SB1-SSA2, s. 94 13Section 94. 19.46 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (6a) and amended to
14read:
SB1-SSA2,52,815 5.05 (6a) Advisory opinions. Any individual, either personally or on behalf of
16an organization or governmental body, may make a written or electronic request of
17the board for an advisory opinion regarding the propriety under chs. 5 to 12, subch.
18III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19
of any matter to which the person is or may become
19a party; and any appointing officer, with the consent of a prospective appointee, may
20request of the board an advisory opinion regarding the propriety under chs. 5 to 12,
21subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19
of any matter to which the prospective
22appointee is or may become a party. The board shall review a request for an advisory
23opinion and may advise issue a formal written or electronic advisory opinion to the
24person making the request. Advisory opinions and requests therefor shall be in
25writing. The
Except as authorized or required for opinions specified in sub. (5s) (f)

12., the
board's deliberations and actions upon such requests shall be in meetings not
2open to the public. It is prima facie evidence of intent to comply with this subchapter
3or subch. III of ch. 13 when a person refers a matter to the board and abides by the
4board's advisory opinion
No person acting in good faith upon an advisory opinion
5issued by the board is subject to criminal or civil prosecution for so acting
, if the
6material facts are as stated in the opinion request. To have legal force and effect, each
7advisory opinion issued by the board must be supported by specific legal authority
8under a statute or other law, or by specific case or common law authority. Each
9advisory opinion shall include a citation to each statute or other law and each case
10or common law authority upon which the opinion is based, and shall specifically
11articulate or explain which parts of the cited authority are relevant to the board's
12conclusion and why they are relevant.
The board may authorize the executive
13director
its legal counsel to act in its stead in instances where delay is of substantial
14inconvenience or detriment to the requesting party. No
issue an informal written
15advisory opinion or to transmit an informal advisory opinion electronically on behalf
16of the board, subject to such limitations as the board deems appropriate. Every
17informal advisory opinion shall be consistent with applicable formal advisory
18opinions issued by the board. If the board disagrees with an informal advisory
19opinion that has been issued on behalf of the board, the board may withdraw the
20opinion or issue a revised advisory opinion and no person acting after the date of the
21withdrawal or issuance of the revised advisory opinion is exempted from prosecution
22under this subsection if the opinion upon which the person's action is based has been
23withdrawn or revised in relevant degree. Except as authorized or required under
24sub. (5s) (f) 2., no
member or employee of the board may make public the identity of
25the individual requesting an a formal or informal advisory opinion or of individuals

1or organizations mentioned in the opinion. Any person receiving a formal or informal
2advisory opinion under this subsection who disagrees with the opinion may request
3a public or private hearing before the board to discuss the opinion. The board shall
4grant a request for a public or private hearing under this subsection. After hearing
5the matter, the board may reconsider its opinion and may issue a revised opinion to
6the person. Promptly upon issuance of each formal advisory opinion that is not open
7to public access, the board shall publish a summary of the opinion that is consistent
8with applicable requirements under sub. (5s) (f).
SB1-SSA2, s. 95 9Section 95. 19.47 (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
SB1-SSA2,52,10 1019.47 (title) Statements of economic interests.
SB1-SSA2, s. 96 11Section 96. 19.47 (1) and (2) of the statutes are repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 97 12Section 97. 19.47 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 19.47.
SB1-SSA2, s. 98 13Section 98. 19.47 (4) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 99 14Section 99. 19.47 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (5e) and amended to
15read:
SB1-SSA2,53,216 5.05 (5e) Biennial report. No later than September 1 of each year, the board
17shall submit a report concerning its actions in the preceding fiscal year to the
18governor and the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the
19legislature under s. 13.172 (2). Such
The board shall include in its biennial report
20shall contain under s. 15.04 (1) (d) the names and duties of all individuals employed
21by the board and a summary of its determinations and advisory opinions . The issued
22under sub. (6a). Except as authorized or required under sub. (5s) (f) 2., the
board
23shall make sufficient alterations in the summaries to prevent disclosing the
24identities of individuals or organizations involved in the decisions or opinions. The
25board may also include in its biennial report any information compiled under s. 11.21

1(7).
The board shall make such further reports on the matters within its jurisdiction
2and such recommendations for further legislation as it deems desirable.
SB1-SSA2, s. 100 3Section 100. 19.47 (6) of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (5f).
SB1-SSA2, s. 101 4Section 101. 19.49 (title) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 102 5Section 102. 19.49 (1) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 103 6Section 103. 19.49 (1m) of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (2m) (c) 2. b.
SB1-SSA2, s. 104 7Section 104. 19.49 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (2m) (c) 3. and
8amended to read:
SB1-SSA2,53,139 5.05 (2m) (c) 3. Any person to whom this subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13 or
10subch. III of ch. 19
may have application may request the board to make an
11investigation of his or her own conduct or of allegations made by other persons as to
12his or her conduct. Such a request shall be made in writing and shall set forth in
13detail the reasons therefor.
SB1-SSA2, s. 105 14Section 105. 19.49 (3) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 106 15Section 106. 19.49 (4) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 107 16Section 107. 19.49 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (2m) (g) and amended
17to read:
SB1-SSA2,53,2018 5.05 (2m) (g) 1. Except as provided in par. (b) subd. 2., no action may be taken
19on any complaint that is filed later than 3 years after a violation of this subchapter
20or
subch. III of ch. 13 or subch. III of ch. 19 is alleged to have occurred.
SB1-SSA2,53,2321 2. The period of limitation under par. (a) subd. 1. is tolled for a complaint
22alleging a violation of s. 19.45 (13) or 19.59 (1) (br) for the period during which such
23a complaint may not be filed under s. 19.49 (1m) par. (c) 2. b. or s. 19.59 (8) (cm).
SB1-SSA2, s. 108 24Section 108. 19.50 (title) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 109
1Section 109. 19.50 (intro.) and (1) of the statutes are renumbered 5.05 (2m)
2(f) (intro.) and 1. and amended to read:
SB1-SSA2,54,53 5.05 (2m) (f) (intro.) Pursuant to any investigation authorized under s. 19.49
4(3) or any hearing conducted under this subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13
par. (c), the
5board has the power:
SB1-SSA2,54,96 1. To require any person to submit in writing such reports and answers to
7questions relevant to the proceedings conducted under this subchapter or subch. III
8of ch. 13
as the board may prescribe, such submission to be made within such period
9and under oath or otherwise as the board may determine.
SB1-SSA2, s. 110 10Section 110. 19.50 (2) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 111 11Section 111. 19.50 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (2m) (f) 2. and
12amended to read:
SB1-SSA2,54,1613 5.05 (2m) (f) 2. To order testimony to be taken by deposition before any
14individual who is designated by the board and has the power to administer oaths,
15and, in such instances, to compel testimony and the production of evidence in the
16same manner as authorized by sub. (2) (1) (b).
SB1-SSA2, s. 112 17Section 112. 19.50 (4) and (5) of the statutes are renumbered 5.05 (2m) (f) 4.
18and 5.
SB1-SSA2, s. 113 19Section 113. 19.51 (title) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 114 20Section 114. 19.51 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (2m) (c) 9. and
21amended to read:
SB1-SSA2,55,722 5.05 (2m) (c) 9. At the conclusion of its investigation, the board shall, in
23preliminary written findings of fact and conclusions based thereon, make a
24determination of whether or not probable cause exists to believe that a violation of
25this subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13 under subd. 2. has occurred or is occurring.

1If the board determines that no probable cause exists, it shall dismiss the complaint.
2Whenever the board dismisses a complaint or a complaint is deemed to be dismissed
3under subd. 5., the board shall
immediately send written notice of such
4determination
the dismissal to the accused and to the party who made the complaint.
5If the board determines that there is probable cause for believing that a violation of
6this subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13 has been committed, its preliminary findings
7of fact and conclusions may contain:
SB1-SSA2, s. 115 8Section 115. 19.51 (1) (a) and (b) of the statutes are repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 116 9Section 116. 19.51 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (2m) (c) 10.
SB1-SSA2, s. 117 10Section 117. 19.51 (3) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 118 11Section 118. 19.52 of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 119 12Section 119. 19.53 (intro.) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 120 13Section 120. 19.53 (1) to (5) of the statutes are repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 121 14Section 121. 19.53 (6) of the statutes is renumbered 19.579 (1) and amended
15to read:
SB1-SSA2,56,816 19.579 (1) An order requiring the accused Except as provided in sub. (2), any
17person who violates this subchapter may be required
to forfeit not more than $500
18for each violation of s. 19.43, 19.44, or 19.56 (2) or not more than $5,000 for each
19violation of any other provision of this subchapter, or not more than the applicable
20amount specified in s. 13.69 for each violation of subch. III of ch. 13
. If the board court
21determines that the accused has realized economic gain as a result of the violation,
22the board court may, in addition, order the accused to forfeit the amount gained as
23a result of the violation. In addition, if the board court determines that a state public
24official has violated s. 19.45 (13), the board court may order the official to forfeit an
25amount equal to the amount or value of any political contribution, service, or other

1thing of value that was wrongfully obtained. If the board court determines that a
2state public official has violated s. 19.45 (13) and no political contribution, service or
3other thing of value was obtained, the board court may order the official to forfeit an
4amount equal to the maximum contribution authorized under s. 11.26 (1) for the
5office held or sought by the official, whichever amount is greater. The attorney
6general, when so requested by the board, shall institute proceedings to recover any
7forfeiture incurred under this section or s. 19.545 which is not paid by the person
8against whom it is assessed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 122 9Section 122. 19.53 (7) and (8) of the statutes are repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 123 10Section 123. 19.535 of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 124 11Section 124. 19.54 of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 125 12Section 125. 19.545 of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 126 13Section 126. 19.55 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1-SSA2,56,2414 19.55 (1) Except as provided in sub. (2) and s. 5.05 (5s), all records under this
15subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13
in the possession of the board are open to public
16inspection at all reasonable times. The board shall require an individual wishing to
17examine a statement of economic interests or the list of persons who inspect any
18statements which are in the board's possession to provide his or her full name and
19address, and if the individual is representing another person, the full name and
20address of the person which he or she represents. Such identification may be
21provided in writing or in person. The board shall record and retain for at least 3 years
22information obtained by it pursuant to this subsection. No individual may use a
23fictitious name or address or fail to identify a principal in making any request for
24inspection.
SB1-SSA2, s. 127
1Section 127. 19.55 (2) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (5s) (f) 1. and
2amended to read:
SB1-SSA2,57,103 5.05 (5s) (f) 1. Records Except as authorized or required under subd. 2., records
4obtained in connection with a request for an advisory opinion issued under s. 5.05
5(6a),
other than summaries of advisory opinions that do not disclose the identity of
6individuals requesting such opinions or organizations on whose behalf they are
7requested, are not subject to the right of inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1).
8Except as authorized or required under subd. 2., the board shall make sufficient
9alterations in the summaries to prevent disclosing the identities of individuals or
10organizations involved in the opinions
.
SB1-SSA2,57,13 112. a. The board may, however, make such records under subd. 1. public with the
12consent of the individual requesting the advisory opinion or the organization or
13governmental body on whose behalf it is requested.
SB1-SSA2,57,18 14b. A person who makes or purports to make public the substance of or any
15portion of an advisory opinion requested by or on behalf of the person is deemed to
16have waived the confidentiality of the request for an advisory opinion and of any
17records obtained or prepared by the board in connection with the request for an
18advisory opinion.
SB1-SSA2, s. 128 19Section 128. 19.55 (2) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (5s) (intro.) and
20amended to read:
SB1-SSA2,57,2421 5.05 (5s) (intro.) Records obtained or prepared by the board in connection with
22an investigation, including the full text of any complaint received by the board, are
23not subject to the right of inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1)
, except as
24provided in pars. (d) and (e) and except
that the :
SB1-SSA2,58,5
1(a) The board shall permit inspection of records that are made public
2distributed or discussed in the course of a meeting or hearing by the board to
3determine if a violation of this subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13 has occurred.

4Whenever the board refers such investigation and hearing records to a district
5attorney or to the attorney general, they
in open session.
SB1-SSA2,58,8 6(b) Investigatory records of the board may be made public in the course of a
7prosecution initiated under this subchapter chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch.
8III of ch. 19
.
SB1-SSA2,58,12 9(c) The board shall also provide information from investigation and hearing
10records that pertains to the location of individuals and assets of individuals as
11requested under s. 49.22 (2m) by the department of workforce development or by a
12county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5).
SB1-SSA2, s. 129 13Section 129. 19.55 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1-SSA2,58,2014 19.55 (2) (c) Statements of economic interests and reports of economic
15transactions which are filed with the ethics government accountability board by
16members or employees of the investment board, except that the ethics government
17accountability
board shall refer statements and reports filed by such individuals to
18the legislative audit bureau for its review, and except that a statement of economic
19interests filed by a member or employee of the investment board who is also an
20official required to file shall be open to public inspection.
SB1-SSA2, s. 130 21Section 130. 19.579 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1-SSA2,58,22 2219.579 (title) Civil penalty penalties.
SB1-SSA2, s. 131 23Section 131. 19.579 of the statutes is renumbered 19.579 (2).
SB1-SSA2, s. 132 24Section 132. 19.59 (1) (g) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1-SSA2,59,13
119.59 (1) (g) 8. No district board member, member of a district board member's
2immediate family, nor any organization with which the district board member or a
3member of the district board member's immediate family owns or controls at least
410% of the outstanding equity, voting rights, or outstanding indebtedness may enter
5into any contract or lease involving a payment or payments of more than $3,000
6within a 12-month period, in whole or in part derived from district funds unless the
7district board member has first made written disclosure of the nature and extent of
8such relationship or interest to the ethics government accountability board and to
9the district. Any contract or lease entered into in violation of this subdivision may
10be voided by the district in an action commenced within 3 years of the date on which
11the ethics government accountability board, or the district, knew or should have
12known that a violation of this subdivision had occurred. This subdivision does not
13affect the application of s. 946.13.
SB1-SSA2, s. 133 14Section 133. 19.85 (1) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1-SSA2,59,1715 19.85 (1) (h) Consideration of requests for confidential written advice from the
16ethics government accountability board under s. 19.46 (2) 5.05 (6a), or from any
17county or municipal ethics board under s. 19.59 (5).
SB1-SSA2, s. 134 18Section 134. 19.851 of the statutes is created to read:
SB1-SSA2,60,2 1919.851 Closed sessions by government accountability board. The
20government accountability board shall hold each meeting of the board for the
21purpose of deliberating concerning an investigation of any violation of the law under
22the jurisdiction of the ethics and accountability division of the board in closed session
23under this section. Prior to convening under this section, the government
24accountability board shall vote to convene in closed session in the manner provided
25in s. 19.85 (1). No business may be conducted by the government accountability

1board at any closed session under this section except that which relates to the
2purposes of the session as authorized in this section or as authorized in s. 19.85 (1).
SB1-SSA2, s. 135 3Section 135. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place,
4insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table PDF
SB1-SSA2, s. 136 5Section 136. 20.005 (3) (schedule) 20.511 of the statutes is repealed and
6recreated to read: - See PDF for table PDF
SB1-SSA2, s. 137 7Section 137. 20.455 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB1-SSA2,60,108 20.455 (1) (b) Special counsel. A sum sufficient, subject to the procedure
9procedures established in s. ss. 5.05 (2m) (c) and 14.11 (2) (c), for the compensation
10of special counsel appointed as provided in ss. 5.05 (2m) (c) and 14.11 (2) and 21.13.
SB1-SSA2, s. 138
1Section 138. 20.510 (intro.) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 139 2Section 139. 20.510 (1) (title) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 140 3Section 140. 20.510 (1) (a) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 141 4Section 141. 20.510 (1) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 20.511 (1) (b).
SB1-SSA2, s. 142 5Section 142. 20.510 (1) (bm) of the statutes is renumbered 20.511 (1) (bm).
SB1-SSA2, s. 143 6Section 143. 20.510 (1) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 20.511 (1) (c).
SB1-SSA2, s. 144 7Section 144. 20.510 (1) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 20.511 (1) (d).
SB1-SSA2, s. 145 8Section 145. 20.510 (1) (g) of the statutes is renumbered 20.511 (1) (g).
SB1-SSA2, s. 146 9Section 146. 20.510 (1) (gm) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 147 10Section 147. 20.510 (1) (h) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 148 11Section 148. 20.510 (1) (i) of the statutes is repealed.
SB1-SSA2, s. 149 12Section 149. 20.510 (1) (j) of the statutes is renumbered 20.511 (1) (j).
SB1-SSA2, s. 150 13Section 150. 20.510 (1) (q) of the statutes is renumbered 20.511 (1) (q).
SB1-SSA2, s. 151 14Section 151. 20.510 (1) (t) of the statutes is renumbered 20.511 (1) (t).
SB1-SSA2, s. 152 15Section 152. 20.510 (1) (x) of the statutes is renumbered 20.511 (1) (x).
SB1-SSA2, s. 153 16Section 153. 20.511 (intro.) and (1) (title) and (a) of the statutes are created
17to read.
SB1-SSA2,61,20 1820.511 Government accountability board. (intro.) There is appropriated
19from the general fund, except where otherwise indicated, to the government
20accountability board for the following programs:
SB1-SSA2,61,21 21(1) (title) Administration of election, ethics, and lobbying laws.
SB1-SSA2,61,2522 (a) General program operations; general purpose revenue. Biennially, the
23amounts in the schedule for general program operations of the board, including the
24printing of forms, materials, manuals, and election laws under ss. 7.08 (1) (b), (3), and
25(4) and 11.21 (3) and (14), and the training of election officials under s. 5.05 (7).
SB1-SSA2, s. 154
1Section 154. 20.511 (1) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act
2.... (this act), is repealed.
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