AB770: Bill Text

1. Establish a spaceport in the city of Sheboygan.

2. Promote the aerospace industry in this state, including advertising and promotion of WAA facilities and services and development, promotion, and attraction of space-related business in this state.

3. Provide and promote aerospace services, information, and business opportunities in this state.

4. Coordinate efforts of various governmental units and private parties interested in the promotion of space-related industry.

5. Develop a business plan to promote and facilitate spaceport-related educational and commercial development and to stimulate and improve aerospace science, design, technology, and research.

6. Annually report to the governor and legislature WAA's activities, receipts, expenditures, and financial condition; annually submit to the Department of Administration (DOA), for each fiscal year in which the authority receives operating revenues, an audited financial statement including detailed identification of funding sources; and submit once to DOA, and as DOA requests thereafter, a business plan and estimate of costs and funding for design, development, and operation of initially planned spaceports, aerospace facilities, and spacecraft.

The bill authorizes WAA to issue bonds to carry out its functions if WAA submits a bond resolution to the governor and legislature and the legislature's Joint Committee on Finance does not schedule a meeting within 14 days on the bond resolution or schedules such a meeting and approves the bond resolution. WAA's bonds are not state debt. The bill authorizes WAA to have no more than $100,000,000 in outstanding bonds at any one time. The bill creates an individual and corporate income tax exemption for interest on bonds issued by WAA.

Under the bill, state funding for WAA is provided from the Department of Transportation's (DOT) appropriation for airports and air navigation, but the bill does not provide any increase in this appropriation. Also under the bill, any project to acquire, construct, or improve a spaceport or spaceport facility, other than a hangar, must be funded from this DOT appropriation and from WAA's own funds. DOT and WAA must share the cost of the project, except that DOT's share of costs is limited to a maximum of $10,000,000 per project and is limited to 80 percent of the total project cost if federal aid is not available for the project or 50 percent of the total project cost in excess of federal aid if federal aid is available for the project. For each project, DOT determines the percentage of costs borne by DOT based on the relative importance of the project to any state spaceport development program as a whole.

Because WAA is not a state agency, numerous laws that apply to state agencies do not apply to WAA. However, as with many state-created authorities, WAA is treated like a state agency in the following respects, among others: 1) it is generally subject to the open records and open meetings laws; 2) it is treated like a state agency for purposes of the law regulating lobbying; 3) its employees may participate in the system for state retirement benefits and health insurance coverage; 4) it is exempt from sales and use taxes, property taxes, and income taxes; 5) its employees are subject to laws prohibiting political activities by state employees while engaged in official duties. Unlike other state-created authorities, WAA is not treated like a state agency in the following respects: 1) it is not subject to auditing by the Legislative Audit Bureau; and 2) the Code of Ethics for Public Officials and Employees does not cover WAA.

WAA is unlike a state agency in many other ways, including: 1) it approves its own budget without going through the state budgetary process; 2) WAA employees are not state employees, are not included in the state system of personnel management, and are hired outside the state hiring system; 3) it is not subject to statutory rule-making procedures, including requirements for legislative review of proposed rules; 4) it keeps its operating fund in its own account outside of the state treasury; and 5) the state is not liable for any debt, obligation, or act of WAA and WAA expenses are paid from WAA's own funds.

The bill also expands certain provisions of law currently applicable only to airports and aircraft to apply to spaceports and spacecraft as well. These changes include: 1) treating aircraft and spacecraft similarly with regard to certain aspects of civil and criminal liability; 2) recognizing the authority of a county or municipality to establish, own, and operate a spaceport or spacecraft launch or landing area in the same manner as a county or municipal airport, landing field, or landing and take-off strip, including the right of condemnation and the right to protect aerial approaches; and 3) expanding an existing loan program administered by DOT to facilitate acquisition by local governments or airport owners of land for airport projects to include spaceport projects as well, but with a maximum total outstanding balance of loans for spaceport projects of $10,000,000 rather than the $6,500,000 for airport projects.

Current law provides limited immunity for volunteer fire companies, political corporations, governmental subdivisions and agencies thereof, and for officers, officials, agents, or employees of these entities, for acts done in an official capacity or in the course of employment. Claimants must generally follow a specified claims procedure and liability for damages is generally limited to $50,000 except that no liability may be imposed for performance of a discretionary duty or for punitive damages. This bill provides the WAA and its officers, agents, and employees with the same limited immunity.

This bill will be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems for a detailed analysis, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

For further information see the state and 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:

AB770, s. 1 Section 1. 7.33 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,5,4 7.33 (1) (c) "State agency" has the meaning given under s. 20.001 (1) and includes an authority created under subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 232, 233, 234, or 237.

AB770, s. 2 Section 2. 13.172 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,5,10 13.172 (1) In this section, "agency" means an office, department, agency, institution of higher education, association, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, and any authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 233, or 234.

AB770, s. 3 Section 3. 13.62 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,5,15 13.62 (2) "Agency" means any board, commission, department, office, society, institution of higher education, council or committee in the state government, or any authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 232, 233, 234, or 237, except that the term does not include a council or committee of the legislature.

AB770, s. 4 Section 4. 13.94 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,6,11 13.94 (1) (b) Audit the records of every state department, board, commission, independent agency, or authority other than the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority at least once each 5 years and audit the records of other departments as defined in sub. (4) when the state auditor deems it advisable or when he or she is so directed and, in conjunction therewith, reconcile the records of the department audited with those of the department of administration. Audits of the records of a county, city, village, town or school district may be performed only as provided in par. (m). Within 30 days after completion of any such audit, the bureau shall file with the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, the governor, the department of administration, the legislative reference bureau, the joint committee on finance, the legislative fiscal bureau and the department audited, a detailed report thereof, including its recommendations for improvement and efficiency and including specific instances, if any, of illegal or improper expenditures. The chief clerks shall distribute the report to the joint legislative audit committee, the appropriate standing committees of the legislature and the joint committee on legislative organization.

AB770, s. 5 Section 5. 13.94 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,6,22 13.94 (1) (g) Require each state department, board, commission, independent agency, or authority other than the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority to file with the bureau on or before September 1 of each year a report on all receivables due the state as of the preceding June 30 which were occasioned by activities of the reporting unit. The report may also be required of other departments, except counties, cities, villages, towns and school districts. The report shall show the aggregate amount of such receivables according to fiscal year of origin and collections thereon during the fiscal year preceding the report. The state auditor may require any department to file with the bureau a detailed list of the receivables comprising the aggregate amounts shown on the reports prescribed by this paragraph.

AB770, s. 6 Section 6. 13.94 (4) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,7,13 13.94 (4) (a) 1. Every state department, board, examining board, affiliated credentialing board, commission, independent agency, council or office in the executive branch of state government; all bodies created by the legislature in the legislative or judicial branch of state government; any public body corporate and politic created by the legislature, except the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, and including specifically the Fox River Navigational System Authority, a professional baseball park district, a local professional football stadium district, a local cultural arts district and a family care district under s. 46.2895; every Wisconsin works agency under subch. III of ch. 49; every provider of medical assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49; technical college district boards; development zones designated under s. 560.71; every county department under s. 51.42 or 51.437; every nonprofit corporation or cooperative to which moneys are specifically appropriated by state law; and every corporation, institution, association or other organization which receives more than 50% of its annual budget from appropriations made by state law, including subgrantee or subcontractor recipients of such funds.

AB770, s. 7 Section 7. 16.002 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,7,18 16.002 (2) "Departments" means constitutional offices, departments and independent agencies and includes all societies, associations and other agencies of state government for which appropriations are made by law, but not including authorities created in subch. II of ch. 114 or chs. 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, and 237.

AB770, s. 8 Section 8. 16.004 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,7,25 16.004 (4) Freedom of access. The secretary and such employees of the department as the secretary designates may enter into the offices of state agencies and authorities created under subch. II of ch. 114 or chs. 231, 233, 234, and 237, and may examine their books and accounts and any other matter which in the secretary's judgment should be examined and may interrogate the agency's employees publicly or privately relative thereto.

AB770, s. 9 Section 9. 16.004 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,8,5 16.004 (5) Agencies and employees to cooperate. All state agencies and authorities created under subch. II of ch. 114 or chs. 231, 233, 234, and 237, and their officers and employees, shall cooperate with the secretary and shall comply with every request of the secretary relating to his or her functions.

AB770, s. 10 Section 10. 16.004 (12) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,8,13 16.004 (12) (a) In this subsection, "state agency" means an association, authority, board, department, commission, independent agency, institution, office, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, including the legislature, the office of the governor and the courts, but excluding the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, and the Fox River Navigational System Authority.

AB770, s. 11 Section 11. 16.01 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,8,19 16.01 (1) In this section, "agency" means any office, department, agency, institution of higher education, association, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, and any authority created under subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 233 or 234.

AB770, s. 12 Section 12. 16.045 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,9,2 16.045 (1) (a) "Agency" means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, or 237.

AB770, s. 13 Section 13. 16.41 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,9,5 16.41 (4) In this section, "authority" means a body created under subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 233, 234, or 237.

AB770, s. 14 Section 14. 16.417 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,9,8 16.417 (1) (b) "Authority" means a body created under subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, or 237.

AB770, s. 15 Section 15. 16.52 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,9,19 16.52 (7) Petty cash account. With the approval of the secretary, each agency which is authorized to maintain a contingent fund under s. 20.920 may establish a petty cash account from its contingent fund. The procedure for operation and maintenance of petty cash accounts and the character of expenditures therefrom shall be prescribed by the secretary. In this subsection, "agency" means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 233, 234, or 237.

AB770, s. 16 Section 16. 16.528 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,9,24 16.528 (1) (a) "Agency" means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 233, 234, or 237.

AB770, s. 17 Section 17. 16.53 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,10,11 16.53 (2) Improper invoices. If an agency receives an improperly completed invoice, the agency shall notify the sender of the invoice within 10 working days after it receives the invoice of the reason it is improperly completed. In this subsection, "agency" means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 233, 234, or 237.

AB770, s. 18 Section 18. 16.54 (9) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,10,18 16.54 (9) (a) 1. "Agency" means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 233, 234, or 237.

AB770, s. 19 Section 19. 16.611 (2) (a) and (c) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB770,11,3 16.611 (2) (a) The department shall prescribe, by rule, procedures for the transfer of public records and records of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority and of the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority to optical disk or electronic format and for the maintenance of such records stored in optical disk or electronic format, including procedures to ensure the authenticity, accuracy, reliability and accessibility of any public records or records of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority or of the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority so transferred and procedures to ensure that such records are protected from unauthorized destruction.

AB770,11,7 (c) The department shall prescribe, by rule, qualitative standards for optical disks and for copies of documents generated from optical disks used to store public records and records of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority and of the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority.

AB770, s. 20 Section 20. 16.70 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,11,10 16.70 (2) "Authority" means a body created under subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, or 237.

AB770, s. 21 Section 21. 16.75 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,11,24 16.75 (1m) The department shall award each order or contract for materials, supplies or equipment on the basis of life cycle cost estimates, whenever such action is appropriate. Each authority other than the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority and the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority shall award each order or contract for materials, supplies or equipment on the basis of life cycle cost estimates, whenever such action is appropriate. The terms, conditions and evaluation criteria to be applied shall be incorporated in the solicitation of bids or proposals. The life cycle cost formula may include, but is not limited to, the applicable costs of energy efficiency, acquisition and conversion, money, transportation, warehousing and distribution, training, operation and maintenance and disposition or resale. The department shall prepare documents containing technical guidance for the development and use of life cycle cost estimates, and shall make the documents available to local governmental units.

AB770, s. 22 Section 22. 16.765 (1), (2), (4), (5), (6), (7) (intro.) and (d) and (8) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB770,12,11 16.765 (1) Contracting agencies, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, and the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall include in all contracts executed by them a provision obligating the contractor not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, religion, color, handicap, sex, physical condition, developmental disability as defined in s. 51.01 (5), sexual orientation as defined in s. 111.32 (13m) or national origin and, except with respect to sexual orientation, obligating the contractor to take affirmative action to ensure equal employment opportunities.

AB770,13,2 (2) Contracting agencies, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, and the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall include the following provision in every contract executed by them: "In connection with the performance of work under this contract, the contractor agrees not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, religion, color, handicap, sex, physical condition, developmental disability as defined in s. 51.01 (5), sexual orientation or national origin. This provision shall include, but not be limited to, the following: employment, upgrading, demotion or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship. Except with respect to sexual orientation, the contractor further agrees to take affirmative action to ensure equal employment opportunities. The contractor agrees to post in conspicuous places, available for employees and applicants for employment, notices to be provided by the contracting officer setting forth the provisions of the nondiscrimination clause".

AB770,13,7 (4) Contracting agencies, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, and the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall take appropriate action to revise the standard government contract forms under this section.

AB770,13,20 (5) The head of each contracting agency and the boards of directors of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, and the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall be primarily responsible for obtaining compliance by any contractor with the nondiscrimination and affirmative action provisions prescribed by this section, according to procedures recommended by the department. The department shall make recommendations to the contracting agencies and the boards of directors of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, and the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation for improving and making more effective the nondiscrimination and affirmative action provisions of contracts. The department shall promulgate such rules as may be necessary for the performance of its functions under this section.

AB770,14,2 (6) The department may receive complaints of alleged violations of the nondiscrimination provisions of such contracts. The department shall investigate and determine whether a violation of this section has occurred. The department may delegate this authority to the contracting agency, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation for processing in accordance with the department's procedures.

AB770,14,9 (7) (intro.) When a violation of this section has been determined by the department, the contracting agency, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation, the contracting agency, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall:

AB770,14,14 (d) Direct the violating party to take immediate steps to prevent further violations of this section and to report its corrective action to the contracting agency, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, or the Bradley center sports and entertainment corporation.

AB770,15,2 (8) If further violations of this section are committed during the term of the contract, the contracting agency, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation may permit the violating party to complete the contract, after complying with this section, but thereafter the contracting agency, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation shall request the department to place the name of the party on the ineligible list for state contracts, or the contracting agency, the Fox River Navigational System Authority, the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, or the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation may terminate the contract without liability for the uncompleted portion or any materials or services purchased or paid for by the contracting party for use in completing the contract.

AB770, s. 23 Section 23. 16.838 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,15,5 16.838 (1) (b) "Authority" means a body created under subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, or 237.

AB770, s. 24 Section 24. 16.85 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,15,16 16.85 (2) To furnish engineering, architectural, project management and other building construction services whenever requisitions therefor are presented to the department by any agency. The department may deposit moneys received from the provision of these services in the account under s. 20.505 (1) (kc) or in the general fund as general purpose revenue — earned. In this subsection, "agency" means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 233, 234, or 237.

AB770, s. 25 Section 25. 16.865 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,16,7 16.865 (8) Annually in each fiscal year, allocate as a charge to each agency a proportionate share of the estimated costs attributable to programs administered by the agency to be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (2) (k). The department may charge premiums to agencies to finance costs under this subsection and pay the costs from the appropriation on an actual basis. The department shall deposit all collections under this subsection in the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (2) (k). Costs assessed under this subsection may include judgments, investigative and adjustment fees, data processing and staff support costs, program administration costs, litigation costs and the cost of insurance contracts under sub. (5). In this subsection, "agency" means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, but not including an authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, or 237.

AB770, s. 26 Section 26. 19.42 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,16,15 19.42 (5) "Department" means the legislature, the University of Wisconsin System, any authority or public corporation created and regulated by an act of the legislature except the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, and any office, department, independent agency or legislative service agency created under ch. 13, 14 or 15, any technical college district or any constitutional office other than a judicial office. In the case of a district attorney, "department" means the department of administration unless the context otherwise requires.

AB770, s. 27 Section 27. 20.395 (2) (dq) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,16,25 20.395 (2) (dq) Aeronautics and astronautics assistance, state funds. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for the state's share of airport projects under ss. 114.34 and 114.35 and spaceport projects; for developing air marking and other air navigational facilities; for administration of the powers and duties of the secretary of transportation under s. 114.31; for costs associated with aeronautical activities under s. 114.31, except for the program under s. 114.31 (3) (b); for the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority under subch. II of ch. 114; and for the administration of other aeronautical and astronautical activities, except aircraft registration under s. 114.20, authorized by law.

AB770, s. 28 Section 28. 20.395 (2) (dv) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,17,9 20.395 (2) (dv) Aeronautics and astronautics assistance, local funds. All moneys received by the state from any local unit of government or other source for airports or other aeronautical activities under s. 114.33 or 114.37 and for spaceports, for administration of the powers and duties of the secretary of the department of transportation under s. 114.31, for costs associated with aeronautical activities under s. 114.31, for the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority under subch. II of ch. 114 and the loan program under s. 114.375, and for the administration of other aeronautical and astronautical activities authorized by law, for such purposes.

AB770, s. 29 Section 29. 20.395 (2) (dx) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,17,17 20.395 (2) (dx) Aeronautics and astronautics assistance, federal funds. All moneys received from the federal government for airports or other aeronautical activities under s. 114.32 or 114.33 and for spaceports, for administration of the powers and duties of the secretary of transportation under s. 114.31, for costs associated with aeronautical activities under s. 114.31, for the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority under subch. II of ch. 114, and for the administration of other aeronautical and astronautical activities authorized by law, for such purposes.

AB770, s. 30 Section 30. 23.175 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB770,17,23 23.175 (1) (b) "State agency" means any office, department, agency, institution of higher education, association, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including any authority created under subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 233, 234, or 237 but not including the legislature or the courts.

AB770, s. 31 Section 31. 24.61 (2) (a) 10. of the statutes is created to read:

AB770,17,25 24.61 (2) (a) 10. Bonds of the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority.

AB770, s. 32 Section 32. 25.17 (3) (b) 13. of the statutes is created to read:

AB770,18,2 25.17 (3) (b) 13. Bonds issued by the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority.

AB770, s. 33 Section 33. 25.50 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read: