SB639: Bill Text

SB639,115,14 (b) Findings. It is found and declared that industries located in this state have been induced to move their operations in whole or in part to, or to expand their operations in, other states to the detriment of state, county and municipal revenue arising through the loss or reduction of income and franchise taxes, real estate and other local taxes, and thereby causing an increase in unemployment; that such conditions now exist in certain areas of the state and may well arise in other areas; that economic insecurity due to unemployment is a serious menace to the general welfare of not only the people of the affected areas but of the people of the entire state; that such unemployment results in obligations to grant public assistance and in the payment of unemployment compensation; that the absence of new economic opportunities has caused workers and their families to migrate elsewhere to find work and establish homes, which has resulted in a reduction of the tax base of counties, cities and other local governmental jurisdictions impairing their financial ability to support education and other local governmental services; that security against unemployment and the preservation and enhancement of the tax base can best be provided by the promotion, attraction, stimulation, rehabilitation and revitalization of commerce, industry and manufacturing; that there is a need to stimulate a larger flow of private investment funds from banks, investment houses, insurers and other financial institutions; that means are necessary under which counties so desiring may create instrumentalities to promote industrial development and such purpose requires and deserves support from counties as a means of preserving the tax base and preventing unemployment. It is therefore declared to be the policy of this state to promote the right to gainful employment, business opportunities and general welfare of the inhabitants thereof and to preserve and enhance the tax base in counties and municipalities by the creation of bodies, corporate and politic, which shall exist and operate for the purpose of fulfilling the aims of this section subsection and such purposes are hereby declared to be public purposes for which public money may be spent and the necessity in the public interest for the provisions herein enacted is declared a matter of legislative determination.

SB639,115,16 (c) Definitions. As used in this section In this subsection, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

SB639,115,19 1. "Federal agency" includes the United States, the president of the United States and any department of or corporation, agency or instrumentality heretofore or hereafter that is created, designated or established by the United States.

SB639,115,22 2. "Industrial development agency" or "agency" is means a public body corporate and politic created under this section subsection, which agency shall have the characteristics and powers described in this section subsection;

SB639,116,2 3. "Industrial development project" is means any site, structure, facility or undertaking comprising or being connected with or being a part of an industrial or manufacturing enterprise established or to be established by an industrial development agency;

SB639,116,6 (d) Formation of industrial development agencies. 1. Any county upon a finding by the county board that there is a need therefor may cause to be formed an agency. Except as provided under s. 59.07 (149) 59.82, the agency shall be the sole agency and instrumentality of the county for the purposes stated in this section subsection.

SB639,116,9 2. Any adjoining counties upon a finding by their county boards that there is need therefor may jointly cause to be formed an agency which shall be the sole agency and instrumentality of the counties for the purposes stated in this section subsection.

SB639,116,12 3. The county board may appropriate such sums of money as are necessary or advisable for the benefit of the agency and prescribe the terms and conditions of such appropriation.

SB639,116,18 4. The agency shall be a separate and distinct public instrumentality and body corporate and politic exercising public powers determined to be necessary by the state for the purposes set forth in sub. (2) par. (b). The agency shall have no power at any time to pledge the credit or taxing power of the state, any county, or any municipality or political subdivision, but all of its obligations shall be deemed considered to be obligations solely of the agency.

SB639,116,21 (e) Organization of industrial development agencies. Such agencies shall have the following authority and shall be subject to the following restrictions All of the following apply to an agency:

SB639,116,24 1. Proposed articles of incorporation and proposed bylaws shall be made available for inspection by any municipality within the county for a period of at least 30 days and shall thereafter then be submitted to the county board for approval.

SB639,117,10 2. The articles of incorporation shall be signed and acknowledged by persons designated by the county board or where counties join in the formation of the agency by the county boards of those counties and shall include at least 3 of the following from each county: the county executive, if there is one; the chairperson of the county board; the chairperson of the county board finance committee, if there is one; the county corporation counsel and the county auditor or county treasurer in counties having no county auditor, and only those persons so signing and acknowledging the articles of incorporation shall for the purposes of ch. 181 be the incorporators of the agency. When counties join in the formation of the agency, the articles of incorporation shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds of each county.

SB639,117,17 3. The provisions of ch. 181, except such as are inconsistent with this section subsection and except as otherwise specifically provided in this section subsection, shall be applicable to such agency. The articles of incorporation shall specifically state that the agency is a public instrumentality created under the industrial development law and organized in accordance with the requirements of ch. 181 and that the agency shall be subject to ch. 181 to the extent that said chapter is not inconsistent with this section subsection.

SB639,118,4 4. The articles of incorporation shall provide for 2 classes of members who shall be designated as county members and public members and shall fix the number of each class, but the county members, at all times, shall constitute not less than a majority of the total authorized members. All members of each class shall be designated by the county board and shall hold office at the pleasure of the county board, except that in counties having a county executive, the members shall be designated by the county executive subject to confirmation by the county board. The agency shall be subject to dissolution and its corporate authority terminated upon resolution adopted by a majority of the county board, or of the county boards of each county where counties join in the formation of the agency whereupon the members shall proceed forthwith immediately to dissolve the agency, wind up its affairs and distribute its remaining assets as provided in this section subsection.

SB639,118,15 5. The articles of incorporation shall provide for 2 classes of directors, each class to consist of such number as is provided in the bylaws. The county executive, if there is one, the chairperson of the county board, the chairperson of the county board finance committee, if there is one, the county corporation counsel and the county auditor or county treasurer in counties having no county auditor, shall be members of the board of directors by virtue of their office and as representatives of the county in which they hold the office and the county board of each county shall have the right to designate such additional county directors as the bylaws authorize. The county directors shall at all times constitute not less than a majority of the total authorized number of directors. Public directors shall be appointed by the county board and shall hold office at the pleasure of the county board.

SB639,118,20 6. The corporate income of the agency shall not inure to any private person. Upon the dissolution of the agency all net assets after payment or provision for the payment of all debts and obligations shall be paid over to the county in which it the agency is located or if counties have joined in the formation of the agency then to such counties in such shares as is provided in the articles of incorporation.

SB639,118,24 (f) Operating authority of industrial development agencies. The agency is granted all operating authority necessary or incidental to the carrying out and effectuating the purposes of this section subsection including, without limitation because of enumeration, the following:

SB639,119,4 1. To grant financial aid and assistance to any industrial development project, which aid and assistance may take the form of be loans either secured or unsecured, contracts of sale and purchase, leases and such other transactions as are determined by the agency.

SB639,119,10 2. Within the boundaries of the county or the counties joining in the formation of the agency to acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise any real or personal property or any interest therein or mortgage or other lien thereon; to hold, improve, clear and redevelop any such property; to sell, assign, lease, subdivide and make such the property available for industrial use and to mortgage or otherwise encumber the same property.

SB639,119,19 3. To borrow money and to execute notes, bonds, debentures and other forms of indebtedness; to apply for and accept advances, loans, grants and contributions and other forms of financial assistance from the federal, state or county government and from municipalities and other public bodies and from industrial and other sources; to give such security as is required by way of mortgage, lien, pledge or other encumbrance, but any obligations for the payment of money shall be issued by the agency only after approval in such manner as is determined by the county board or boards where counties have joined in the formation of the agency and is prescribed in the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the agency.

SB639,120,2 4. To loan money for such period of time and at such an interest rate as that is determined by the agency and to be secured by mortgage, pledge or other lien or encumbrance on the industrial development project for which the loan was made or in other appropriate manner, which mortgage or other lien may be subordinate to a mortgage or other lien securing the obligations representing funds secured from independent sources which are used in the financing of the industrial development project and which mortgage or other lien and the indebtedness secured thereby may be sold, assigned, pledged or hypothecated.

SB639,120,5 5. To enter into any contracts deemed to be considered necessary or helpful and in general have and exercise all such other and further authority as is required or necessary in order to effectuate the purposes of this section subsection.

SB639,120,11 (g) Examination and audit. The accounts and books of the agency, including its receipts, disbursements, contracts, mortgages, investments and other matters relating to its finances, operation and affairs shall be examined and audited annually by the county auditor or by an independent certified public accountant designated by the county board or boards where counties have joined in the formation of the agency.

SB639,120,18 (h) Limitation of powers. 1. An industrial development agency shall not enter into any transaction which entails moving an industrial plant or facility from a municipality within the county to another location outside such the municipality if the common council or the village board of the municipality where such the plant or facility is then situated, within 45 days after receipt of written notice from the agency that it proposes to enter into such transaction, objects thereto by resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of its council or board and approved by its mayor or president.

SB639,121,2 2. The state does hereby pledge pledges to and agree agrees with the United States and any other federal agency that if any federal agency constructs, loans or contributes any funds for the construction, extension, improvement or enlargement of any industrial development project, or any portion thereof, the state will not alter or limit the rights and powers of the agency in any manner which would be inconsistent with the due performance of any agreements between the agency and any such federal agency, and the agency shall continue to have and may exercise all powers herein granted in this subsection, so long as the same is powers are necessary or desirable for the carrying out of the purposes of this section subsection.

SB639,121,6 (i) Construction. This section subsection shall be construed liberally to effectuate the purposes hereof and the enumeration therein of specific powers shall not operate to restrict the meaning of any general grant of power contained in this section subsection or to exclude other powers comprehended in such general grant.

SB639, s. 240 Section 240. 59.073 of the statutes is renumbered 59.55 (1), and 59.55 (1) (a), (b) (intro.) and (c), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB639,121,9 59.55 (1) (a) In this section subsection:

SB639,121,11 1. "Consumer complaint" means any a complaint received by a consumer protection agency from an individual.

SB639,121,13 2. "County consumer protection agency" means an agency created or designated under this section subsection.

SB639,121,15 (b) (intro.) Any A county may create or designate a consumer protection agency which may:

SB639,121,18 (c) A county consumer protection agency created under this section subsection shall report at least once every 6 months to the county board on the actions and activities of the agency.

SB639, s. 241 Section 241. 59.075 of the statutes is renumbered 59.53 (22) and amended to read:

SB639,121,23 59.53 (22) County housing authorities. (a) Sections 66.40 to 66.404 shall apply to counties, except as otherwise provided in this section subsection, or as clearly indicated otherwise by the context.

SB639,122,2 (b) The powers and duties conferred and imposed by ss. 66.40 to 66.404 upon mayors and councils are conferred upon county boards, and the powers and duties of specified city officials under ss. 66.40 to 66.404 are conferred upon county officials performing duties similar to the duties of such specified city officials.

SB639,122,9 (c) The area of operation of a housing authority created in and for a county is all of the county for which it is created, but a county housing authority may not undertake any housing project within the boundaries of any city, village or town municipality unless a resolution has been adopted by the governing body of the city, village or town municipality, and by any housing authority which has been created therein in that municipality, declaring that there is need for the county housing authority to exercise its powers within that city, village or town municipality.

SB639,122,13 (d) County housing authorities created under this section subsection are urged to utilize those provisions of the federal housing laws whereby private developers may acquire land, build housing projects according to federal standards and turn them over to such housing authorities for due consideration.

SB639, s. 242 Section 242. 59.08 of the statutes is renumbered 59.52 (29) and amended to read:

SB639,123,5 59.52 (29) Public work, how done; public emergencies. (a) All public work, including any contract for the construction, repair, remodeling or improvement of any public work, building, or furnishing of supplies or material of any kind where the estimated cost of such work will exceed $20,000 shall be let by contract to the lowest responsible bidder. Any public work, the estimated cost of which does not exceed $20,000, shall be let as the board may direct. If the estimated cost of any public work is between $5,000 and $20,000, the board shall give a class 1 notice under ch. 985 before it contracts for the work or shall contract with a person qualified as a bidder under s. 66.29 (2). A contract, the estimated cost of which exceeds $20,000, shall be let and entered into under s. 66.29, except that the board may by a three-fourths vote of all the members entitled to a seat provide that any class of public work or any part thereof may be done directly by the county without submitting the same for bids. This section subsection does not apply to highway contracts which the county highway committee or the county highway commissioner is authorized by law to let or make.

SB639,123,11 (b) The provisions of sub. (1) par. (a) are not mandatory for the repair or reconstruction of public facilities when damage or threatened damage thereto creates an emergency, as determined by resolution of the county board, in which the public health or welfare of the county is endangered. Whenever the county board by majority vote at a regular or special meeting determines that an emergency no longer exists, this subsection paragraph no longer applies.

SB639, s. 243 Section 243. 59.083 of the statutes is renumbered 59.03 (2) and amended to read:

SB639,124,10 59.03 (2) Consolidation of municipal services, home rule, metropolitan district. (a) Except as elsewhere specifically provided in these statutes, the county board of any county is hereby vested with all powers of a local, legislative and administrative character, including without limitation because of enumeration, the subject matter of water, sewers, streets and highways, fire, police, and health, and to carry out these powers in districts which it may create for different purposes, or throughout the county, and for such purposes to levy county taxes, to issue bonds, assessment certificates and improvement bonds, or any other evidence of indebtedness. The powers hereby conferred may be exercised by the county board in any town, city or village municipality, or part thereof located in such the county upon the request of any such town, city or village municipality, evidenced by a resolution adopted by a majority vote of the members-elect of its governing body, designating the particular function, duty or act, and the terms, if any, upon which the same powers shall be exercised by the county board or by a similar resolution adopted by direct legislation in the town, city or village municipality in the manner provided in s. 9.20. The resolution shall further provide whether the authority or function is to be exercised exclusively by the county or jointly by the county and the town, city or village municipality, and shall also find that the exercise of such power by the county would be in the public interest. Upon the receipt of the resolution, the county board may, by a resolution adopted by a majority vote of its membership, elect to assume the exercise of such the function, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the resolution presented by the town, city or village municipality.

SB639,124,21 (b) The county board of any such county may, by a resolution adopted by a majority of its membership, propose to any of the towns, cities and villages municipalities located in such the county, or any of them, that it offers to exercise such powers and functions therein in order to consolidate municipal services and functions in said the county. Such resolution shall designate the particular function, duty or act and the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the county board will perform the same function, duty or act. The powers conferred in sub. (1) par. (a) and designated in such resolution may thereafter be exercised by the county board in each such town, city or village municipality which shall accept such accepts the proposal by the adoption of a resolution by a majority vote of the members-elect of its governing body or by direct legislation in the manner provided in s. 9.20.

SB639,125,4 (c) Whenever the request under sub. (1) par. (a) or acceptance under sub. (2) par. (b) of a town, city or village municipality shall be by resolution of its governing board, such request or acceptance shall not go into effect until the expiration of 60 days from the adoption of the resolution. If a petition pursuant to under s. 9.20 for direct legislation on such the request or acceptance shall be filed before the expiration of said 60 days, the resolution of the governing board shall be of no effect but the request or acceptance of such town, city or village municipality shall be determined by such direct legislation.

SB639,125,10 (d) After and upon the adoption of resolutions by the county board and subject to sub. (3) par. (c) by one or more towns, cities or villages municipalities either as provided in sub. (1) or (2) the county par. (a) or (b) the board shall have full power to legislate upon and administer the entire subject matter committed to it, and among other things, to determine, where not otherwise provided by law, the manner of exercising the power thus assumed.

SB639,126,2 (e) The town, city or village municipality concerned may enter into necessary contracts with the county, and appropriate money to pay to the county the reasonable expenses incurred by it in rendering the services assumed. Such expenses may be certified, returned and paid as are other county charges, and in the case of services performed pursuant to under a proposal for the consolidation thereof initiated by the county board and made available to each town, city and village municipality in the county on the same terms, the expenses thereof shall be certified, returned and paid as county charges; but in the event that each and every town, city and village municipality in the county shall accept such accepts the proposal of the county board, the expenses thereof shall be paid by county taxes to be levied and collected as are other taxes for county purposes. Said towns, cities and villages The municipalities are vested with all necessary power to do the things herein required, and to do all things and to exercise or relinquish any of the powers herein provided or contemplated. The procedure herein provided in this subsection for the request or acceptance of the exercise of the powers conferred on the county board in cities and villages is hereby prescribed as a special method of determining the local affairs and government of such cities and villages under article XI, section 3, of the constitution.

SB639,126,4 (f) The powers conferred by this section subsection shall be in addition to all other grants of power and shall be limited only by express language.

SB639, s. 244 Section 244. 59.09 of the statutes is renumbered 59.14 and amended to read:

SB639,126,10 59.14 Publication of ordinances and proceedings. (1) Whenever any county a board passes any enacts an ordinance under this chapter the county clerk shall immediately publish it as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985; and such the clerk shall procure and distribute copies of such paper the ordinance to the several town clerks, who shall file the same it in their respective offices.

SB639,126,14 (2) Said The board shall, by ordinance or resolution, provide for publication in one or more newspapers in the county as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, a certified copy of all its proceedings had at any meeting, regular or special; said publication to be completed within 60 days after the adjournment of each session.

SB639,126,18 (3) Said The board may at any meeting, regular or special, provide by resolution for the publication in pamphlet form by the lowest and best bidder therefor, of a sufficient and designated number of copies of its duly certified proceedings, for general distribution.

SB639,127,8 (4) Said The board may order public notices relating to tax redemption and other affairs of the county to be published in a newspaper printed in any other than the English language, to be designated in such order, whenever they shall deem the board considers it necessary for the better information of the inhabitants thereof of the county, and it shall appear from the last previous census that one-fourth or more of the adult population of such the county are is of a nationality not speaking the English language, and that there shall have been a newspaper published therein in the county continuously for one year or more in the language spoken by such that nationality; but all such of the notices shall also be published in a newspaper published in the English language as provided by law. The compensation for all such of the publications shall be paid by the county ordering the same publications, and shall be the same as that prescribed by law for publication in the English language; and no extra charge shall be allowed for translation in any case. No irregularity, mistake or informality in any such publication shall affect the validity or regularity of any tax redemptions or other legal proceedings.

SB639, s. 245 Section 245. Subchapter III (title) of chapter 59 [precedes 59.10] of the statutes is created to read:

SB639,127,11 Chapter 59

SB639,127,13 Subchapter III County board of supervisors

SB639, s. 246 Section 246. 59.10 of the statutes is renumbered 59.15 and amended to read:

SB639,127,19 59.15 Neglect of duty. Any supervisor who refuses or neglects to perform any of the duties which are required of the supervisor by law as a member of the county board of supervisors, without just cause therefor, shall for each such refusal or neglect forfeit a sum of not less than fifty $50 nor more than two hundred dollars $200.

SB639, s. 247 Section 247. 59.11 of the statutes is renumbered 59.05 and amended to read:

SB639,127,23 59.05 County seat; change. (1) The county seat shall be fixed and designated by the county board at the first regular meeting after the organization of any county; and no county seat shall be changed except as provided in this section.

SB639,128,10 (2) If two-fifths of the legal voters of any county, to be determined by the registration or poll lists of the last previous general election held therein in the county, the names of which voters shall appear on some one of the registration or poll lists of such election, present to the board a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 asking a change of the county seat to some other place designated in the petition, the board shall submit the question of removal of the county seat to a vote of the qualified voters of the county. The election shall be held only on the day of the general election, notice thereof of the election shall be given and the election shall be conducted as in the case of the election of officers on that day, and the votes shall be canvassed, certified and returned in the same manner as other votes at that election. The question to be submitted shall be "Shall the county seat of .... county be removed to ....".

SB639,128,16 (3) If a majority of the votes cast at the election are in favor of the proposed change, the chairperson of the county board shall certify the same, with the attestation of the county clerk, to the governor, who shall issue a proclamation to that effect and publish it in the official state paper. From the date of publication the place designated shall be the county seat. The county board may not again submit the question of removal within 5 years.

SB639,128,20 (4) Notwithstanding subs. (2) and (3), no such election to change any a county seat may be held for a period of 5 years after the year in which a courthouse or other county building costing $3,000 or more was built at the county seat and occupied for county purposes.

SB639, s. 248 Section 248. 59.12 of the statutes is renumbered 59.20 (2) and amended to read:

SB639,129,16 59.20 (2) County officers; terms. A county clerk, treasurer, sheriff, coroner, clerk of circuit court, register of deeds and surveyor, who shall be a registered land surveyor, shall be elected in each county for full terms at the general election held in each even-numbered year. The regular term of office of each such officer shall commence on the first Monday of January next succeeding his or her election and shall continue 2 years and until his or her successor qualifies. In lieu of electing a surveyor in any county, the county board may, by resolution, designate that the duties under ss. 59.60 59.45 (1) and 59.635 59.74 (2) be performed by any registered land surveyor employed by the county. In any county containing one town only, the county board may, by resolution, designate any county office a part-time position, combine 2 or more county offices, and, if concurred in by the town board, combine the offices of county clerk and town clerk and any other county and town offices, provided that the offices combined are not incompatible and the combination is not expressly forbidden by law. If the town board so concurs, the election may be for the combined office and no separate election for the town office shall be held until after the county board has by resolution decided to abandon the combination and the town board has concurred by resolution. In counties having a population of 500,000 or more, no county coroner or county surveyor may be elected. In any county in which a medical examiner system is instituted, no coroner may be elected.

SB639, s. 249 Section 249. 59.125 of the statutes is renumbered 59.20 (1) and amended to read:

SB639,129,24 59.20 (1) Eligibility for county office. No person is eligible to may file nomination papers as a candidate for, have his or her name placed on a ballot for election to, or hold a county elective office who is not an elector of the county. No person is eligible to may file nomination papers as a candidate for, have his or her name placed on a ballot for election to, or hold the office of county supervisor who is not an elector of the supervisory district from which he or she is chosen.

SB639, s. 250 Section 250. 59.13 of the statutes is renumbered 59.21, and 59.21 (1) (intro.), (a) to (e), (g) and (i) and (2) to (4), as renumbered, are amended to read:

SB639,130,12 59.21 (1) (intro.) Each county officer named in this chapter, except county supervisors, shall execute and file an official bond and take and file the official oath within 20 days after receiving official notice of election or appointment, or if not officially notified, within 20 days after the commencement of the term for which the officer is elected or appointed. Every county supervisor shall take and file the official oath within 20 days after receiving official notice of election or appointment, or if not officially notified, within 20 days after the commencement of the term for which he or she is elected or appointed. Every deputy appointed by any such officer shall take and file the official oath and if the deputy neglects to do so, he or she shall forfeit $100. Such official bonds shall be in sums and with sureties, as follows:

SB639,130,13 (a) County Clerk Clerk, not less than two thousand dollars $2,000.

SB639,130,20 (b) County Treasurer Treasurer, if the bond is furnished by individual sureties, not less than the amount nor exceeding twice the amount of all taxes directed by the county board to be levied therein and to be received by the treasurer during the ensuing year, with 3 or more sureties; or, if the bond is furnished by a surety company in an amount not less than 10 per cent % of all taxes directed by the county board to be levied therein, and to be received by the treasurer during the ensuing year, or $500,000, whichever is smaller.

SB639,130,22 (c) Sheriff, not less than five $5 nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars $25,000, with not less than three 3 sureties.

SB639,130,24 (d) Coroner, not less than five hundred $500 nor more than ten thousand dollars $10,000, with not less than two 2 sureties.

SB639,131,2 (e) Clerk of the circuit court, not less than five thousand dollars $5,000, with two 2 or more sureties.

SB639,131,10 (g) Register of deeds, in counties containing less than 150,000 population, $3,000, with 2 or more sureties. In counties containing 150,000 or more population, not less than $3,000, with 2 or more sureties, conditioned for the accuracy of the register's work and the faithful, correct and impartial performance of the register's duties, and in addition thereto a bond of not less than $10,000, with 2 or more sureties, conditioned for the faithful accounting for and paying over to the county treasurer all moneys which may come into the register's hands as register of deeds, or into the hands of the register's deputy or assistants.

SB639,131,11 (i) County abstractor, five thousand dollars $5,000, with two 2 or more sureties.

SB639,131,18 (2) Each such official bond shall be in a sum fixed by law; or if not so fixed, in a sum fixed by resolution of the county board, within the limitations prescribed by law, if any, at the annual meeting in November prior to the commencement of the term of office of the particular officer. Both the bond and the sufficiency of the sureties thereto shall be approved by a committee consisting of the chairperson and not less than two 2 other members of the county board who shall report in writing their action on all bonds.

SB639,131,25 (3) Each such bond shall be guaranteed by the number of personal sureties prescribed by law, or if not prescribed, by the number fixed by the county board within the limitations, if any, prescribed by law, or by a surety company as provided by s. 632.17 (2). In the case of the county clerk, county treasurer and county abstractor the county board may by resolution require them to furnish bonds guaranteed by surety companies and direct that the premiums be paid as provided in s. 19.01 (8).

SB639,132,6 (4) If it deems considers the bond of any officer insufficient, the county board may by resolution require the officer to furnish additional bond in a sum to be named in the resolution, not exceeding ten thousand dollars $10,000 for the register of deeds of any county with a population of less than one hundred fifty thousand 150,000, and not exceeding the maximum sum, if any, fixed by law for additional bonds for other officers.

SB639, s. 251 Section 251. 59.14 of the statutes is renumbered 59.20 (3) and amended to read:

SB639,132,20 59.20 (3) Offices where kept; when open. (a) Every sheriff, clerk of the circuit court, register of deeds, county treasurer, register of probate, county clerk and county surveyor shall keep his or her office at the county seat in the offices provided by the county or by special provision of law; or if there is none, then at such place as the board directs. The board may also require any elective or appointive county official to keep his or her office at the county seat in an office to be provided by the county. All such officers shall keep their offices open during the usual business hours of any day except Sunday, as the board directs. With proper care, the officers shall open to the examination of any person all books and papers required to be kept in his or her office and permit any person so examining to take notes and copies of such books, records, papers or minutes therefrom except as authorized in sub. (3) par. (c) and s. 19.59 (3) (d) or under ch. 69.

SB639,132,25 (b) If any such officer neglects or refuses to comply with any of the provisions of this section subsection, the officer shall forfeit five dollars $5 for each day such noncompliance continues. Actions for the collection of such forfeiture may be brought upon the complaint of the district attorney of the proper county or of any party aggrieved by such refusal or neglect.

SB639,133,9 (c) Any county board may by ordinance provide that the cut-off reception time for the filing and recording of documents shall be advanced by one-half hour in any official business day during which time the register of deeds office is open to the public, in order to complete the processing, recording and indexing to conform to the day of reception. Any register of deeds may provide in his or her notice under s. 19.34 (1) that requests for inspection or copying of the records of his or her office may be made only during a specified period of not less than 35 hours per week. For all other purposes, the register of deeds office shall remain open to the public during usual business hours.

SB639,133,12 (d) Any register of deeds who in good faith makes an erroneous determination as to the accessibility of a portion of a record, to members of the public under s. 19.36 (6), is not subject to any penalty for denial of access to the record under s. 19.37 (4).

SB639, s. 252 Section 252. 59.145 (title), (1) and (2) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, are renumbered 59.52 (14) (title), (a) and (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB639,133,23 59.52 (14) (title) Optical disk and electronic storage. (a) Upon request of any office, department, commission, board or agency of the county, the board may authorize any county record that is in the custody of the office, department, commission, board or agency to be transferred to, or maintained in, optical disk or electronic storage in accordance with rules of the department of administration under s. 16.612. The board may thereafter authorize destruction of the original record, if appropriate, in accordance with sub. (4) and ss. 16.61 (3) (e), and 19.21 (5) and 59.715 to 59.717 unless preservation is required by law.

SB639,134,3 (b) (intro.) Any copy of a county record generated from optical imaging or electronic formatting of an original record is deemed considered an original record if all of the following conditions are met:

SB639, s. 253 Section 253. 59.145 (2) (a), (b) and (d) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, are renumbered 59.52 (14) (b) 1., 2. and 4.

SB639, s. 254 Section 254. 59.145 (2) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 59.52 (14) (b) 3.

SB639, s. 255 Section 255. 59.145 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 59.52 (14) (c) and amended to read: