AB908: Bill Text

AB908,8,19 40.02 (28) "Employer" means the state, including each state agency, any county, city, village, town, school district, other governmental unit or instrumentality of 2 or more units of government now existing or hereafter created within the state, any federated public library system established under s. 43.19 whose territory lies within a single county with a population of 500,000 or more, a local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229, a transit authority under s. 59.58 (7) or 66.1038, and a long-term care district created under s. 46.2895, except as provided under ss. 40.51 (7) and 40.61 (3). "Employer" does not include a local cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229. Each employer shall be a separate legal jurisdiction for OASDHI purposes.

AB908,9 Section 9. 59.58 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB908,8,21 59.58 (7) Southeastern regional transit authority. (a) In this subsection:

AB908,8,23 1. Except as used in subd. 4., "authority" means the southeastern regional transit authority created under this subsection.

AB908,8,25 2. "Bonds" means any bonds, interim certificates, notes, debentures, or other obligations of the authority issued under this subsection.

AB908,9,2 3. "KRM commuter rail line" means a commuter rail transit system connecting the cities of Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee.

AB908,9,3 4. "Milwaukee transit authority" means an authority created under s. 66.1038.

AB908,9,11 (b) There is created the southeastern regional transit authority, a public body corporate and politic and a separate governmental entity, consisting of the counties and cities of Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee, as well as any other municipality located within the counties of Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee that operates a transit system receiving funding under s. 85.20. This authority may transact business and exercise any powers granted to it under this subsection. The jurisdictional area of this authority is the geographic area formed by the combined territorial boundaries of the counties of Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee.

AB908,9,13 (c) 1. The powers of the authority shall be vested in its board of directors, consisting of the following members:

AB908,9,15 a. Two members from Milwaukee County, appointed by the Milwaukee County board chairperson.

AB908,9,17 b. Two members from the city of Milwaukee, appointed by the mayor of the city of Milwaukee.

AB908,9,19 c. One member from Racine County, appointed by the Racine County board chairperson.

AB908,9,21 d. One member from the city of Racine, appointed by the mayor of the city of Racine.

AB908,9,23 e. One member from Kenosha County, appointed by the Kenosha County board chairperson.

AB908,9,25 f. One member from the city of Kenosha, appointed by the mayor of the city of Kenosha.

AB908,10,2 g. One member from the authority's jurisdictional area, appointed by the governor.

AB908,10,7 2. A majority of the board of directors' full authorized membership constitutes a quorum for the purpose of conducting the authority's business and exercising its powers. Action may be taken by the board of directors upon a vote of a majority of the directors present and voting, unless the bylaws of the authority require a larger number.

AB908,10,11 (d) Subject to par. (o), the authority shall have all powers necessary and convenient to plan, create, construct, operate, and manage a KRM commuter rail line. The authority may operate the KRM commuter rail line itself or may contract for a rail service to operate the KRM commuter rail line.

AB908,10,15 (dm) A KRM commuter rail line may not include a stop in any municipality in the authority's jurisdictional area unless the municipality in which the stop is to be located has a sustainable mechanism to help fund local transit and the municipality is a member of the authority.

AB908,10,17 (e) The authority may impose the fees under subch. XIII of ch. 77. From the fees, the authority may do all of the following:

AB908,10,19 1. Retain not more than $2 for each transaction for administration of the authority.

AB908,10,23 2. Except as provided in subd. 3., retain the difference between the amount of the fees imposed under subch. XIII of ch. 77 and the amount of those fees retained under subd. 1. for expenditures related to the KRM commuter rail line, including planning, construction, maintenance, operations, and engineering expenditures.

AB908,10,25 3. Provide incentive funds to the cities of Kenosha and Racine in compliance with the requirements specified in par. (L).

AB908,11,5 (f) 1. The authority may issue bonds, the principal and interest on which are payable exclusively from all or a portion of any revenues received by the authority. The authority may secure its bonds by a pledge of any income or revenues from any operations, rent, aids, grants, subsidies, contributions, or other source of moneys whatsoever.

AB908,11,10 2. Except as provided in par. (p), the authority may issue bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $250,000,000, excluding bonds issued to refund outstanding bonds issued under this subdivision, for the purpose of providing funds for the anticipated local funding share required for initiating KRM commuter rail line service.

AB908,11,12 3. Neither the authority's board of directors nor any person executing the bonds is personally liable on the bonds by reason of the issuance of the bonds.

AB908,11,17 4. The bonds of the authority are not a debt of the counties or cities that comprise the authority. Neither these counties, nor cities, nor the state are liable for the payment of the bonds. The bonds of the authority shall be payable only out of funds or properties of the authority. The bonds of the authority shall state the restrictions contained in this subdivision on the face of the bonds.

AB908,12,8 5. Bonds of the authority shall be authorized by resolution of the authority's board of directors. The bonds may be issued under such a resolution or under a trust indenture or other security instrument. The bonds may be issued in one or more series and may be in the form of coupon bonds or registered bonds under s. 67.09. The bonds shall bear the dates, mature at the times, bear interest at the rates, be in the denominations, have the rank or priority, be executed in the manner, be payable in the medium of payment and at the places, and be subject to the terms of redemption, with or without premium, as the resolution, trust indenture, or other security instrument provides. Bonds of the authority are issued for an essential public and governmental purpose and are public instrumentalities and, together with interest and income, are exempt from taxes. The authority may sell the bonds at public or private sales at the price or prices determined by the authority. If a member of the authority's board of directors whose signature appears on any bonds or coupons ceases to be a member of the authority's board of directors before the delivery of such obligations, the member's signature shall, nevertheless, be valid for all purposes as if the member had remained a member until delivery of the bonds.

AB908,12,20 6. The authority may issue refunding bonds for the purpose of paying any of its bonds at or prior to maturity or upon acceleration or redemption. The authority may issue refunding bonds at such time prior to the maturity or redemption of the refunded bonds as the authority deems to be in the public interest. The refunding bonds may be issued in sufficient amounts to pay or provide the principal of the bonds being refunded, together with any redemption premium on the bonds, any interest accrued or to accrue to the date of payment of the bonds, the expenses of issue of the refunding bonds, the expenses of redeeming the bonds being refunded, and such reserves for debt service or other capital or current expenses from the proceeds of such refunding bonds as may be required by the resolution, trust indenture, or other security instruments. To the extent applicable, refunding bonds are subject to subd. 5.

AB908,12,21 (h) The authority's powers shall be limited to those specified in this subsection.

AB908,12,25 (i) The authority is the only entity in the counties of Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha that may submit an application for funding to the federal transit administration in the U.S. department of transportation under the federal new starts grant program.

AB908,13,4 (j) The operator of any transit system in Kenosha County or Racine County receiving funding under s. 85.20, and the Milwaukee transit authority if created under s. 66.1038, shall provide copies of all of their annual and long-term transit plans to the southeastern regional transit authority as these plans become available.

AB908,13,8 (k) The authority shall develop goals and criteria for increasing transit service, increasing connectivity among transit systems, and reducing passenger fare support for transit. The authority shall evaluate success in achieving these goals and meeting these criteria.

AB908,13,14 (L) From the fees identified in par. (e) and the aids received by the authority under s. 85.20 (4m) (a) 6. f., the authority shall provide incentive funds to the city of Kenosha and to the city of Racine, in the amount of $2,500,000 for each city, if the city commits to support the authority's provision of transit service, from city property tax revenues, at then-current operating levels and at inflation-adjusted future operating levels.

AB908,14,2 (m) Except as provided in par. (n), and notwithstanding s. 59.84 (2) and any other provision of this chapter or ch. 66 or 85, beginning on January 1, 2015, the authority shall assume responsibility for providing transit service and transit planning within the jurisdictional area of the authority. The authority may also provide transit service outside the authority's jurisdictional area if such transit service would benefit residents within the authority's jurisdictional area. In lieu of directly providing transit service, the authority may contract with existing transit providers for the provision of transit service. An authority may also acquire a transit system by entering into a transfer agreement with the owner of the system. The authority shall have all powers necessary and convenient to carry out its responsibilities under this paragraph, including the power to apply for and utilize state and federal funds.

AB908,14,4 (n) 1. The authority may not assume responsibility for providing transit service and transit planning in Milwaukee County until all of the following occur:

AB908,14,5 a. A Milwaukee transit authority is created as provided in s. 66.1038 (2).

AB908,14,6 b. Approval of an application as described in s. 66.1038 (7) (a).

AB908,14,8 2. When the last of the conditions specified in subd. 1. occurs, the authority shall do all of the following:

AB908,14,11 a. Assist the Milwaukee transit authority in the winding-down process described in s. 66.1038 (7) (a) and (b), including assisting in the orderly transfer of assets and property to the southeastern regional transit authority.

AB908,14,13 b. Within 120 days thereafter, assume responsibility for providing transit service and transit planning in Milwaukee County under par. (m).

AB908,14,20 (o) If any county transfers sales tax revenues to the authority, the authority may expend these funds only in the county in which the revenues were generated and only for purposes of providing transit service or transit planning within this county. These funds may not be expended for purposes related to the KRM commuter rail line. This paragraph does not prohibit the authority from using any available revenues for payment of debt service on bonds issued under par. (f) that were issued for purposes consistent with this paragraph.

AB908,15,2 (p) After the authority assumes responsibility for providing transit service under par. (m), in addition to the authorization under par. (f) 2., the authority may use bond proceeds from the bonds issued under par. (f) for the construction of new capital improvements to the authority's transit system or for the acquisition of existing transit systems in any portion of the authority's jurisdictional area where the authority provides transit service.

AB908,10 Section 10. 66.0301 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB908,15,18 66.0301 (1) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), in this section "municipality" means the state or any department or agency thereof, or any city, village, town, county, school district, public library system, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, sanitary district, farm drainage district, metropolitan sewerage district, sewer utility district, solid waste management system created under s. 59.70 (2), local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229, local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229, local professional football stadium district created under subch. IV of ch. 229, local cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229, the transit authority under s. 59.58 (7), long-term care district under s. 46.2895, water utility district, mosquito control district, municipal electric company, county or city transit commission, commission created by contract under this section, taxation district, regional planning commission, housing authority created under s. 66.1201, redevelopment authority created under s. 66.1333, community development authority created under s. 66.1335, or city-county health department.

AB908,11 Section 11. 66.0903 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB908,15,24 66.0903 (1) (d) "Local governmental unit" means a political subdivision of this state, a special purpose district in this state, an instrumentality or corporation of such a political subdivision or special purpose district, a combination or subunit of any of the foregoing or an instrumentality of the state and any of the foregoing. "Local governmental unit" includes a transit authority under s. 59.58 (7) or 66.1038.

AB908,12 Section 12. 66.1038 of the statutes is created to read:

AB908,16,1 66.1038 Milwaukee transit authority. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB908,16,3 (a) Except as used in par. (c), "authority" means a Milwaukee transit authority created under this section.

AB908,16,4 (b) "KRM commuter rail line" has the meaning given in s. 59.58 (7) (a) 3.

AB908,16,6 (c) "Southeastern regional transit authority" means the southeastern regional transit authority created under s. 59.58 (7).

AB908,16,12 (2) Creation. Subject to the tax imposition requirement of s. 77.70 (2), the Milwaukee County board may create a Milwaukee transit authority, a public body corporate and politic and a separate governmental entity. Once created, the authority may transact business and exercise any powers granted to it under this section. The jurisdictional area of this authority is the geographic area formed by the territorial boundaries of Milwaukee County.

AB908,16,18 (3) Governance. (a) Upon creation, the powers of the authority shall be vested in its board of directors. Directors shall be appointed for 2-year terms. A majority of the board of directors' full authorized membership constitutes a quorum for the purpose of conducting the authority's business and exercising its powers. Action may be taken by the board of directors upon a vote of a majority of the directors present and voting, unless the bylaws of the authority require a larger number.

AB908,16,19 (b) The board of directors of the authority consists of the following members:

AB908,16,21 1. Two members from the authority's jurisdictional area, appointed by the Milwaukee County board chairperson.

AB908,16,24 2. One member from that portion of the authority's jurisdictional area that is outside the city of Milwaukee, appointed by the Milwaukee County board chairperson.

AB908,16,25 3. One member, appointed by the mayor of the city of Milwaukee.

AB908,17,2 4. One member from the authority's jurisdictional area, appointed by the governor.

AB908,17,4 (c) The bylaws of the authority shall govern its management, operations, and administration, consistent with the provisions of this section.

AB908,17,11 (4) Powers. (a) Notwithstanding s. 59.84 (2) and any other provision of this chapter or ch. 59 or 85, but subject to sub. (7), upon creation, the authority and the Milwaukee County board shall contract for the authority to provide, beginning on January 1, 2015, or as soon after creation of the authority as is reasonably feasible, whichever is later, transit service and transit planning in Milwaukee County. The authority shall have all powers necessary and convenient to carry out this purpose. The authority's powers shall be limited to those specified in this section.

AB908,17,12 (b) The authority shall be provided the tax revenues imposed under s. 77.70 (2).

AB908,17,18 (5) Budgets; revenues; audit. The board of directors of the authority shall annually prepare a budget for the authority. Revenues of the authority shall be used only for the expenses and specific purposes of the authority. The authority shall maintain an accounting system in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and shall have its financial statements audited annually by an independent certified public accountant.

AB908,17,23 (6) Other statutes. This section does not limit the powers of political subdivisions to enter into intergovernmental cooperation or contracts or to establish separate legal entities under s. 66.0301 or 66.1021 or any other applicable law, or otherwise to carry out their powers under applicable statutory provisions. Section 66.0803 (2) does not apply to the authority.

AB908,18,5 (7) Sunset and transition. (a) Upon approval by the federal transit administration in the U.S. department of transportation of an application under the federal new starts grant program for funding for the KRM commuter rail line, the authority shall begin the process of winding down and dissolving, including taking those actions specified in par. (b), and shall complete this process no later than 120 days after the date of the approval. The authority terminates on the 120th day after the date of the approval.

AB908,18,11 (b) Upon approval of an application as described in par. (a) and the winding down and dissolution of the authority under this subsection, the southeastern regional transit authority shall become the successor to the authority. The board of directors of the authority shall assist in good faith in the transition from the authority to the southeastern regional transit authority. As part of the authority's winding-down process, all of the following shall occur:

AB908,18,13 1. The assets and liabilities of the authority shall become the assets and liabilities of the southeastern regional transit authority.

AB908,18,15 2. All tangible personal property, including records, of the authority shall be transferred to the southeastern regional transit authority.

AB908,18,21 3. All contracts entered into by the authority, in effect at the time of winding down the authority, remain in effect and are transferred to the southeastern regional transit authority. The southeastern regional transit authority shall carry out any obligations under such a contract until the contract is modified or rescinded by the southeastern regional transit authority to the extent allowed under the contract. This subdivision does not apply to the contract specified in par. (c).

AB908,19,2 (c) The contract between the authority and the Milwaukee County board under sub. (4) shall require that, as part of the winding down and dissolution of the authority under this subsection, the contract will terminate and responsibility for providing transit service and transit planning in Milwaukee County will thereafter be assumed by the southeastern regional transit authority under s. 59.58 (7) (m) and (n).

AB908,13 Section 13. 70.11 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB908,19,18 70.11 (2) Municipal property and property of certain districts, exception. Property owned by any county, city, village, town, school district, technical college district, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, metropolitan sewerage district, municipal water district created under s. 198.22, joint local water authority created under s. 66.0823, transit authority under s. 59.58 (7) or 66.1038, long-term care district under s. 46.2895 or town sanitary district; lands belonging to cities of any other state used for public parks; land tax-deeded to any county or city before January 2; but any residence located upon property owned by the county for park purposes that is rented out by the county for a nonpark purpose shall not be exempt from taxation. Except as to land acquired under s. 59.84 (2) (d), this exemption shall not apply to land conveyed after August 17, 1961, to any such governmental unit or for its benefit while the grantor or others for his or her benefit are permitted to occupy the land or part thereof in consideration for the conveyance. Leasing the property exempt under this subsection, regardless of the lessee and the use of the leasehold income, does not render that property taxable.

AB908,14 Section 14. 71.05 (1) (c) 9. of the statutes is created to read:

AB908,19,21 71.05 (1) (c) 9. The southeastern regional transit authority under s. 59.58 (7) (f).

AB908,15 Section 15. 71.26 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB908,20,2 71.26 (1) (b) Political units. Income received by the United States, the state and all counties, cities, villages, towns, school districts, technical college districts, joint local water authorities created under s. 66.0823, transit authorities under s. 59.58 (7) or 66.1038, long-term care districts under s. 46.2895 or other political units of this state.

AB908,16 Section 16. 71.26 (1m) (j) of the statutes is created to read:

AB908,20,4 71.26 (1m) (j) Those issued under s. 59.58 (7) (f).

AB908,17 Section 17. 71.45 (1t) (j) of the statutes is created to read:

AB908,20,6 71.45 (1t) (j) Those issued under s. 59.58 (7) (f).

AB908,18 Section 18. 74.09 (3) (gd) of the statutes is created to read:

AB908,20,11 74.09 (3) (gd) For Milwaukee County, if it imposes a sales and use tax under s. 77.70 (2), indicate the amount of the reduction in property taxes associated with the requirement under s. 77.70 (2) to remove transit expenditures from the property tax levy.

AB908,19 Section 19. Chapter 77 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB908,20,13 CHAPTER 77

AB908,20,24 TAXATION OF FOREST CROPLANDS; REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEES; SALES AND USE TAXES; COUNTY, TRANSIT AUTHORITY, AND SPECIAL DISTRICT SALES AND USE TAXES; MANAGED FOREST LAND; ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SURCHARGE; LOCAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX; LOCAL RENTAL CAR TAX; Premier resort area taxes; state rental vehicle fee; dry cleaning fees

AB908,20 Section 20. 77.54 (9a) (er) of the statutes is created to read:

AB908,21,1 77.54 (9a) (er) Any transit authority under s. 59.58 (7) or 66.1038.

AB908,21 Section 21. Subchapter V (title) of chapter 77 [precedes 77.70] of the statutes is amended to read:

AB908,21,4 CHAPTER 77