SB171: Bill Text

LRB-0336/8

RAC/MPG/RNK:cjs

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Senate BILL 171

May 21, 2015 - Introduced by Senators Farrow, Wanggaard and Marklein, cosponsored by Representatives Petryk, Allen, Knodl, Quinn and Brostoff. Referred to Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection.

SB171,2,2 An Act to repeal 14.017 (3), 14.23, 15.07 (2) (L), 15.07 (2) (n), 15.07 (3) (bm) 4., 15.105 (26), 15.105 (28), 15.107 (5), 15.107 (17), 15.227 (17), 15.345 (6), 15.347 (15), 15.407 (3), 15.407 (6), 15.407 (8), 15.407 (12), 15.407 (17), 15.707, 16.02, 16.25 (1) (a), 16.71 (5), 16.957 (1) (cm), 16.97 (2m), 16.978, 23.18, 77.895 (1) (a), 101.972, 196.209 (5), 441.05, 441.10 (2), 441.10 (3) (title) and 450.025; to renumber 441.10 (3) (ag), 441.10 (3) (b), 441.10 (3) (d) and 441.10 (3) (e); to renumber and amend 441.10 (3) (a), 441.10 (3) (ar) and 441.10 (3) (c); and to amend 15.01 (4), 16.25 (2), 16.25 (3) (intro.), 16.25 (3) (c), 16.25 (3) (d), 16.25 (3) (g), 16.25 (3) (i) 2., 16.25 (3) (k), 16.25 (4) (a), 16.25 (4) (b), 16.25 (5), 16.25 (6), 16.42 (3), 16.705 (1b) (a), 16.957 (2) (intro.), 16.957 (2) (d) 4. d., 16.957 (4) (b) (intro.), 16.973 (7), 16.976 (3), 16.976 (4), 16.977 (intro.), 20.370 (5) (bz), 20.505 (4) (ec), 30.92 (1) (b), 36.59 (1) (b) 3., 36.59 (1) (b) 4., 48.981 (2m) (b) 1., 77.895 (2), 77.895 (3) (intro.), 77.895 (3) (a), 77.895 (3) (b), 77.895 (3) (c), 101.974 (2), 145.17 (2), 146.40 (1) (g), 255.35 (1m) (a) 2., 441.06 (1) (e) and 450.02 (2g) (b) of the statutes; relating to: eliminating inactive boards, councils, and commissions.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law requires the Department of Administration (DOA) to include in its agency budget request a proposal to eliminate any council, board, or commission that has not held a meeting since the preceding September 15, unless the council, board, or commission is required to exist under federal law. This bill eliminates most of the state entities that were included in DOA's budget request for the 2015-17 fiscal biennium. The bill, however, does not affect the general authority of the head of a state agency to appoint advisory councils or committees.

The entities that are eliminated are the Telecommunications Privacy Council, Automatic Fire Sprinkler System Contractors and Journeymen Council, Crematory Authority Council, Multifamily Dwelling Code Council, Pharmacist Advisory Council, Historical Society Endowment Fund Council, Milwaukee River Revitalization Council, Managed Forest Land Board, Labor and Management Council, Acid Deposition Research Council, Council on Utility Public Benefits, Information Technology Management Board, Standards Development Council, Examining Council on Licensed Practical Nurses, and Examining Council on Registered Nurses.

Under the bill, the Volunteer Fire Fighter and Emergency Medical Technician Service Award Board is eliminated and its powers and duties are transferred to the secretary of administration.

Finally, the bill transfers from DOA to the Department of Safety and Professional Services the requirement to include in its agency budget request a proposal to eliminate any council, board, or commission that has not held a meeting since the preceding September 15.

For further information see the state 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:

SB171,1 Section 1. 14.017 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,2 Section 2. 14.23 of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,3 Section 3. 15.01 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB171,3,6 15.01 (4) "Council" means a part-time body appointed to function on a continuing basis for the study, and recommendation of solutions and policy alternatives, of the problems arising in a specified functional area of state government, except the Milwaukee River revitalization council has the powers and duties specified in s. 23.18, the council on physical disabilities has the powers and duties specified in s. 46.29 (1) and (2), the state council on alcohol and other drug abuse has the powers and duties specified in s. 14.24, and the electronic recording council has the powers and duties specified in s. 706.25 (4).

SB171,4 Section 4. 15.07 (2) (L) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,5 Section 5. 15.07 (2) (n) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,6 Section 6. 15.07 (3) (bm) 4. of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,7 Section 7. 15.105 (26) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,8 Section 8. 15.105 (28) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,9 Section 9. 15.107 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,10 Section 10. 15.107 (17) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,11 Section 11. 15.227 (17) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,12 Section 12. 15.345 (6) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,13 Section 13. 15.347 (15) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,14 Section 14. 15.407 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,15 Section 15. 15.407 (6) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,16 Section 16. 15.407 (8) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,17 Section 17. 15.407 (12) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,18 Section 18. 15.407 (17) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,19 Section 19. 15.707 of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,20 Section 20. 16.02 of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,21 Section 21. 16.25 (1) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

SB171,22 Section 22. 16.25 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB171,4,11 16.25 (2) The board shall establish by rule department shall administer a program to provide length-of-service awards, described in 26 USC 457 (e) (11), to volunteer fire fighters in municipalities that operate volunteer fire departments or that contract with volunteer fire companies organized under ch. 181 or 213, to first responders in any municipality that authorizes first responders to provide first responder services, and to volunteer emergency medical technicians in any municipality that authorizes volunteer emergency medical technicians to provide emergency medical technical services in the municipality. To the extent permitted by federal law, the board shall design department shall administer the program so as to treat the length-of-service awards as a tax-deferred benefit under the Internal Revenue Code.

SB171,23 Section 23. 16.25 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB171,4,15 16.25 (3) (intro.) The board department shall promulgate rules to include the following design features for administer the program so as to include all of the following features:

SB171,24 Section 24. 16.25 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB171,4,22 16.25 (3) (c) The municipality may select from among the plans offered by individuals or organizations under contract with the board department under sub. (4) for the volunteer fire fighters, first responders, and emergency medical technicians who perform services for the municipality. The municipality shall pay the annual contributions directly to the individual or organization offering the plan selected by the municipality.

SB171,25 Section 25. 16.25 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB171,5,8 16.25 (3) (d) 1. Subject to subd. 2., the board department shall match all annual municipal contributions paid for volunteer fire fighters, first responders, and emergency medical technicians up to $250 per fiscal year, other than contributions paid for the purchase of additional years of service under par. (e), to be paid from the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (4) (er). This amount shall be adjusted annually on July 1 to reflect any changes in the U.S. consumer price index for all urban consumers, U.S. city average, as determined by the U.S. department of labor, for the 12-month period ending on the preceding December 31. The board department shall pay all amounts that are matched under this paragraph to the individuals and organizations offering the plans selected by the municipalities.

SB171,5,12 2. If the moneys appropriated under s. 20.505 (4) (er) are not sufficient to fully fund the contributions required to be paid by the board department under subd. 1., the board department shall prorate the contributions paid for the volunteer fire fighters, first responders, and emergency medical technicians.

SB171,26 Section 26. 16.25 (3) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB171,6,3 16.25 (3) (g) A volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician shall be paid a length of service award either in a lump sum or in a manner specified by rule, consisting of all municipal and state contributions made on behalf of the volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician and all earnings on the contributions, less any expenses incurred in the investment of the contributions and earnings, after the volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician attains 20 years of service for a municipality and reaches the age of 60. If a volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician has satisfied all vesting requirements under the program but has less than 20 years of service for a municipality or has not reached the age of 60, the program shall provide for the payment of a length of service award either in a lump sum or in a manner specified by rule in an amount to be determined by the board department, but less than the amount paid to a volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician who has attained 20 years of service for a municipality and has reached the age of 60.

SB171,27 Section 27. 16.25 (3) (i) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB171,6,9 16.25 (3) (i) 2. A volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician who becomes disabled during his or her service as a volunteer fire fighter, first responder, or emergency medical technician for the municipality shall be paid a length of service award either in a lump sum or in a manner specified by rule, in an amount to be determined by the board department.

SB171,28 Section 28. 16.25 (3) (k) of the statutes is amended to read: