AB145: Bill Text

AB145,1,4 An Act to amend 5.15 (1) (b), 5.15 (1) (c), 5.15 (2) (d), 5.18, 59.10 (2) (a), 59.10 (3) (b) 1., 59.10 (3) (b) 2., 59.10 (6), 62.08 (1), 62.08 (5) and 119.08 (1) (b) of the statutes; relating to: legislative review of municipal ward, supervisory district, aldermanic district, and certain school district election district plans.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Currently, within 60 days after the decennial population count, by block, becomes available from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, but no later than July 1 of each year following the year of the census, each county board of supervisors must submit to each municipality having territory in the county a tentative supervisory district plan or a description of boundary requirements for such a plan. Within 60 days after the receipt of this information from the county board of each county in which a municipality is located, each municipality having a population of 1,000 or more must adopt or readjust wards in accordance with statutory population parameters. In enacting or adopting its plan, a municipality must make a good faith effort to reflect the county's requirements in enacting a supervisory district plan. Within 60 days after every municipality having territory within a county enacts or adopts a ward division plan, the county must enact a final supervisory district plan combining contiguous whole wards to form supervisory districts.

This bill shortens the maximum time period specified for action at each of the above stages of the redistricting process to 45 days. The bill also provides that upon enactment or adoption of a municipal ward division plan, the clerk of a municipality must submit a certified copy of the plan to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature. If, within 45 days of the receipt of the plan, the legislature enacts a law making changes to the wards within a municipality, the municipality must incorporate the changes into its ward division plan, which then takes effect. If, within 45 days of the receipt of the plan, the legislature does not enact a law making changes to the wards within the municipality, the municipal ward division plan takes effect as submitted. In addition, the bill provides that upon enactment or adoption of a final county supervisory district plan, an aldermanic district plan or an election district plan in a school district serving a first class city (Milwaukee), the county, city, or school district clerk must submit a certified copy of the plan to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature. If, within 30 days of receipt of the plan, the legislature enacts a law making changes in the supervisory, aldermanic, or election districts, the county, city, or school district must incorporate the changes into its plan, which then takes effect. If, within 30 days of receipt of the plan, the legislature does not enact a law making changes to the supervisory, aldermanic, or election districts within the plan, the plan takes effect as submitted. Because the legislature has inherent authority to establish municipal wards or to change ward boundaries as a part of a congressional or legislative redistricting plan, the bill does not preclude the legislature from making other changes in municipal ward boundaries as a part of such a plan.

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

AB145, s. 1 Section 1. 5.15 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB145,3,20 5.15 (1) (b) Except as authorized in sub. (2) (a), within 60 45 days after the receipt of a tentative supervisory district plan and written statement, if any, from the county board of each county in which a municipality is located, the governing body of the municipality shall adjust its wards according to the schedule shown in sub. (2). All territory contained within the municipality, and only the territory so contained, on August 1 following the year of the federal decennial census shall be contained within a ward. Except as authorized in sub. (2), each ward shall consist of whole blocks. To suit the convenience of the voters residing therein each ward shall, as far as practicable, be kept compact and observe the community of interest of existing neighborhoods and other settlements. All territory within a ward shall be contiguous, except for island territory as defined in sub. (2) (f) 3. Enactment or adoption of a division ordinance or resolution requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the governing body. Immediately upon enactment of a division ordinance or resolution, the clerk of the municipality shall submit a certified copy of the ordinance or resolution to the appropriate standing committees of each house of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3). If the legislature does not enact a law making changes in the wards of the municipality submitting a plan within 45 days of the date of receipt of the certified copy of the ordinance or resolution of a municipality under this paragraph, the ordinance or resolution takes effect upon expiration of the 45-day period. If, within 45 days of the date of receipt of the certified copy of an ordinance or resolution of a municipality under this paragraph, the legislature enacts a law making changes in the wards of a municipality submitting a division ordinance or resolution, the municipality shall revise and reenact or readopt its ordinance or resolution to reflect the changes specified by law. The ordinance or resolution shall then take effect. This paragraph does not preclude the legislature from adjusting the ward boundaries of any municipality, as a matter of statewide concern, in the enactment of congressional districts or in the enactment of legislative districts under article IV, section 3 of the constitution, on the basis of the most recent decennial census of population. An ordinance or resolution enacted under s. 61.189 (1), 66.0211 (1), 66.0215 (2), or 66.0216 (2) (d) is not required to be submitted under this paragraph.

AB145, s. 2 Section 2. 5.15 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB145,4,6 5.15 (1) (c) The wards established by municipal governing bodies under this section on the basis of the published results of each federal decennial census of population, as adjusted under par. (b), shall govern the adjustment of supervisory districts under s. 59.10 (2) (a) and (3) (b) and of aldermanic districts under s. 62.08 (1) for the purpose of local elections beginning on January 1 of the 2nd year commencing after the year of the census until revised under this section on the basis of the results of the next decennial census of population unless adjusted under sub. (2) (f) 4., (6) (a) or (7), or unless adjusted, as a matter of statewide concern, in the enactment of legislative districts under article IV, section 3, of the constitution on the basis of the most recent decennial census of population.

AB145, s. 3 Section 3. 5.15 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB145,4,13 5.15 (2) (d) Every municipality shall make a good faith effort to accommodate the tentative plan submitted by the county or counties in which it is located under s. 59.10 (2) (a) or (3) (b) 1., and shall divide itself into wards , consistently with any adjustments made by law under sub. (1) (b), in such a manner that will permit the creation of county supervisory districts in accordance with the population requirements for the plan specified in s. 59.10 (2) (a) or (3) (b) 1.

AB145, s. 4 Section 4. 5.18 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB145,5,3 5.18 Enforcement of division requirement. If any municipality fails to comply with s. 5.15, the county in which the municipality is located or any elector of the municipality may submit to the circuit court for any county in which the municipality is located within 14 days from the expiration of the 60-day 45-day period under s. 5.15 (1) (b) a proposed plan for the division of the municipality into wards in compliance with this section. If the circuit court finds that the existing division of the municipality into wards fails to comply with s. 5.15, it shall review the plan submitted by the petitioner and after reasonable notice to the municipality may promulgate the plan, or any other plan in compliance with s. 5.15, as a temporary ward plan for the municipality to remain in effect until superseded by a ward plan adopted by the governing body in compliance with s. 5.15. Upon promulgation of a temporary ward plan or enactment of any subsequent plan under s. 5.15, the clerk of the municipality shall submit a certified copy of the plan to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 5.15 (1) (b).

AB145, s. 5 Section 5. 59.10 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB145,5,18 59.10 (2) (a) Composition; supervisory districts. Within 60 45 days after the population count by block, established in the decennial federal census of population, and maps showing the location and numbering of census blocks become available in printed form from the federal government or are published for distribution by an agency of this state, but no later than July 1 following the year of each decennial census, the board shall adopt and transmit to the governing body of each city and village wholly or partially contained within the county a tentative county supervisory district plan to be considered by the cities and villages when dividing into wards. The plan shall specify the number of supervisors to be elected and shall divide the county into a number of districts equal to the number of supervisors, with each district substantially equal in population and consisting of contiguous whole wards. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the board shall develop and adopt the tentative plan in accordance with sub. (3) (b) 1. The board shall adopt a final plan by enacting an ordinance in accordance with sub. (3) (b) 2. to 4.

AB145, s. 6 Section 6. 59.10 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB145,6,15 59.10 (3) (b) 1. Within 60 45 days after the population count by block, established in the decennial federal census of population, and maps showing the location and numbering of census blocks become available in printed form from the federal government or are published for distribution by an agency of this state, but no later than July 1 following the year of each decennial census, each board shall propose a tentative county supervisory district plan setting forth the number of supervisory districts and tentative boundaries or a description of boundary requirements, hold a public hearing on the proposed plan and adopt a tentative plan. The proposed plan may be amended after the public hearing. The board shall solicit suggestions from municipalities concerning the development of an appropriate plan. The board shall transmit to each municipal governing body in the county the tentative plan that is adopted. Each district shall consist of whole wards or municipalities. Each district shall be designated to be represented by one supervisor, and all districts shall be substantially equal in population. In the tentative plan, the board shall, whenever possible, place whole contiguous municipalities or contiguous parts of the same municipality within the same district. If the division of a municipality is sought by the board, the board shall provide with the plan a written statement to the municipality affected by each proposed division specifying the approximate location of the territory from which a ward is sought to be created for contiguity purposes and the approximate population of the ward proposed to effectuate the division.

AB145, s. 7 Section 7. 59.10 (3) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB145,7,16 59.10 (3) (b) 2. Within 60 45 days after a ward division ordinance or resolution becomes effective under s. 5.15 (1) and (2) in every municipality in the county adjusts its wards under s. 5.15, the board shall hold a public hearing and shall then adopt a final supervisory district plan, numbering each district. Wards within each supervisory district created by the plan shall be contiguous, except that one or more wards located within a city or village which is wholly surrounded by another city or water, or both, may be combined with one or more noncontiguous wards, or one or more wards or portions of wards consisting of island territory as defined in s. 5.15 (2) (f) 3. may be combined with one or more noncontiguous wards or portions of wards within the same municipality, to form a supervisory district. Immediately upon enactment of an ordinance containing the final supervisory district plan, the clerk shall submit a certified copy of the ordinance to the appropriate standing committees of each house of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3). If the legislature does not enact a law making changes in the supervisory districts of the county submitting the ordinance within 30 days of the date of receipt of the certified copy of the ordinance under this paragraph, the ordinance takes effect upon expiration of the 30-day period. If, within 30 days of receipt of the certified copy of the ordinance under this paragraph, the legislature enacts a law making changes in the supervisory districts of the county submitting the ordinance, the county shall revise and reenact its ordinance to reflect the changes specified by law. The ordinance shall then take effect. This paragraph does not preclude the legislature from adjusting the supervisory district boundaries of any county, as a matter of statewide concern, in the enactment of congressional districts or in the enactment of legislative districts under article IV, section 3 of the constitution, on the basis of the most recent decennial census of population.

AB145, s. 8 Section 8. 59.10 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB145,8,3 59.10 (6) Enforcement of division requirement. If a county fails to comply with sub. (2) (a) or (3) (b), any municipality located in whole or in part within the county or any elector of the county may submit to the circuit court for the county within 14 days from the expiration of either 60-day 45-day period under sub. (2) (a) or (3) (b) a proposed tentative or final plan for creation of supervisory districts in compliance with this section. If the court finds that the existing division of the county into supervisory districts fails to comply with this section, it shall review the plan submitted by the petitioner and after reasonable notice to the county may promulgate the plan, or any other plan in compliance with this section, as a temporary supervisory district plan until superseded by a districting plan adopted by the board in compliance with this section.

AB145, s. 9 Section 9. 62.08 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB145,9,4 62.08 (1) Within 60 45 days after the wards have been readjusted a ward division ordinance or resolution under s. 5.15 (1) and (2) becomes effective in a city, including a city of the first class, the common council of every the city, including any city of the first class, shall redistrict the boundaries of its aldermanic districts, by an ordinance introduced at a regular meeting of the council, published as a class 2 notice, under ch. 985, and thereafter adopted by a majority vote of all the members of the council, so that all aldermanic districts are as compact in area as possible and contain, as nearly as practicable by combining contiguous whole wards, an equal number of inhabitants according to the most recent decennial federal census of population. Immediately upon enactment of an ordinance containing the final aldermanic district plan, the city clerk shall submit a certified copy of the plan to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3). If the legislature does not enact a law making changes in the aldermanic districts of the city submitting the ordinance within 30 days of the date of receipt of the certified copy of the ordinance under this subsection, the ordinance takes effect upon expiration of the 30-day period. If, within 30 days of receipt of the certified copy of the ordinance under this subsection, the legislature enacts a law making changes in the aldermanic districts of the city submitting the ordinance, the city shall revise and reenact its ordinance to reflect the changes specified by law. The ordinance shall then take effect. This subsection does not preclude the legislature from adjusting the aldermanic district boundaries of any city, as a matter of statewide concern, in the enactment of congressional districts or in the enactment of legislative districts under article IV, section 3 of the constitution, on the basis of the most recent decennial census of population. An ordinance enacted under s. 61.189 (1) or 66.0211 (1) is not required to be submitted under this subsection.

AB145, s. 10 Section 10. 62.08 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB145,9,14 62.08 (5) If a city fails to comply with sub. (1), any elector of the city may submit to the circuit court for any county in which the city is located within 14 days from the expiration of the 60-day 45-day period under sub. (1) a proposed plan for creation of aldermanic districts in compliance with this section. If the court finds that the existing division of the city into aldermanic districts fails to comply with this section, it shall review the plan submitted by the petitioner and after reasonable notice to the city may promulgate the plan, or any other plan in compliance with this section, as a temporary aldermanic district plan until superseded by a districting plan adopted by the council in compliance with this section.

AB145, s. 11 Section 11. 119.08 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB145,9,25 119.08 (1) (b) Within 60 45 days after the common council of the city enacts an ordinance determining or adopts a resolution adjusting the boundaries of the aldermanic districts wards in the city following the federal decennial census under s. 62.08 5.15 (1) and (2), the board shall, by vote of a majority of the membership of the board, adopt an election district apportionment plan for the election of board members which shall be effective until the city enacts a new ordinance under s. 62.08 (1) redetermining the aldermanic district boundaries adjusting the boundaries of its wards under s. 5.15 (1) and (2). Immediately upon adoption of a plan containing the election districts, the clerk shall submit a certified copy of the plan to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3). If the legislature does not enact a law making changes in the election districts of the school district submitting the plan within 30 days of the date of receipt of the certified copy of the plan under this paragraph, the plan takes effect upon expiration of the 30-day period. If, within 30 days of receipt of the certified copy of the plan under this paragraph, the legislature enacts a law making changes in the election districts of the school district submitting the plan, the school district shall revise and readopt its plan to reflect the changes specified by law. The plan shall then take effect. This paragraph does not preclude the legislature from adjusting the election district boundaries of any school district, as a matter of statewide concern, in the enactment of congressional districts or in the enactment of legislative districts under article IV, section 3 of the constitution, on the basis of the most recent decennial census of population.

AB145,10,12 (End)