(a) Covers GLIFWC's liability up to a limit of not less than $2 million per
occurrence for the acts and omissions of its wardens acting under this authority.
(b) Provides that the insurer, in defending a claim against the policy, may not raise
the defense of sovereign immunity of the insured up to that limit.
The bill also authorizes GLIFWC wardens to engage in fresh pursuit in Wisconsin
beyond the ceded territory under specified circumstances.
SB97, s. 1 1Section 1 . 23.29 (23) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB97,4,5
123.29 (23) Enforcement. The department and its agents, the department of
2justice, and peace officers, as defined under s. 939.22 (22), but not including
3commission wardens, as defined under s. 939.22 (5),
have jurisdiction on dedicated
4state natural areas in the geographic jurisdiction to enforce articles of dedication and
5restrictions authorized under sub. (21).
SB97, s. 2 6Section 2 . 23.293 (19) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB97,4,107 23.293 (19) Enforcement. The department and its agents, the department of
8justice, and peace officers, as defined under s. 939.22 (22), but not including
9commission wardens, as defined under s. 939.22 (5),
have jurisdiction on dedicated
10ice age trail areas.
Note: Sections 1 and 2 exclude GLIFWC wardens from the list of entities having
enforcement authority for purposes of dedicated state natural areas and Ice Age Trail
areas.
SB97, s. 3 11Section 3 . 23.33 (4) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB97,4,1812 23.33 (4) (c) 1. Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply to the operator of an
13all-terrain vehicle owned by a municipality, state agency, or public utility, or by the
14Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission,
while the operator is engaged in
15an emergency or in the operation of an all-terrain vehicle directly related to the
16functions of the municipality, state agency, or public utility, or of the Great Lakes
17Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission,
if safety does not require strict adherence to
18these restrictions.
SB97, s. 4 19Section 4 . 23.33 (12) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB97,4,2220 23.33 (12) (b) No operator of an all-terrain vehicle may refuse to stop after
21being requested or signaled to do so by a law enforcement officer or a commission
22warden, as defined in s. 939.22 (5)
.

Note: Sections 3 and 4 authorize GLIFWC wardens to operate all-terrain vehicles
(ATVs) on highways, under specified circumstances, and require other ATV operators to
stop when signaled by a GLIFWC warden.
SB97, s. 5 1Section 5. 23.51 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB97,5,42 23.51 (3) "Enforcing officer" means a peace officer as defined by in s. 939.22
3(22), but not including a commission warden, as defined in s. 939.22 (5), or means a
4person who has authority to act pursuant to a specific statute.
Note: Excludes GLIFWC wardens from the definition of "enforcing officer" for
purposes of forfeiture procedures for the enforcement of state conservation laws.
SB97, s. 6 5Section 6. 30.64 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB97,5,13 630.64 Patrol boats. (1) The operator of a patrol boat, including a commission
7warden, as defined in s. 939.22 (5),
when responding to an emergency call or when
8in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, need not comply with this
9subchapter or ordinances under s. 30.77 when a siren or emergency light is activated
10or, if the patrol boat is equipped with a siren and an emergency light, when both the
11siren and emergency light are activated, and if due regard is given to the safety of
12other persons in the vicinity. If an emergency light is used, it shall be of a type and
13design specified under 33 CFR 88.11 or 88.12.
SB97,5,17 14(2) Upon the approach of a patrol boat, including a patrol boat operated by a
15commission warden, as defined in s. 939.22 (5),
giving an audio or visual signal, the
16operator of a boat shall reduce the boat speed to slow-no-wake and yield the
17right-of-way to the patrol boat until it has passed.
SB97,5,20 18(3) No person operating a boat may refuse to stop after being requested or
19signaled to do so by a law enforcement officer or a commission warden, as defined in
20s. 939.22 (5)
.
Note: Authorizes GLIFWC wardens to operate patrol boats in excess of speed
limits, under specified circumstances, and requires other boat operators to yield to
GLIFWC patrol boats and to stop when signaled by a GLIFWC warden.
SB97, s. 7
1Section 7 . 165.83 (1) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 165.83 (1) (e) (intro.) and
2amended to read:
SB97,6,43 165.83 (1) (e) (intro.) "Tribal law enforcement agency" means an any of the
4following:
SB97,6,10 51. An agency of a tribe that is established for the purpose of preventing and
6detecting crime on the reservation or trust lands of the tribe and enforcing the tribe's
7laws or ordinances, that employs full time one or more persons who are granted law
8enforcement and arrest powers under s. 165.92 (2) (a), and that was created by a tribe
9that agrees that its law enforcement agency will perform the duties required of the
10agency under this section and s. 165.84.
SB97, s. 8 11Section 8 . 165.83 (1) (e) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
SB97,6,1412 165.83 (1) (e) 2. The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, if the
13Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission agrees to perform the duties
14required under this section and s. 165.84.
Note: The definition change made by Sections 7 and 8 gives GLIFWC and its
wardens access to the TIME system in exchange for GLIFWC accepting the duty to
provide certain information in its possession to the Department of Justice for inclusion
in the TIME system.
SB97, s. 9 15Section 9 . 165.85 (2) (g) of the statutes is renumbered 165.85 (2) (g) (intro.)
16and amended to read:
SB97,6,1817 165.85 (2) (g) (intro.) "Tribal law enforcement officer" means a any of the
18following:
SB97,6,23 191. A person who is employed by a tribe for the purpose of detecting and
20preventing crime and enforcing the tribe's laws or ordinances, who is authorized by
21the tribe to make arrests of Indian persons for violations of the tribe's laws or
22ordinances, and who agrees to accept the duties of law enforcement officers under the
23laws of this state.
SB97, s. 10
1Section 10 . 165.85 (2) (g) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
SB97,7,42 165.85 (2) (g) 2. A conservation warden employed by the Great Lakes Indian
3Fish and Wildlife Commission who agrees to accept the duties of law enforcement
4officers under the laws of this state.
Note: The definition change made by Sections 9 and 10 subjects GLIFWC
wardens who agree to accept the duties of law enforcement officers to the rules and
certification procedures of LESB, which is a prerequisite for exercising the authority to
make arrests for violations of state law and to render aid or assistance under s. 175.41,
as created by Section 10 of this bill.
SB97, s. 11 5Section 11. 175.40 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB97,7,96 175.40 (1) (c) "Peace officer" has the meaning specified in s. 939.22 (22), but also
7does not include a commission warden, as defined in s. 939.22 (5). "Peace officer"
8includes any tribal law enforcement officer who is empowered to act under s. 165.92
9(2) (a).
Note: Excludes GLIFWC wardens from the general arrest and assist statute
applicable to most law enforcement officers, as Section 12 creates an arrest and assist
statute specific to GLIFWC wardens.
SB97, s. 12 10Section 12 . 175.41 of the statutes is created to read:
SB97,7,12 11175.41 Arrest and assistance; wardens employed by the Great Lakes
12Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.
(1) In this section:
SB97,7,1513 (a) "Ceded territory" means the territory in Wisconsin ceded by the Chippewa
14Indians to the United States in the treaty of 1837, 7 Stat. 536, and the treaty of 1842,
157 Stat. 591.
SB97,7,1716 (b) "Commission" means the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife
17Commission.
SB97,7,1918 (c) "Commission warden" means a conservation warden employed by the
19commission.
SB97,8,3
1(2) For purposes of civil and criminal liability, a commission warden may, when
2in fresh pursuit, follow anywhere in the state outside the ceded territory and arrest
3any of the following:
SB97,8,54 (a) A Chippewa tribal member for violation of the Chippewa off-reservation
5conservation code, if the conditions of sub. (3) (a) and (e) are met.
SB97,8,76 (b) Any person for violation of the laws of this state, if the conditions of sub. (3)
7(a) to (e) are met.
SB97,8,10 8(3) Within the ceded territory, a commission warden may arrest a person for
9violation of state law or provide aid or assistance to a Wisconsin peace officer if all
10of the following criteria are met:
SB97,8,1111 (a) The commission warden is on duty and on official business.
SB97,8,1212 (b) Any of the following applies:
SB97,8,1313 1. The commission warden is responding to any of the following:
SB97,8,1514 a. An emergency situation that poses a significant threat to life or a significant
15threat of bodily harm.
SB97,8,1716 b. Acts that the commission warden believes, on reasonable grounds, constitute
17a felony.
SB97,8,1918 2. The commission warden is rendering aid or assistance to a Wisconsin peace
19officer in an emergency or at the request of the Wisconsin peace officer.
SB97,8,2220 (c) The commission warden meets the requirements of s. 165.85 (4) (b) 1., (bn)
211., and (c) and has agreed to accept the duties of a law enforcement officer under the
22laws of this state.
SB97,9,223 (d) The commission has adopted and implemented written policies regarding
24making arrests and rendering aid or assistance under this subsection, including a

1policy on notification to and cooperation with the law enforcement agency of the
2jurisdiction in which such arrests are made.
SB97,9,33 (e) The commission maintains liability insurance that does all of the following:
SB97,9,54 1. Covers the commission and commission wardens for acts and omissions
5under sub. (4).
SB97,9,66 2. Has a limit of coverage not less than $2,000,000 for any occurrence.
SB97,9,87 3. Provides that the insurer, in defending a claim against the policy, may not
8raise the defense of sovereign immunity of the insured up to the limits of the policy.
SB97,9,15 9(4) Except as otherwise provided in an agreement between the commission and
10the state or a subdivision of the state, the commission is liable for all acts and
11omissions of a commission warden while acting under sub. (2) or (3), and neither the
12state nor any political subdivision of the state may be held liable for any action of a
13commission warden taken under the authority of sub. (2) or (3). For purposes of civil
14and criminal liability, a commission warden acting under sub. (2) or (3) is considered
15to be acting in an official capacity.
SB97,9,20 16(5) Subsections (2) and (3) apply only if the commission has presented evidence
17to the department of justice of the insurance under sub. (3) (e). Upon receipt of
18evidence of insurance under sub. (3) (e), the department of justice shall notify the
19sheriff of each county in the ceded territory that the commission has met this
20criterion for performing the powers and duties described under subs. (2) and (3).
SB97, s. 13 21Section 13. 340.01 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB97,9,2322 340.01 (3) (b) Conservation wardens' vehicles or, foresters' trucks, or vehicles
23used by commission wardens,
whether publicly or privately owned.
Note: Adds GLIFWC wardens' vehicles to the definition of "authorized emergency
vehicle."
SB97, s. 14
1Section 14 . 340.01 (8t) of the statutes is created to read:
SB97,10,32 340.01 (8t) "Commission" means the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife
3Commission.
SB97, s. 15 4Section 15 . 340.01 (8u) of the statutes is created to read:
SB97,10,65 340.01 (8u) "Commission warden" means a conservation warden employed by
6the commission.
Note: Sections 14 and 15 define "commission" and "commission warden" for
purposes of the statutes relating to motor vehicles and ATVs, except ch. 350, stats.
SB97, s. 16 7Section 16 . 341.17 (4) (h) of the statutes is created to read:
SB97,10,98 341.17 (4) (h) To the commission, one copy of each automobile registration list
9under sub. (1).
SB97, s. 17 10Section 17 . 341.17 (9) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB97,10,1211 341.17 (9) (c) 2. A law enforcement agency, a state authority or, a federal
12governmental agency, or the commission to perform a legally authorized function.
SB97, s. 18 13Section 18. 343.235 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB97,10,1514 343.235 (3) (a) A law enforcement agency, a state authority or, a federal
15governmental agency, or the commission to perform a legally authorized function.
SB97, s. 19 16Section 19 . 343.237 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB97,10,2017 343.237 (4) If a law enforcement agency of another state or the commission
18makes a request meeting all the requirements specified for a request by a Wisconsin
19law enforcement agency or a federal law enforcement agency under sub. (3), the
20department shall comply with the request if all of the following apply:
SB97,10,2221 (a) The law enforcement agency of the other state or the commission agrees to
22comply with all of the requirements under this section.
SB97,11,3
1(b) The other state or the commission allows Wisconsin law enforcement
2agencies similar or greater access to similar information from that state or the
3commission
.
Note: Sections 16 to 19 give GLIFWC access to Department of Transportation
(DOT) records regarding vehicle registrations, and to personal identifying information
and drivers' license and identification card photographs to the same extent that current
law gives access to law enforcement agencies and others.
Much of this information is accessible through the TIME system, to which
GLIFWC is given access by Sections 7 and 8 of this bill. However, the Department of
Justice may not release the information via the TIME system to entities that do not have
independent authority to receive the information directly from DOT, which these
provisions provide.
SB97, s. 20 4Section 20 . 350.02 (3m) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB97,11,85 350.02 (3m) A law enforcement officer or a commission warden, as defined in
6s. 939.22 (5),
may operate a snowmobile on a highway in performance of his or her
7official duties if the snowmobile is equipped with a light that is red or blue or a
8combination thereof and that is flashing, oscillating, or rotating.
SB97, s. 21 9Section 21 . 350.17 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB97,11,1210 350.17 (2) No person operating a snowmobile shall refuse to stop after being
11requested or signaled to do so by a law enforcement officer or a commission warden,
12as defined in s. 939.22 (5)
.
Note: Section 20 authorizes GLIFWC wardens to operate snowmobiles on
highways, under specified circumstances, and Section 21 requires snowmobile operators
to stop when signaled by a GLIFWC warden.
SB97, s. 22 13Section 22 . 939.22 (5) of the statutes is created to read:
SB97,11,1514 939.22 (5) "Commission warden" means a conservation warden employed by
15the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.
SB97, s. 23 16Section 23 . 939.22 (22) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB97,11,1917 939.22 (22) "Peace officer" means any person vested by law with a duty to
18maintain public order or to make arrests for crime, whether that duty extends to all
19crimes or is limited to specific crimes. "Peace officer" includes a commission warden.
SB97, s. 24
1Section 24 . 939.22 (37) of the statutes is created to read:
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