JR7 AB1: Bill Text

This bill maintains the current shared enforcement authority between the Government Accountability Board and the district attorneys, but deletes the enforcement authority of county boards of election commissioners. The bill maintains the current responsibilities of the attorney general but modifies the authority of the attorney general to prosecute most offenses under the elections, ethics, and lobbying regulation laws. In addition, the bill creates a new investigatory and prosecution procedure that is uniformly applicable to all investigations and prosecutions of violations of the elections, ethics, and lobbying regulation laws by the Government Accountability Board. Under the bill, the board may investigate any alleged violation of the elections, ethics, or lobbying regulation laws and may prosecute alleged civil violations. The board may also refer suspected civil or criminal violations to the appropriate district attorney. Any person may file a compliant with the board alleging a violation of the elections, ethics, or lobbying regulation laws. If the board reviews a complaint and does not find that there is a reasonable suspicion that a violation has occurred or is occurring, the board must dismiss the complaint. If the board determines that there is a reasonable suspicion that a violation has occurred or is occurring, it may direct the administrator of the ethics and accountability division of the board to submit the names of three qualified individuals to act as special investigators. The board may retain one or more of the special investigators. The board may also authorize the administrator to investigate any matter without retaining an investigator. If the board retains a special investigator, the board may issue a subpoena to a specific person or may authorize the investigator to obtain a search warrant if the board approves that action by motion at a meeting of the board. A special investigator or the administrator must report to the board concerning an investigation at least once every 30 days. The board must meet with the special investigator or administrator at least once every 90 days to review the progress of an investigation. The investigation terminates after 90 days unless the board votes to continue it for an additional period not exceeding 90 days. The board is prohibited from expending more than $10,000 to finance the cost of an investigation before receiving a report on the progress of the investigation and a recommendation to commit additional resources. The board may vote to terminate an investigation at any time. If the board finds that there is probable cause to believe that a violation of the elections, ethics, or lobbying regulation laws has occurred or is occurring, it may authorize the filing of a civil complaint against a person and may, in addition, request the administrator to submit the names of three individuals to act as special counsel. If the board retains special counsel, the bill provides for the counsel to be paid from a sum sufficient appropriation from general purpose revenue. Once retained, the special counsel proceeds with the case in the manner he or she sees fit, with the assistance of the staff of the board if requested. Alternatively, the board may refer the matter to the district attorney for the county having authority to prosecute the matter for potential civil or criminal prosecution or in certain cases to another district attorney or to the attorney general (see below). Under the bill, the only authority of the attorney general to prosecute violations of the elections, ethics, and lobbying regulation laws is upon referral by the Government Accountability Board after two district attorneys have declined or failed to act or in criminal cases involving a district attorney or circuit judge or a candidate for one of those offices.

The bill permits the Government Accountability Board, by rule, to authorize the administrator of the ethics and accountability division to compromise and settle specified categories of offenses in the name of the board without a formal investigation, if the offenses by any given alleged offender do not involve payment of more than $1,000. The bill provides that no individual who serves as an employee of the board and no individual who is retained to serve as a special investigator or special counsel for the board may, during such service or for 12 months after ceasing to be so employed or retained, become a candidate for a state or local elective office. In addition, under the bill, no such employee or individual, while serving in his or her position, may make a political contribution to a candidate for state or local office, and no such employee or individual, for 12 months prior to becoming so employed or retained, may have made a political contribution to a candidate for a partisan state or local office.

Venue

Currently, civil prosecutions for violations of the elections laws are brought by the Elections Board or by a district attorney in circuit court for the county where the violation is alleged to occur. Civil violations of the ethics or lobbying regulation laws may be prosecuted by the Ethics Board in an administrative proceeding. Currently, with limited exceptions, a defendant in a criminal trial is tried in circuit court for the county where the defendant's crime is alleged to have been committed by the district attorney for that county, except that the defendant may request the judge to move the trial to another county and the judge may grant the request if the judge believes that an impartial trial cannot be had unless the trial is moved, and except that the district attorney may request the appointment of, or a circuit judge may appoint, another prosecutor. Currently, a defendant in a trial to impose a civil (monetary) forfeiture for most offenses is generally tried in circuit court for the county where the offense is alleged to occur.

This bill provides that if the defendant in a civil or criminal trial for a violation of the elections, ethics, or lobbying regulation laws is a resident of this state, the trial must be held in circuit court for the county where the defendant resides, except that a civil or criminal trial may be moved in the same manner as currently provided for criminal trials. Under the bill, with the same limited exceptions, the prosecution is conducted by the district attorney for the county where the trial is required to be held prior to any removal, unless that district attorney requests, or the circuit judge appoints, another prosecutor. The bill provides, however, that if the Government Accountability Board refers any matter to the district attorney for the county in which the alleged violator resides for prosecution and the district attorney informs the board that he or she declines to prosecute any civil or criminal violation related to any matter referred to the district attorney by the board, or the district attorney fails to commence a civil or criminal prosecution related to any such matter within 60 days of the date of referral, the board may then refer the matter to the district attorney for a prosecutorial unit that is contiguous to the prosecutorial unit of the district attorney to whom the matter was originally referred. If there is more than one such prosecutorial unit, the chairperson of the board determines the prosecutorial unit of the district attorney to whom the matter is to be referred by the public drawing of lots at a meeting of the board. The district attorney for the contiguous prosecutorial unit may then commence a civil or criminal prosecution related to any of the alleged violations referred to him or her by the board. The bill provides, in addition, that if the district attorney to whom a matter is rereferred by the board informs the board that he or she declines to prosecute any civil or criminal violation related to any matter referred to the district attorney by the board, or if that district attorney fails to commence any civil or criminal prosecution related to any such matter within 60 days of the date of the referral, the board may then refer the matter to the attorney general, who may then commence a civil or criminal prosecution related to any of the alleged violations referred to him or her by the board. However, the venue for the trial is not altered by the substitution of the prosecutor. Under the bill, if a special prosecutor is appointed in lieu of the district attorney for the county in which the alleged violator resides, the board is not authorized to appoint another prosecutor.

The bill also provides that violations of any civil or criminal laws by a resident of this state arising from or in relation to the official functions of the subject of the investigation or any matter that involves elections, ethics, or lobbying regulation laws shall be prosecuted in circuit court for the county where the defendant resides by the district attorney for that county, subject to the current exceptions.

Advisory opinions

Currently, opinions of the Elections Board are open to public inspection, but opinions of the Ethics Board, with limited exceptions, are closed to public inspection. However, the Ethics Board publishes summaries of its opinions without divulging information that could reveal the identity of the requester. This bill makes all opinions issued by the Government Accountability Board closed to public inspection, subject to the current exceptions for opinions issued by the Ethics Board. Currently, the Ethics Board may authorize its executive director issue opinions on its behalf.

The bill permits the Government Accountability Board to authorize an employee of the board to issue informal opinions on its behalf. The bill requires every opinion issued by the staff to be consistent with applicable opinions of the Government Accountability Board. The bill provides that in order to have legal force and effect, each advisory opinion issued by the board must be supported by specific legal authority under a statute or other law, or case or common law authority. In addition, each opinion must include citations to that authority, and must specifically articulate or explain which parts of the cited authority are relevant to the board's conclusion and why they are relevant. Under the bill, no person acting in good faith upon an opinion of the board is subject to criminal or civil prosecution for so acting, but the board may withdraw or modify opinions and no person is protected from liability unless that person acts in accordance with a current opinion. The bill permits a person who disagrees with an opinion issued to the person to request and receive a public or private hearing before the board on the matter.

Implementation

Currently, the Elections and Ethics boards have sum certain appropriations derived from state general purpose revenue. In addition, both boards finance some of their operations with program revenue. Currently, the Ethics Board has a sum certain appropriation to finance the cost of investigations of potential violations of the code of ethics for public officials. This bill creates an appropriation structure for the Government Accountability Board that is similar to the structure that is currently provided for the existing boards, except that the bill appropriates a sum sufficient to finance the costs of investigations of potential violations of the elections, ethics, and lobbying regulation laws by the Government Accountability Board. The bill makes an appropriation to the Joint Committee on Finance to enable the committee to provide transitional funding to the Government Accountability Board during the 2006-07 fiscal year. In addition, the bill creates a budget for the Government Accountability Board for the 2007-09 fiscal biennium. This budget is subject to review and revision as a part of the 2007-09 biennial budget bill.

The bill provides for the bill to become law on the day after publication as an act, after which date the members of the Government Accountability Board may be appointed and take office, and the board may employ staff and expend moneys from its appropriation for general program operations. However, the existing Elections Board and Ethics Board continue in operation until the first day of the seventh month beginning after publication of the act resulting from enactment of the bill. Under the bill, the Government Accountability Board may not exercise administrative or enforcement authority until that date. The bill also provides that the director of the Legislative Council Staff shall serve as executive director of the Government Accountability Board, without additional compensation, until the initial executive director of the Government Accountability Board is appointed and qualified, and may exercise all of the functions of the executive director of the Government Accountability Board, the divisions within the board, and the administrators of the divisions.

The bill directs the Government Accountability Board to hold one or more public hearings on the question of reaffirmation of each rule that has been promulgated and each order that has been issued by the Elections Board or the Ethics Board and that is in effect on the date of the Government Accountability Board's initial meeting. The bill further directs the Government Accountability Board to hold one or more public hearings on the question of reaffirmation of each formal opinion that has been issued by the Elections Board or the Ethics Board and that has not been withdrawn or modified on the date of the Government Accountability Board's initial meeting. Similarly, the bill directs the Government Accountability Board to hold one or more public hearings on the question of reaffirmation of each guideline that has been issued by the Ethics Board. The bill also provides that every rule promulgated and every order issued by the Elections Board or the Ethics Board that is in effect on the day of the Government Accountability Board's initial meeting shall expire on its specified expiration date or 365 days after the date of the Government Accountability Board's initial meeting, whichever is earlier, unless the Government Accountability Board repeals or amends the rule, effective on a earlier date, or the Government Accountability Board reaffirms the rule or order before its expiration. In addition, the bill provides that every formal opinion issued by the Elections Board or the Ethics Board that has not been withdrawn or modified on the date of the Government Accountability Board's initial meeting remains in effect until the end of the 365-day period beginning on the date of that meeting unless the Government Accountability Board withdraws or modifies the opinion on an earlier date or the Government Accountability Board reaffirms the opinion on an earlier date. Similarly, the bill provides that every guideline issued by the Ethics Board must be withdrawn by the Government Accountability Board no later than the end of the 365-day period beginning on the date of that board's initial meeting unless that board chooses to withdraw or revise the guideline at an earlier date or unless the board specifically votes to reaffirm the current text of the guideline as issued prior to the end of that period. The bill permits the Government Accountability Board to extend the expiration date, the period of effectiveness, or the circulation period of any rule, order, or formal opinion of either board or any guideline that has been issued by the Ethics Board by not more than three months at a time, but not more than six months in all.

The bill also directs the Government Accountability Board, within one year after the date of the board's initial meeting, to review all internal operating procedures of the Ethics Board and the Elections Board in effect on the date of that meeting that affect the manner in which the board interrelates with persons who are not employees of the Government Accountability Board. The review must specifically address the degree to which employees are authorized to perform their functions without direct supervision or approval of the Government Accountability Board. While the review is underway, the bill provides that no employee of the Government Accountability Board may make any change in such an internal operating procedure unless the board holds a public hearing concerning the proposed change and the board specifically approves the change.

Records and information

Currently, except as otherwise provided by law, public records may be examined or copied by any person unless the custodian demonstrates that the public interest in withholding access to a record outweighs the public interest in providing access. With certain exceptions, records obtained and prepared by the Ethics Board in connection with an investigation are specifically exempted from public access. This bill provides specifically that investigatory records of the Government Accountability Board are exempted from the right of public access, subject to the current exceptions, except that if the board commences a prosecution of a person as a result of an investigation, the person who is the subject of the investigation may direct the board to provide access to records of the investigation pertaining to that person if the records are available by law to the subject person, and except that records of the board containing a finding that a complaint does not raise a reasonable suspicion that a violation of the law has occurred or records containing a finding that no probable cause exists to believe that a violation of the law has occurred are open to public access. Under the bill, except as specifically authorized by law, an investigator, prosecutor, employee of an investigator or prosecutor, or member or employee of the board who verbally discloses information related to an investigation or prosecution under the elections, ethics, or lobbying regulation laws or other laws arising from or in relation to the official functions of the subject of the investigation or any matter that involves elections, ethics, or lobbying regulation or who provides public access to a record of the investigator, prosecutor, or the board that is not accessible to the public prior to presentation of the information or record in a court of law is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than nine months or both.

Closed sessions

Currently, state boards may convene in closed session to discuss the investigation of charges against specific persons. This bill provides that the Government Accountability Board must convene in closed session for the purpose of deliberating concerning any investigation under the board's jurisdiction. If any member of the board knowingly attends a meeting held in violation of this requirement, the member is subject to a forfeiture (civil penalty) of not less than $25 nor more than $300 for each offense.

Nonseverability

Currently, if any part of an act is found by a court to be invalid, those parts that are valid are severed from the invalid part and the severed parts continue in force. This bill provides that if any part of the act resulting from enactment of the bill is found by a court to be invalid, then all parts of the act are void, except that any such invalidation does not revive any law that is repealed by this bill nor revive any administrative body that was in existence prior to the day this bill becomes law.

For further information see the state 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:

AB1, s. 1 Section 1. 5.02 (1s) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,11,1 5.02 (1s) "Board" means the elections government accountability board.

AB1, s. 2 Section 2. 5.05 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,11,4 5.05 (title) Elections Government accountability board; powers and duties.

AB1, s. 3 Section 3. 5.05 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,11,9 5.05 (1) General authority. (intro.) The elections government accountability board shall have the responsibility for the administration of chs. 5 to 12 and, other laws relating to elections and election campaigns, subch. III of ch. 13, and subch. III of ch. 19. Pursuant to such responsibility, the board may:

AB1, s. 4 Section 4. 5.05 (1) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1, s. 5 Section 5. 5.05 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,11,23 5.05 (1) (b) In the discharge of its duties and upon after providing notice to the any party or parties being investigated who is the subject of an investigation, subpoena and bring before it any person in the state and require the production of any papers, books, or other records relevant to an investigation. Notwithstanding s. 885.01 (4), the issuance of a subpoena requires action by the board at a meeting of the board. A circuit court may by order permit the inspection and copying of the accounts and the depositor's and loan records at any financial institution, as defined in s. 705.01 (3), doing business in the state to obtain evidence of any violation of ch. 11 upon showing by the board of probable cause to believe there is a violation and that such accounts and records may have a substantial relation to the violation. In the discharge of its duties, the board may cause the deposition of witnesses to be taken in the manner prescribed for taking depositions in civil actions in circuit court.

AB1, s. 6 Section 6. 5.05 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,13,5 5.05 (1) (c) Bring civil actions to require forfeitures a forfeiture for any violation of ch. 11 under s. 11.60. Forfeiture actions brought by the board may concern only violations with respect to reports or statements required by law to be filed with it, and other violations arising under elections for state office or statewide referenda chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 or a license revocation for any violation of subch. III of ch. 13 for which the offender is subject to a revocation. The board may compromise and settle any civil action or potential action brought or authorized to be brought by it under ch.11 which, in the opinion of the board, constitutes a minor violation, a violation caused by excusable neglect, or which for other good cause shown, should not in the public interest be prosecuted under such chapter. Notwithstanding s. 778.06, an a civil action or proposed civil action authorized under this paragraph may be settled for such sum as may be agreed between the parties. Any settlement made by the board shall be in such amount as to deprive the alleged violator of any benefit of his or her wrongdoing and may contain a penal component to serve as a deterrent to future violations. In settling civil actions or proposed civil actions, the board shall treat comparable situations in a comparable manner and shall assure that any settlement bears a reasonable relationship to the severity of the offense or alleged offense. Forfeiture Except as otherwise provided in sub. (2m) (c) 15. and 16. and ss. 5.08, 5.081, 19.535, and 19.59 (8), forfeiture and license revocation actions brought by the board shall be brought in the circuit court for the county where the defendant resides, or if the defendant is a nonresident of this state, in circuit court for the county wherein the violation is alleged to occur. For purposes of this paragraph, a person other than a natural person resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is located within that county. Whenever the board enters into a settlement agreement with an individual who is accused of a civil violation of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 or who is investigated by the board for a possible civil violation of one of those provisions, the board shall reduce the agreement to writing, together with a statement of the board's findings and reasons for entering into the agreement and shall retain the agreement and statement in its office for inspection.

AB1, s. 7 Section 7. 5.05 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,13,15 5.05 (1) (e) Delegate to its executive director its legal counsel the authority to issue a subpoena under par. (b), apply for a search warrant under par. (b), commence an action under par. (d), intervene in an a civil action or proceeding under sub. (9), issue an order under s. 5.06, exempt a polling place from accessibility requirements under s. 5.25 (4) (a), exempt a municipality from the requirement to use voting machines or an electronic voting system under s. 5.40 (5m), approve an electronic data recording system for maintaining poll lists under s. 6.79, or authorize nonappointment of an individual who is nominated to serve as an election official under s. 7.30 (4) (e), subject to such limitations as the board deems appropriate.

AB1, s. 8 Section 8. 5.05 (1e) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,13,18 5.05 (1e) Actions by the board. Any action by the board requires the affirmative vote of at least 4 members.

AB1, s. 9 Section 9. 5.05 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,13,22 5.05 (1m) Legal counsel. The board shall employ outside the classified service an individual to serve as legal counsel who shall perform legal and administrative functions for the board.

AB1, s. 10 Section 10. 5.05 (2m), (2s) and (2w) of the statutes are created to read:

AB1,14,4 5.05 (2m) Enforcement. (a) The board shall investigate violations of laws administered by the board and may prosecute alleged civil violations of those laws, directly or through its agents under this subsection, pursuant to all statutes granting or assigning that authority or responsibility to the board. Prosecution of alleged criminal violations investigated by the board may be brought only as provided in par. (c) 11., 14., 15., and 16. and s. 978.05 (1).

AB1,14,9 (c) 2. a. Any person may file a complaint with the board alleging a violation of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19. If the board finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a complaint is frivolous, the board may order the complainant to forfeit not more than the greater of $500 or the expenses incurred by the division in investigating the complaint.

AB1,15,7 4. If the board reviews a complaint and fails to find that there is a reasonable suspicion that a violation under subd. 2. has occurred or is occurring, the board shall dismiss the complaint. If the board believes that there is reasonable suspicion that a violation under subd. 2. has occurred or is occurring, the board may by resolution authorize the commencement of an investigation. The resolution shall specifically set forth any matter that is authorized to be investigated. To assist in the investigation, the board may elect to retain a special investigator. If the board elects to retain a special investigator, the administrator of the ethics and accountability division shall submit to the board the names of 3 qualified individuals to serve as a special investigator. The board may retain one or more of the individuals. If the board retains a special investigator to investigate a complaint against a person who is a resident of this state, the board shall provide to the district attorney for the county in which the person resides a copy of the complaint and shall notify the district attorney that it has retained a special investigator to investigate the complaint. For purposes of this subdivision, a person other than a natural person resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is located within that county. The board shall enter into a written contract with any individual who is retained as a special investigator setting forth the terms of the engagement. A special investigator who is retained by the board may request the board to issue a subpoena to a specific person or to authorize the special investigator to request a circuit court to issue a search warrant. The board may grant the request by approving a motion to that effect at a meeting of the board if the board finds that such action is legally appropriate.

AB1,16,2 5. Each special investigator who is retained by the board shall make periodic reports to the board, as directed by the board, but in no case may the interval for reporting exceed 30 days. If the board authorizes the administrator of the ethics and accountability division to investigate any matter without retaining a special investigator, the administrator shall make periodic reports to the board, as directed by the board, but in no case may the reporting interval exceed 30 days. During the pendency of any investigation, the board shall meet for the purpose of reviewing the progress of the investigation at least once every 90 days. The special investigator or the administrator shall report in person to the board at that meeting concerning the progress of the investigation. If, after receiving a report, the board does not vote to continue an investigation for an additional period not exceeding 90 days, the investigation is terminated at the end of the reporting interval. The board shall not expend more than $10,000 to finance the cost of an investigation before receiving a report on the progress of the investigation and recommendation to commit additional resources. The board may vote to terminate an investigation at any time. If an investigation is terminated, any complaint from which the investigation arose is deemed to be dismissed by the board. Unless an investigation is terminated by the board, at the conclusion of each investigation, the administrator shall present to the board one of the following:

AB1,16,5 a. A recommendation to make a finding that probable cause exists to believe that one or more violations under subd. 2. have occurred or are occurring, together with a recommended course of action.

AB1,16,7 b. A recommendation for further investigation of the matter together with facts supporting that course of action.

AB1,16,9 c. A recommendation to terminate the investigation due to lack of sufficient evidence to indicate that a violation under subd. 2 has occurred or is occurring.

AB1,16,19 6. a. If the board finds that there is probable cause to believe that a violation under subd. 2. has occurred or is occurring, the board may authorize the administrator of the ethics and accountability division to file a civil complaint against the alleged violator. In such case, the administrator may request the assistance of special counsel to prosecute any action brought by the board. If the administrator requests the assistance of special counsel with respect to any matter, the administrator shall submit to the board the names of 3 qualified individuals to serve as special counsel. The board may retain one of the individuals to act as special counsel. The staff of the board shall provide assistance to the special counsel as may be required by the counsel to carry out his or her responsibilities.

AB1,16,25 b. The board shall enter into a written contract with any individual who is retained as special counsel setting forth the terms of the engagement. The contract shall set forth the compensation to be paid such counsel by the state. The contract shall be executed on behalf of the state by the board's legal counsel, who shall file the contract in the office of the secretary of state. The compensation shall be charged to the appropriation under s. 20.455 (1) (b).

AB1,17,2 7. No individual who is appointed or retained by the board to serve as special counsel or as a special investigator is subject to approval under s. 20.930.

AB1,17,8 8. Upon employment of any individual to serve as special counsel or as a special investigator for the board, the administrator of the ethics and accountability division shall certify the maximum amount provided in the employment contract to the secretary of administration, and direct the department of administration to pay bills of the special counsel or special investigator related to that case within the certified amount.

AB1,17,16 11. If the board finds that there is probable cause to believe that a violation under subd. 2. has occurred or is occurring, the board may, in lieu of civil prosecution of any matter by the board, refer the matter to the district attorney for the county in which the alleged violator resides, or if the alleged violator is a nonresident, to the district attorney for the county where the matter arises, or if par. (i) applies, to the attorney general or a special prosecutor. For purposes of this subdivision, a person other than a natural person resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is located within that county.

AB1,17,22 12. The board may, by rule, prescribe categories of civil offenses which the board will agree to compromise and settle without a formal investigation upon payment of specified amounts by the alleged offender. The board may authorize the administrator of the ethics and accountability division to compromise and settle such alleged offenses in the name of the board if the alleged offenses by an offender, in the aggregate, do not involve payment of more than $1,000.

AB1,18,7 13. If a special investigator or the administrator of the ethics and accountability division, in the course of an investigation authorized by the board, discovers evidence that a violation under subd. 2. that was not within the scope of the authorized investigation has occurred or is occurring, the special investigator or the administrator may present that evidence to the board. If the board finds that there is a reasonable suspicion that a violation under subd. 2. that is not within the scope of the authorized investigation has occurred or is occurring, the board may authorize the special investigator or the administrator to investigate the alleged violation or may elect to authorize a separate investigation of the alleged violation as provided in subd. 4.

AB1,18,15 14. If a special investigator or the administrator of the ethics and accountability division of the board, in the course of an investigation authorized by the board, discovers evidence of a potential violation of a law that is not administered by the board arising from or in relation to the official functions of the subject of the investigation or any matter that involves elections, ethics, or lobbying regulation, the special investigator or the administrator may present that evidence to the board. The board may thereupon refer the matter to the appropriate district attorney specified in subd. 11.

AB1,19,3 15. Except as provided in subd. 17., if the board refers a matter to the district attorney specified in subd. 11. for prosecution of a potential violation under subd. 2. or 14. and the district attorney informs the board that he or she declines to prosecute any alleged civil or criminal violation related to any matter referred to the district attorney by the board, or the district attorney fails to commence a prosecution of any civil or criminal violation related to any matter referred to the district attorney by the board within 60 days of the date of the board's referral, the board may refer the matter to the district attorney for another prosecutorial unit that is contiguous to the prosecutorial unit of the district attorney to whom the matter was originally referred. If there is more than one such prosecutorial unit, the chairperson of the board shall determine the district attorney to whom the matter shall be referred by publicly drawing lots at a meeting of the board. The district attorney may then commence a civil or criminal prosecution relating to the matter.

AB1,19,12 16. Except as provided in subd. 17., if the board refers a matter to a district attorney under subd. 15. for prosecution of a potential violation under subd. 2. or 14. and the district attorney informs the board that he or she declines to prosecute any alleged civil or criminal violation related to any matter referred to the district attorney by the board, or the district attorney fails to commence a prosecution of any civil or criminal violation related to any matter referred to the district attorney by the board within 60 days of the date of the board's referral, the board may refer the matter to the attorney general. The attorney general may then commence a civil or criminal prosecution relating to the matter.

AB1,19,15 17. The board is not authorized to act under subd. 15. or 16. if a special prosecutor is appointed under s. 978.045 in lieu of the district attorney specified in subd. 11.

AB1,19,23 18. Whenever the board refers a matter to special counsel or to a district attorney or to the attorney general under this subsection, the special counsel, district attorney, or attorney general shall report to the board concerning any action taken regarding the matter. The report shall be transmitted no later than 40 days after the date of the referral. If the matter is not disposed of during that period, the special counsel, district attorney, or attorney general shall file a subsequent report at the end of each 30-day period following the filing of the initial report until final disposition of the matter.

AB1,20,5 (d) No individual who serves as an employee of the board and no individual who is retained by the board to serve as a special investigator or as special counsel may, while so employed or retained or for 12 months after ceasing to be so employed or retained, may become a candidate, as defined in s. 11.01 (1), for state or local office. A filing officer shall decline to accept nomination papers or a declaration of candidacy from any individual who does not qualify to become a candidate under this paragraph.

AB1,20,13 (e) No individual who serves as an employee of the board and no individual who is retained by the board to serve as a special investigator or a special counsel may, while so employed or retained, make a contribution, as defined in s. 11.01 (6), to a candidate for state or local office. No individual who serves as an employee of the board and no individual who is retained by the board to serve as a special investigator or as special counsel, for 12 months prior to becoming so employed or retained, may have made a contribution, as defined in s. 11.01 (6), to a candidate for a partisan state or local office.

AB1,20,19 (h) If the defendant in an action for a civil violation of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 is a district attorney or a circuit judge or a candidate for either such office, the action shall be brought by the board. If the defendant in an action for a civil violation of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 is the attorney general or a candidate for that office, the board may appoint special counsel to bring suit on behalf of the state.

AB1,20,25 (i) If the defendant in an action for a criminal violation of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 is a district attorney or a circuit judge or a candidate for either such office, the action shall be brought by the attorney general. If the defendant in an action for a criminal violation of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 is the attorney general or a candidate for that office, the board may appoint a special prosecutor to conduct the prosecution on behalf of the state.

AB1,21,3 (j) Any special counsel or prosecutor who is appointed under par. (h) or (i) shall be independent of the attorney general and need not be a state employee at the time of his or her appointment.

AB1,21,6 (2s) Ethics and accountability division. The ethics and accountability division has the responsibility for administration of ch. 11, subch. III of ch. 13, and subch. III of ch. 19.

AB1,21,8 (2w) Elections Division. The elections division has the responsibility for the administration of chs. 5 to 10 and 12.

AB1, s. 11 Section 11. 5.05 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1, s. 12 Section 12. 5.05 (3g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,21,12 5.05 (3g) Chief election officer. The board shall designate an employee of the board to serve as the chief election officer of this state.

AB1, s. 13 Section 13. 5.05 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1, s. 14 Section 14. 5.05 (5s) (title), (d) and (e) of the statutes are created to read:

AB1,21,15 5.05 (5s) (title) Access to records.

AB1,21,21 (d) If the board commences a civil prosecution of a person for an alleged violation of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 as the result of an investigation, the person who is the subject of the investigation may authorize the board to make available for inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1) records of the investigation pertaining to that person if the records are available by law to the subject person and the board shall then make those records available.

AB1,21,23 (e) The following records of the board are open to public inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1):

AB1,21,25 1. Any record of the action of the board authorizing the filing of a civil complaint under sub. (2m) (c) 6.

AB1,22,2 2. Any record of the action of the board referring a matter to a district attorney or other prosecutor for investigation or prosecution.

AB1,22,4 3. Any record containing a finding that a complaint does not raise a reasonable suspicion that a violation of the law has occurred.

AB1,22,6 4. Any record containing a finding, following an investigation, that no probable cause exists to believe that a violation of the law has occurred.

AB1, s. 15 Section 15. 5.05 (6) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1, s. 16 Section 16. 5.05 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,22,14 5.05 (9) Standing. The board has standing to commence or intervene in an any civil action or proceeding for the purpose of enforcing the laws regulating the conduct of elections or election campaigns or ensuring their proper administration. If the board delegates authority to the executive director its legal counsel under sub. (1) (e) to act in its stead, the executive director legal counsel has standing to commence or intervene in such an action or proceeding.

AB1, s. 17 Section 17. 5.05 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1,22,25 5.05 (11) Aids to counties and municipalities. From the appropriations under s. 20.510 20.511 (1) (t) and (x), the board may provide financial assistance to eligible counties and municipalities for election administration costs in accordance with the plan adopted under sub. (10). As a condition precedent to receipt of assistance under this subsection, the board shall enter into an agreement with the county or municipality receiving the assistance specifying the intended use of the assistance and shall ensure compliance with the terms of the agreement. Each agreement shall provide that if the federal government objects to the use of any assistance moneys provided to the county or municipality under the agreement, the county or municipality shall repay the amount of the assistance provided to the board.

AB1, s. 18 Section 18. 5.052 of the statutes is created to read:

AB1,23,5 5.052 Government accountability candidate committee. (1) The government accountability candidate committee shall meet whenever a vacancy occurs in the membership of the board that requires a nomination to be submitted to the governor under s. 15.60 (2).

AB1,23,7 (2) No person may be nominated by the committee unless the person receives the unanimous approval of the committee.

AB1,23,9 (3) Except as provided in sub. (4), the committee shall submit at least the following number of nominations: