AB51: Bill Text

LRB-1108/2

JTK:kaf:kat

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Assembly BILL 51

February 3, 1997 - Introduced by Representatives Notestein, Freese, Linton, Ryba, Dobyns, R. Young, Bock, Powers, Huber, Riley, Carpenter and Lazich, cosponsored by Senators Moen, Schultz and Clausing. Referred to Committee on State Affairs.

AB51,1,2 An Act to create 19.45 (7m) of the statutes; relating to: representation of persons for compensation by certain state public officials.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Currently, state elective officials and major full-time appointive officials are prohibited from representing a person for compensation before any state officer or agency in the executive or legislative branch of state government or before any state authority or technical college district, except in certain contested cases, at certain open hearings, in tax matters and in matters that involve only nondiscretionary action by the officer, agency, authority or district. The prohibition does not apply to representation while acting in an official capacity.

This bill prohibits, in addition, any other full-time appointive state official or part-time appointive state official in the executive or legislative branch of state government or in a state authority or technical college district whose position is subject to the code of ethics for state public officials from representing a person for compensation before the state officer or agency, or the authority or technical college district with which the official is associated, except in a matter that involves only nondiscretionary action by the officer, agency, authority or district. Violators are subject to a forfeiture (civil penalty) of not more than $5,000 for each violation. Intentional violators are guilty of a misdemeanor and may be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both, for each violation.

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

AB51, s. 1 Section 1. 19.45 (7m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB51,2,5 19.45 (7m) No state public official whose position is not identified in s. 20.923 and who is associated with a department may represent a person for compensation before the department with which he or she is associated as a state public official, except in a matter that involves only ministerial action by the department.

AB51,2,6 (End)