EHS:amn/emw/ahe
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
December 5, 2017 - Introduced by Representatives Jarchow, Felzkowski, Quinn,
Kremer, E. Brooks, Skowronski, Krug, Kleefisch, Swearingen, Stafsholt,
Kulp, Brandtjen, Tauchen, Ripp, Edming, Vorpagel, Rohrkaste, Horlacher
and Mursau, cosponsored by Senators Tiffany, Vukmir and Craig. Referred
to Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage.
AB712,1,3 1An Act to create 29.603 of the statutes; relating to: enforcement of federal and
2state laws relating to the management of the wolf population and to the killing
3of wolves and expenditure of funds for wolf management purposes.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill makes changes to the laws regulating wolf hunting and the laws
authorizing funding for wolf management activities.
Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources is required to allow
the hunting and trapping of wolves if the wolf is not listed on the U.S. list of
endangered and threatened species and is not listed on the state endangered list.
This bill prohibits a law enforcement officer from enforcing a federal or state
law that relates to the management of the wolf population in this state or that
prohibits the killing of wolf in this state. The bill prohibits DNR from expending any
funds for the purpose of managing the wolf population in this state other than for the
purpose of making payments under the endangered resources program to persons
who apply for reimbursement for certain damage caused by wolves or protecting
private property, including domestic cattle, from wolf depredation. The bill also
prohibits DNR from taking any action to inform or support federal law enforcement
officers regarding the enforcement of any federal or state law relating to wolves. The
bill specifies that these prohibitions apply only if wolves are listed on the U.S. list of
endangered and threatened species. Under the bill, if wolves are removed from that
list, the prohibitions in the bill will no longer apply.

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:
AB712,1 1Section 1. 29.603 of the statutes is created to read:
AB712,2,2 229.603 Restrictions on wolf regulation. (1) In this section:
AB712,2,43 (a) “Endangered resources program" has the meaning given in s. 71.10 (5) (a)
42.
AB712,2,65 (b) “Federal endangered list" means the U.S. list of endangered and threatened
6species, as it applies to this state.
AB712,2,77 (c) “Law enforcement officer" has the meaning given in s. 165.85 (2) (c).
AB712,2,10 8(2) If the wolf is listed on the federal endangered list, and notwithstanding the
9authority of the department to regulate activities concerning wild animals under s.
1029.604, all of the following apply:
AB712,2,1311 (a) No law enforcement officer may knowingly enforce or attempt to enforce a
12federal or state law that relates to the management of the wolf population in this
13state or that prohibits the killing of wolves in this state.
AB712,2,1714 (b) No law enforcement officer may be discharged, disciplined, demoted, or
15suspended; denied promotion, transfer, or reassignment; or otherwise discriminated
16against with regard to employment; or threatened with any such treatment for
17complying with the prohibition under par. (a).
AB712,2,1818 (c) Neither the department nor its staff may do any of the following:
AB712,2,2019 1. Expend funds for the purpose of managing the wolf population in this state
20other than for any of the following purposes:
AB712,3,2
1a. Paying claims under the endangered resources program for damage caused
2by wolves.
AB712,3,43 b. Taking action to protect private property, including domestic cattle, from
4wolf depredation.
AB712,3,65 2. Take any action to inform or support federal law enforcement officers
6regarding the enforcement of any federal or state law relating to wolves.
AB712,3,77 (End)
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