551.51 (1) This chapter shall be administered by the commissioner of securities. The commissioner shall appoint a deputy commissioner, subject to s. 15.04 (2) and (3). The commissioner may designate the deputy commissioner or any employe to perform any duty or exercise any power or function assigned to the commissioner when he or she is absent from the office division.
27,6721
Section 6721
. 551.51 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.51 (2) It is unlawful for the commissioner division or any officers or employes of the office of the commissioner division to use for personal benefit any information which is filed with or obtained by the commissioner division or an organization designated under s. 551.32 (1) (a) and which is not generally available to the public. Nothing in this chapter authorizes the commissioner division or any officers or employes of the office of the commissioner division to disclose any confidential information except among themselves or to other securities administrators or regulatory authorities or when necessary or appropriate in a proceeding or investigation under this chapter. No provision of this chapter either creates or derogates from any privilege which exists at common law or otherwise when documentary or other evidence is sought under a subpoena directed to the commissioner division or any officers or employes of the office of the commissioner division.
27,6722
Section 6722
. 551.52 (1) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.52 (1) (b) (intro.) An indefinite amount of securities shall be registered under a registration statement relating to redeemable securities issued by an open-end management company or a face amount certificate company, as defined in the investment company act of 1940, and the applicant shall pay the fee under par. (a). The registrant also shall, within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year during which its registration statement is effective and within 60 days after the registration is terminated, file a report on a form prescribed by rule of the commissioner division in which the registrant does any of the following:
27,6723
Section 6723
. 551.52 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.52 (3) The expenses reasonably attributable to the examination of any matter arising under this chapter shall be charged to the applicant, registrant or licensee involved, but the expenses so charged shall not exceed such maximum amounts as the commissioner division by rule prescribes.
27,6724
Section 6724
. 551.52 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.52 (4) The commissioner
division may by rule require the payment of prescribed fees for delinquent or materially deficient filings of information or documents required under this chapter to be filed with the commissioner division or an organization designated under s. 551.32 (1) (a).
27,6725
Section 6725
. 551.53 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.53 (1) (b) That has not been filed with the
commissioner division not later than the date of publication or circulation, except as the commissioner division may otherwise provide by rule or order.
27,6726
Section 6726
. 551.53 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.53 (2) The commissioner
division may by rule or order prohibit the publication, circulation or use of any advertising deemed false or misleading.
27,6727
Section 6727
. 551.54 of the statutes is amended to read:
551.54 Misleading filings. It is unlawful for any person to make or cause to be made, in any document filed with the commissioner division or filed under s. 551.32 (1) (a) with an organization designated by the commissioner division or in any proceeding under this chapter, any statement which is, at the time and in the light of the circumstances under which it is made, false or misleading in any material respect or, in connection with such statement, to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.
27,6728
Section 6728
. 551.55 of the statutes is amended to read:
551.55 Unlawful representations. Neither the fact that a registration statement or an application for a license has been filed nor the fact that a security is effectively registered or a person is licensed constitutes a finding by the commissioner division that any document filed under this chapter is true, complete and not misleading. Neither any such fact nor the fact that an exemption or exception is available for a security or a transaction means that the commissioner division has passed in any way upon the merits or qualifications of, or recommended or given approval to, any person, security or transaction. It is unlawful to make, or cause to be made, to any prospective purchaser, customer or client any representation inconsistent with the foregoing.
27,6729
Section 6729
. 551.56 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.56 (1) (intro.) The commissioner division may:
27,6730
Section 6730
. 551.56 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.56 (1) (b) Require or permit any person to file a statement in writing, under oath or otherwise as the commissioner division determines, as to all the facts and circumstances concerning the matter being investigated;
27,6731
Section 6731
. 551.56 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.56 (2) For the purpose of any investigation, hearing or proceeding under this chapter, the commissioner division or any officer designated by the commissioner division may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence and require the production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, agreements or other documents or records which the commissioner division deems relevant or material to the inquiry. Failure to obey a subpoena or give evidence may be dealt with in accordance with s. 885.12.
27,6732
Section 6732
. 551.56 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.56 (3) (a) No person is excused from attending and testifying or from producing any document or record before the commissioner division, or in obedience to the subpoena of the commissioner division or any officer designated by the commissioner division, or in any proceeding instituted by the commissioner division, on the ground that the testimony or evidence required of the person may tend to incriminate him or her or subject the person to a penalty or forfeiture; but no individual may be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of his or her testimony or evidence, after claiming his or her privilege against self-incrimination, except that the individual testifying is not exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury or contempt committed in testifying.
27,6733
Section 6733
. 551.57 of the statutes is amended to read:
551.57 Injunctions. Whenever it appears to the commissioner division that any person has engaged or is about to engage in any act or practice constituting a violation of this chapter or any rule or order hereunder, the commissioner division may bring an action in the name of the state in the circuit court of the appropriate county to enjoin the acts or practices and to enforce compliance with this chapter or any rule or order hereunder, or the commissioner division may refer the matter to the attorney general or the district attorney of the appropriate county. Upon a proper showing, the court may grant a permanent or temporary injunction or restraining order, or may appoint a receiver for the defendant or the defendant's assets, or may order rescission of any sales or purchases of securities determined to be unlawful under this chapter or any rule or order hereunder. The court may not require the commissioner division to post a bond.
27,6734
Section 6734
. 551.58 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.58 (2) The commissioner
division may refer such evidence as is available concerning violations of this chapter or of any rule or order under this chapter to the attorney general or the district attorney of the appropriate county, who may, with or without any reference, institute the appropriate criminal proceedings under this chapter. If referred to a district attorney, the district attorney shall, within 90 days, file with the commissioner division a statement concerning any action taken or, if no action has been taken, the reasons therefor.
27,6735
Section 6735
. 551.59 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.59 (6) (a) No purchaser may commence an action under this section if, before suit is commenced, the purchaser has received a written offer stating the respect in which liability under this section may have arisen and fairly advising the purchaser of his or her rights; offering to repurchase the security for cash payable on delivery of the security equal to the consideration paid, together with interest at the legal rate under s. 138.04 from the date of payment, less the amount of any income received thereon or, if the purchaser no longer owns the security, offering to pay the purchaser upon acceptance of the offer an amount in cash equal to the damages computed in accordance with sub. (1); and stating that the offer may be accepted by the purchaser at any time within a specified period of not less than 30 days after the date of receipt thereof or such shorter period as the commissioner
division may by rule prescribe; and the purchaser has failed to accept such offer in writing within the specified period.
27,6736
Section 6736
. 551.59 (6) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.59 (6) (c) Offers shall be in the form and contain the information the commissioner division by rule prescribes. Every offer under this subsection shall be delivered to the offeree or sent by certified mail addressed to the offeree at the offeree's last-known address. If an offer is not performed in accordance with its terms, suit by the offeree under this section shall be permitted without regard to this subsection.
27,6737
Section 6737
. 551.60 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.60 (title) Miscellaneous powers
of commissioner.
27,6738
Section 6738
. 551.60 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.60 (1) The commissioner
division may by rule or order require any issuer of securities registered or exempted by order of the commissioner division under this chapter or predecessor laws to file with the commissioner division and distribute to its security holders in this state at least annually specified financial or other information concerning the issuer.
27,6739
Section 6739
. 551.60 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.60 (2) (a) If the commissioner division has reason to believe that any offer or sale of an unregistered security is, has been or would be unfair, inequitable or fraudulent to offerees or purchasers, the commissioner division may by order summarily prohibit further offers or sales of such security in this state until it is registered under this chapter.
27,6740
Section 6740
. 551.60 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.60 (2) (b) If the commissioner division has reason to believe that any security is being or has been offered or sold in this state by any unlicensed person in violation of this chapter or any rule or order hereunder, the commissioner division may by order summarily prohibit such person from further offers or sales of securities in this state until licensed under this chapter.
27,6741
Section 6741
. 551.60 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.60 (2) (c) If the commissioner division has reason to believe that any unlicensed person is transacting or has transacted business in this state as an investment adviser in violation of this chapter or any rule or order promulgated under this chapter, the commissioner
division may by order summarily prohibit such person from further engaging in such activity in this state until licensed under this chapter.
27,6742
Section 6742
. 551.60 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.60 (3) If the public interest and the protection of investors so require, the commissioner division may by order summarily suspend all trading in this state by broker-dealers and agents in any security for any period specified. No broker-dealer or agent may effect any transaction in, or induce or attempt to induce the purchase or sale of, any security in this state in which trading is so suspended, except in performance of a contract previously entered into. At any time after the issuance of an order under this subsection, any interested person may in writing request that the suspension of trading be vacated. Upon the receipt of a written request, the matter shall be noticed for hearing and a hearing shall be held in the manner provided in s. 551.61 (2). After the hearing, the commissioner division may order the suspension to be continued until modified or vacated by further order upon a finding that trading in the security will be unfair or inequitable or will tend to work a fraud upon the purchasers or sellers of the security. Otherwise, the commissioner division shall vacate the suspension of trading and no further order may be entered under this subsection with respect to the same security in the absence of changed circumstances justifying an order.
27,6743
Section 6743
. 551.60 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.60 (4) Every corporation, partnership or association having its principal office in this state or whose securities have been registered under this chapter or predecessor laws shall, within 20 days after receipt of written request from the commissioner division made in connection with any investigation under s. 551.56 (1), furnish the commissioner division with a list of all or part of its security holders as the commissioner division requests, showing the amount of securities held by each security holder and the date of issuance of such securities and information reasonably related thereto, signed by the president, secretary or partner of the issuer or a person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions.
27,6744
Section 6744
. 551.60 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.60 (5) The commissioner
division may take such action as is authorized under 7 USC 13a-2, as amended.
27,6745
Section 6745
. 551.605 (1) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.605 (1) (a) (intro.) The commissioner division or any officer designated by the commissioner division may impose an administrative assessment in the amount provided in par. (b) on any person who is subject to an order that is issued under s. 551.24, 551.28, 551.34, 551.53, 551.60 or 551.63 (1) and (2) in any of the following circumstances:
27,6746
Section 6746
. 551.605 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
551.605 (1) (a) 1. Following a hearing under s. 551.61 if the notice delivered to all interested parties includes notice of the commissioner's division's authority to impose an administrative assessment under this subsection.
27,6747
Section 6747
. 551.605 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.605 (1) (c) The commissioner
division shall include any administrative assessment imposed under this subsection in the order issued under any of the sections referred to in par. (a) in the manner described in par. (a) 1. or 2.
27,6748
Section
6748. 551.605 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.605 (1) (d) Upon the request of the commissioner division, the department of justice may bring a civil action in the circuit court for Dane county to compel payment of any unpaid administrative assessment, unless payment of the administrative assessment is stayed under s. 227.54.
27,6749
Section 6749
. 551.605 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.605 (2) Investor education. All moneys collected from the administrative assessment under sub. (1) shall be credited to the appropriation under s. 20.185 (1) (h) 20.144 (1) (i). Subject to s. 20.185 (1) (h) 20.144 (1) (i), the commissioner division shall use moneys credited to that appropriation to provide information to residents of this state about investments in securities to help investors and potential investors evaluate their investment decisions, protect themselves from unfair, inequitable or fraudulent offerings, choose their broker-dealers, agents or investment advisers more carefully, be alert for false or misleading advertising or other harmful practices, and know their rights as investors.
27,6750
Section 6750
. 551.61 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.61 (1) No order, other than an order issued summarily subject to sub. (2), may be entered by the commissioner division under s. 551.24, 551.28, 551.34 or 551.53 (2) without appropriate prior notice to all interested parties, opportunity for a hearing and, except as provided by s. 551.34 (7), written findings of fact and conclusions of law.
27,6751
Section 6751
. 551.61 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.61 (2) Within 30 days after the commissioner division has issued an order summarily, an interested party may file a written request with the commissioner
division for a hearing in respect to any matters determined by the order, except a party may file a request for a hearing regarding an order issued under s. 551.60 (3) at any time. Within 10 days after an interested person files a written request with the commissioner division for a hearing, the matter shall be noticed for hearing, and a hearing shall be held within 60 days after notice, unless extended by the commissioner division for good cause. During the pendency of any hearing requested under this subsection, the order issued summarily shall remain in effect unless vacated or modified by the commissioner division.
27,6752
Section 6752
. 551.61 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.61 (3) After a hearing, the commissioner division may issue a final order as appropriate. The final order may affirm, vacate or modify an order issued summarily in effect during the pendency of the hearing as appropriate, or may include such other sanctions as are provided for under s. 551.24, 551.28 or 551.34. An order issued summarily against a party becomes a final order if the party fails to request a hearing under sub. (2) or if the party defaults after requesting a hearing.
27,6753
Section 6753
. 551.61 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.61 (5) Orders of the commissioner division are subject to judicial review under ch. 227 but orders originally entered without a hearing may be reviewed only if the party seeking review has requested a hearing within the time provided by sub. (2).
27,6754
Section 6754
. 551.62 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.62 (1) No permanent or temporary injunction, stay, restraining order or other order shall issue in any proceeding under s. 551.56 or 551.61 suspending or staying any order of the commissioner division, except upon application to the circuit court of the appropriate county, notice of which shall be given to the commissioner
division and other parties to the proceeding, and except after opportunity for hearing thereon. No permanent or temporary injunction, stay, restraining order or other order shall issue in any other proceeding or action, in any court, which shall have the effect of delaying or preventing any such order from becoming effective, unless the parties to the proceeding before the commissioner division are also parties to the court proceeding or action, and except after notice and opportunity for hearing thereon.
27,6755
Section 6755
. 551.62 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.62 (2) No permanent or temporary injunction, stay, restraining order or other order shall issue in any proceeding under s. 551.56 or 551.61 or in any other proceeding or action, in any court, suspending or staying any order of the commissioner division or having the effect of delaying or preventing any such order from becoming effective, unless an undertaking is entered into on the part of the petitioner or plaintiff, with a surety and in the sum the court or the presiding judge thereof directs or approves to the effect that the petitioner or plaintiff will pay all damages which any party sustains by the suspension or stay of the order or the delay or prevention of the order from becoming effective, and to such other effect as the court or judge directs, and no order or judgment in any proceeding or action shall be stayed on appeal therefrom unless a like undertaking is entered into by the petitioner or plaintiff in addition to the undertaking under s. 808.07.
27,6756
Section 6756
. 551.63 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.63 (1) The commissioner
division may make, amend and rescind any rules, forms and orders that are necessary to carry out this chapter, including rules and forms governing registration statements, applications and reports, and defining any terms, whether or not used in this chapter, insofar as the definitions are not inconsistent with this chapter. For the purpose of rules and forms, the commissioner division may classify securities, persons and matters within the commissioner's
division's jurisdiction, and prescribe different requirements for different classes. Rules shall be made and published in accordance with ch. 227.
27,6757
Section 6757
. 551.63 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.63 (2) No rule, form or order may be made, amended or rescinded unless the commissioner
division finds that the action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest and for the protection of investors. In prescribing rules and forms the commissioner division may cooperate with the securities administrators of other states and the securities and exchange commission with a view to achieving maximum uniformity in the form and content of registration statements, applications and reports wherever practicable.
27,6758
Section 6758
. 551.63 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.63 (3) The commissioner
division may by rule or order prescribe the form and content of financial statements required under this chapter, the circumstances under which consolidated financial statements shall be filed, and whether any required financial statements shall be certified by independent or certified public accountants. All financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices unless otherwise permitted by rule or order.
27,6759
Section 6759
. 551.63 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.63 (4) No provision of this chapter imposing any liability applies to any act done or omitted in good faith in conformity with any rule, form or order of the commissioner division, notwithstanding that the rule, form or order may later be amended or rescinded or be determined to be invalid for any reason.
27,6760
Section 6760
. 551.64 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.64 (1) A document is filed when it is received by the commissioner division or, if authorized under s. 551.32 (1) (a), an organization designated by the commissioner division.
27,6761
Section 6761
. 551.64 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.64 (2) The commissioner
division shall keep a register of all licenses and registration statements which are or have ever been effective under this chapter and predecessor laws and all denial, suspension or revocation orders which have been entered under this chapter and predecessor laws. The register shall be open for public inspection.
27,6762
Section 6762
. 551.64 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.64 (3) The information contained in or filed with any registration statement, application or report shall be made available to the public in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner division.
27,6763
Section 6763
. 551.64 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.64 (4) The commissioner
division upon request shall furnish to any person at a reasonable charge photostatic or other copies, certified under the commissioner's seal of office, by the division if certification is requested, of any entry in the register or any order or other document on file in the commissioner's office with the division. Any copy so certified is admissible in evidence under s. 889.18.
27,6764
Section 6764
. 551.64 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
551.64 (5) The commissioner
division may honor requests from interested persons for interpretative opinions.
