AB610: Bill Text

12. The prohibition against an automobile insurance policy excluding from coverage a relative of the insured.

13. The exclusion from the law regulating migrant labor camp living quarters for the relatives of the employer.

14. The definition of "affiliated interests" of a public utility for purposes of the requirement that the public service commission approve a contract between a public utility and an affiliated interest of the public utility.

Under current law, certain statutes contain references to a person's lineal descendants, that is, the person's children, grandchildren and other direct descendants, and to a person's lineal ascendants or lineal ancestors, that is, the person's parents, grandparents and other direct ascendants. Current law does not specify whether those descendants and ascendants include a descendant or ascendant by adoption. This bill specifies that the descendants and ascendants referenced in all of the following include descendants and ascendants by blood or by adoption:

1. The exemption from the real estate transfer fee for a conveyance between a corporation and its shareholders, between a partnership and one of its partners or between a limited liability company and one of its members, if all of the shareholders, partners or members are related to each other and if the transfer is for no consideration or for the assumption of debt or an interest in the corporation, partnership or limited liability company.

2. The definition of "family farm corporation", that is, a corporation engaged in farming all of whose shareholders are related, for purposes of excluding those shareholders from the definition of "employe" under the worker's compensation law.

3. The law stating who may be considered a dependent of a deceased employe for purposes of entitlement to death benefits under the worker's compensation law.

4. The prohibition against a corporation or trust engaging in farming unless certain standards are met, including a standard that the number of shareholders or beneficiaries may not exceed 15, with certain relatives collectively being counted as only one shareholder or beneficiary.

5. The definition of "person related to" for purposes of the Wisconsin consumer act, which among other things prohibits a debt collector from threatening or harassing a customer or a person related to a customer.

6. The definition of "owner-dominated plan", that is, a retirement plan under which 90% or more of the accrued benefits are for the benefit of the owner-employe or certain relatives of the owner-employe, for purposes of exempting retirement benefits from execution.

Under current law, certain definitions of and references to "relative" include relatives by "consanguinity", which means by blood, and relatives by "affinity", which means by marriage. This bill substitutes "blood" for "consanguinity" and "marriage" for affinity" in all of the following:

1. The definitions of "relative" for purposes of the Juvenile Justice Code, the kinship care and long-term kinship care programs, the fair housing law, filing a petition to prohibit a bone marrow transplant by a minor, consenting to an HIV test for a person who is unable to consent due to his or her medical condition and compelling a NLRR to provide support for a child.

2. The exception for certain relatives to the law prohibiting the harboring of a felon.

Finally, the bill substitutes "blood" for "consanguinity" in the definition of "relative" for purposes of the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act and substitutes "blood relationship" for "consanguinity" in the rule of evidence permitting a pedigree recital in a deed or a will to be admitted as evidence that the recital is true.

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

AB610, s. 1 Section 1. 40.08 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,4,3 40.08 (9) Payments of benefits to minors and incompetents. In any case in which a benefit amount becomes payable to a minor or to a person adjudged mentally incompetent, the department may waive guardianship proceedings, and pay the benefit to the person providing for or caring for the minor, or to the spouse, or the parent or blood other relative by blood or adoption providing for or caring for the incompetent person.

AB610, s. 2 Section 2. 46.95 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,4,6 46.95 (1) (b) "Family member" means a spouse, a parent, a child or a person related by consanguinity blood or adoption to another person.

AB610, s. 3 Section 3. 48.57 (3m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,4,13 48.57 (3m) (a) In this subsection, "kinship care relative" means a stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, first cousin, nephew, niece, aunt, uncle or any person of a preceding generation as denoted by the prefix of grand, great or great-great, whether by consanguinity, direct affinity blood, marriage or legal adoption, or the spouse of any person named in this paragraph, even if the marriage is terminated by death or divorce.

AB610, s. 4 Section 4. 48.57 (3n) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,4,20 48.57 (3n) (a) In this subsection, "long-term kinship care relative" means a stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, first cousin, nephew, niece, aunt, uncle or any person of a preceding generation as denoted by the prefix of grand, great or great-great, whether by consanguinity, direct affinity blood, marriage or legal adoption, or the spouse of any person named in this paragraph, even if the marriage is terminated by death or divorce.

AB610, s. 5 Section 5. 51.20 (9) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,6,9 51.20 (9) (a) If the court finds after the hearing that there is probable cause to believe the allegations under sub. (1), it shall appoint 2 licensed physicians specializing in psychiatry, or one licensed physician and one licensed psychologist, or 2 licensed physicians one of whom shall have specialized training in psychiatry, if available, or 2 physicians, to personally examine the subject individual. Such examiners shall have the specialized knowledge determined by the court to be appropriate to the needs of the subject individual. One of the examiners may be selected by the subject individual if such person makes his or her selection known to the court within 24 hours after completion of the hearing to determine probable cause for commitment. The court may deny the subject individual's selection if the examiner does not meet the requirements of this paragraph or such person is not available. If requested by the subject individual, the individual's attorney or any other interested party with court permission, the individual has a right at his or her own expense or if indigent with approval of the court hearing the petition, at the reasonable expense of the individual's county of legal residence, to secure an additional medical or psychological examination, and to offer the evaluator's personal testimony, as evidence at the hearing. The examiners may not be related to the subject individual by blood or, marriage or adoption, and may have no interest in his or her property. Prior to the examination the subject individual shall be informed that his or her statements can be used as a basis for commitment and that he or she has the right to remain silent, and that the examiner is required to make a report to the court even if the subject individual remains silent. A written report shall be made of all such examinations and filed with the court. The issuance of such a warning to the subject individual prior to each examination establishes a presumption that the individual understands that he or she need not speak to the examiner. The examiners shall personally observe and examine the subject individual at any suitable place and satisfy themselves, if reasonably possible, as to the individual's mental condition, and shall make independent reports to the court. The subject individual's treatment records shall be available to the examiners. If the subject individual is not detained pending the hearing, the court shall designate the time and place where the examination is to be held and shall require the individual's appearance. The report and testimony, if any, by the examiners shall be based on beliefs to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, or professional certainty if an examiner is a psychologist, in regard to the existence of the conditions described in sub. (1), and the appropriateness of various treatment modalities or facilities. If the examiners are unable to make conclusions to a reasonable degree of medical or professional certainty, the examiners shall so state in their report and testimony, if any.

AB610, s. 6 Section 6. 77.25 (15) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,6,15 77.25 (15) Between a corporation and its shareholders if all of the stock is owned by persons who are related to each other as spouses, as lineal ascendants, lineal descendants, or siblings, whether by blood or by adoption, or as spouses of siblings, if the transfer is for no consideration except the assumption of debt or stock of the corporation and if the corporation owned the property for at least 3 years.

AB610, s. 7 Section 7. 77.25 (15m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,6,21 77.25 (15m) Between a partnership and one or more of its partners if all of the partners are related to each other as spouses, as lineal ascendants, lineal descendants, or siblings, whether by blood or by adoption, or as spouses of siblings and if the transfer is for no consideration other than the assumption of debt or an interest in the partnership.

AB610, s. 8 Section 8. 77.25 (15s) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,7,2 77.25 (15s) Between a limited liability company and one or more of its members if all of the members are related to each other as spouses, as lineal ascendants, lineal descendants, or siblings, whether by blood or by adoption, or as spouses of siblings and if the transfer is for no consideration other than the assumption of debt or an interest in the limited liability company.

AB610, s. 9 Section 9. 102.07 (5) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,7,10 102.07 (5) (c) A shareholder-employe of a family farm corporation shall be deemed a "farmer" for purposes of this chapter and shall not be deemed an employe of a farmer. A "family farm corporation" means a corporation engaged in farming all of whose shareholders are related as lineal ancestors or lineal descendants, whether by blood or by adoption, or as spouses, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, fathers-in-law, mothers-in-law, brothers-in-law or sisters-in-law of such lineal ancestors or lineal descendants.

AB610, s. 10 Section 10. 102.51 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,7,15 102.51 (2) (a) No person shall be considered a dependent unless a member of the family or that person is a spouse, or a divorced spouse who has not remarried, or a lineal descendant or, lineal ancestor, or brother or, sister or other member of the family, whether by blood or by adoption, of the deceased employe.

AB610, s. 11 Section 11. 103.90 (3) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,7,22 103.90 (3) (a) 2. Any other person who is not related by blood or, marriage or adoption to his or her employer and who occasionally or habitually leaves an established place of residence to travel to another locality to accept seasonal employment in the planting, cultivating, raising, harvesting, handling, drying, packing, packaging, processing, freezing, grading or storing of any agricultural or horticultural commodity in its unmanufactured state.

AB610, s. 12 Section 12. 106.04 (1m) (q) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,8,3 106.04 (1m) (q) "Relative" means a parent, grandparent, greatgrandparent, stepparent, step grandparent, brother, sister, child, stepchild, grandchild, step grandchild, greatgrandchild, first cousin, 2nd cousin, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother or half sister or any other person related by blood, marriage, consanguinity or affinity or adoption.

AB610, s. 13 Section 13. 146.34 (1) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,8,8 146.34 (1) (j) "Relative" means a parent, grandparent, stepparent, brother, sister, first cousin, nephew or niece; or uncle or aunt within the 3rd degree of kinship as computed under s. 852.03 (2), 1995 stats. This relationship may be by consanguinity or direct affinity blood, marriage or adoption.

AB610, s. 14 Section 14. 182.001 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,8,14 182.001 (1) (a) Its shareholders or beneficiaries do not exceed 15 in number. Lineal ancestors and lineal descendants, whether by blood or by adoption, and aunts, uncles and 1st cousins thereof count collectively as one shareholder or beneficiary for purposes of this paragraph, but this collective authorization shall not be used for more than one family in a single corporation or trust.

AB610, s. 15 Section 15. 196.52 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,8,22 196.52 (1) (g) Any other person whom the commission determines as a matter of fact after investigation and hearing to be actually exercising substantial influence over the policies and actions of the public utility in conjunction with one or more other persons with whom they are related by ownership or, by blood relationship or adoption or by action in concert that together they are affiliated with such public utility for the purpose of this section, even though no one of them alone is so affiliated under pars. (a) to (f).

AB610, s. 16 Section 16. 242.01 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,9,2 242.01 (11) "Relative" means an individual related by consanguinity blood within the 3rd degree of kinship as computed under s. 852.03 (2), 1995 stats., a spouse or an individual related to a spouse within the 3rd degree as so computed, and includes an individual in an adoptive relationship within the 3rd degree.

AB610, s. 17 Section 17. 243.10 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB610,9,5 243.10 (1) Form. The following is the form for the Wisconsin basic power of attorney for finances and property:

AB610,9,7 WISCONSIN BASIC POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR FINANCES AND PROPERTY

AB610,9,24 NOTICE: THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT. BEFORE SIGNING THIS DOCUMENT, YOU SHOULD KNOW THESE IMPORTANT FACTS. BY SIGNING THIS DOCUMENT, YOU ARE NOT GIVING UP ANY POWERS OR RIGHTS TO CONTROL YOUR FINANCES AND PROPERTY YOURSELF. IN ADDITION TO YOUR OWN POWERS AND RIGHTS, YOU ARE GIVING ANOTHER PERSON, YOUR AGENT, BROAD POWERS TO HANDLE YOUR FINANCES AND PROPERTY. THIS BASIC POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR FINANCES AND PROPERTY MAY GIVE THE PERSON WHOM YOU DESIGNATE (YOUR "AGENT") BROAD POWERS TO HANDLE YOUR FINANCES AND PROPERTY, WHICH MAY INCLUDE POWERS TO ENCUMBER, SELL OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF ANY REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHOUT ADVANCE NOTICE TO YOU OR APPROVAL BY YOU. THE POWERS WILL EXIST AFTER YOU BECOME DISABLED, OR INCAPACITATED, IF YOU CHOOSE THAT PROVISION. THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT AUTHORIZE ANYONE TO MAKE MEDICAL OR OTHER HEALTH CARE DECISIONS FOR YOU. IF YOU OWN COMPLEX OR SPECIAL ASSETS SUCH AS A BUSINESS, OR IF THERE IS ANYTHING ABOUT THIS FORM THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, YOU SHOULD ASK A LAWYER TO EXPLAIN THIS FORM TO YOU BEFORE YOU SIGN IT.

AB610,10,15 IF YOU WISH TO CHANGE YOUR BASIC POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR FINANCES AND PROPERTY, YOU MUST COMPLETE A NEW DOCUMENT AND REVOKE THIS ONE. YOU MAY REVOKE THIS DOCUMENT AT ANY TIME BY DESTROYING IT, BY DIRECTING ANOTHER PERSON TO DESTROY IT IN YOUR PRESENCE OR BY SIGNING A WRITTEN AND DATED STATEMENT EXPRESSING YOUR INTENT TO REVOKE THIS DOCUMENT. IF YOU REVOKE THIS DOCUMENT, YOU SHOULD NOTIFY YOUR AGENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON TO WHOM YOU HAVE GIVEN A COPY OF THE FORM. YOU ALSO SHOULD NOTIFY ALL PARTIES HAVING CUSTODY OF YOUR ASSETS. THESE PARTIES HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY TO YOU UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY NOTIFY THEM OF THE REVOCATION. IF YOUR AGENT IS YOUR SPOUSE AND YOUR MARRIAGE IS ANNULLED, OR YOU ARE DIVORCED AFTER SIGNING THIS DOCUMENT, THIS DOCUMENT IS INVALID.

AB610,10,19 SINCE SOME 3RD PARTIES OR SOME TRANSACTIONS MAY NOT PERMIT USE OF THIS DOCUMENT, IT IS ADVISABLE TO CHECK IN ADVANCE, IF POSSIBLE, FOR ANY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS THAT MAY BE IMPOSED.

AB610,10,21 YOU SHOULD SIGN THIS FORM ONLY IF THE AGENT YOU NAME IS RELIABLE, TRUSTWORTHY AND COMPETENT TO MANAGE YOUR AFFAIRS.

AB610,11,2 I .... (insert your name and address) appoint .... (insert the name and address of the person appointed) as my agent to act for me in any lawful way with respect to the powers initialed below. If the person appointed is unable or unwilling to act as my agent, I appoint .... (insert name and address of alternate person appointed) to act for me in any lawful way with respect to the powers initialed below.

AB610,11,4 TO GRANT ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING POWERS, INITIAL THE LINE IN FRONT OF EACH POWER YOU ARE GRANTING.

AB610,11,6 TO WITHHOLD A POWER, DO NOT INITIAL THE LINE IN FRONT OF IT. YOU MAY, BUT NEED NOT, CROSS OUT EACH POWER WITHHELD.

AB610,11,7 handling my money and property

AB610,11,8 Initials

AB610,11,10 _____ 1. PAYMENTS OF BILLS: My agent may make payments that are necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration of my affairs.

AB610,11,16 _____ 2. BANKING: My agent may conduct business with financial institutions, including endorsing all checks and drafts made payable to my order and collecting the proceeds; signing in my name checks or orders on all accounts in my name or for my benefit; withdrawing funds from accounts in my name; opening accounts in my name; and entering into and removing articles from my safe deposit box.

AB610,11,19 _____ 3. INSURANCE: My agent may obtain insurance of all types, as considered necessary or appropriate, settle and adjust insurance claims and borrow from insurers and 3rd parties using insurance policies as collateral.

AB610,11,22 _____ 4. ACCOUNTS: My agent may ask for, collect and receive money, dividends, interest, legacies and property due or that may become due and owing to me and give receipt for those payments.

AB610,12,2 _____ 5. REAL ESTATE: My agent may manage real property; sell, convey and mortgage realty for prices and on terms as considered advisable; foreclose mortgages and take title to property in my name; and execute deeds, mortgages, releases, satisfactions and other instruments relating to realty.

AB610,12,4 _____ 6. BORROWING: My agent may borrow money and encumber my assets for loans as considered necessary.

AB610,12,8 _____ 7. SECURITIES: My agent may buy, sell, pledge and exchange securities of all kinds in my name; sign and deliver in my name transfers and assignments of securities; and consent in my name to reorganizations, mergers or exchange of securities for new securities.

AB610,12,12 _____ 8. INCOME TAXES: My agent may make and sign tax returns; represent me in all income tax matters before any federal, state, or local tax collecting agency; and receive confidential information and perform any acts that I may perform, including receiving refund checks and the signing of returns.

AB610,12,14 _____ 9. TRUSTS: My agent may transfer at any time any of my property to a living trust that has been established by me before the execution of this document.

AB610,12,15 Professional and technical assistance

AB610,12,16 Initials

AB610,12,20 _____ 10. LEGAL ACTIONS: My agent may retain attorneys on my behalf; appear for me in all actions and proceedings to which I may be a party; commence actions and proceedings in my name; and sign in my name all documents or pleadings of every description.

AB610,12,23 _____ 11. PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE: My agent may hire accountants, attorneys, clerks, workers and others for the management, preservation and protection of my property and estate.

AB610,12,24 General Authority

AB610,12,25 Initials

AB610,13,7 _____ 12. GENERAL: My agent may do any act or thing that I could do in my own proper person if personally present, including managing or selling tangible assets, disclaiming a probate or nonprobate inheritance and providing support for a minor child or dependent adult. The specifically enumerated powers of the basic power of attorney for finances and property are not a limitation of this intended broad general power except that my agent may not take any action prohibited by law and my agent under this document may not:

AB610,13,8 a. Make medical or health care decisions for me.

AB610,13,9 b. Make, modify or revoke a will for me.

AB610,13,12 c. Other than a burial trust agreement under section 445.125, Wisconsin Statutes, enter into a trust agreement on my behalf or amend or revoke a trust agreement, entered into by me.

AB610,13,16 d. Change any beneficiary designation of any life insurance policy, qualified retirement plan, individual retirement account or payable on death account or the like whether directly or by canceling and replacing the policy or roll over to another plan or account.

AB610,13,18 e. Forgive debts owed to me or disclaim or waive benefits payable to me, except a probate or nonprobate inheritance.

AB610,13,19 f. Appoint a substitute or successor agent for me.

AB610,13,20 g. Make gifts.

AB610,13,21 COMPENSATION TO AGENT FROM PRINCIPAL'S FUNDS

AB610,13,22 Initials

AB610,13,25 _____ 13. compensation. My agent may receive compensation only in an amount not greater than that usual for the services to be performed if expressly authorized in the special instructions portion of this document.

AB610,14,1 accounting

AB610,14,2 Initials

AB610,14,6 _____ 14. accounting. My agent shall render an accounting (monthly) (quarterly) (annually) (CIRCLE ONE) to me or to .... (insert name and address) during my lifetime and a final accounting to the personal representative of my estate, if any is appointed, after my death.