LRB-2175/P1
MPG:cjs
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Quinn, BB0446 - WEDC Board Membership (Act 369)
For 2019-2021 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
commerce and economic development
Economic development
1. WEDC board membership
Under the law prior to
2017 Wisconsin Act 369, the board of directors of WEDC consisted of 12 voting members as follows:
1. Six members appointed by the governor, subject to senate confirmation, to serve at the pleasure of the governor.
2. Three members appointed by the speaker of the assembly, consisting of one majority and one minority party representative to the assembly and one person employed in the private sector, all of whom serve at the speaker's pleasure.
3. Three members appointed by the senate majority leader, consisting of one majority and one minority party senator and one person employed in the private sector, all of whom serve at the majority leader's pleasure.
Act 369 provides for two compositions of the WEDC board, one to be in effect until September 1, 2019, and the second to be in effect after that date. After September 1, 2019, the act provides for a 16-voting member board, consisting of six members nominated by the governor; four members appointed by the assembly speaker; four members appointed by the senate majority leader; one member appointed by the assembly minority leader; and one member appointed by the senate minority leader. Before September 1, 2019, the act authorizes the assembly speaker and the senate majority leader to each appoint one additional board member, resulting in a board with 18 voting members until that date.
This bill restores prior law with respect to the membership of the WEDC board.
2. WEDC CEO
Under the law prior to
2017 Wisconsin Act 369, the chief executive officer of WEDC was nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, to serve at the pleasure of the governor. Under Act 369, the chief executive officer of WEDC is appointed by the board of directors of WEDC until September 1, 2019, at which point the governor again nominates the chief executive officer. This bill repeals that provision in Act 369.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section
1. 238.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
238.02 (1) There is created an authority, which is a public body corporate and politic, to be known as the “Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation." The members of the board shall consist of 6 members nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, to serve at the pleasure of the governor; 4 3 members appointed by the speaker of the assembly, consisting of one majority and one minority party representative to the assembly, appointed as are the members of standing committees in the assembly, and one person employed in the private sector, to serve 4-year terms; one member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly to serve a 4-year term; 4 at the speaker's pleasure; and 3 members appointed by the senate majority leader, consisting of one majority and one minority party senator, appointed as are members of standing committees in the senate, and one person employed in the private sector, to serve 4-year terms; and one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate to serve a 4-year term. Neither the speaker of the assembly nor the senate majority leader may appoint more than 2 members of the legislature to the board at the majority leader's pleasure. The secretary of administration and the secretary of revenue shall also serve on the board as nonvoting members. The board shall elect a chairperson from among its nonlegislative voting members. A vacancy on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment to the board for the remainder of the unexpired term, if any.
Section 2
. 238.02 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
238.02 (2) A majority of the appointed voting members of the board currently serving constitutes a quorum for the purpose of conducting its business and exercising its powers and for all other purposes, notwithstanding the existence of any vacancies. Action may be taken by the board upon a vote of a majority of the appointed voting members present.
(End)
