Wisconsin Legislature: 118,170m

15.61 (1) (a) (intro.) There is created a government accountability board an elections commission consisting of 6 persons. Members shall serve for 6-year terms. the following members who shall serve for 5-year terms:

118,156 Section 156. 15.60 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

118,157 Section 157. 15.60 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

118,158 Section 158. 15.60 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 15.61 (2) and amended to read:

15.61 (2) No member of the commission may hold another office or position that is a state public office or a local public office, as defined in s. 19.42, except the office of circuit judge or court of appeals judge under s. 753.075.

118,159 Section 159. 15.60 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

118,160 Section 160. 15.60 (6) of the statutes is renumbered 15.61 (3).

118,161 Section 161. 15.60 (7) of the statutes is repealed.

118,162 Section 162. 15.60 (8) of the statutes is renumbered 15.61 (4) and amended to read:

15.61 (4) No member may be a lobbyist, as defined in s. 13.62 (11), or an employee of a principal, as defined in s. 13.62 (12), except that a member may serve as a circuit judge or court of appeals judge under s. 753.075.

118,163 Section 163. 15.603 (title) of the statutes is repealed.

118,164 Section 164. 15.603 (1) (title) of the statutes is repealed.

118,165 Section 165. 15.603 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 15.62 (1) (b) 1. and amended to read:

15.62 (1) (b) 1. There is created in the government accountability board an ethics and accountability division. The ethics and accountability division commission shall be under the direction and supervision of an administrator, who shall be appointed by a majority of the members of the board commission, with the advice and consent of the senate, to serve for a 4-year term expiring on July 1 of the odd-numbered year. Until the senate has confirmed an appointment made under this subdivision, the ethics commission shall be under the direction and supervision of an interim administrator selected by a majority of the members of the commission. If a vacancy occurs in the administrator position, the commission shall appoint a new administrator, and submit the appointment for senate confirmation, no later than 45 days after the date of the vacancy. If the commission has not appointed a new administrator at the end of the 45-day period, the joint committee on legislative organization shall appoint an interim administrator to serve until a new administrator has been confirmed by the senate but for a term of no longer than one year. If the administrator position remains vacant at the end of the one-year period, the process for filling the vacancy described in this subdivision is repeated until the vacancy is filled.

118,166 Section 166. 15.603 (2) (title) of the statutes is repealed.

118,167 Section 167. 15.603 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 15.61 (1) (b) 1. and amended to read:

15.61 (1) (b) 1. There is created in the government accountability board an elections division. The elections division commission shall be under the direction and supervision of an administrator, who shall be appointed by a majority of the members of the board commission, with the advice and consent of the senate, to serve for a 4-year term expiring on July 1 of the odd-numbered year. Until the senate has confirmed an appointment made under this subdivision, the elections commission shall be under the direction and supervision of an interim administrator selected by a majority of the members of the commission. If a vacancy occurs in the administrator position, the commission shall appoint a new administrator, and submit the appointment for senate confirmation, no later than 45 days after the date of the vacancy. If the commission has not appointed a new administrator at the end of the 45-day period, the joint committee on legislative organization shall appoint an interim administrator to serve until a new administrator has been confirmed by the senate but for a term of no longer than one year. If the administrator position remains vacant at the end of the one-year period, the process for filling the vacancy described in this subdivision is repeated until the vacancy is filled.

118,168 Section 168. 15.607 of the statutes is repealed.

118,169 Section 169. 15.61 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

15.61 (title) Elections commission; creation.

118,170 Section 170. 15.61 (1) (a) 1. to 6. of the statutes are created to read:

15.61 (1) (a) 1. One member appointed by the senate majority leader.

2. One member appointed by the senate minority leader.

3. One member appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

4. One member appointed by the assembly minority leader.

5. Two members who formerly served as county or municipal clerks and who are nominated by the governor, with the advice and consent of a majority of the members of the senate confirmed. The legislative leadership of the 2 major political parties that received the largest number of votes for president shall prepare a list of not more than 3 individuals such that each major political party has prepared one list. The governor shall choose one nominee from each list.

6. For each political party, other than the 2 major political parties, qualifying for a separate ballot under s. 5.62 (1) (b) or (2) whose candidate for governor received at least 10 percent of the vote in the most recent gubernatorial election, one member, nominated by the governor from a list of 3 individuals selected by the chief officer of that political party and with the advice and consent of a majority of the members of the senate confirmed.

118,170g Section 170g. 15.61 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

15.61 (1) (b) 2. The administrator may be removed by the affirmative vote of a majority of all members of the commission voting at a meeting of the commission called for that purpose.

118,170m Section 170m. 15.61 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

15.61 (1m) Members appointed with the advice and consent of the senate may serve prior to senate confirmation.

118,171 Section 171. 15.61 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

15.61 (5) (a) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if a vacancy occurs for a member appointed under sub. (1) (a) 1. to 4., the individual responsible for making the appointment shall appoint a new member no later than 45 days after the date of the vacancy.

2. If the political party affiliation of the individual responsible for filling a vacancy under this paragraph is not the same as the political party affiliation of the individual who made the initial appointment, the legislative leader of the political party that made the initial appointment shall fill the vacancy.

(b) If a vacancy occurs for a member appointed under sub. (1) (a) 5. or 6., a new member shall be selected, nominated, and submitted to the senate for confirmation no later than 45 days after the date of the vacancy.

118,172 Section 172. 15.62 of the statutes is created to read:

15.62 Ethics commission; creation. (1) (a) There is created an ethics commission consisting of the following members who shall serve for 5-year terms:

1. One member appointed by the senate majority leader.

2. One member appointed by the senate minority leader.

3. One member appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

4. One member appointed by the assembly minority leader.

5. Two individuals who formerly served as judges for a court of record in this state, who were elected to the positions in which they served, and who are nominated by the governor with the advice and consent of a majority of the members of the senate confirmed. The legislative leadership of the 2 major political parties that received the largest number of votes for president shall prepare a list of not more than 3 individuals such that each major political party has prepared one list. The governor shall choose one nominee from each list.

(b) 2. The administrator may be removed by the affirmative vote of a majority of all members of the commission voting at a meeting of the commission called for that purpose.

(1m) Members appointed with the advice and consent of the senate may serve prior to senate confirmation.

(2) No member of the commission may hold another office or position that is a state public office or a local public office, as defined in s. 19.42, except the office of circuit judge or court of appeals judge under s. 753.075.

(3) No member, while serving on the commission, may become a candidate, as defined in s. 11.0101 (1), for state office or local office, as defined in s. 5.02.

(4) No member may be a lobbyist, as defined in s. 13.62 (11), or an employee of a principal, as defined in s. 13.62 (12), except that a member may serve as a circuit judge or court of appeals judge under s. 753.075.

(5) (a) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if a vacancy occurs for a member appointed under sub. (1) (a) 1. to 4., the individual responsible for making the appointment shall appoint a new member no later than 45 days after the date of the vacancy.

118,173 Section 173. 16.753 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

16.753 (2) Except as otherwise expressly provided, each agency shall provide to the government accountability board ethics commission for posting on the Internet a list identifying each solicitation for bids or competitive sealed proposals and each proposed order or contract of the agency for which bids or competitive sealed proposals will not be solicited that involves a major expenditure, together with all information required under sub. (4).

118,174 Section 174. 16.79 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

16.79 (2) The department shall distribute in pamphlet form copies of the constitution and such laws as may be required to meet the public demand, including the election laws. The department shall distribute election manuals, forms, and supplies specified by the government accountability board elections commission. The laws, manuals, forms, and supplies shall be sold by the department at cost, including distribution cost as determined under s. 35.80. The government accountability board elections commission shall inform the department in writing as to which election manuals, forms, and supplies shall be offered for distribution under this subsection.

118,175 Section 175. 16.96 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

16.96 (3) (b) Maintain and keep current throughout the decade the maps of congressional and legislative district boundaries received from the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (1) (a) 6. and provide copies thereof to the government accountability board elections commission.

118,176 Section 176. 16.973 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

16.973 (6) With the advice of the government accountability board ethics commission, adopt and enforce standards of ethical conduct applicable to its paid consultants which are similar to the standards prescribed in subch. III of ch. 19, except that the department shall not require its paid consultants to file statements of economic interests.

118,177 Section 177. 17.17 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

17.17 (1) Senators and members of congress. In the office of United States senator or member of congress from this state, by the county clerk of the county wherein such officer resided at the time of election, to the government accountability board elections commission.

118,178 Section 178. 17.17 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

17.17 (4) Justices and judges. In the office of justice of the supreme court, court of appeals judge, or judge of a circuit court, by the director of state courts to the governor and the government accountability board elections commission.

118,179 Section 179. 19.42 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

118,180 Section 180. 19.42 (4p) of the statutes is created to read:

19.42 (4p) "Commission" means the ethics commission.

118,181 Section 181. 19.42 (10) (a) of the statutes is created to read:

19.42 (10) (a) A member or employee of the elections commission.

118,182 Section 182. 19.43 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

19.43 (4) A candidate for state public office shall file with the board commission a statement of economic interests meeting each of the requirements of s. 19.44 (1) no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 3rd day following the last day for filing nomination papers for the office which the candidate seeks, or no later than 4:30 p.m. on the next business day after the last day whenever that candidate is granted an extension of time for filing nomination papers or a declaration of candidacy under s. 8.05 (1) (j), 8.10 (2) (a), 8.15 (1), or 8.20 (8) (a),; no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 5th day after notification of nomination is mailed or personally delivered to the candidate by the municipal clerk in the case of a candidate who is nominated at a caucus, ; or no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 3rd day after notification of nomination is mailed or personally delivered to the candidate by the appropriate official or agency in the case of a write-in candidate or candidate who is appointed to fill a vacancy in nomination under s. 8.35 (2) (a). The information contained on the statement shall be current as of December 31 of the year preceding the filing deadline. Before certifying the name of any candidate for state public office under s. 7.08 (2) (a), the government accountability board elections commission, municipal clerk, or board of election commissioners shall ascertain whether that candidate has complied with this subsection. If not, the government accountability board elections commission, municipal clerk, or board of election commissioners may not certify the candidate's name for ballot placement.

118,183 Section 183. 19.43 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

19.43 (5) Each member of the investment board and each employee of the investment board who is a state public official shall complete and file with the government accountability board commission a quarterly report of economic transactions no later than the last day of the month following the end of each calendar quarter during any portion of which he or she was a member or employee of the investment board. Such reports of economic transactions shall be in the form prescribed by the government accountability board commission and shall identify the date and nature of any purchase, sale, put, call, option, lease, or creation, dissolution, or modification of any economic interest made during the quarter for which the report is filed and disclosure of which would be required by s. 19.44 if a statement of economic interests were being filed.

118,184 Section 184. 19.46 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

19.46 (1) (intro.) Except in accordance with the board's commission's advice under s. 5.05 (6a) sub. (2) and except as otherwise provided in sub. (3), no state public official may:

118,185 Section 185. 19.46 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

19.46 (2) (a) 1. Any individual, either personally or on behalf of an organization or governmental body, may make a request of the commission in writing, electronically, or by telephone for a formal or informal advisory opinion regarding the propriety under ch. 11, subch. III of ch. 13, or this subchapter of any matter to which the person is or may become a party. Any appointing officer, with the consent of a prospective appointee, may request of the commission a formal or informal advisory opinion regarding the propriety under ch. 11, subch. III of ch. 13, or this subchapter of any matter to which the prospective appointee is or may become a party. The commission shall review a request for an advisory opinion and may issue a formal or informal written or electronic advisory opinion to the person making the request. Except as authorized or required for opinions specified in s. 19.55 (4) (b), the commission's deliberations and actions upon such requests shall be in meetings not open to the public. A member of the commission may, by written request, require the commission to review an advisory opinion.

2. To have legal force and effect, each formal and informal advisory opinion issued by the commission must be supported by specific legal authority under a statute or other law, or by specific case or common law authority. Each formal and informal advisory opinion shall include a citation to each statute or other law and each case or common law authority upon which the opinion is based, and shall specifically articulate or explain which parts of the cited authority are relevant to the commission's conclusion and why they are relevant.

3. No person acting in good faith upon a formal or informal advisory opinion issued by the commission under this subsection is subject to criminal or civil prosecution for so acting, if the material facts are as stated in the opinion request.

4. At each regular meeting of the commission, the commission administrator shall review informal advisory opinions requested of and issued by the administrator and that relate to recurring issues or issues of first impression for which no formal advisory opinion has been issued. The commission may determine to issue a formal advisory opinion adopting or modifying the informal advisory opinion. If the commission disagrees with a formal or informal advisory opinion that has been issued by or on behalf of the commission, the commission may withdraw the opinion, issue a revised formal or informal advisory opinion, or request an opinion from the attorney general. No person acting after the date of the withdrawal or issuance of the revised advisory opinion is exempted from prosecution under this subsection if the opinion upon which the person's action is based has been withdrawn or revised in relevant degree.

5. Except as authorized or required under s. 19.55 (4) (b), no member or employee of the commission may make public the identity of the individual requesting a formal or informal advisory opinion or of individuals or organizations mentioned in the opinion.

(b) 1. The commission may authorize the commission administrator or his or her designee to issue an informal written advisory opinion or transmit an informal advisory opinion electronically on behalf of the commission, subject to such limitations as the commission deems appropriate. Every informal advisory opinion shall be consistent with applicable formal advisory opinions issued by the commission, statute or other law, and case law.

2. Any individual may request in writing, electronically, or by telephone an informal advisory opinion from the commission under this paragraph. The commission's designee shall provide a written response, a written reference to an applicable statute or law, or a written reference to a formal advisory opinion of the commission to the individual, or shall refer the request to the commission for review and the issuance of a formal advisory opinion.

3. Any person receiving an informal advisory opinion under this paragraph may, at any time, request a formal advisory opinion from the commission on the same matter.

(c) 1. Any individual may request in writing, electronically, or by telephone a formal advisory opinion from the commission or the review or modification of a formal advisory opinion issued by the commission under this paragraph. The individual making the request shall include all pertinent facts relevant to the matter. The commission shall review a request for a formal advisory opinion and may issue a formal advisory opinion to the individual making the request. Except as authorized or required for opinions specified in s. 19.55 (4) (b), the commission's deliberations and actions upon such requests shall be in meetings not open to the public.

2. Any person requesting a formal advisory opinion under this paragraph may request a public or private hearing before the commission to discuss the opinion. The commission shall grant a request for a public or private hearing under this paragraph.

3. Promptly upon issuance of each formal advisory opinion, the commission shall publish the opinion together with the information specified under s. 19.55 (4) (c) on the commission's Internet site.

4. If the commission declines to issue a formal advisory opinion, it may refer the matter to the attorney general or to the standing legislative oversight committees.

118,186 Section 186. 19.47 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

19.47 (title) Operation.