LRB-2422/1
MES:wlj:jf
2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE
June 12, 2003 - Introduced by Representatives Colon, Sinicki, Gielow, Hahn,
Jensen, Wasserman, Zepnick and Ziegelbauer. Referred to Committee on
Urban and Local Affairs.
AB412,1,3
1An Act to renumber and amend 62.50 (6); and
to create 62.50 (6) (b) of the
2statutes;
relating to: changing the method of selecting the chief of police and
3chief engineer of the fire department in a first class city.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a first class city (presently only Milwaukee) must have a
Board of Police and Fire Commissioners (board) that consists of five citizens, not
more than two of whom shall at any time belong to the same political party. If a
vacancy exists in the office of chief of police or chief engineer of the fire department,
the board appoints someone to fill the office. The appointment is for a term set by
city ordinance, which may not exceed ten years, or for the remainder of an unexpired
term.
Under this bill, if a vacancy exists in the office of chief of police or chief engineer
of the fire department, the vacancy is filled by appointment by the mayor from a list
of three names recommended by the board. The mayor's appointment must be
confirmed by the common council, and the appointee serves at the pleasure of the
mayor.
For further information see the local 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:
AB412, s. 1
1Section
1. 62.50 (6) of the statutes is renumbered 62.50 (6) (a) and amended
2to read:
AB412,2,103
62.50
(6) (a) If a vacancy exists in the office of chief of police or in the office of
4chief engineer of the fire department
before the effective date of this paragraph ....
5[revisor inserts date], the board by a majority vote shall appoint proper persons to
6fill such offices respectively. When filling a vacancy in the office of chief of police or
7in the office of chief engineer of the fire department occurring after June 15, 1977,
8the board shall appoint the person to a term of office the number of years and
9commencement date of which shall be set by the city of the 1st class by ordinance and
10which may not exceed 10 years, or for the remainder of an unexpired term.
AB412, s. 2
11Section
2. 62.50 (6) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB412,2,2112
62.50
(6) (b) If a vacancy exists in the office of chief of police or in the office of
13chief engineer of the fire department on or after the effective date of this paragraph
14.... [revisor inserts date], the board shall prepare a list of 3 individuals from which
15the vacancy may be filled. The mayor shall select the chief of police or the chief
16engineer of the fire department from the list prepared by the board, except that the
17mayor may return the list to the board for the preparation of a list of 3 new names
18if the mayor does not wish to make a selection from the list provided by the board.
19The individual selected by the mayor may assume his or her position upon
20confirmation by the common council. A chief of police or chief engineer selected
21under this paragraph shall serve at the pleasure of the mayor.
