MDK:jld:jf
2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE
February 20, 2007 - Introduced by Representatives Black, Pope-Roberts, Boyle,
Berceau, Pocan, Hilgenberg, Sheridan, Hintz
and Jorgensen, cosponsored
by Senators Lassa, Carpenter, Lehman, Risser and Coggs. Referred to
Committee on Energy and Utilities.
AB73,1,4 1An Act to renumber 19.579; to amend 19.579 (title) and 19.58 (1) (a); and to
2create
19.45 (14), 19.579 (2) and 19.58 (1) (c) of the statutes; relating to:
3restrictions on employment of former commissioners and certain staff of the
4Public Service Commission and providing a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, the commissioners of the Public Service Commission (PSC)
are nominated by the governor and, with the advice and consent of the senate,
appointed for six-year terms. The PSC regulates public utilities and also regulates,
to varying degrees, nonutilities that provide certain telecommunications services.
Current law prohibits a commissioner from having a financial interest in a public
utility.
This bill provides that, for 12 months after an individual ceases to be a
commissioner of the PSC, he or she may not be employed by, serve as a director of,
render services to, or assist or participate in the affairs of, any of the following: 1) a
person that has been subject to any regulation by the PSC, a subsidiary or affiliate
of such a person, or a foundation organized or operated by such a person; or 2) a
person that represents the interests of the foregoing persons. Under the bill, an
executive assistant or division administrator employed by the PSC is subject to the
same prohibitions during the 12-month period after he or she ceases to be employed
by the PSC.
The bill's prohibitions are created in the Code of Ethics for State Public Officials
and Employees (code). As a result, the Ethics Board may investigate an allegation

that an individual has violated a prohibition and may order compliance. In addition,
the bill provides that an individual who violates the bill's prohibitions is subject to
a forfeiture (civil penalty) of not more than $50,000, and is also subject to the
following criminal penalties: 1) a fine of between $20,000 and $50,000; 2)
imprisonment for not more than one year; or 3) both a fine and imprisonment.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,
the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a
report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to
result if the bill is enacted.
For further information see the state and 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:
AB73, s. 1 1Section 1. 19.45 (14) of the statutes is created to read:
AB73,2,72 19.45 (14) No commissioner of the public service commission or executive
3assistant or division administrator employed by the commission may, for 12 months
4following the date on which he or she ceases to be a commissioner or to be employed
5as an executive assistant or division administrator, be employed by, serve as a
6director of, render services to, or assist or participate in the affairs of, any of the
7following:
AB73,2,108 (a) A person that has been subject to any regulation by the public service
9commission, a subsidiary or affiliate of such a person, or a foundation organized or
10operated by such a person.
AB73,2,1111 (b) Any person that represents the interests of a person described in par. (a).
AB73, s. 2 12Section 2. 19.579 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB73,2,13 1319.579 (title) Civil penalty penalties.
AB73, s. 3 14Section 3. 19.579 of the statutes is renumbered 19.579 (1).
AB73, s. 4 15Section 4. 19.579 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
AB73,3,2
119.579 (2) Any person who violates s. 19.45 (14) may be required to forfeit not
2more than $50,000.
AB73, s. 5 3Section 5. 19.58 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB73,3,74 19.58 (1) (a) Any person who intentionally violates any provision of this
5subchapter except s. 19.45 (13) or (14) or 19.59 (1) (br), or a code of ethics adopted or
6established under s. 19.45 (11) (a) or (b), shall be fined not less than $100 nor more
7than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than one year in the county jail or both.
AB73, s. 6 8Section 6. 19.58 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB73,3,119 19.58 (1) (c) Any person who intentionally violates s. 19.45 (14) shall be fined
10not less than $20,000 nor more than $50,000 or imprisoned for not more than one
11year in the county jail or both.
AB73, s. 7 12Section 7. Initial applicability.
AB73,3,1513 (1) This act first applies to an individual who is a commissioner of the public
14service commission or an executive assistant or division administrator employed by
15the public service commission on or after the effective date of this subsection.
AB73,3,1616 (End)
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