October 20, 1999 - Introduced by Senators Erpenbach, Decker, Baumgart,
Rosenzweig, Risser, Plache
and Grobschmidt, cosponsored by
Representatives Schneider, La Fave, Bock, Black, Travis, Musser, Boyle,
Ryba, Lassa, Hebl, J. Lehman, Hasenohrl, Schooff, Richards
and Coggs.
Referred to Committee on Privacy, Electronic Commerce and Financial
Institutions.
SB259,1,3 1An Act to amend 814.245 (2) (d); and to create 18.13 (4), 165.06, 165.061 and
2165.062 of the statutes; relating to: creating a consumer privacy advocate in
3the department of justice and making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill creates a consumer privacy advocate in the department of justice.
Under the bill, the department of justice is given an additional attorney position and
the attorney general is required to designate an assistant attorney general as the
consumer privacy advocate. The advocate, under the bill, is required to represent the
consumer's interest in issues concerning consumer privacy, such as the purchase of
products on the Internet and the prevention of theft of a consumer's personal
identification information. The advocate may intervene in civil actions related to
information technology services provided by the state, misappropriation of personal
identifying information, data alteration, financial card misuse and computer
program and data misuse, if necessary to protect the consumer's right to privacy. The
bill requires the department of administration to make investigations, studies and
reports at the advocate's request related to these proceedings. Other state agencies
are required by the bill to cooperate with the advocate in carrying out his or her
functions.
The bill gives the consumer privacy advocate the authority to appeal from
administrative rulings to the courts. In addition, the advocate may initiate actions
before any agency or court related to consumer privacy issues and may present
evidence and make arguments in those actions. The bill requires the attorney

general to appoint a consumer privacy advisory committee to advise the consumer
privacy advocate regarding his or her duties.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB259, s. 1 1Section 1. 18.13 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB259,2,52 18.13 (4) Consumer privacy advocate. Notwithstanding s. 165.061, the
3consumer privacy advocate does not have authority to initiate any action or
4proceeding concerning the issuance of obligations by the building commission under
5this chapter.
SB259, s. 2 6Section 2. 165.06 of the statutes is created to read:
SB259,2,21 7165.06 Assistant attorney general — consumer privacy advocate. (1)
8The attorney general shall designate an assistant attorney general on the attorney
9general's staff as the consumer privacy advocate. The consumer privacy advocate
10shall represent the consumers' interests in issues concerning consumer privacy,
11including the purchase of products on the Internet and the prevention of theft of the
12consumer's personal identifying information. The secretary of administration shall
13give the consumer privacy advocate written notices of all proceedings under subch.
14VII of ch. 16. The prosecutor of any action under s. 943.201, 943.392, 943.41 or 943.70
15shall give the consumer privacy advocate written notices of all proceedings under
16those sections. The consumer privacy advocate shall be provided the minutes,
17reports, recommendations and any documents provided by or to the joint committee
18on information policy and the standing committees of the assembly and senate
19dealing with privacy matters. Annually, the consumer privacy advocate shall report
20to the appropriate standing committees of the assembly and senate on the status of
21consumer privacy in this state.
SB259,3,6
1(2) The consumer privacy advocate may, on his or her own initiative or upon
2request of any committee of the legislature, formally intervene in all civil
3proceedings described in sub. (1) whenever such intervention is needed for the
4protection of consumers' rights to privacy, including the restriction of access to the
5consumer's personal identifying information and the prevention of fraudulent use of
6the consumer's personal identifying information on the Internet.
SB259,3,18 7(3) Personnel of the department of administration shall, upon the request of
8the consumer privacy advocate, make such investigations, studies and reports as the
9consumer may request in connection with proceedings described in sub. (1), either
10before or after formal intervention. Personnel of state agencies shall, at the
11consumer privacy advocate's request, provide information, serve as witnesses in civil
12proceedings described in sub. (1) and otherwise cooperate in the carrying out of the
13consumer privacy advocate's functions. Formal intervention shall be by filing a
14statement to that effect with the examiner or other person immediately in charge of
15the proceeding. Upon filing the statement, the consumer privacy advocate shall be
16considered a party in interest with full power to present evidence, subpoena and
17cross-examine witnesses, submit proof, file briefs or do any other acts appropriate
18for a party to the proceedings.
SB259,3,23 19(4) The consumer privacy advocate may appeal from administrative rulings to
20the courts. In all administrative proceedings and judicial review proceedings the
21consumer privacy advocate shall be identified as "consumer privacy advocate". This
22section does not preclude or prevent any division of any department or independent
23agency from appearing by its staff as a party in those proceedings.
SB259, s. 3 24Section 3. 165.061 of the statutes is created to read:
SB259,4,5
1165.061 Assistant attorney general; consumer privacy advocate;
2authority.
In carrying out his or her duty to protect the consumers' right to privacy,
3the consumer privacy advocate has the authority to initiate actions and proceedings
4before any agency or court related to consumer privacy, including issues concerning
5constitutionality, to present evidence and testimony and to make arguments.
SB259, s. 4 6Section 4. 165.062 of the statutes is created to read:
SB259,4,16 7165.062 Assistant attorney general; consumer privacy advocate;
8advisory committee.
The attorney general shall appoint a consumer privacy
9advisory committee under s. 15.04 (1) (c). The consumer privacy advisory committee
10shall consist of not less than 7 nor more than 9 members. The members shall have
11backgrounds in or demonstrated experience or records relating to privacy protection,
12record security or information technology. The consumer privacy advisory
13committee shall advise the consumer privacy advocate consistent with his or her
14duty to protect the consumers' right to privacy. The consumer privacy advisory
15committee shall conduct meetings consistent with subch. V of ch. 19 and shall permit
16public participation and public comment on consumer privacy advocate activities.
SB259, s. 5 17Section 5. 814.245 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB259,4,1918 814.245 (2) (d) "State agency" does not include the consumer privacy advocate
19or
citizens utility board.
SB259, s. 6 20Section 6. Appropriation changes.
SB259,5,221 (1) Department of justice. In the schedule under section 20.005 (3) of the
22statutes for the appropriation to the department of justice under section 20.455 (1)
23(a) of the statutes, as affected by the acts of 1999, the dollar amount is increased by
24$120,700 for fiscal year 1999-00 and the dollar amount is increased by $120,700 for
25fiscal year 2000-01 to increase the authorized FTE positions for the department by

11.0 GPR attorney position on the effective date of this subsection for the purposes of
2the consumer privacy advocate.
SB259, s. 7 3Section 7. Effective date.
SB259,5,54 (1) This act takes effect on July 1, 1999, or on the day after publication,
5whichever is later.
SB259,5,66 (End)
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