AB956: Bill Text

LRB-3167/1

RCT:bjk:jf

2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE

2007 Assembly BILL 956

March 11, 2008 - Introduced by Representative Molepske, cosponsored by Senator Risser. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AB956,1,2 An Act to amend 299.93 (1) of the statutes; relating to: the amount of the environmental surcharge.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, if a court imposes a forfeiture (a civil monetary penalty) or a fine on a person for a violation of an environmental law, the court must also impose an environmental surcharge equal to 10 percent of the amount of the forfeiture or fine. Environmental surcharges are deposited into the environmental fund and 50 percent of the amount of environmental surcharges is appropriated for environmental education grants awarded by the Environmental Education Board.

This bill increases the environmental surcharge to 20 percent of a forfeiture or fine imposed for the violation of an environmental law.

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:

AB956, s. 1 Section 1. 299.93 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB956,2,3 299.93 (1) If a court imposes a fine or forfeiture for a violation of a provision of this chapter or chs. 280 to 285 or 289 to 295 or a rule or order issued under this chapter or chs. 280 to 285 or 289 to 295, the court shall impose an environmental surcharge under ch. 814 equal to 10% 20 percent of the amount of the fine or forfeiture.

AB956, s. 2 Section 2. Initial applicability.

AB956,2,6 (1) This act first applies to violations committed on the effective date of this subsection.

AB956,2,7 (End)