AB1150: Bill Text

LRB-4653/1

JTK:cjs:rs

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 1150

March 27, 2006 - Introduced by Representatives Travis and Freese, cosponsored by Senator Erpenbach. Referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections.

AB1150,1,3 An Act to amend 9.10 (1) (b), 9.10 (1) (c) 2. and 9.10 (2) (d) of the statutes; relating to: petition requirements for the recall of a city, village, town, or school district officer.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Currently, a petition for the recall of a city, village, town, or school district officer must be signed by electors equal to at least 25 percent of the vote cast for the office of president of the United States at the last election within the same district or territory as that of the officeholder being recalled. If there are no election statistics available that can be used to determine the exact number of signatures required, the number of signatures is calculated in accordance with a statutory formula. The latest date that a recall petition may be circulated is the 30th day beginning after the date that the petitioner registers with the appropriate filing officer indicating an intent to circulate the petition.

This bill provides that a petition for the recall of a city, village, town, or school district officer must be signed by electors equal to at least 25 percent of the vote cast for the office of governor at the last election within the same district or territory as that of the officeholder being recalled, subject to the current exception. Under the bill, the latest date that a recall petition may be circulated is the 60th day beginning after the date that the petitioner registers with the appropriate filing officer indicating an intent to circulate a recall petition.

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

AB1150, s. 1 Section 1. 9.10 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1150,2,9 9.10 (1) (b) Except as provided in par. (c), a petition for recall of a state, congressional, legislative, judicial or county an officer shall be signed by electors equal to at least 25% of the vote cast for the office of governor at the last election within the same district or territory as that of the officeholder being recalled. Except as provided in par. (c), a petition for the recall of a city, village, town or school district officer shall be signed by electors equal to at least 25% of the vote cast for the office of president at the last election within the same district or territory as that of the officeholder being recalled.

AB1150, s. 2 Section 2. 9.10 (1) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1150,2,14 9.10 (1) (c) 2. The vote for governor or president, as required, at the last general election in the municipality within which the district lies shall be multiplied by 25% of the quotient determined under subd. 1. to determine the required number of signatures.

AB1150, s. 3 Section 3. 9.10 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1150,3,10 9.10 (2) (d) No petition may be offered for filing for the recall of an officer unless the petitioner first files a registration statement under s. 11.05 (1) or (2) with the filing officer with whom the petition is filed. The petitioner shall append to the registration a statement indicating his or her intent to circulate a recall petition, the name of the officer for whom recall is sought and, in the case of a petition for the recall of a city, village, town or school district officer, a statement of a reason for the recall which is related to the official responsibilities of the official for whom removal is sought. No petitioner may circulate a petition for the recall of an officer prior to completing registration. The last date that a petition for the recall of a state, congressional, legislative, judicial or county an officer may be offered for filing is 5 p.m. on the 60th day commencing after registration. The last date that a petition for the recall of a city, village, town or school district officer may be offered for filing is 5 p.m. on the 30th day commencing after registration. After the recall petition has been offered for filing, no name may be added or removed. No signature may be counted unless the date of the signature is within the period provided in this paragraph.

AB1150, s. 4 Section 4. Initial applicability.

AB1150,3,13 (1) This act first applies with respect to petitions for recall that are initially circulated on the effective date of this subsection.

AB1150,3,14 (End)