SB639: Bill Text

SB639,153,9 (8) (a) In any county having with a population of less than 500,000, the county board, by ordinance, may fix the number of deputy sheriffs to be appointed in that county at not less than that number required by sub. (1) (a) and (b) and may set the salary of those deputies. The county board may provide by ordinance that deputy sheriff positions be filled by appointment by the sheriff from a list of all persons with the 3 highest scores for each position based on a competitive examination of persons residing in this state for at least one full year prior to the date of such examination. Such competitive examinations may be by a county civil service commission or by the division of merit recruitment and selection in the department of employment relations at the option of the county board and it shall so provide by ordinance. The division of merit recruitment and selection in the department of employment relations shall, upon request of the county board, conduct such examination according to the methods used in examinations for the state civil service and shall certify an eligible list of the names of all persons with the 3 highest scores on that examination for each position to the sheriff of that county who shall make an appointment from that list to fill the position within 10 days after he or she receives the eligible list. The county for which such examination is conducted shall pay the cost of that examination. If a civil service commission is decided upon for the selection of deputy sheriffs, then ss. 63.01 to 63.17 shall apply so far as consistent with this subsection, except ss. 63.03, 63.04 and 63.15 and except the provision governing minimum compensation of the commissioners. The ordinance or an amending ordinance may provide for employe grievance procedures and disciplinary actions, for hours of work, for tours of duty according to seniority and for other administrative regulations. Any county board provision consistent with this paragraph and existing on July 25, 1951, is validated. If the sheriff fills a deputy sheriff position by promotion, the sheriff shall make the appointment to the position from a list of 3 deputy sheriffs who receive the highest scores in a competitive examination. Such competitive examinations may be by a county civil service commission or by the division of merit recruitment and selection in the department of employment relations at the option of the county board and it shall so provide by ordinance.

SB639,153,23 (b) 1. The persons appointed shall hold the office of deputy sheriff on good behavior. In any county operating under this subsection, but not under s. 59.07 (20) 59.52 (8), whenever the sheriff or undersheriff or a majority of the members of a civil service commission for the selection of deputy sheriffs believes that a deputy has acted so as to show the deputy to be incompetent to perform the duties of deputy sheriff or to have merited suspension, demotion or dismissal, the sheriff, undersheriff or civil service commission shall report in writing to the grievance committee setting forth specifically the complaint against the deputy, and, when the party filing the complaint is a sheriff or undersheriff, may suspend or demote the officer at the time such complaint is filed. The grievance committee shall be appointed in the same manner and at the same time as standing committees of the county board of supervisors are appointed. The committee may be made up of members of the county board or other electors of the county, or both. Such members shall be paid in the same manner as members of other county board committees.

SB639,154,3 2. The grievance committee shall forthwith immediately notify the accused officer of the filing of the charges and on request furnish the accused officer with a copy of the same.

SB639,154,14 3. The grievance committee shall, if the officer requests a hearing, appoint a time and place for the hearing of the charges, the time to be within 3 weeks after the filing of such request for a hearing and the committee shall notify the sheriff or undersheriff or the members of the civil service commission, whichever filed the complaint with the committee, and the accused of the time and place of such hearing. If the accused officer makes no request to the grievance committee, then the committee may take whatever action it deems considers justifiable on the basis of the charges filed and shall issue an order in writing as provided in subd. 5. The committee may take testimony at the hearing, and any testimony taken shall be transcribed. The chairperson of the committee shall issue subpoenas for the attendance of such witnesses as may be requested by the accused.

SB639,154,20 4. At the hearing the chairperson of the committee may maintain order and enforce obedience to the chairperson's lawful requirements. If any a person at the hearing acts in a disorderly manner and persists after notice from the chairperson, the chairperson may order the person to leave the hearing. If the order is refused the chairperson may order the sheriff or other person to take the disorderly person into custody until the hearing is adjourned for that day.

SB639,154,25 5. At the termination of the hearing the grievance committee shall determine in writing whether or not the charge is well founded well-founded and shall take such action by way of suspension, demotion, discharge or reinstatement as it may deem considers requisite and proper under the circumstances and file the same with the secretary of the committee.

SB639,155,17 6. The accused may appeal from the order to the circuit court by serving written notice of the appeal on the secretary of the committee within 10 days after the order is filed. Within 5 days after receiving written notice of the appeal, the board shall certify to the clerk of the circuit court the record of the proceedings, including all documents, testimony and minutes. The action shall then be at issue and shall have precedence over any other cause of a different nature pending in the court, which shall always be open to the trial thereof. The court shall upon application of the accused or of the board fix a date of trial, which shall not be later than 15 days after such application except by agreement. The trial shall be by the court and upon the return of the board, except that the court may require further return or the taking and return of further evidence by the board. The question to be determined by the court shall be: "Upon the evidence is there just cause, as described under subd. 5m., to sustain the charges against the accused?" No costs shall be allowed either party and the clerk's fees shall be paid by the county. If the order of the committee is reversed, the accused shall be forthwith reinstated and entitled to pay as though in continuous service. If the order of the committee is sustained it shall be final and conclusive.

SB639,155,21 (c) The county board of any county adopting enacting the ordinance provided for in this subsection may provide that any deputy sheriff acting as such at the time of such adoption the enactment shall be eligible to such appointment without examination.

SB639,156,10 (cm) Any county board may, by a majority vote, establish, by ordinance in connection with the adoption enactment of an ordinance providing for civil service selection and tenure of deputy sheriffs under pars. (a) and (b) or by amendment to such an ordinance previously adopted enacted, a traffic division of the sheriff's department and fix the number of deputy sheriffs as traffic patrolmen and other employes in said division in which case s. 83.016 shall become inoperative as to that county. The board in such ordinance shall further provide that the personnel in such traffic division of the sheriff's department shall be appointed and hold their positions in the manner and under the conditions set forth in pars. (a) and (b). The county board may also provide that traffic patrolmen who have been appointed pursuant to under s. 83.016 and who are employed by the county at the time of the adoption of such enactment of the ordinance pursuant to under this subsection establishing a traffic division in the sheriff's department and providing civil service therefor shall be appointed to positions in such traffic division without examination.

SB639,156,20 (d) Adoption Enactment of the ordinances provided for by this subsection shall not preclude the county board from thereafter amending or repealing such ordinances, but such amendment or repeal shall not be effective unless voted by the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members-elect of such board. The civil service provisions of this section shall apply only to such deputies or traffic patrolmen who are regularly employed by the county or sheriff and shall not apply to honorary deputies. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection the county board may enact a civil service ordinance for county employes under s. 59.07 (20) 59.52 (8) which civil service ordinance may include deputy sheriffs or traffic patrolmen, or both.

SB639,157,2 (9) (a) A deputy sheriff in any county may not be suspended or dismissed under sub. (8) or s. 59.07 (20) 59.52 (8) or 63.10 without pay or benefits, for any action taken that is within the scope of the deputy's employment, until the matter that is the subject of the suspension or dismissal is disposed of by the grievance committee or civil service commission or the time for appeal of that matter passes without an appeal being made.

SB639,157,6 (b) An ordinance of any county or a collective bargaining agreement may not diminish or abridge a right of a deputy sheriff that is granted under par. (a). An ordinance of such a county or a collective bargaining agreement may supplement and expand such a right in a manner that is not inconsistent with par. (a).

SB639,157,13 (c) If the matter that is the subject of the suspension or dismissal is decided adversely to the deputy sheriff by the grievance committee or the civil service commission, the time for appeal passes without an appeal being made or the deputy's appeal to the circuit court is decided adversely to the deputy, all pay and benefits received by the deputy sheriff between the time of his or her suspension or dismissal and the latest of an adverse ruling by the committee, the commission or the court or the time for appeal passes shall be returned to the county.

SB639, s. 274 Section 274. 59.225 of the statutes is renumbered 59.54 (13) and amended to read:

SB639,157,19 59.54 (13) Arming sheriffs. The county board of any county may furnish its sheriff, undersheriff and deputy sheriffs with the necessary arms, ammunition, gas bombs and gas sticks for the carrying out of their respective duties, such arms, ammunition, gas bombs and gas sticks to remain the property of the county.

SB639, s. 275 Section 275. 59.23 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB639,157,21 59.23 (title) Clerk.

SB639, s. 276 Section 276. 59.23 (intro.) and (1) to (6) of the statutes are renumbered 59.27 (intro.) and (1) to (6) and amended to read:

SB639,157,25 59.27 Sheriff; duties. (intro.) The sheriff of a county shall do all of the following:

SB639,158,3 (1) Take the charge and custody of the jail maintained by the county and the persons therein in the jail, and keep the persons therein in the jail personally or by a deputy or jailer.

SB639,158,11 (2) Keep a true and exact register of all prisoners committed to any jail under the sheriff's charge, in a book therefor for that purpose, which shall contain the names of all persons who are committed to any such jail, their residence, the time when committed and cause of commitment, and the authority by which they were committed; and if for a criminal offense, a description of the person; and when any prisoner is liberated, state the time when and the authority by which the prisoner was liberated; and if any person escapes, state the particulars of the time and manner of such escape.

SB639,158,21 (3) Attend upon the circuit court held in the sheriff's county during its session, and at the request of the court file with the clerk thereof a list of deputies for attendance on the court. The court may by special order authorize additional deputies to attend when the court is engaged in the trial of any person charged with a crime. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the county board shall establish the rate of compensation and the level of services to be provided. The sheriff or one or more deputies shall attend the court of appeals when it is in session in the sheriff's county. The state shall reimburse the county from the appropriation under s. 20.660 (1) for the actual salary paid to the sheriff or deputies for the service provided for the court of appeals.

SB639,158,24 (4) Personally, or by the undersheriff or deputies, serve or execute according to law all processes, writs, precepts and orders issued or made by lawful authority and delivered to the sheriff.

SB639,159,6 (5) Deliver on demand to the sheriff's successor in office, when the sheriff's successor has qualified according to law, the jail and other property of the county and all prisoners in such the jail, and all books, records, writs, processes, orders and other papers belonging to the sheriff's office and in the possession of the sheriff, undersheriff, jailer or deputies, except as provided in s. 59.33, and upon the delivery thereof such of these items the successor in office shall execute a receipt to the sheriff.

SB639,159,9 (6) In counties having a population of three hundred thousand 300,000 or more, assign one deputy, to be mutually agreed upon by the sheriff and the district attorney, to the office of the district attorney.

SB639, s. 277 Section 277. 59.23 (7) of the statutes is renumbered 59.27 (7).

SB639, s. 278 Section 278. 59.23 (8) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 59.27 (8) and amended to read:

SB639,159,17 59.27 (8) The sheriff is authorized to destroy all sheriff's dockets, daily jail records and cash books dated prior to 1901. It shall be the duty of the sheriff to hereafter retain and safely keep all such records for a period of 8 years, or a shorter period authorized by the public records board under s. 16.61 (3) (b), after which the records may be destroyed.

SB639, s. 279 Section 279. 59.23 (9) of the statutes is renumbered 59.27 (9).

SB639,159,23 59.27 (9) When the sheriff is required to serve or execute any a summons, order or judgment, or to do any other act, the sheriff shall be bound to do so in like manner as upon process issued to the sheriff, and shall be equally liable in all respects for neglect of duty; and if the sheriff be is a party the coroner shall perform the service and all statutes relating to sheriffs shall apply to coroners where the sheriff is a party.

SB639, s. 280 Section 280. 59.23 (10) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is renumbered 59.27 (10).

SB639, s. 281 Section 281. 59.23 (11) of the statutes is renumbered 59.27 (11) and amended to read:

SB639,160,5 59.27 (11) Conduct operations within the county and, when the county board so provides, in waters of which the county has jurisdiction under s. 2.04 for the rescue of human beings and for the recovery of human bodies.

SB639, s. 282 Section 282. 59.24 of the statutes is renumbered 59.28 and amended to read:

SB639,160,14 59.28 Peace maintenance; powers and duties of peace officers, cooperation. (1) Sheriffs and their undersheriffs and deputies shall keep and preserve the peace in their respective counties and quiet and suppress all affrays, routs, riots, unlawful assemblies and insurrections; for which purpose, and for the service of processes in civil or criminal cases and in the apprehending or securing any person for felony or breach of the peace they and every coroner and constable may call to their aid such persons or power of their county as they may deem consider necessary.

SB639,160,17 (2) County law enforcement agencies may request the assistance of law enforcement personnel or may assist other law enforcement agencies as provided in ss. 66.305 and 66.315.

SB639, s. 283 Section 283. 59.245 of the statutes is renumbered 59.54 (9) and amended to read:

SB639,161,2 59.54 (9) County telecommunication terminal. Every county in the state shall have a telecommunication terminal installed in a county law enforcement agency which is interconnected with the department of transportation and other county, municipal and governmental law enforcement agencies in the TIME (Transaction Information for Management of Enforcement) system. This section subsection shall not preclude the connection and participation in the system of any governmental law enforcement agency and the requirements of this section subsection shall be effective even though there are additions, deletions or modifications in the system.

SB639, s. 284 Section 284. 59.25 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB639,161,4 59.25 (title) Treasurer.

SB639, s. 285 Section 285. 59.25 of the statutes is renumbered 59.29 (1) and amended to read:

SB639,161,15 59.29 (1) Transportation of criminals through other counties; rewards for their apprehension. (a) Any sheriff or other officer who has legally arrested any person in any county may pass across and through such parts of any other county or counties as are in the ordinary route of travel from the place where such person was arrested to the place where the person is to be conveyed, according to the command of the process by which such arrest was made; and such conveyance of such prisoner shall not be deemed considered an escape, nor shall the prisoner so conveyed or the officers having the prisoner in custody be liable to arrest on any civil process while passing through such other county or counties.

SB639,162,4 (b) Whenever a person convicted of, or charged with, any felony, the punishment for which is not less than 5 years' imprisonment, shall escape, or whenever any such felony shall be committed by any unknown person or persons the sheriff of the county from which such escape was made or in which such felony was committed may, with the consent of the chairperson of the board of such county when such board is not in session, and with the consent of the board when they are it is in session, offer such reward for the apprehension and delivery of such escaped person, or the apprehension or conviction of the perpetrator of such felony as the sheriff deems considers necessary, not exceeding $1,000 in any one case; but no such reward or any part thereof shall be paid to any such sheriff, undersheriff or any deputy. The right to any such reward shall be determined finally by such sheriff; and if more than one person claims the reward the sheriff shall determine what portion, if any, the claimants are entitled to, and shall certify the determination to the county treasurer, and such certificate shall be the treasurer's authority for paying the sum so certified.

SB639, s. 286 Section 286. 59.26 of the statutes is renumbered 59.30 and amended to read:

SB639,162,11 59.30 Not to act as attorney. No sheriff, undersheriff, deputy, coroner or medical examiner shall appear or practice as attorney in any court, draw or fill up any writ, pleading or proceeding for a party in any action, nor, with the intent to be employed in the collection of any demand or the service of any process, advise or counsel any person to commence an action or proceeding; and for violation of this section every such officer shall forfeit not exceeding more than $50.

SB639, s. 287 Section 287. 59.27 of the statutes is renumbered 59.31 and amended to read:

SB639,162,18 59.31 Service on sheriff; how made. Every writ, notice or other paper required to be delivered to or served on any sheriff may be served by leaving the same at the sheriff's office during the hours it is required to be kept open; but if there is any person belonging to such office therein, such writ, notice or other paper shall be delivered to such person; and every such service shall be deemed considered equivalent to a personal delivery to or service on such sheriff.

SB639, s. 288 Section 288. 59.28 of the statutes is renumbered 59.32 (1) and amended to read:

SB639,162,23 59.32 (1) Sheriff; fees. The sheriff shall collect the fees prescribed in s. 814.70, unless a higher fee is applicable under s. 814.705 (1), and remit them to the county treasurer as provided in s. 59.15 59.22 (1) (b).

SB639, s. 289 Section 289. 59.29 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB639,162,25 59.29 (title) Transportation, apprehension of criminals.

SB639, s. 290 Section 290. 59.29 of the statutes is renumbered 59.29 (2) and amended to read:

SB639,163,18 59.29 (2) Compensation for apprehensions in other states; conditions. (a) In all cases where by the laws of this state the governor is authorized to demand of the executive authority of any other state any fugitive from justice or any person charged with crime in this state and to appoint an agent to receive such person, and such person is apprehended in any other state by the sheriff or deputy sheriff of the county in this state where the warrant for such fugitive from justice is properly issued, or such crime was committed, and such person voluntarily returns with said sheriff to this state without requisition, such sheriff shall be entitled to eight dollars $8 per day for the time necessarily expended in traveling to, apprehending and returning with such person and the sheriff's actual and necessary expenses for such time, which compensation and expenses shall be allowed by the county board of such county upon the presentation thereto of an itemized and verified account, stating the number of days that the sheriff was engaged, the number of miles traveled and each item of expense incurred in rendering such services, including the transportation and board of the person in custody. No allowance whatever shall be made to the sheriff as mileage.

SB639,163,25 (b) The sheriff of any county having less than 300,000 population shall not receive the compensation provided under sub. (1) par. (a), unless the apprehension was duly authorized in writing by the district attorney or by the circuit judge for the county where the crime was committed. The written authority shall certify that the ends of justice will be subserved served by the apprehension and return of the person, and the sheriff shall attach the certificate to and file it with his or her itemized account of such services.

SB639,164,8 (c) If the district attorney certifies in writing that it is necessary or desirable, the sheriff or deputy sheriff may be accompanied and assisted in retaining custody of any such prisoner, by one or more other deputy sheriffs, who shall be entitled to compensation for such services to compensation at the rate of $5 per day, unless a different rate is established by resolution of the county board, and to their necessary and actual expenses. Such compensation and expenses shall be claimed and allowed in the manner provided in sub. (1) par. (a) and the said certificate of the district attorney shall be attached to the verified account of such deputy for such services.

SB639, s. 291 Section 291. 59.30 of the statutes is renumbered 59.32 (2) and amended to read:

SB639,164,14 59.32 (2) Fees, how collected. All fees allowed to the sheriff upon the service of an execution or a writ for the collection of money or judgment for the sale of real estate and advertising thereon shall be collected by virtue of such the execution, writ or judgment in the same manner as the sum therein directed to be collected.

SB639, s. 292 Section 292. 59.31 of the statutes is renumbered 59.32 (3) and amended to read:

SB639,164,23 59.32 (3) Fees, how paid. All fees to which sheriffs or their deputies are entitled for attendance required by law upon any court of record shall be paid out of the treasury of the county wherein such in which the services were rendered in the manner that fees of jurors attending such courts are paid; and whenever any such officer is required to perform any service for the state, which is not chargeable to the officer's county or some officer or person, that officer's account therefor shall be paid out of the state treasury.

SB639, s. 293 Section 293. 59.32 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB639,164,25 59.32 (title) Fees received by sheriff.

SB639, s. 294 Section 294. 59.32 of the statutes is renumbered 59.32 (4) and amended to read:

SB639,165,9 59.32 (4) Excessive fees. No sheriff, undersheriff or deputy shall directly or indirectly ask, demand or receive for any services or acts to be performed by that officer in the discharge of any of that officer's official duties any greater fees than are allowed by law; and for the violation of any of the provisions of this section subsection every such officer shall be liable in treble damages to the party aggrieved and shall forfeit not less than twenty-five $25 nor more than two hundred and fifty dollars $250.

SB639, s. 295 Section 295. 59.33 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB639,165,16 59.33 Powers after term. (1) Every undersheriff and deputy sheriff, compensated for services by fees or by part salary and part fees, may execute and return all writs, processes and orders in their hands at the expiration of the sheriff's term of office and which the undersheriff or deputy sheriff has, prior to before that time, begun to execute by service, levy, advertisement or the collection of money thereon.

SB639,165,23 (2) In counties where the compensation of sheriffs, undersheriffs and deputies has been changed from the fee to the salary system as provided by law, the sheriff, immediately upon the expiration of the sheriff's term, shall turn over to the sheriff's successor all writs, processes and orders in the hands of the sheriff, or in the hands of the undersheriff or deputies, whether or not such writs, processes and orders have been partly or fully executed or returned, and such successor shall execute and return or complete the execution and return of such writs, processes and orders.

SB639,166,2 (3) In case of a vacancy in the office of sheriff, of any county, the undersheriff and deputies then in office having then any writ, process or order in their hands shall have the same authority and be under the same obligation to serve, execute and return the same as if such the sheriff had continued in office.

SB639, s. 296 Section 296. 59.34 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB639,166,4 59.34 (title) Coroner, medical examiner duties; coroner compatibility.

SB639, s. 297 Section 297. 59.34 (intro.), (1) to (4) and (6) of the statutes are renumbered 59.34 (1) (intro.) and (a) to (e) and amended to read:

SB639,166,8 59.34 (1) Coroner; medical examiner; duties. (intro.) The coroner shall do all of the following:

SB639,166,24 (a) Participate in inquest proceedings when required by law, except that in any county with a population of 500,000 or more and all counties which have instituted the medical examiner system this duty and the powers incident thereto shall be vested exclusively in the office of the medical examiner. Except as provided under s. 59.346 59.38 (5), the board shall appoint the medical examiner. The office may be occupied on a full-time or part-time basis and shall be paid such compensation as the board by ordinance provides. The duties performed by the county coroner and not vested in the medical examiner shall be performed by the clerk. The medical examiner may appoint such assistants as the board authorizes. Whenever requested by the court or district attorney, the medical examiner shall testify to facts and conclusions disclosed by autopsies performed by him or her, at his or her direction or in his or her presence; shall make physical examinations and tests incident to any matter of a criminal nature up for consideration before either the court or district attorney upon request; shall testify as an expert for either the court or the state in all matters where the examinations or tests have been made; and shall perform such other duties of a pathological or medicolegal nature as may be required.

SB639,167,5 (b) When there is no sheriff or undersheriff in any county organized for judicial purposes, exercise all the powers and duties of sheriff of that county until a sheriff is elected or appointed and qualified; and when the sheriff for any cause is committed to the jail of that county, be keeper thereof during the time that the sheriff remains a prisoner therein.

SB639,167,14 (c) Serve and execute process of every kind and perform all other duties of the sheriff when the sheriff is a party to the action and whenever the clerk of the circuit court addresses the original or other process in any action to the coroner as provided in s. 59.395 (6) 59.40 (2) (o), execute the same in like manner as the sheriff might do in other cases; exercise the same powers and proceed in the same manner as prescribed for sheriffs in the performance of similar duties; and in all cases the coroner and the coroner's sureties shall be liable in the same manner and to the same extent on the coroner's official bonds as sheriffs and their sureties are liable in similar cases.

SB639,167,15 (d) Perform all other duties that are required by law.

SB639,167,17 (e) Act as coroner in a nearby county when requested to do so under s. 59.345 (2) sub. (2) (b).

SB639, s. 298 Section 298. 59.34 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

SB639, s. 299 Section 299. 59.345 of the statutes is renumbered 59.34 (2) and amended to read:

SB639,167,24 59.34 (2) Coroner; compatibility with other offices. (a) Notwithstanding s. 979.04 (3) and except as provided in sub. (2) par. (b), any person holding office under s. 59.34 sub. (1) may also serve as a volunteer emergency medical technician or volunteer fire fighter.

SB639,168,12 (b) 1. No person serving as a coroner under s. 59.34 sub. (1) who also serves as a volunteer emergency medical technician or a volunteer fire fighter may participate as a coroner in any case in which he or she may be required to participate as a volunteer emergency medical technician or a volunteer fire fighter. If an apparent or actual conflict of interest arises between the person's duties as coroner and as volunteer emergency medical technician or volunteer fire fighter, the deputy coroner shall act as coroner in the case in which the conflict exists. If there is no deputy coroner, the coroner shall request that the coroner, medical examiner, deputy coroner or a medical examiner's assistant in a nearby county act as coroner in the case in which the conflict exists. Any fees owed to or expenses incurred by the acting coroner from the nearby county shall be paid by the county that requested the acting coroner's services.

SB639,168,17 2. If a person serving as coroner under s. 59.34 sub. (1) is required to exercise the powers and duties of sheriff under s. 59.34 (2) sub. (1) (b), the deputy coroner shall act as coroner or, if there is no deputy coroner, the coroner shall request under the procedures in par. (a) subd. 1. that another person act as coroner until the coroner is no longer exercising the powers and duties of sheriff.

SB639, s. 300 Section 300. 59.346 of the statutes is renumbered 59.38 (5) and amended to read:

SB639,169,3 59.38 (5) Medical examiner; appointment in populous counties. In any a county with a population of 500,000 or more, the county executive shall appoint the medical examiner in the unclassified service, subject to confirmation by a majority of the board. The medical examiner may be dismissed at any time by the county executive with the concurrence of a majority of the members-elect of the board, or by a majority of the members-elect of the board with the concurrence of the county executive. If the county executive vetoes an action by the board to dismiss the medical examiner, the board may override the veto by a two-thirds vote of the members-elect of the board.

SB639, s. 301 Section 301. 59.35 of the statutes is renumbered 59.38 (4) and amended to read:

SB639,169,8 59.38 (4) Special counties; deputies and assistants; powers. The medical examiner and his or her assistants shall be compensated for the performance of all their official duties by salaries fixed by the board under s. 59.351 sub. (1).

SB639, s. 302 Section 302. 59.351 of the statutes is renumbered 59.38 (1) and amended to read:

SB639,170,2 59.38 (1) Medical examiner, assistants; salaries; fees; report. The medical examiner and medical examiner's assistants authorized by the county board shall be paid semimonthly out of the county treasury of the proper county, for the performance of all their official duties and in lieu of all other compensation, salaries to be fixed by the county board. The medical examiner and medical examiner's assistants shall collect for all services performed, except in cases where the county is solely liable, all fees that coroners are by law entitled to receive, and shall keep accurate books of account in which shall be entered from day to day the items of services rendered, the titles of the proceedings in which and the names of the persons for whom rendered, and the fees charged and received, and shall, at the end of every 3 months, render to the county board of the county and to the county treasurer an accurate report or statement, verified by his or her oath, of all fees and income collected by them or for them during the 3 months; and at the same time they shall pay to the treasurer of the county all fees and incomes collected by them, or which they were entitled by law to charge or receive, not paid to the treasurer. The medical examiner or a medical examiner's assistant shall act as coroner in a nearby county when requested to do so under s. 59.345 (2) 59.34 (2) (b).

SB639, s. 303 Section 303. 59.352 of the statutes is renumbered 59.38 (2) and amended to read:

SB639,170,10 59.38 (2) Office and records. The county board of such county shall provide for the use of the medical examiner suitable offices at the county seat of the county, and the medical examiner shall keep in his or her office proper books containing records of all inquests held by the medical examiner, setting forth the time and place of holding such the inquests and the names of the jurors serving thereon, together with a brief statement of the inquest proceedings thereof.