unless
23such company also owns, operates, manages or controls a public utility which is not
24a telecommunications utility. "Public service corporation" does not include a
25transmission company, as defined in s. 196.485 (1) (ge).
AB837, s. 30
1Section 30. 201.10 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,15,152 201.10 (3) Whenever the commission deems it necessary to make an
3investigation of the books, accounts and practices or to make an appraisal of the
4property of any public service corporation which has filed an application for
5authority to issue any securities to which this chapter is applicable, such public
6service corporation shall pay all expenses reasonably attributable to such special
7investigation, or to such an appraisal of the property. For the purpose of calculating
8investigative and appraisal expenses of the commission, 90% 90 percent of the costs
9determined shall be costs of the commission and 10% 10 percent of the costs
10determined shall be costs of state government operations. The procedure set up by
11s. 195.60 or 196.85, whichever is appropriate, for the rendering and collection of bills
12shall be in all ways applicable to the rendering and collection of bills under this
13section. Ninety percent of the amounts paid to the public service commission under
14authority of this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under s.
1520.155 (1) (g).
AB837, s. 31 16Section 31. 201.13 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,15,20 17201.13 Stock. Subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of the commission under
18this chapter and to all other applicable provisions of law relating to railroad or other
19special types of corporations, all classes and series of stock of a public service
20corporation shall be governed by the provisions of ch. 180.
AB837, s. 32 21Section 32. 226.025 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB837,16,822 226.025 (3) The appointment of the department of financial institutions or the
23designation of a resident agent as attorney for the service of summons, notice,
24pleadings or process under s. 180.1507 shall be applicable only to actions or
25proceedings against the foreign corporations described in this section (unless such

1corporations have been admitted to this state for purposes other than those
2mentioned in this section) where the cause of action or proceeding arises out of
3transactions between such foreign corporations and public utilities operating in this
4state with which such foreign corporations are affiliated; and to actions or
5proceedings by or before the public service commission or office of the commissioner
6of railroads
involving the transactions described in sub. (1), or involving the relation
7between such foreign corporations and public utilities operating in this state with
8which they are affiliated.
AB837,16,99 (End)
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