AB722: Bill Text

1995 Assembly BILL 722

December 12, 1995 - Introduced by Representatives Duff, Jensen, Klusman, Freese, Albers, Ourada, Ott, Johnsrud, Hoven, Huebsch, Kelso, Seratti, Silbaugh, Hahn, Lazich, Powers, F. Lasee, Olsen, Gunderson, Vrakas, Ladwig, Goetsch, Grothman and Springer, cosponsored by Senators Farrow, Rude, Petak, Breske and Rosenzweig. Referred to Committee on Environment and Utilities.

AB722,1,2 An Act to create 15.107 (16) and 16.08 of the statutes; relating to: creating an environmental science council.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill creates an environmental science council in the department of administration, consisting of 9 members, nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, who have expertise in the engineering sciences, economic sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, human medical sciences or statistical or risk assessment sciences. At the request of the governor, the council is required to do any of the following: advise on issues affecting the protection and management of the environment and natural resources in this state; review proposed rules that establish environmental or natural resources standards or other criteria; review the scientific and technical adequacy of environmental programs, guidelines, methodologies, protocols and tests; recommend scientific standards or other criteria for protection of human health and the environment; review new information needs, the adequacy of data collection and analysis and the quality of agency environmental plans or programs of research, development and demonstration; assess the importance of natural and anthropogenic sources of pollution; and perform any other duty requested by the governor.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

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

AB722, s. 1 Section 1. 15.107 (16) of the statutes is created to read:

AB722,2,6 15.107 (16) Environmental science council. (a) There is created in the department of administration an environmental science council. The council shall consist of 9 members who have expertise in at least one of the following: the engineering sciences, economic sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, human medical sciences or statistical or risk assessment sciences. The governor shall designate one member as chairperson and one member as vice chairperson. The members shall be nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, for 3-year terms.

AB722,2,12 (b) No person who has a potential conflict of interest may accept an appointment to the environmental science council without first disclosing the conflict to the governor. A potential conflict of interest includes a situation in which a person is employed by, or has received financial benefits from, a person whose economic interests may be substantially affected by a council review or recommendation.

AB722, s. 2 Section 2. 16.08 of the statutes is created to read:

AB722,2,19 16.08 Environmental science council. (1) In this section, "agency" means any office, department, agency, institution of higher education, association, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, and any authority created under ch. 231 or 234.

AB722,2,21 (2) At the request of the governor, the environmental science council shall do any of the following:

AB722,2,23 (a) Advise on issues affecting the protection and management of the environment and natural resources in this state.

AB722,2,25 (b) Review proposed rules that establish environmental or natural resources standards or other criteria.

AB722,3,2 (c) Review the scientific and technical adequacy of environmental programs, guidelines, methodologies, protocols and tests.

AB722,3,4 (d) Recommend any scientific standard or other criteria for protection of human health and the environment that the council determines is appropriate.

AB722,3,7 (e) Review new information needs, the adequacy of data collection and analysis and the quality of agency environmental plans or programs of research, development and demonstration.

AB722,3,8 (f) Assess the importance of natural and anthropogenic sources of pollution.

AB722,3,9 (g) Perform any other duty requested by the governor.

AB722,3,13 (3) In performing its duties under sub. (2), the council shall be strictly nonpartisan, shall consult and work closely with agencies, shall use sound, objective and scientific reasoning, shall assess the relative risk to human health and the environment and shall consider economic consequences.

AB722,3,19 (4) The council may create any committee necessary to carry out the council's duties under sub. (2). If the council creates a committee under this subsection, the council shall appoint members to the committee who have the scientific and technical expertise to carry out the purpose of the committee. The council may appoint council members and citizens to a committee, but the council shall appoint one council member to serve as chairperson of each committee created under this subsection.

AB722,3,23 (5) A member of the council and a member of a committee who is not a member of the council shall disclose any conflict of interest that may arise during the member's appointment to the governor, and to the council during a public meeting of the council.

AB722,3,25 (6) All agencies shall fully cooperate with and assist the council and any committee created by the council under sub. (4).

AB722, s. 3 Section 3. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB722,4,8 (1)  initial terms of members of environmental science council. Notwithstanding the length of terms of the members of the environmental science council specified under section 15.107 (16) (a) of the statutes, as created by this act, 3 members initially appointed to the council shall be appointed for a term expiring on July 1, 1997, 3 members initially appointed to the council shall be appointed for a term expiring on July 1, 1998, and 3 members initially appointed to the council shall be appointed for a term expiring on July 1, 1999.

AB722,4,9 (End)