97.607 History
History: 1983 a. 203 ss.
10,
16,
19;
1983 a. 538;
1987 a. 27,
81;
1993 a. 27 s.
68; Stats. 1993 s. 254.65;
2005 a. 302;
2015 a. 55 s.
4081; Stats. 2015 s. 97.607.
97.61
97.61
Vending machine commissary outside the state. Foods, beverages and ingredients from commissaries outside the state may be sold within the state if such commissaries conform to the provisions of the food establishment sanitation rules of this state or to substantially equivalent provisions. To determine the extent of compliance with such provisions, the department may accept reports from the responsible authority in the jurisdiction where the commissaries are located.
97.61 History
History: 1975 c. 413 s.
13; Stats. 1975 s. 50.52;
1993 a. 27 s.
70; Stats. 1993 s. 254.67;
2015 a. 55 s.
4083; Stats. 2015 s. 97.61.
97.613
97.613
Fees. Except as provided in s.
97.615 (2) (d) and
(e), the department shall promulgate rules that establish, for licenses issued under s.
97.605, license fees, pre-licensing inspection fees, reinspection fees, fees for operating without a license, late fees for untimely renewal, fees for comparable compliance or variance requests, and fees for pre-license review of restaurant plans.
97.615
97.615
Agent status for local health departments. 97.615(1)(1)
Vending operations. In the administration and enforcement of this subchapter, the department may use local health departments as its agents in making inspections and investigations of vending machine commissaries, vending machine operators and vending machines if the jurisdictional area of the local health department has a population greater than 5,000. If the designation is made and the services are furnished, the department shall reimburse the local health department furnishing the service at the rate of 80 percent of the net license fee per license per year issued in the jurisdictional area.
97.615(2)
(2) Hotels, tourist rooming houses, and other establishments. 97.615(2)(am)(am) In the administration of this subchapter or s.
97.67, the department may enter into a written agreement with a local health department with a jurisdictional area that has a population greater than 5,000, which designates the local health department as the department's agent in issuing licenses to and making investigations or inspections of hotels, tourist rooming houses, bed and breakfast establishments, campgrounds and camping resorts, recreational and educational camps, and public swimming pools. In a jurisdictional area of a local health department without agent status, the department may issue licenses, collect fees established by rule under s.
97.613 and make investigations or inspections of hotels, tourist rooming houses, bed and breakfast establishments, campgrounds and camping resorts, recreational and educational camps, and public swimming pools. If the department designates a local health department as its agent, the department or local health department may require no license for the same operations other than the license issued by the local health department under this subsection. The department shall oversee the designation of agents under this subsection to ensure that, to the extent feasible, the same local health department is granted agent status under this subsection and under s.
97.41.
97.615(2)(b)
(b) A local health department granted agent status under this subsection shall meet standards promulgated, by rule, by the department. The department shall annually evaluate the licensing, investigation and inspection program of each local health department granted agent status. If, at any time, a local health department granted agent status fails to meet the standards, the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection may revoke its agent status.
97.615(2)(c)
(c) The department shall provide education and training to agents designated under this subsection to ensure uniformity in the enforcement of this subchapter, s.
97.67 and rules promulgated under this subchapter and s.
97.67.
97.615(2)(d)
(d) Except as provided in par.
(dm), a local health department granted agent status under this subsection shall establish and collect the license fee for each type of establishment specified in par.
(am). The local health department may establish separate fees for pre-licensing inspections of new establishments, for pre-licensing inspections of existing establishments for which a person intends to be the new operator or for the issuance of duplicate licenses. No fee may exceed the local health department's reasonable costs of issuing licenses to, making investigations and inspections of, and providing education, training and technical assistance to the establishments, plus the state fee established under par.
(e). A local health department granted agent status under this subsection or under s.
97.41 may issue a single license and establish and collect a single fee which authorizes the operation on the same premises of more than one type of establishment for which it is granted agent status under this subsection or under s.
97.41.
97.615(2)(dm)
(dm) A local health department granted agent status under this subsection may contract with the department for the department to collect fees and issue licenses. The department shall collect from the local health department the actual and reasonable cost of providing the services.
97.615(2)(e)
(e) The department shall establish state fees for its costs related to setting standards under this subchapter and s.
97.67 and monitoring and evaluating the activities of, and providing education and training to, agent local health departments. Agent local health departments shall include the state fees in the license fees established under par.
(d), collect the state fees and reimburse the department for the state fees collected. For each type of establishment specified in par.
(am), the state fee may not exceed 20 percent of the license fees charged under ss.
97.67 and
97.613.
97.615(2)(f)
(f) If, under this subsection, a local health department becomes an agent or its agent status is discontinued during a licensee's license year, the department and the local health department shall divide any license fee paid by the licensee for that license year according to the proportions of the license year occurring before and after the local health department's agent status is granted or discontinued. No additional fee may be required during the license year due to the change in agent status.
97.615(2)(g)
(g) A village, city or county may adopt ordinances and a local board of health may adopt regulations regarding the licensees and premises for which the local health department is the designated agent under this subsection, which are stricter than this subchapter, s.
97.67, or rules promulgated by the department under this subchapter or s.
97.67. No such provision may conflict with this subchapter or with department rules.
97.615(2)(h)
(h) This subsection does not limit the authority of the department to inspect hotels, tourist rooming houses, bed and breakfast establishments, or vending machine commissaries in jurisdictional areas of local health departments where agent status is granted if it inspects in response to an emergency, for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating the local health department's licensing, inspection and enforcement program or at the request of the local health department.
97.615(2)(j)
(j) The department shall hold a hearing under ch.
227 if any interested person, in lieu of proceeding under ch.
68, appeals to the department alleging either of the following:
97.615(2)(j)1.
1. A license fee established by a local health department granted agent status exceeds the reasonable costs described under par.
(d).
97.615(2)(j)2.
2. The person issuing, refusing to issue, suspending or revoking a license or making an investigation or inspection of the appellant has a financial interest in a regulated establishment specified in par.
(am) which may interfere with his or her ability to properly take that action.
97.615 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
ATCP 74, Wis. adm. code.
97.617
97.617
Application; lodging and vending. 97.617(1)(1)
An applicant for a license under this subchapter shall complete the application prepared by the department or the local health department granted agent status under s.
97.615 (2) and provide, in writing, any additional information the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection or local health department issuing the license requires.
97.617(2)
(2) Upon receipt of an application for a vending machine operator license, the department may cause an investigation to be made of the applicant's commissary, servicing and transport facilities, if any, and representative machines and machine locations. The operator shall maintain at his or her place of business within this state a list of all vending machines operated by him or her and their location. This information shall be kept current and shall be made available to the department upon request. The operator shall notify the department of any change in operations involving new types of vending machines or conversion of existing machines to dispense products other than those for which such machine was originally designed and constructed.
97.617 History
History: 1975 c. 413 s.
13; Stats. 1975 s. 50.54;
1983 a. 163,
203,
538;
1987 a. 27 s.
3200 (24) (am);
1993 a. 27 s.
73; Stats. 1993 s. 254.70;
1995 a. 27 s.
9126 (19);
2007 a. 20 s.
9121 (6) (a);
2015 a. 55 s.
4086; Stats. 2015 s. 97.617.
97.62
97.62
Health and safety; standard. Every hotel, tourist rooming house, bed and breakfast establishment, vending machine commissary and vending machine shall be operated and maintained with a strict regard to the public health and safety and in conformity with this subchapter and the rules and orders of the department.
97.62 History
History: 1975 c. 413 s.
13; Stats. 1975 s. 50.55;
1983 a. 163,
203,
538;
1987 a. 27;
1993 a. 27 s.
75; Stats. 1993 s. 254.72;
2015 a. 55 s.
4089; 2015 Stats. s. 97.62.
97.62 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also chs.
ATCP 72,
73,
74, and
75, Wis. adm. code.
97.623(1)(1)
Every hotel with sleeping accommodations with more than 12 bedrooms above the first story shall, between the hours of 12 midnight and 6 a.m. provide a system of security personnel patrol, or of mechanical and electrical devices, or both, adequate, according to standards established by the department of safety and professional services, to warn all guests and employees in time to permit their evacuation in case of fire.
97.623(2)
(2) Every hotel shall offer to every guest, at the time of registration for accommodation and of making a reservation for accommodation, an opportunity to identify himself or herself as a person needing assistance in an emergency because of a physical condition and shall keep a record at the registration desk of where each person so identified is lodged. No hotel may lodge any person so identified in areas other than those designated by the local fire department as safe for persons so identified, based on the capabilities of apparatus normally available to the fire company or companies assigned the first alarm. A person who does not identify himself or herself as permitted in this subsection may be lodged in the same manner as any other guest. Violation of this subsection shall be punished by a forfeiture of not more than $50 for the first violation and not more than $100 for each subsequent violation.
97.623 History
History: 1975 c. 112,
199;
1975 c. 413 s.
13; Stats. 1975 s. 50.56;
1985 a. 135;
1993 a. 27 s.
76; Stats. 1993 s. 254.73;
1995 a. 27 ss.
6343,
9116 (5);
2011 a. 32;
2015 a. 55 s.
4090; 2015 Stats. s. 97.623.
97.625
97.625
Powers of the department and local health departments. 97.625(1)(1)
The department shall do all of the following:
97.625(1)(a)
(a) Administer and enforce this subchapter, the rules promulgated under this subchapter and any other rules or laws relating to the public health and safety in hotels, tourist rooming houses, bed and breakfast establishments, vending machine commissaries, vending machines and vending machine locations.
97.625(1)(am)
(am) Promulgate rules, in consultation with the department of safety and professional services, under which the department shall conduct regular inspections of sealed combustion units, as required under s.
101.149 (5) (c), for carbon monoxide emissions in hotels, tourist rooming houses, and bed and breakfast establishments. The rules shall specify conditions under which it may issue orders as specified under s.
101.149 (8) (a). The rules may not require the department to inspect sealed combustion units during the period in which the sealed combustion units are covered by a manufacturer's warranty against defects.
97.625(1)(b)
(b) Require hotels, tourist rooming houses, vending machine operators and vending machine commissaries to file reports and information the department deems necessary.
97.625(1)(c)
(c) Ascertain and prescribe what alterations, improvements or other means or methods are necessary to protect the public health and safety on those premises.
97.625(1)(d)
(d) Prescribe rules and fix standards, including rules covering the general sanitation and cleanliness of premises regulated under this subchapter, the proper handling and storing of food on such premises, the construction and sanitary condition of the premises and equipment to be used and the location and servicing of equipment. The rules relating to the public health and safety in bed and breakfast establishments may not be stricter than is reasonable for the operation of a bed and breakfast establishment, shall be less stringent than rules relating to hotels, tourist rooming houses, and vending machine commissaries regulated by this subchapter and may not require 2nd exits for a bed and breakfast establishment on a floor above the first level.
97.625(1)(e)
(e) Hold a hearing under ch.
227 if, in lieu of proceeding under ch.
68, any interested person in the jurisdictional area of a local health department not granted agent status under s.
97.615 appeals to the department alleging that a license fee for a hotel, tourist rooming house, campground, camping resort, recreational or educational camp or public swimming pool exceeds the license issuer's reasonable costs of issuing licenses to, making investigations and inspections of, and providing education, training and technical assistance to the establishment.
97.625(1g)
(1g) The department may inspect hotels, tourist rooming houses, and bed and breakfast establishments to ensure compliance with s.
101.149 (2) and
(3).
97.625(1p)(a)(a) The department may grant the holder of a license for a bed and breakfast establishment a waiver from the requirement specified under s.
97.01 (1g) (b) to allow the holder of a license for a bed and breakfast establishment to serve breakfast to other tourists or transients if all of the following conditions are met:
97.625(1p)(a)1.
1. The department determines that the public health, safety or welfare would not be jeopardized.
97.625(1p)(a)2.
2. The other tourists or transients are provided sleeping accommodations in a tourist rooming house for which the license holder for the bed and breakfast establishment is the license holder.
97.625(1p)(a)3.
3. The tourist rooming house is located on the same property as the bed and breakfast establishment or on property contiguous to the property on which the bed and breakfast establishment is located.
97.625(1p)(a)4.
4. The number of rooms offered for rent in the bed and breakfast establishment combined with the number of rooms offered for rent in the tourist rooming house does not exceed 8.
97.625(1p)(a)5.
5. The number of tourists or transients who are provided sleeping accommodations in the bed and breakfast establishment combined with the number of tourists or transients who are provided sleeping accommodations in the tourist rooming house does not exceed 20.
97.625(1p)(b)
(b) A waiver granted under par.
(a) is valid for the period of validity of a license that is issued for the bed and breakfast establishment under s.
97.605 (1) (b).
97.625 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also chs.
ATCP 72,
73,
74, and
75, Wis. adm. code.
97.627
97.627
Causing fires by tobacco smoking. 97.627(1)(1)
Any person who, by smoking, or attempting to light or to smoke cigarettes, cigars, pipes or tobacco, in any manner in which lighters or matches are employed, shall, in a careless, reckless or negligent manner, set fire to any bedding, furniture, curtains, drapes, house or any household fittings, or any part of any building specified in sub.
(2), so as to endanger life or property in any way or to any extent, shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $250, together with costs, or imprisoned not less than 10 days nor more than 6 months or both.
97.627(2)
(2) In each sleeping room of all hotels, rooming houses, lodging houses and other places of public abode, a plainly printed notice shall be kept posted in a conspicuous place advising tenants of the provisions of this section.
97.627 History
History: 1975 c. 413 s.
13; Stats. 1975 s. 50.58;
1993 a. 27 s.
79; Stats. 1993 s. 254.76;
2015 a. 55 s.
4092; 2015 Stats. s. 97.627.
97.633
97.633
Hotelkeeper's liability. 97.633(1)(1)
A hotelkeeper who complies with sub.
(2) is not liable to a guest for loss of money, jewelry, precious metals or stones, personal ornaments or valuable papers which are not offered for safekeeping.
97.633(2)
(2) To secure exemption from liability the hotelkeeper shall do all of the following:
97.633(2)(a)
(a) Have doors on sleeping rooms equipped with locks or bolts.
97.633(2)(b)
(b) Offer, by notice printed in large plain English type and kept conspicuously posted in each sleeping room, to receive valuable articles for safekeeping, and explain in the notice that the hotel is not liable for loss unless articles are tendered for safekeeping.
97.633(2)(c)
(c) Keep a safe or vault suitable for keeping the articles and receive them for safekeeping when tendered by a guest, except as provided in sub.
(3).
97.633(3)
(3) A hotelkeeper is liable for loss of articles accepted for safekeeping up to $300. The hotelkeeper need not receive for safekeeping property over $300 in value. This subsection may be varied by written agreement between the parties.
97.633 History
History: 1975 c. 413 s.
15; Stats. 1975 s. 50.80;
1991 a. 316;
1993 a. 27 s.
85; Stats. 1993 s. 254.80;
2015 a. 55 s.
4095; 2015 Stats. s. 97.633.
97.634
97.634
Hotelkeeper's liability for baggage; limitation. Every guest and intended guest of any hotel upon delivering to the hotelkeeper any baggage or other property for safekeeping, elsewhere than in the room assigned to the guest, shall demand and the hotelkeeper shall give a check or receipt, to evidence the delivery. No hotelkeeper shall be liable for the loss of or injury to the baggage or other property of a hotel guest, unless it was delivered to the hotelkeeper for safekeeping or unless the loss or injury occurred through the negligence of the hotelkeeper.
97.634 History
History: 1975 c. 413 s.
15; Stats. 1975 s. 50.81;
1991 a. 316;
1993 a. 27 s.
86; Stats. 1993 s. 254.81;
2015 a. 55 s.
4096; 2015 Stats. s. 97.634.
97.635
97.635
Liability of hotelkeeper for loss of property by fire or theft; owner's risk. A hotelkeeper is not liable for the loss of baggage or other property of a hotel guest by a fire unintentionally produced by the hotelkeeper. Every hotelkeeper is liable for loss of baggage or other property of a guest caused by theft or gross negligence of the hotelkeeper. The liability may not exceed $200 for each trunk and its contents, $75 for each valise and its contents and $10 for each box, bundle or package and contents, so placed under the care of the hotelkeeper; and $50 for all other effects including wearing apparel and personal belongings, unless the hotelkeeper has agreed in writing with the guest to assume a greater liability. When any person permits his or her baggage or property to remain in any hotel after the person's status as a guest has ceased, or forwards the baggage or property to a hotel before becoming a guest and the baggage or property is received into the hotel, the hotelkeeper holds the baggage or property at the risk of the owner.
97.635 History
History: 1975 c. 413 s.
15; Stats. 1975 s. 50.82;
1991 a. 316;
1993 a. 27 s.
87; Stats. 1993 s. 254.82;
2015 a. 55 s.
4097; 2015 Stats. s. 97.635.
97.638
97.638
Hotel rates posted; rate charges; special rates. 97.638(1)(1)
Every hotelkeeper shall keep posted in a conspicuous place in each sleeping room in his or her hotel, in type not smaller than 12-point, the rates per day for each occupant. Such rates shall not be changed until notice to that effect has been posted, in a similar manner, for 10 days previous to each change. Any hotelkeeper who fails to have the rates so posted or who charges, collects or receives for the use of any room a sum different from the authorized charge shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $100. A hotelkeeper may permit a room to be occupied at the rate of a lower priced room when all of the lower priced rooms are taken and until one of them becomes unoccupied. Special rates may be made for the use of sleeping rooms, either by the week, month or for longer periods or for use by families or other collective groups. The department or its representatives may enforce the posting of rates as provided in this subsection.
97.638(2)(a)(a) A hotelkeeper shall post, in each sleeping room in the hotel with a telephone, a notice of any fee imposed by the hotelkeeper for using the telephone.
97.638(2)(b)
(b) The notice required under par.
(a) shall be all of the following:
97.638(2)(b)2.
2. Conspicuously posted on the telephone or within 3 feet of the telephone's normal location.
97.638(2)(c)
(c) The department or its agents may inspect hotels to ensure compliance with pars.
(a) and
(b).
97.638(2)(d)
(d) A hotelkeeper who fails to post the notice required under par.
(a) or who posts an inaccurate notice shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $100.
97.638 History
History: 1975 c. 413 s.
15; Stats. 1975 s. 50.84;
1989 a. 31;
1993 a. 27 s.
89; Stats. 1993 s. 254.83;
2015 a. 55 s.
4098; 2015 Stats. s. 97.638.
97.639(1)(a)(a) “Operator" includes a manager or any person in charge of the operation of motels and like establishments. “Operator" or “owner" includes natural persons, firms and corporations.
97.639(1)(b)
(b) “Outdoor sign" or “outside sign" means any sign visible to passersby, regardless of whether the sign is located in or outside of buildings.
97.639(1)(c)
(c) “Room rates" means the rates at which rooms or other accommodations are rented to occupants.
97.639(2)
(2) Rental posted. No owner or operator of any establishment that is held out as a motel, motor court, tourist cabin or like accommodation may post or maintain posted on any outdoor or outside advertising sign for the establishment rates for accommodations in the establishment unless the sign has posted on it both the minimum and maximum room or other rental unit rates for accommodations offered for rental. All posted rates and descriptive data required by this section shall be in type and material of the same size and prominence as the minimum and maximum room or other rental unit rates. Signs that only state the rate per person or bear the legend “and up" do not comply with the requirements of this subsection.
97.639(3)
(3) Accommodations must exist. No owner or operator of any motel, motor court, tourist cabin or like accommodation may post or maintain posted on outdoor or outside advertising signs rates for accommodations in the establishment unless there is available, when vacant, accommodations in the establishment for immediate occupancy to meet the posted rates on the advertising signs.
97.639(4)
(4) Misrepresentation. No owner or operator of any motel, motor court, tourist cabin or like accommodation may post or maintain outdoor or outside advertising signs in connection with the establishment relating to rates which have any untrue, misleading, false, or fraudulent representations.
97.639(5)
(5) Construction. Nothing in this section may be construed to require motels, motor courts, tourist cabins, or like accommodations to have outdoor or outside signs. This section shall be liberally construed so as to prevent untrue, misleading, false, or fraudulent representations relating to rates placed on outdoor or outside signs of the establishments.
