June 29, 2017 - Introduced by Representatives Wachs, Berceau, Brostoff,
Crowley, Fields, Ohnstad, Spreitzer and Subeck, cosponsored by Senators
Vinehout, Carpenter and Miller. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
AB415,1,8 1An Act to amend 32.02 (11), 32.05 (1) (a), 32.07 (2), 40.02 (28), 66.0301 (1) (a),
266.0903 (1) (d), 67.01 (5), 70.11 (2), 71.26 (1) (b), chapter 77 (title), subchapter
3V (title) of chapter 77 [precedes 77.70], 77.71, 77.73, 77.75, 77.76 (1), 77.76 (2),
477.76 (4), 77.77 (1), 77.77 (3), 77.78, 85.064 (1) (b), 345.05 (2) and 611.11 (4) (a);
5to repeal and recreate 111.70 (1) (j); and to create 20.566 (1) (gc), 20.835 (4)
6(gc), 66.1039, 77.54 (9a) (er), 77.708, 77.76 (3r) and 345.05 (1) (ag) of the
7statutes; relating to: authorizing the creation of a Chippewa Valley regional
8transit authority and making appropriations.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill authorizes the creation of the Chippewa Valley Regional Transit
Authority (RTA).
The 2009 Biennial Budget Act (2009 Act 28) authorized the creation of several
regional transit authorities: the Dane County RTA, the Chippewa Valley RTA, and
the Chequamegon Bay RTA. Under 2009 Act 28, each RTA, once created, is a public
body corporate and politic and a separate governmental entity. An RTA's authority
is vested in its board of directors, and its bylaws govern its management, operations,
and administration. Among its powers, an RTA may operate a transportation system
or provide for its operation by contracting with a public or private organization;

impose, by its board of directors adopting a resolution, a sales and use tax in the
RTA's jurisdictional area at a rate not exceeding 0.5 percent of the sales price if
certain conditions are satisfied; acquire property by condemnation; and issue
tax-exempt revenue bonds. An RTA has a duty to provide, or contract for the
provision of, transit service within the RTA's jurisdictional area. Rates and other
charges received by an RTA must be used only for the general expenses and capital
expenditures of the RTA; to pay interest, amortization, and retirement charges on
the RTA's revenue bonds; and for specific purposes of the RTA and may not be
transferred to any political subdivision. With respect to the Chippewa Valley RTA,
Act 28 included partial vetoes of provisions that would have required a referendum
before the Chippewa Valley RTA could be created or impose a sales and use tax.
The 2011 Biennial Budget Act (2011 Act 32) eliminated authorization to create
an RTA and dissolved the Dane County RTA, the Chippewa Valley RTA, and the
Chequamegon Bay RTA to the extent previously created.
This bill restores authorization to create the Chippewa Valley RTA, with
essentially the same powers and authority as provided under 2009 Act 28, except
that the bill imposes the referendum requirements that were partially vetoed in Act
28. Also unlike Act 28, under the bill, if the Chippewa Valley RTA imposes a sales
and use tax, a member of the RTA may not levy property taxes for transit purposes
greater than the property taxes levied for transit purposes in the year before the
RTA's sales and use tax is imposed.
For further information see the state and local 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:
AB415,1 1Section 1 . 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
2the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table PDF
AB415,2 3Section 2 . 20.566 (1) (gc) of the statutes is created to read:
AB415,3,6
120.566 (1) (gc) Administration of transit authority taxes. From the moneys
2received from the appropriation account under s. 20.835 (4) (gc), the amounts in the
3schedule for the purpose of administering the transit authority taxes imposed under
4s. 77.708. Notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (a), at the end of the fiscal year the
5unencumbered balance in this appropriation account shall be transferred to the
6appropriation account under s. 20.835 (4) (gc).
AB415,3 7Section 3 . 20.835 (4) (gc) of the statutes is created to read:
AB415,3,138 20.835 (4) (gc) Transit authority taxes. All moneys received from the taxes
9imposed under s. 77.708, and from the appropriation account under s. 20.566 (1) (gc),
10for the purpose of distribution to the transit authorities that adopt a resolution
11imposing taxes under subch. V of ch. 77, except that 1.5 percent of those tax revenues
12collected under subch. V of ch. 77 shall be credited to the appropriation account under
13s. 20.566 (1) (gc).
AB415,4 14Section 4 . 32.02 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB415,3,1915 32.02 (11) Any housing authority created under ss. 66.1201 to 66.1211;
16redevelopment authority created under s. 66.1333; community development
17authority created under s. 66.1335; local cultural arts district created under subch.
18V of ch. 229, subject to s. 229.844 (4) (c); or local exposition district created under
19subch. II of ch. 229; or transit authority created under s. 66.1039.
AB415,5 20Section 5 . 32.05 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB415,4,1621 32.05 (1) (a) Except as provided under par. (b), a county board of supervisors
22or a county highway committee when so authorized by the county board of
23supervisors, a city council, a village board, a town board, a sewerage commission
24governing a metropolitan sewerage district created by ss. 200.05 or 200.21 to 200.65,
25the secretary of transportation, a commission created by contract under s. 66.0301,

1a joint local water authority created by contract under s. 66.0823, a transit authority
2created under s. 66.1039,
a housing authority under ss. 66.1201 to 66.1211, a local
3exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229, a local cultural arts district
4created under subch. V of ch. 229, a redevelopment authority under s. 66.1333 or a
5community development authority under s. 66.1335 shall make an order providing
6for the laying out, relocation and improvement of the public highway, street, alley,
7storm and sanitary sewers, watercourses, water transmission and distribution
8facilities, mass transit facilities, airport, or other transportation facilities, gas or
9leachate extraction systems to remedy environmental pollution from a solid waste
10disposal facility, housing project, redevelopment project, cultural arts facilities,
11exposition center or exposition center facilities which shall be known as the
12relocation order. This order shall include a map or plat showing the old and new
13locations and the lands and interests required. A copy of the order shall, within 20
14days after its issue, be filed with the county clerk of the county wherein the lands are
15located or, in lieu of filing a copy of the order, a plat may be filed or recorded in
16accordance with s. 84.095.
AB415,6 17Section 6 . 32.07 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB415,5,318 32.07 (2) The petitioner shall determine necessity if application is by the state
19or any commission, department, board or other branch of state government or by a
20city, village, town, county, school district, board, commission, public officer,
21commission created by contract under s. 66.0301, joint local water authority under
22s. 66.0823, transit authority created under s. 66.1039, redevelopment authority
23created under s. 66.1333, local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229,
24local cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229, housing authority
25created under ss. 66.1201 to 66.1211 or for the right-of-way of a railroad up to 100

1feet in width, for a telegraph, telephone or other electric line, for the right-of-way
2for a gas pipeline, main or service or for easements for the construction of any
3elevated structure or subway for railroad purposes.
AB415,7 4Section 7 . 40.02 (28) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB415,5,145 40.02 (28) “Employer" means the state, including each state agency, any
6county, city, village, town, school district, other governmental unit or
7instrumentality of 2 or more units of government now existing or hereafter created
8within the state, any federated public library system established under s. 43.19
9whose territory lies within a single county with a population of 500,000 or more, a
10local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229, a transit authority created
11under s. 66.1039,
and a long-term care district created under s. 46.2895, except as
12provided under ss. 40.51 (7) and 40.61 (3). “Employer" does not include a local
13cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229. Each employer shall be a
14separate legal jurisdiction for OASDHI purposes.
AB415,8 15Section 8 . 66.0301 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB415,6,716 66.0301 (1) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), in this section
17“municipality" means the state or any department or agency thereof, or any city,
18village, town, county, or school district, the opportunity schools and partnership
19programs under subch. IX of ch. 115 and subch. II of ch. 119, the superintendent of
20schools opportunity schools and partnership program under s. 119.33, or any public
21library system, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, sanitary
22district, farm drainage district, metropolitan sewerage district, sewer utility district,
23solid waste management system created under s. 59.70 (2), local exposition district
24created under subch. II of ch. 229, local professional baseball park district created
25under subch. III of ch. 229, local professional football stadium district created under

1subch. IV of ch. 229, local cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229,
2transit authority created under s. 66.1039, long-term care district under s. 46.2895,
3water utility district, mosquito control district, municipal electric company, county
4or city transit commission, commission created by contract under this section,
5taxation district, regional planning commission, housing authority created under s.
666.1201, redevelopment authority created under s. 66.1333, community
7development authority created under s. 66.1335, or city-county health department.
AB415,9 8Section 9 . 66.0903 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB415,6,149 66.0903 (1) (d) “Local governmental unit" means a political subdivision of this
10state, a special purpose district in this state, an instrumentality or corporation of
11such a political subdivision or special purpose district, a combination or subunit of
12any of the foregoing or an instrumentality of the state and any of the foregoing.
13“Local governmental unit" includes a regional transit authority created under s.
1466.1039.
AB415,10 15Section 10 . 66.1039 of the statutes is created to read:
AB415,6,16 1666.1039 Transit authorities. (1) Definitions. In this section:
AB415,6,1717 (a) “Authority" means a transit authority created under this section.
AB415,6,1918 (b) “Bonds" means any bonds, interim certificates, notes, debentures, or other
19obligations of an authority issued under this section.
AB415,6,2020 (c) “Common carrier" means any of the following:
AB415,6,2121 1. A common motor carrier, as defined in s. 194.01 (1).
AB415,6,2222 2. A contract motor carrier, as defined in s. 194.01 (2).
AB415,6,2323 3. A railroad subject to ch. 195, as described in s. 195.02 (1) and (3).
AB415,6,2424 4. A water carrier, as defined in s. 195.02 (5).
AB415,7,5
1(d) “Comprehensive unified local transportation system" means a
2transportation system that is comprised of motor bus lines and any other local public
3transportation facilities, the major portion of which is located within, or the major
4portion of the service of which is supplied to the inhabitants of, the jurisdictional area
5of the authority.
AB415,7,66 (e) “Municipality" means any city, village, or town.
AB415,7,97 (f) “Participating political subdivision" means a political subdivision that is a
8member of an authority, either from the time of creation of the authority or by later
9joining the authority.
AB415,7,1010 (g) “Political subdivision" means a municipality or county.
AB415,7,2011 (h) “Transportation system" means all land, shops, structures, equipment,
12property, franchises, and rights of whatever nature required for transportation of
13passengers within the jurisdictional area of the authority and, only to the extent
14specifically authorized under this section, outside the jurisdictional area of the
15authority. “Transportation system" includes elevated railroads, subways,
16underground railroads, motor vehicles, motor buses, and any combination thereof,
17and any other form of mass transportation, but does not include transportation
18excluded from the definition of “common motor carrier" under s. 194.01 (1) or charter
19or contract operations to, from, or between points that are outside the jurisdictional
20area of the authority.
AB415,8,2 21(2) Creation of transit authorities. (c) Chippewa Valley regional transit
22authority.
1. The Chippewa Valley regional transit authority, a public body corporate
23and politic and a separate governmental entity, is created if the governing body of
24Eau Claire County adopts a resolution authorizing the county to become a member
25of the authority and the resolution is ratified by the electors at a referendum held in

1Eau Claire County. Once created, this authority may transact business and exercise
2any powers granted to it under this section.
AB415,8,43 2. If an authority is created under subd. 1., any municipality located in whole
4or in part within Eau Claire County shall be a member of the authority.
AB415,8,85 3. After an authority is created under subd. 1., Chippewa County may join the
6authority created under subd. 1. if the governing body of Chippewa County adopts
7a resolution to join the authority and the resolution is ratified by the electors at a
8referendum held in Chippewa County.
AB415,8,119 4. If Chippewa County joins an authority as provided in subd. 3., any
10municipality located in whole or in part within Chippewa County shall be a member
11of the authority.
AB415,8,1512 5. The jurisdictional area of the authority created under this paragraph is the
13territorial boundaries of Eau Claire County or, if Chippewa County also joins the
14authority as provided in subd. 3., the combined territorial boundaries of Eau Claire
15County and Chippewa County.
AB415,8,2116 6. If Chippewa County joins an authority under subd. 3. after it is created, the
17authority shall provide the department of revenue with a certified copy of the
18resolution that approves the joining and the referendum results ratifying the
19resolution. The county's joining of the authority shall take effect on the first day of
20the calendar quarter that begins at least 120 days after the department receives this
21information.
AB415,9,2 22(3) Transit authority governance. (a) The powers of an authority shall be
23vested in its board of directors. Directors shall be appointed for 4-year terms. A
24majority of the board of directors' full authorized membership constitutes a quorum
25for the purpose of conducting the authority's business and exercising its powers.

1Action may be taken by the board of directors upon a vote of a majority of the directors
2present and voting, unless the bylaws of the authority require a larger number.
AB415,9,73 (d) 1. If an authority is created under sub. (2) (c), the board of directors of the
4authority shall be determined by resolution of the governing body of Eau Claire
5County or, if Chippewa County also joins the authority as provided in sub. (2) (c) 3.,
6by resolution of the governing bodies of Eau Claire County and Chippewa County,
7except that all of the following shall apply:
AB415,9,88 a. The board of directors shall consist of not more than 17 members.
AB415,9,109 b. The board of directors shall include at least 3 members from Eau Claire
10County, appointed by the county executive and approved by the county board.
AB415,9,1311 c. If Chippewa County joins the authority as provided in sub. (2) (c) 3., the board
12of directors shall include at least 3 members from Chippewa County, appointed by
13the county executive and approved by the county board.
AB415,9,1614 d. The board of directors shall include at least one member from the most
15populous city of each county that is a member, appointed by the mayor of the city and
16approved by the common council of the city.
AB415,9,1817 e. The board of directors shall include at least one member from the authority's
18jurisdictional area, appointed by the governor.
AB415,9,2319 2. If Chippewa County joins the authority as provided in sub. (2) (c) 3. and the
20governing bodies of Eau Claire County and Chippewa County are unable to agree
21upon a composition of the board of directors as specified in subd. 1., the board of
22directors of the authority shall be limited to the minimum members specified in subd.
231. b. to e.
AB415,9,2524 (fm) If any provision of this subsection provides for the appointment of a
25member of an authority's board of directors by the mayor of a city that has no mayor,

1the appointment shall instead be made by the chairperson of the common council.
2If any provision of this subsection provides for the appointment of a member of an
3authority's board of directors by the county executive of a county that has no county
4executive, the appointment shall be made by the chairperson of the county board.
AB415,10,75 (g) The bylaws of an authority shall govern its management, operations, and
6administration, consistent with the provisions of this section, and shall include
7provisions specifying all of the following:
AB415,10,88 1. The functions or services to be provided by the authority.
AB415,10,99 2. The powers, duties, and limitations of the authority.
AB415,10,1110 3. The maximum rate of the taxes that may be imposed by the authority under
11sub. (4) (s), not to exceed the maximum rate specified in s. 77.708 (1).
AB415,10,1312 4. The composition of the board of directors of the authority, as determined
13under par. (d).
AB415,10,16 14(4) Powers. Notwithstanding s. 59.84 (2) and any other provision of this
15chapter or ch. 59 or 85, an authority may do all of the following, to the extent
16authorized in the authority's bylaws:
AB415,10,1817 (a) Establish, maintain, and operate a comprehensive unified local
18transportation system primarily for the transportation of persons.
AB415,10,2119 (b) Acquire a comprehensive unified local transportation system and provide
20funds for the operation and maintenance of the system. Upon the acquisition of a
21comprehensive unified local transportation system, the authority may:
AB415,10,2322 1. Operate and maintain it or lease it to an operator or contract for its use by
23an operator.
AB415,10,2524 2. Contract for superintendence of the system with an organization that has
25personnel with the requisite experience and skill.
AB415,11,3
13. Delegate responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the system to
2an appropriate administrative officer, board, or commission of a participating
3political subdivision.
AB415,11,54 4. Maintain and improve railroad rights-of-way and improvements on these
5rights-of-way for future use.
AB415,11,76 (c) Contract with a public or private organization to provide transportation
7services in lieu of directly providing these services.
AB415,11,98 (d) Purchase and lease transportation facilities to public or private transit
9companies that operate within and outside the jurisdictional area.
AB415,11,1110 (e) Apply for federal aids to purchase transportation facilities considered
11essential for the authority's operation.
AB415,11,2012 (f) Coordinate specialized transportation services, as defined in s. 85.21 (2) (g),
13for residents who reside within the jurisdictional area and who are disabled or aged
1460 or older, including services funded under 42 USC 3001 to 3057n, 42 USC 5001, and
1542 USC 5011 (b); under ss. 49.43 to 49.499 and 85.21; and under other public funds
16administered by the county. An authority may contract with a county that is a
17participating political subdivision for the authority to provide specialized
18transportation services, but an authority is not an eligible applicant under s. 85.21
19(2) (e) and may not receive payments directly from the department of transportation
20under s. 85.21.
AB415,11,2321 (g) Acquire, own, hold, use, lease as lessor or lessee, sell or otherwise dispose
22of, mortgage, pledge, or grant a security interest in any real or personal property or
23service.
AB415,11,2524 (h) Acquire property by condemnation using the procedure under s. 32.05 for
25the purposes set forth in this section.
AB415,12,7
1(i) Enter upon any state, county, or municipal street, road, or alley, or any public
2highway for the purpose of installing, maintaining, and operating the authority's
3facilities. Whenever the work is to be done in a state, county, or municipal highway,
4street, road, or alley, the public authority having control thereof shall be duly
5notified, and the highway, street, road, or alley shall be restored to as good a condition
6as existed before the commencement of the work with all costs incident to the work
7to be borne by the authority.
AB415,12,98 (j) Fix, maintain, and revise fees, rates, rents, and charges for functions,
9facilities, and services provided by the authority.
AB415,12,1110 (k) Make, and from time to time amend and repeal, bylaws, rules, and
11regulations to carry into effect the powers and purposes of the authority.
AB415,12,1212 (L) Sue and be sued in its own name.
AB415,12,1313 (m) Have and use a corporate seal.
AB415,12,1614 (n) Employ agents, consultants, and employees; engage professional services;
15and purchase such furniture, stationery, and other supplies and materials as are
16reasonably necessary to perform its duties and exercise its powers.
AB415,12,1817 (o) Incur debts, liabilities, or obligations, including the borrowing of money and
18the issuance of bonds under subs. (7) and (10).
AB415,12,2219 (p) Invest any funds held in reserve or sinking funds, or any funds not required
20for immediate disbursement, including the proceeds from the sale of any bonds, in
21such obligations, securities, and other investments as the authority deems proper in
22accordance with s. 66.0603 (1m).
AB415,12,2423 (q) Do and perform any acts and things authorized by this section under,
24through, or by means of an agent or by contracts with any person.
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