SB473: Bill Text

LRB-2353/3

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2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Senate BILL 473

December 12, 2005 - Introduced by Senators Brown and Olsen, cosponsored by Representatives Gronemus, Musser and Albers. Referred to Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security, Military Affairs, Small Business and Government Reform.

SB473,1,2 An Act to amend 17.22 (1), 17.22 (2) (b) and 83.01 (2) of the statutes; relating to: terms of office of and vacancies in the office of county highway commissioner.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Currently, if a county has a county executive or administrator, the executive or administrator appoints the county highway commissioner (commissioner), subject to certain qualifications. Otherwise, the commissioner is elected by the county board of supervisors (county board). Unless otherwise provided by county ordinance, the commissioner serves until the second year following his or her election and if reelected serves for a two-year term. A vacancy in the office of commissioner is filled by temporary appointment of the county highway committee. The temporary appointee serves until the first Monday in January following his or her appointment. The county board then must appoint a regular successor at its first regular meeting after the vacancy occurs. The regular successor's term begins one day after the term of the temporary appointee expires.

This bill provides that the county board must elect a regular successor to a temporary appointee serving as commissioner at a meeting of the county board held no later than 120 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs. Under the bill, the regular successor takes office upon his or her election or appointment and qualification and the temporary appointee serves until his or her successor is elected or appointed and qualified. The bill also provides that the procedure for filling of vacancies in the office of commissioner by the county board applies only if the county board regularly elects the commissioner. In addition, the bill provides that, if a county establishes a different term for the office of county highway commissioner, it shall be for a specified number of years.

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

SB473, s. 1 Section 1. 17.22 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB473,2,10 17.22 (1) Vacancies in any appointive county office shall be filled by appointment for the residue of the unexpired term by the appointing power and in the manner prescribed by law for making regular full term appointments thereto; but the term of any person elected or appointed by the county board to fill a permanent vacancy in the office of county highway commissioner shall terminate the first Monday of January of the second year next succeeding the appointment serve for the term prescribed under s. 83.01 (2). All appointments, subject to confirmation by the county board, made while the board is not in session, shall be acted upon by said board at its meeting next following such appointment.

SB473, s. 2 Section 2. 17.22 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB473,3,2 17.22 (2) (b) In the office of the county highway commissioner, by appointment by the county highway committee. A person so appointed shall hold office until the first Monday of January next succeeding the person's appointment and the his or her successor is elected or appointed and qualified. The person's successor, if the office is regularly filled by election, shall be appointed elected by the county board at its first regular a meeting next succeeding such appointment and held no later than 120 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs. The person's successor, if the office is regularly filled by appointment, shall be appointed as provided in s. 83.01 (1). The person's successor shall take office on the Tuesday following the first Monday of January next succeeding upon his or her election or appointment and qualification and shall hold office for a full term as prescribed in sub. (1).

SB473, s. 3 Section 3. 83.01 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB473,3,9 83.01 (2) Term. Unless the county board establishes a different term of service by ordinance, a term of a different number of years, the county highway commissioner shall serve for a term of 2 years, except that upon his or her first election or appointment the county highway commissioner shall serve until the first Monday in January of the 2nd year succeeding the year of the election , and if reelected it shall be for a 2-year term or appointment.

SB473, s. 4 Section 4. Initial applicability.

SB473,3,12 (1) This act first applies to with respect to vacancies occurring in the office of county highway commissioner on the effective date of this subsection.

SB473,3,13 (End)