AB656: Bill Text

AB656, s. 3 Section 3. 5.05 (2m) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,5,2 5.05 (2m) (c) 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 Unless another prosecutor has jurisdiction to prosecute the alleged violation, if the board retains a special investigator to investigate a complaint against a person who is a resident of this state alleging a violation under subd. 2., the board shall provide to the district attorney for the county in which the person resides where the violation is alleged to occur 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. If another prosecutor has jurisdiction to prosecute the alleged violation, the board shall provide the copy of the complaint and notification to that prosecutor or the person having authority to appoint that prosecutor. 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.

AB656, s. 4 Section 4. 5.05 (2m) (c) 11. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,5,12 5.05 (2m) (c) 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, having jurisdiction to prosecute the alleged violation, or if subd. 16. or 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.

AB656, s. 5 Section 5. 5.05 (2m) (c) 14. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,5,21 5.05 (2m) (c) 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 except as otherwise provided in subd. 11.

AB656, s. 6 Section 6. 5.05 (2m) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,6,4 5.05 (2m) (i) If the defendant in an action for a an alleged criminal violation of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 is concerns 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 an alleged criminal violation of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 is concerns 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.

AB656, s. 7 Section 7. 5.08 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,6,22 5.08 Petition for enforcement. In addition to or in lieu of filing a complaint, any elector may file a verified petition alleging such facts as are within his or her knowledge to indicate that an election official has failed or is failing to comply with any law regulating the conduct of elections or election campaigns or proposes to act in a manner inconsistent with such a law, and requesting that an action be commenced for injunctive relief, a writ of mandamus or prohibition or other such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to compel compliance with the law. The Unless another prosecutor has jurisdiction to prosecute the alleged failure to comply, the petition shall be filed with the district attorney for the county having jurisdiction to prosecute the alleged failure to comply under s. 978.05 (1) and (2). If another prosecutor has jurisdiction to prosecute the alleged failure to comply, the petition shall be filed with that prosecutor or the person having authority to appoint that prosecutor. The district attorney or other prosecutor may then commence the action or dismiss the petition. If the district attorney or other prosecutor declines to act upon the petition or if the district attorney fails to act upon the petition within 15 days of the date of filing, the petitioner may file the same petition with the attorney general, who may then commence the action.

AB656, s. 8 Section 8. 6.56 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,7,9 6.56 (4) After each election, the municipal clerk shall perform an audit to assure that no person has been allowed to vote more than once. Whenever the municipal clerk has good reason to believe that a person has voted more than once in an election, the clerk shall send the person a 1st class letter marked in accordance with postal regulations to ensure that it will be returned to the clerk if the elector does not reside at the address given on the letter. The letter shall inform the person that all registrations relating to that person may be changed from eligible to ineligible status within 7 days unless the person contacts the office of the clerk to clarify the matter. A copy of the letter and of any subsequent information received from or about the addressee shall be sent to the district attorney for the county where the person resides any potential violation occurs and the board.

AB656, s. 9 Section 9. 6.56 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,7,18 6.56 (5) Whenever any letter or postcard mailed under this section is returned undelivered, or whenever the U.S. postal service notifies the clerk of an improper address which was apparently improper on the day of the election or whenever it otherwise appears that a person has voted who is not qualified or has voted more than once in an election, and the person has been permitted to vote after corroboration was made under s. 6.55 (2) or 6.86 (3) (a) 2., the name of the corroborator shall also be provided to the district attorney for the county where the person resides any potential violation occurs and the board.

AB656, s. 10 Section 10. 11.22 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,8,2 11.22 (4) Notify the board and the district attorney , or the attorney general where appropriate under s. 5.05 (2m) (i), in writing, of any facts within the filing officer's knowledge or evidence in the officer's possession, including errors or discrepancies in reports or statements and delinquencies in filing which may be grounds for civil action or criminal prosecution. The filing officer shall transmit a copy of such notification to the board. The board and the district attorney or the attorney general shall advise the filing officer in writing at the end of each 30-day period of the status of such matter until the time of disposition.

AB656, s. 11 Section 11. 11.60 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,8,10 11.60 (4) Except as otherwise provided in ss. s. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. and 16. and (h), 5.08, and 5.081, actions under this section or s. 11.517 may be brought by the board or by the appropriate district attorney for the county where the defendant resides or, if the defendant is a nonresident, by the district attorney for the county where the violation is alleged to have occurred. For purposes of this subsection, a person other than a natural person resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is located within that county or other prosecutor under ch. 978.

AB656, s. 12 Section 12. 11.61 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,8,22 11.61 (2) Except as otherwise provided in ss. this subsection and s. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. and 16. and (i), 5.08, and 5.081, all prosecutions under this section or s. 11.518 shall be conducted by the appropriate district attorney for the county where the defendant resides or, if the defendant is a nonresident, by the district attorney for the county where the violation is alleged to have occurred. For purposes of this subsection, a person other than a natural person resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is located within that county or other prosecutor under ch. 978. In addition to the remedy provided in s. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. to 17., if the district attorney refuses to act upon a sworn complaint, or fails to act upon such a complaint within 60 days of the date on which the complaint is received, the attorney general may then conduct the prosecution under this section.

AB656, s. 13 Section 13. 12.13 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,9,7 12.13 (5) (a) Except as specifically authorized by law and except as provided in par. (b), no investigator, prosecutor, employee of an investigator or prosecutor, or member or employee of the board may disclose information related to an investigation or prosecution under chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 or any other law specified in s. 978.05 (1) or (2) or provide access to any record of the investigator, prosecutor, or the board that is not subject to access under s. 5.05 (5s) to any person other than an employee or agent of the prosecutor or investigator or a member, employee, or agent of the board prior to presentation of the information or record in a court of law.

AB656, s. 14 Section 14. 801.50 (5t) of the statutes is repealed.

AB656, s. 15 Section 15. 801.52 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,9,20 801.52 Discretionary change of venue. The court may at any time, upon its own motion, the motion of a party or the stipulation of the parties, change the venue to any county in the interest of justice or for the convenience of the parties or witnesses, except that venue in a civil action to impose a forfeiture for a violation of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 or for a violation of any other law 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 under chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19, may be changed only as provided in s. 971.223 (1) and (2) or in the same manner that is authorized for a change in the venue of a criminal trial under s. 971.22. This section does not apply to proceedings under ch. 980.

AB656, s. 16 Section 16. 801.64 of the statutes is repealed.

AB656, s. 17 Section 17. 971.19 (12) of the statutes is repealed.

AB656, s. 18 Section 18. 971.223 of the statutes is repealed.

AB656, s. 19 Section 19. 971.225 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,10,2 971.225 (1) (intro.) In lieu of changing the place of trial under s. 971.22 (3) or 971.223, the court may require the selection of a jury under sub. (2) if:

AB656, s. 20 Section 20. 978.05 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,10,17 978.05 (1) Criminal actions. Except as otherwise provided by law, prosecute all criminal actions before any court within his or her prosecutorial unit and have sole responsibility for prosecution of all criminal actions arising from violations of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 and from violations of 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 under chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19, that are alleged to be committed by a resident of his or her prosecutorial unit, or if alleged to be committed by a nonresident of this state, that are alleged to occur in his or her prosecutorial unit unless another prosecutor is substituted under s. 5.05 (2m) (i) or s. 11.61 (2) or this chapter or by referral of the government accountability board under s. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. or 16. For purposes of this subsection, a person other than a natural person is a resident of a prosecutorial unit if the person's principal place of operation is located in that prosecutorial unit.

AB656, s. 21 Section 21. 978.05 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB656,11,9 978.05 (2) Forfeitures. Except as otherwise provided by law, prosecute all state forfeiture actions, county traffic actions and actions concerning violations of county ordinances which are in conformity with state criminal laws in the courts within his or her prosecutorial unit and have joint responsibility, together with the government accountability board, for prosecution of all forfeiture actions arising from violations of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 and from violations of 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 under chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 that are alleged to be committed by a resident of his or her prosecutorial unit, or if alleged to be committed by a nonresident of this state, that are alleged to occur within his or her prosecutorial unit unless another prosecutor is substituted under s. 5.05 (2m) (h) or this chapter or by referral of the government accountability board under s. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. or 16. For purposes of this subsection, a person other than a natural person is a resident of a prosecutorial unit if the person's principal place of operation is located in that prosecutorial unit.

AB656,11,10 (End)