AB656: Bill Text

LRB-0850/1

JTK:nwn:rs

2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE

2011 Assembly BILL 656

March 5, 2012 - Introduced by Representatives Kessler and Hebl, cosponsored by Senator Taylor. Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Ethics.

AB656,1,5 An Act to repeal 801.50 (5t), 801.64, 971.19 (12) and 971.223; and to amend 5.05 (1) (c), 5.05 (2m) (a), 5.05 (2m) (c) 4., 5.05 (2m) (c) 11., 5.05 (2m) (c) 14., 5.05 (2m) (i), 5.08, 6.56 (4), 6.56 (5), 11.22 (4), 11.60 (4), 11.61 (2), 12.13 (5) (a), 801.52, 971.225 (1) (intro.), 978.05 (1) and 978.05 (2) of the statutes; relating to: the prosecution and venue for trial of certain offenses by certain state residents.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, with certain limited exceptions, civil violations of the elections, ethics, and lobbying regulation laws and of all other laws arising from or in relation to the official functions of the subject of an investigation or any matter that relates to elections, ethics, or lobbying regulation that are alleged to be committed by a resident of this state are prosecuted by the Government Accountability Board or by the district attorney for the prosecutorial unit (in most cases, the county) where the subject resides. With similar exceptions, civil violations of these laws by nonresidents are prosecuted by the board or by the district attorney for the prosecutorial unit where an alleged violation occurs. Criminal violations of these laws are prosecuted solely by the same district attorney, subject to the same exceptions. With certain limited exceptions, the trial in any such civil or criminal prosecution of a resident of this state, as well as in any lobbying license revocation action brought by the board, is held in circuit court for the county where the subject resides. With similar exceptions, the trial in any such civil or criminal prosecution of a nonresident of this state is held in circuit court for the county where an alleged violation occurs.

This bill provides, with similar exceptions, that all such civil violations shall be prosecuted by the board or by the district attorney for the prosecutorial unit who would prosecute the violation under general law (in most cases, the prosecutorial unit where an alleged violation occurs). The bill also provides, with similar exceptions, that all such criminal violations shall be prosecuted by the district attorney for the prosecutorial unit who would prosecute the violation under general law (in most cases, the prosecutorial unit where an alleged violation occurs). In addition, the bill provides, with limited exceptions, that the trial in any such civil or criminal prosecution, as well as in any lobbying license revocation action brought by the board, shall be held in circuit court for the county provided under general law (in most cases, the county where the alleged violation occurs). Under the bill, the board has no responsibility for prosecution of any violations other than violations of the elections, ethics, and lobbying regulation laws.

The bill also deletes a statutory restriction on the disclosure of certain information related to the investigation or prosecution of laws arising from or in relation to the official functions of the person who is investigated or prosecuted. Under the bill, the information may still be withheld if other laws authorize or require the information to be withheld or if the custodian can demonstrate that the public interest requires withholding.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB656, s. 1 Section 1. 5.05 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,3,16 5.05 (1) (c) Bring civil actions to require a forfeiture for any violation of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 or a license revocation for any violation of subch. III of ch. 13 for which the offender is subject to a revocation. The board may compromise and settle any civil action or potential action brought or authorized to be brought by it which, in the opinion of the board, constitutes a minor violation, a violation caused by excusable neglect, or which for other good cause shown, should not in the public interest be prosecuted under such chapter. Notwithstanding s. 778.06, a civil action or proposed civil action authorized under this paragraph may be settled for such sum as may be agreed between the parties. Any settlement made by the board shall be in such amount as to deprive the alleged violator of any benefit of his or her wrongdoing and may contain a penal component to serve as a deterrent to future violations. In settling civil actions or proposed civil actions, the board shall treat comparable situations in a comparable manner and shall assure that any settlement bears a reasonable relationship to the severity of the offense or alleged offense. Except as otherwise provided in sub. (2m) (c) 15. and 16. and ss. 5.08, 5.081, and 19.59 (8), forfeiture Forfeiture and license revocation actions brought by the board shall be brought in the circuit court for the county where the defendant resides, or if the defendant is a nonresident of this state, in circuit court for the county wherein the violation is alleged to occur. For purposes of this paragraph, a person other than a natural person resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is located within that county provided under s. 801.50. Whenever the board enters into a settlement agreement with an individual who is accused of a civil violation of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 or who is investigated by the board for a possible civil violation of one of those provisions, the board shall reduce the agreement to writing, together with a statement of the board's findings and reasons for entering into the agreement and shall retain the agreement and statement in its office for inspection.

AB656, s. 2 Section 2. 5.05 (2m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,3,23 5.05 (2m) (a) The board shall investigate violations of laws administered by the board and may prosecute alleged civil violations of those laws, directly or through its agents under this subsection, pursuant to all statutes granting or assigning that authority or responsibility to the board. Prosecution of alleged criminal violations investigated by the board may be brought only as provided in par. (c) 11., 14., 15., and 16. and s. 978.05 (1).

AB656, s. 3 Section 3. 5.05 (2m) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,5,2 5.05 (2m) (c) 4. If the board reviews a complaint and fails to find that there is a reasonable suspicion that a violation under subd. 2. has occurred or is occurring, the board shall dismiss the complaint. If the board believes that there is reasonable suspicion that a violation under subd. 2. has occurred or is occurring, the board may by resolution authorize the commencement of an investigation. The resolution shall specifically set forth any matter that is authorized to be investigated. To assist in the investigation, the board may elect to retain a special investigator. If the board elects to retain a special investigator, the administrator of the ethics and accountability division shall submit to the board the names of 3 qualified individuals to serve as a special investigator. The board may retain one or more of the individuals. If Unless another prosecutor has jurisdiction to prosecute the alleged violation, if the board retains a special investigator to investigate a complaint against a person who is a resident of this state alleging a violation under subd. 2., the board shall provide to the district attorney for the county in which the person resides where the violation is alleged to occur a copy of the complaint and shall notify the district attorney that it has retained a special investigator to investigate the complaint. For purposes of this subdivision, a person other than a natural person resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is located within that county. If another prosecutor has jurisdiction to prosecute the alleged violation, the board shall provide the copy of the complaint and notification to that prosecutor or the person having authority to appoint that prosecutor. The board shall enter into a written contract with any individual who is retained as a special investigator setting forth the terms of the engagement. A special investigator who is retained by the board may request the board to issue a subpoena to a specific person or to authorize the special investigator to request a circuit court to issue a search warrant. The board may grant the request by approving a motion to that effect at a meeting of the board if the board finds that such action is legally appropriate.

AB656, s. 4 Section 4. 5.05 (2m) (c) 11. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,5,12 5.05 (2m) (c) 11. If the board finds that there is probable cause to believe that a violation under subd. 2. has occurred or is occurring, the board may, in lieu of civil prosecution of any matter by the board, refer the matter to the district attorney for the county in which the alleged violator resides, or if the alleged violator is a nonresident, to the district attorney for the county where the matter arises, having jurisdiction to prosecute the alleged violation, or if subd. 16. or par. (i) applies, to the attorney general or a special prosecutor. For purposes of this subdivision, a person other than a natural person resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is located within that county.

AB656, s. 5 Section 5. 5.05 (2m) (c) 14. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,5,21 5.05 (2m) (c) 14. If a special investigator or the administrator of the ethics and accountability division of the board, in the course of an investigation authorized by the board, discovers evidence of a potential violation of a law that is not administered by the board arising from or in relation to the official functions of the subject of the investigation or any matter that involves elections, ethics, or lobbying regulation, the special investigator or the administrator may present that evidence to the board. The board may thereupon refer the matter to the appropriate district attorney specified except as otherwise provided in subd. 11.

AB656, s. 6 Section 6. 5.05 (2m) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,6,4 5.05 (2m) (i) If the defendant in an action for a an alleged criminal violation of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 is concerns a district attorney or a circuit judge or a candidate for either such office, the action shall be brought by the attorney general. If the defendant in an action for a an alleged criminal violation of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 is concerns the attorney general or a candidate for that office, the board may appoint a special prosecutor to conduct the prosecution on behalf of the state.

AB656, s. 7 Section 7. 5.08 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,6,22 5.08 Petition for enforcement. In addition to or in lieu of filing a complaint, any elector may file a verified petition alleging such facts as are within his or her knowledge to indicate that an election official has failed or is failing to comply with any law regulating the conduct of elections or election campaigns or proposes to act in a manner inconsistent with such a law, and requesting that an action be commenced for injunctive relief, a writ of mandamus or prohibition or other such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to compel compliance with the law. The Unless another prosecutor has jurisdiction to prosecute the alleged failure to comply, the petition shall be filed with the district attorney for the county having jurisdiction to prosecute the alleged failure to comply under s. 978.05 (1) and (2). If another prosecutor has jurisdiction to prosecute the alleged failure to comply, the petition shall be filed with that prosecutor or the person having authority to appoint that prosecutor. The district attorney or other prosecutor may then commence the action or dismiss the petition. If the district attorney or other prosecutor declines to act upon the petition or if the district attorney fails to act upon the petition within 15 days of the date of filing, the petitioner may file the same petition with the attorney general, who may then commence the action.

AB656, s. 8 Section 8. 6.56 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,7,9 6.56 (4) After each election, the municipal clerk shall perform an audit to assure that no person has been allowed to vote more than once. Whenever the municipal clerk has good reason to believe that a person has voted more than once in an election, the clerk shall send the person a 1st class letter marked in accordance with postal regulations to ensure that it will be returned to the clerk if the elector does not reside at the address given on the letter. The letter shall inform the person that all registrations relating to that person may be changed from eligible to ineligible status within 7 days unless the person contacts the office of the clerk to clarify the matter. A copy of the letter and of any subsequent information received from or about the addressee shall be sent to the district attorney for the county where the person resides any potential violation occurs and the board.

AB656, s. 9 Section 9. 6.56 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,7,18 6.56 (5) Whenever any letter or postcard mailed under this section is returned undelivered, or whenever the U.S. postal service notifies the clerk of an improper address which was apparently improper on the day of the election or whenever it otherwise appears that a person has voted who is not qualified or has voted more than once in an election, and the person has been permitted to vote after corroboration was made under s. 6.55 (2) or 6.86 (3) (a) 2., the name of the corroborator shall also be provided to the district attorney for the county where the person resides any potential violation occurs and the board.

AB656, s. 10 Section 10. 11.22 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,8,2 11.22 (4) Notify the board and the district attorney , or the attorney general where appropriate under s. 5.05 (2m) (i), in writing, of any facts within the filing officer's knowledge or evidence in the officer's possession, including errors or discrepancies in reports or statements and delinquencies in filing which may be grounds for civil action or criminal prosecution. The filing officer shall transmit a copy of such notification to the board. The board and the district attorney or the attorney general shall advise the filing officer in writing at the end of each 30-day period of the status of such matter until the time of disposition.

AB656, s. 11 Section 11. 11.60 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,8,10 11.60 (4) Except as otherwise provided in ss. s. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. and 16. and (h), 5.08, and 5.081, actions under this section or s. 11.517 may be brought by the board or by the appropriate district attorney for the county where the defendant resides or, if the defendant is a nonresident, by the district attorney for the county where the violation is alleged to have occurred. For purposes of this subsection, a person other than a natural person resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is located within that county or other prosecutor under ch. 978.

AB656, s. 12 Section 12. 11.61 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,8,22 11.61 (2) Except as otherwise provided in ss. this subsection and s. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. and 16. and (i), 5.08, and 5.081, all prosecutions under this section or s. 11.518 shall be conducted by the appropriate district attorney for the county where the defendant resides or, if the defendant is a nonresident, by the district attorney for the county where the violation is alleged to have occurred. For purposes of this subsection, a person other than a natural person resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is located within that county or other prosecutor under ch. 978. In addition to the remedy provided in s. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. to 17., if the district attorney refuses to act upon a sworn complaint, or fails to act upon such a complaint within 60 days of the date on which the complaint is received, the attorney general may then conduct the prosecution under this section.

AB656, s. 13 Section 13. 12.13 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,9,7 12.13 (5) (a) Except as specifically authorized by law and except as provided in par. (b), no investigator, prosecutor, employee of an investigator or prosecutor, or member or employee of the board may disclose information related to an investigation or prosecution under chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 or any other law specified in s. 978.05 (1) or (2) or provide access to any record of the investigator, prosecutor, or the board that is not subject to access under s. 5.05 (5s) to any person other than an employee or agent of the prosecutor or investigator or a member, employee, or agent of the board prior to presentation of the information or record in a court of law.

AB656, s. 14 Section 14. 801.50 (5t) of the statutes is repealed.

AB656, s. 15 Section 15. 801.52 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,9,20 801.52 Discretionary change of venue. The court may at any time, upon its own motion, the motion of a party or the stipulation of the parties, change the venue to any county in the interest of justice or for the convenience of the parties or witnesses, except that venue in a civil action to impose a forfeiture for a violation of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 or for a violation of any other law arising from or in relation to the official functions of the subject of the investigation or any matter that involves elections, ethics, or lobbying regulation under chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19, may be changed only as provided in s. 971.223 (1) and (2) or in the same manner that is authorized for a change in the venue of a criminal trial under s. 971.22. This section does not apply to proceedings under ch. 980.

AB656, s. 16 Section 16. 801.64 of the statutes is repealed.

AB656, s. 17 Section 17. 971.19 (12) of the statutes is repealed.

AB656, s. 18 Section 18. 971.223 of the statutes is repealed.

AB656, s. 19 Section 19. 971.225 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,10,2 971.225 (1) (intro.) In lieu of changing the place of trial under s. 971.22 (3) or 971.223, the court may require the selection of a jury under sub. (2) if:

AB656, s. 20 Section 20. 978.05 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,10,17 978.05 (1) Criminal actions. Except as otherwise provided by law, prosecute all criminal actions before any court within his or her prosecutorial unit and have sole responsibility for prosecution of all criminal actions arising from violations of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 and from violations of other laws arising from or in relation to the official functions of the subject of the investigation or any matter that involves elections, ethics, or lobbying regulation under chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19, that are alleged to be committed by a resident of his or her prosecutorial unit, or if alleged to be committed by a nonresident of this state, that are alleged to occur in his or her prosecutorial unit unless another prosecutor is substituted under s. 5.05 (2m) (i) or s. 11.61 (2) or this chapter or by referral of the government accountability board under s. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. or 16. For purposes of this subsection, a person other than a natural person is a resident of a prosecutorial unit if the person's principal place of operation is located in that prosecutorial unit.

AB656, s. 21 Section 21. 978.05 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,11,9 978.05 (2) Forfeitures. Except as otherwise provided by law, prosecute all state forfeiture actions, county traffic actions and actions concerning violations of county ordinances which are in conformity with state criminal laws in the courts within his or her prosecutorial unit and have joint responsibility, together with the government accountability board, for prosecution of all forfeiture actions arising from violations of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 and from violations of other laws arising from or in relation to the official functions of the subject of the investigation or any matter that involves elections, ethics, or lobbying regulation under chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 that are alleged to be committed by a resident of his or her prosecutorial unit, or if alleged to be committed by a nonresident of this state, that are alleged to occur within his or her prosecutorial unit unless another prosecutor is substituted under s. 5.05 (2m) (h) or this chapter or by referral of the government accountability board under s. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. or 16. For purposes of this subsection, a person other than a natural person is a resident of a prosecutorial unit if the person's principal place of operation is located in that prosecutorial unit.

AB656,11,10 (End)