Under current law, DOT administers the Southeast Wisconsin Transit Capital
Assistance Program under which DOT awards grants to eligible applicants for
transit capital improvements. The only eligible applicant for this program is the
Southeastern Regional Transit Authority, often referred to as SERTA. The only
source of funding for the program is proceeds from state general obligation bonds.
This bill eliminates the program and bonding authority for the program.
Under current law, DOT administers an intercity bus assistance program to
award grants to cities, villages, towns, or counties or enter into contracts with private
providers of intercity bus service for the purpose of increasing the availability of
intercity bus service in this state. This bill eliminates the grant portion of the
program.
Rail and air transportation
This bill increases the authorized general obligation bonding limit for the
acquisition and improvement of rail property from $126,500,000 to $186,500,000.
Other transportation
The 2009 biennial budget act (Act 28) authorized the creation of several new
regional transit authorities (RTAs): the Dane County RTA, the Chippewa Valley
RTA, and the Chequamegon Bay RTA. Each RTA, once created, is a public body
corporate and politic and a separate governmental entity. The board of directors of
an RTA may, upon adopting a resolution, impose a sales and use tax in the RTA's
jurisdictional area at a rate not exceeding 0.5 percent of the gross receipts or sales
price if certain conditions are satisfied.
This bill requires that an RTA hold a referendum in the RTA's jurisdictional
area before the RTA may impose a sales and use tax within its jurisdictional area.
Upon approval by its board of directors, SERTA may impose a rental car
transaction fee in the counties of Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee.
This bill requires that SERTA hold a referendum in the counties of Kenosha,
Racine, and Milwaukee before SERTA may impose the rental car transaction fee in
these counties.
Under current law, DOT may accept payment by credit card, debit card, or any
other electronic payment mechanism of certain fees, which generally derive from
transactions related to motor vehicles or motor vehicle operators. DOT may charge
a convenience fee for each transaction in which payment is made in this way.
This bill allows DOT to accept payment of any fee by credit card, debit card, or
any other electronic payment mechanism, and to charge a convenience fee whenever
payment is made in this way. DOT may promulgate rules requiring a person to pay
an additional fee for conducting an in-person, telephone, or paper transaction in lieu

of using an electronic filing or submission option when DOT has made an electronic
filing or submission option available.
This bill increases the authorized general obligation bonding limit for harbor
improvement grants from $66,100,000 to $78,800,000.
Veterans and military affairs
Currently, DVA operates two veterans homes in the state, one at King and the
other at Union Grove. Operation of veterans homes includes hiring personnel and
providing services to the residents of the home. A third home, that has not yet been
opened, is to be located in Chippewa Falls. For this third home, in lieu of DVA
operating the home, DVA may contract with a private entity to operate the home.
The bill also specifically requires the Legislative Audit Bureau, at the request of the
governor or the legislature, to conduct one or more financial audits of the operation
of the Chippewa Falls home by a private entity.
Because this bill directly or substantially affects the development,
construction, cost or availability of housing in this state, the Department of
Administration, as required by law, will prepare a report to be printed as an appendix
to this bill.
Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be
referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed
as an appendix to the bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB40, s. 1 1Section 1. 11.26 (9) (a) and (b) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB40,44,72 11.26 (9) (a) Except as provided in par. (ba), no individual who is a candidate
3for state or local office may receive and accept more than 65 percent of the value of
4the total disbursement level determined under s. 11.31 or 11.511 (7) (a) for the office
5for which he or she is a candidate during any primary and election campaign
6combined from all committees subject to a filing requirement, including political
7party and legislative campaign committees.
AB40,45,38 (b) Except as provided in par. (ba), no individual who is a candidate for state
9or local office may receive and accept more than 45 percent of the value of the total
10disbursement level determined under s. 11.31 or 11.511 (7) (a) for the office for which

1he or she is a candidate during any primary and election campaign combined from
2all committees other than political party and legislative campaign committees
3subject to a filing requirement.
AB40, s. 2 4Section 2. 11.506 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,45,155 11.506 (1) An eligible candidate shall not accept private contributions other
6than seed money contributions and qualifying contributions that the candidate
7accepts during the exploratory period and the public financing qualifying period

8during the primary election campaign period in an aggregate amount exceeding the
9difference, if any, between the maximum amount of the public financing benefit for
10the primary election campaign period and the actual amount of the public financing
11benefit for that period paid to the eligible candidate. An eligible candidate shall not
12accept private contributions during the election campaign period in an aggregate
13amount exceeding the difference, if any, between the maximum amount of the public
14financing benefit for the election campaign period and the actual amount of the
15public financing benefit for that period paid to the eligible candidate
.
AB40, s. 3 16Section 3. 11.51 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,45,17 1711.51 (title) Certification Certifications by candidate and board.
AB40, s. 4 18Section 4. 11.51 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB40,46,1319 11.51 (1m) Upon determination of the number of eligible candidates who
20qualify for a public financing benefit for the primary election campaign period, the
21board shall determine the amounts of the public financing benefits that are payable
22to all eligible candidates in the primary election campaign period and the election
23campaign period by reserving a public financing benefit amount from the democracy
24trust fund for the election campaign period for 2 eligible candidates, if 2 or more
25candidates qualify to receive a public financing benefit for the primary election

1campaign period, or for one eligible candidate, if only one candidate qualifies to
2receive a public financing benefit for the primary election campaign period and, if
3there are insufficient moneys in the democracy trust fund to make full payment of
4all public financing benefits that are or may become payable for the primary and
5election campaign periods, by prorating the amounts of the public financing benefits
6to fully allocate all available moneys to the eligible candidates. If, on the day that
7the board makes its certification under sub. (3), there are additional moneys in the
8democracy trust fund that have become available for distribution to eligible
9candidates in the election campaign period, the board shall distribute the additional
10moneys in equal amounts to each eligible candidate at the spring election or, if there
11is only one eligible candidate, to that candidate alone, up to the maximum amount
12of the public financing benefit for the spring election, as provided in s. 11.511 (3) and
13(6).
AB40, s. 5 14Section 5. 11.51 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,46,2215 11.51 (2) The board shall certify to the state treasurer the name of each eligible
16candidate at the spring primary together with the amount of the public financing
17benefit payable to the candidate promptly after the candidate demonstrates his or
18her eligibility and, in any event, not later than 5 days after the end of the public
19financing qualifying period. The state treasurer Upon certification of an eligible
20candidate, the board
shall immediately credit that candidate's account with a line of
21credit for the amount certified. No candidate may utilize a line of credit received
22under this subsection until the beginning of the primary election campaign period.
AB40, s. 6 23Section 6. 11.51 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,47,724 11.51 (3) The board shall certify to the state treasurer the name of each eligible
25candidate at the spring election together with the amount of the public financing

1benefit payable to the candidate not later than 48 hours after the date of the spring
2primary election for the office of justice, or the date that the primary election would
3be held if a primary were required. The state treasurer Upon certification of an
4eligible candidate, the board
shall immediately credit that candidate's account with
5a line of credit for the amount certified. However, no candidate for a particular office
6shall receive a line of credit until all candidates for the office of justice who apply and
7qualify for a public financing benefit have been certified as eligible candidates.
AB40, s. 7 8Section 7. 11.511 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,47,189 11.511 (1) The state treasurer board shall provide to each eligible candidate
10who qualifies to receive a public financing benefit for the primary or election
11campaign period separate lines of credit for the public financing benefits payable to
12the candidate for the primary and election campaign periods in the amounts
13specified in this section, subject to any required adjustment under s. 11.512 (2) or
1411.513 (2). An eligible candidate may use this public financing benefit to finance any
15lawful disbursements during the primary and election campaign periods to further
16the election of the candidate in that primary or election. An eligible candidate shall
17not use this public financing benefit to repay any loan, or in violation of ss. 11.502
18to 11.522 or any other applicable law.
AB40, s. 8 19Section 8 . 11.511 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act .... (this
20act), is amended to read:
AB40,48,521 11.511 (1) The board shall provide to each eligible candidate who qualifies to
22receive a public financing benefit for the primary or election campaign period
23separate lines of credit for the public financing benefits payable to the candidate for
24the primary and election campaign periods in the amounts specified in this section,
25subject to any required adjustment under s. 11.512 (2) or 11.513 (2)
. An eligible

1candidate may use this public financing benefit to finance any lawful disbursements
2during the primary and election campaign periods to further the election of the
3candidate in that primary or election. An eligible candidate shall not use this public
4financing benefit to repay any loan, or in violation of ss. 11.502 to 11.522 or any other
5applicable law.
AB40, s. 9 6Section 9. 11.511 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,48,97 11.511 (2) Except as provided in ss. 11.512 (2) and 11.513 (2), the The maximum
8public financing benefit for a primary election campaign period is $100,000, subject
9to adjustment under s. 11.51 (1m)
.
AB40, s. 10 10Section 10. 11.511 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,48,1311 11.511 (3) Except as provided in ss. 11.512 (2) and 11.513 (2), the The maximum
12public financing benefit for an election campaign period is $300,000 , subject to
13adjustment under s. 11.51 (1m)
.
AB40, s. 11 14Section 11. 11.511 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,48,1915 11.511 (6) Notwithstanding subs. (2) and (3), beginning on July 1, 2012, and
16every 2 years thereafter, the board shall modify the maximum public financing
17benefits provided for in subs. (2) and (3) to adjust for the change in the consumer price
18index, all items, U.S. city average, published by the U.S. department of labor for the
19preceding 2-year period ending on December 31.
AB40, s. 12 20Section 12. 11.511 (7) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 11.511 (7) and amended
21to read:
AB40,49,422 11.511 (7) Except as provided in par. (b), no No candidate for the office of justice
23who files an application for a public financing benefit and certification under s. 11.51
24(1) and who accepts a public financing benefit may make or authorize total
25disbursements in a campaign, beginning with the first day of the exploratory period

1and ending on the date of the spring election, to the extent of more than the maximum
2amounts specified in ss. 11.502 (2) and 11.508 (1), plus the amount specified in s.
311.511 (3), as adjusted under s. 11.511 (6), and, if there is a primary for the office of
4justice, the amount specified in s. 11.511 (2), as adjusted under s. 11.511 (6).
AB40, s. 13 5Section 13. 11.511 (7) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
AB40, s. 14 6Section 14. 11.512 of the statutes is repealed.
AB40, s. 15 7Section 15. 11.513 of the statutes is repealed.
AB40, s. 16 8Section 16. 11.515 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,49,12 911.515 Democracy trust fund. The democracy trust fund shall be
10administered by the state treasurer government accountability board. The state
11treasurer
board shall establish an account within the fund for each eligible
12candidate.
AB40, s. 17 13Section 17. 11.517 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,49,2014 11.517 (1) Notwithstanding s. 11.60 (1), if an eligible candidate makes
15disbursements that exceed the total amount of the public financing benefit allocated
16to the candidate for any campaign and, the total qualifying and seed money
17contributions lawfully accepted by the candidate, and the total private contributions
18that the candidate may accept under s. 11.506 (1),
the candidate may be required to
19forfeit not more than 10 times the amount by which the disbursements exceed the
20allocation
that total.
AB40, s. 18 21Section 18. 11.522 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,50,2 2211.522 Contributions to nonparticipating candidates. A
23nonparticipating candidate may accept contributions from private sources without
24limitation, except that no person may make any contribution or contributions to a

1nonparticipating candidate exceeding a total of $1,000 during any campaign
, subject
2to applicable limitations under s. 11.26
.
AB40, s. 19 3Section 19. 13.099 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,50,54 13.099 (1) (a) "Department" " Authority" means the department of commerce
5Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.
AB40, s. 20 6Section 20. 13.099 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,50,87 13.099 (1) (b) "State housing strategy plan" means the plan developed under
8s. 560.9802 234.5602.
AB40, s. 21 9Section 21. 13.099 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,50,1610 13.099 (2) (a) If any bill that is introduced in either house of the legislature
11directly or substantially affects the development, construction, cost , or availability
12of housing in this state, the department authority shall prepare a report on the bill
13within 30 days after it is introduced. The department authority may request any
14information from other state agencies, local governments or individuals , or
15organizations that is reasonably necessary for the department authority to prepare
16the report.
AB40, s. 22 17Section 22. 13.099 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,50,2218 13.099 (2) (b) A bill that requires a report by the department authority under
19this section shall have that requirement noted on its jacket when the jacket is
20prepared. When a bill that requires a report under this section is introduced, the
21legislative reference bureau shall submit a copy of the bill to the department
22authority.
AB40, s. 23 23Section 23. 13.099 (3) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,50,2524 13.099 (3) (title) Findings of the department authority to be contained in the
25report.
AB40, s. 24
1Section 24. 13.099 (3) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,51,42 13.099 (3) (a) (intro.) The report of the department authority shall contain
3information about the effect of the bill on housing in this state, including information
4on the effect of the bill on all of the following:
AB40, s. 25 5Section 25. 13.099 (3) (a) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,51,76 13.099 (3) (a) 5. Housing costs, as defined in s. 560.9801 234.5601 (3) (a) and
7(b).
AB40, s. 26 8Section 26. 13.099 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,51,109 13.099 (4) Rule-making authority Rules. The department authority may
10promulgate adopt any rules necessary for the administration of this section.
AB40, s. 27 11Section 27. 13.101 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,52,512 13.101 (6) (a) As an emergency measure necessitated by decreased state
13revenues and to prevent the necessity for a state tax on general property, the
14committee may reduce any appropriation made to any board, commission,
15department, or the University of Wisconsin System, or to any other state agency or
16activity, by such amount as it deems feasible, not exceeding 25% of the
17appropriations, except appropriations made by ss. 20.255 (2) (ac), (bc), (bh), (cg), and
18(cr), 20.395 (1), (2) (cq), (eq) to (ex) and (gq) to (gx), (3), (4) (aq) to (ax), and (6) (af),
19(aq), (ar), and (au), 20.435 (7) (a) and (da), and 20.437 (2) (a) and (dz) or for forestry
20purposes under s. 20.370 (1), or any other moneys distributed to any county, city,
21village, town, or school district. Appropriations of receipts and of a sum sufficient
22shall for the purposes of this section be regarded as equivalent to the amounts
23expended under such appropriations in the prior fiscal year which ended June 30.
24All functions of said state agencies shall be continued in an efficient manner, but
25because of the uncertainties of the existing situation no public funds should be

1expended or obligations incurred unless there shall be adequate revenues to meet the
2expenditures therefor. For such reason the committee may make reductions of such
3appropriations as in its judgment will secure sound financial operations of the
4administration for said state agencies and at the same time interfere least with their
5services and activities.
AB40, s. 28 6Section 28. 13.106 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,52,8 713.106 (title) Medical College of Wisconsin and UW-Madison Medical
8School
school reports.
AB40, s. 29 9Section 29. 13.106 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,52,1210 13.106 (1) (intro.) The Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of
11Wisconsin-Madison Medical Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health shall
12biennially report to the governor and the joint committee on finance on the:
AB40, s. 30 13Section 30. 13.106 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,52,1914 13.106 (2) The Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of
15Wisconsin-Madison Medical Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health shall
16submit a biennial report containing financial summaries for the college and school
17to the governor and the joint committee on finance, in a consistent format and
18methodology to be developed in consultation with the medical education review
19committee under s. 39.16.
AB40, s. 31 20Section 31. 13.106 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,52,2521 13.106 (3) (intro.) By October 15 of each even-numbered year, the Medical
22College of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical Wisconsin
23School of Medicine and Public Health shall submit a report to the governor and to
24the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under
25s. 13.172 (2) that provides information on all of the following:
AB40, s. 32
1Section 32. 13.172 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 7, is
2amended to read:
AB40,53,83 13.172 (1) In this section, "agency" means an office, department, agency,
4institution of higher education, association, society, or other body in state
5government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, that
6is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the
7courts, and any authority created in subch. II of ch. 114 or subch. III of ch. 149 or in
8ch. 37, 52, 231, 233, 234, 238, or 279.
AB40, s. 33 9Section 33. 13.40 of the statutes is repealed.
AB40, s. 34 10Section 34. 13.48 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,53,2011 13.48 (1) Policy. The legislature finds and determines that it is necessary to
12improve the adequacy of the public building facilities that are required by the various
13state agencies and the University of Wisconsin–Madison including the educational
14institutions, for the proper performance of their duties and functions, and that it is
15in the interest of economy, efficiency and the public welfare that such improvement
16be accomplished by means of a long-range public building program, with funds to be
17provided by successive legislatures. The long-range program shall include the
18necessary lands, new buildings, and all facilities and equipment required and also
19the remodeling, reconstruction, maintenance and reequipping of existing buildings
20and facilities, as determined by the building commission.
AB40, s. 35 21Section 35. 13.48 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB40,54,222 13.48 (1m) (b) The long-range public building program shall recognize the
23importance of historic properties and shall include a program of preservation and
24restoration of those historic properties under the control of the state and the

1University of Wisconsin–Madison
as provided in s. 44.41, including criteria for
2determining which historic properties should be preserved and restored.
AB40, s. 36 3Section 36. 13.48 (1m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
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