1997 WISCONSIN ACT 139
An Act to create 440.205 of the statutes; relating to: the issuance of administrative warnings to holders of credentials issued by the department of regulation and licensing and granting rule-making authority.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
139,1
Section 1
. 440.205 of the statutes is created to read:
440.205 Administrative warnings. If the department or a board, examining board or affiliated credentialing board in the department determines during an investigation that there is evidence of misconduct by a credential holder, the department, board, examining board or affiliated credentialing board may close the investigation by issuing an administrative warning to the credential holder. The department or a board, examining board or affiliated credentialing board may issue an administrative warning under this section only if the department or board, examining board or affiliated credentialing board determines that no further action is warranted because the complaint involves a first occurrence of a minor violation and the issuance of an administrative warning adequately protects the public by putting the credential holder on notice that any subsequent violation may result in disciplinary action. If an administrative warning is issued, the credential holder may obtain a review of the administrative warning through a personal appearance before the department, board, examining board or affiliated credentialing board that issued the administrative warning. Administrative warnings do not constitute an adjudication of guilt or the imposition of discipline and may not be used as evidence that the credential holder is guilty of the alleged misconduct. However, if a subsequent allegation of misconduct by the credential holder is received by the department or a board, examining board or affiliated credentialing board in the department, the matter relating to the issuance of the administrative warning may be reopened and disciplinary proceedings may be commenced on the matter, or the administrative warning may be used in any subsequent disciplinary proceeding as evidence that the credential holder had actual knowledge that the misconduct that was the basis for the administrative warning was contrary to law. The record that an administrative warning was issued shall be a public record. The contents of the administrative warning shall be private and confidential. The department shall promulgate rules establishing uniform procedures for the issuance and use of administrative warnings.
