LRB-1210/1
TKK:wlj
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
December 10, 2015 - Introduced by Representatives Hebl, Wachs, Berceau,
Billings, Johnson, Kessler, Kolste, Ohnstad, Pope, Spreitzer, Subeck, C.
Taylor
and Zepnick, cosponsored by Senators Bewley, Ringhand, L. Taylor
and Vinehout. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
AB590,1,2 1An Act to amend 11.60 (3) and 11.61 (1) (c); and to create 11.245 of the statutes;
2relating to: notice of certain political contributions made to a judge or justice.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill provides that whenever an interested contributor makes a political
contribution to a court of appeals, circuit, or municipal judge or supreme court justice
in a pending civil or criminal action or proceeding over which the judge or justice is
presiding, or to the personal campaign or authorized support committee of a judge
or justice, the contributor must, within five days of the date that the contribution is
made, notify the judge or justice and every party other than the interested
contributor to the action or proceeding, in writing, of the fact that the contribution
has been made and the date and amount of the contribution. The bill defines an
"interested contributor" as a party to a pending civil or criminal action or proceeding;
an affiliate of such a party; a spouse, minor child, or minor stepchild of such a party;
an attorney representing such a party; or the law firm, partner, or associate of such
an attorney.
Currently, there is no similar requirement. However, the recipient of a political
contribution, as well as any contributor that also accepts contributions, is subject to
registration and periodic reporting requirements, with certain exceptions.
Violators of the reporting requirement created by the bill are subject to a
forfeiture (civil penalty) of not more than $500 for each violation.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB590,1
1Section 1. 11.245 of the statutes is created to read:
AB590,2,3 211.245 Notice of contributions by certain interested contributors. (1)
3In this subsection:
AB590,2,54 (a) "Affiliate" means a person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common
5control with another person.
AB590,2,66 (b) "Interested contributor" means all of the following:
AB590,2,77 1. A party to a pending civil or criminal action or proceeding.
AB590,2,88 2. An affiliate of a party.
AB590,2,109 3. A spouse, minor child, or minor stepchild of a party described under subd.
101.
AB590,2,1111 4. An attorney representing a party described under subd. 1.
AB590,2,1212 5. The law firm, partner, or associate of an attorney described under subd. 4.
AB590,2,1413 (c) "Judge" means a court of appeals judge, a circuit court judge, or a municipal
14judge.
AB590,2,1615 (d) "Pending civil or criminal action or proceeding" means an ongoing civil or
16criminal action or proceeding that has been commenced under ch. 800, 801, or 968.
AB590,2,24 17(2) If a person makes a contribution to a judge or supreme court justice in a
18pending civil or criminal action or proceeding in which the person is an interested
19contributor and over which the judge or justice is presiding, or to the personal
20campaign committee or support committee of a judge or justice authorized under s.
2111.05 (3) (p), the contributor shall, within 5 days of the date that the contribution is
22made, notify in writing the judge or justice and every party to the pending civil or
23criminal action or proceeding, other than the interested contributor, of the fact that
24the contribution has been made and the date and amount of the contribution.
AB590,2 25Section 2 . 11.60 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB590,3,4
111.60 (3) Notwithstanding sub. (1), any person, including any committee or
2group, who makes any contribution in violation of this chapter may be required to
3forfeit treble the amount of the contribution or portion thereof which is illegally
4contributed. This subsection does not apply to a violation of s. 11.245.
AB590,3 5Section 3 . 11.61 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB590,3,116 11.61 (1) (c) Whoever intentionally violates any provision of this chapter other
7than those provided in par. (a) and whoever intentionally violates any provision
8under par. (b) where the intentional violation concerns a specific figure which does
9not exceed $100 in amount or value may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned
10not more than 6 months or both. This paragraph does not apply to a violation of s.
1111.245.
AB590,3,1212 (End)
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