Licenses to carry a concealed weapon
This bill creates a procedure by which a person may apply to the Department
of Justice (DOJ) for a license to carry a concealed weapon. Specifically, the license
authorizes a person to carry a concealed weapon (a handgun, an electric weapon, a
knife other than a switchblade, or a billy club) anywhere in this state except in
particular places. Accordingly, the bill amends other prohibitions previously
discussed that relate to the use and possession of firearms to specify that they
generally do not apply to licensees.
A person licensed under the bill is generally prohibited from carrying a
concealed weapon or a weapon that is not concealed in a police station, sheriff's office,
or state patrol station; in a prison or jail; in a courthouse; beyond the security
checkpoint at an airport; and on the grounds of a school. A business owner or person
in his or her own home may prohibit a licensee from carrying a concealed weapon into
the business or home, an employer generally may prohibit an employee from
carrying a concealed weapon in the course of the employee's employment, and the
state or a local governmental unit may prohibit a licensee from carrying a firearm
into a building that is owned, occupied, or controlled by the state or the local
governmental unit.
Licensing requirements and procedure
Under the bill, DOJ must issue or renew a license to carry a concealed weapon
to an applicant who is a resident of Wisconsin unless the applicant is less than 21

years old or is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal or state law. DOJ
must conduct a background check of an applicant for a license or for a license renewal
to determine if he or she is ineligible for a license.
Furthermore, the bill does all of the following:
1. Provides that, with certain exceptions, a license to carry a concealed weapon
is valid for five years.
2. Requires each circuit court to notify DOJ of any court proceeding that would
result in a suspension or revocation of a license if the subject of the proceeding had
a license. DOJ must determine if the subject of such proceeding has a license and,
if the subject does, DOJ must revoke the license if the subject is no longer eligible to
have a license or suspend the license if the subject, after being charged with a
misdemeanor, is ordered by the court not to possess a firearm.
3. Allows an individual who requires a license immediately to petition a court
for such a license. A court may grant a license, which is valid for 30 days, if the court
determines that immediate licensure is warranted to protect the individual from
death or great bodily harm.
4. Provides an appeals process for a person whose application for a license is
denied or whose license is suspended or revoked.
5. Requires DOJ to keep a list of licensees but specifies that DOJ may provide
information from that list regarding a specific licensee only to law enforcement
agencies and only in certain circumstances.
6. Requires a person who applies for a license to pay a $13 background check
fee and an application fee of up to $52 to cover DOJ's costs in issuing the license. A
person who applies to renew his or her license must pay the same background check
fee and a renewal fee of up to $27 to cover DOJ's costs in renewing the license.
7. Grants immunity from liability for acts done under the bill to DOJ, the
Department of Transportation, and the employees of both departments; various
court employees; businesses, nonprofit organizations, or individuals that do not
prohibit persons from carrying concealed weapons on their property; and employers
that do not prohibit employees from carrying concealed weapons during the course
of employment.
8. Treats a permit, license, approval, or other authorization issued by another
state in the same manner as a license issued under this bill if the individual who
possesses the authorization submitted to a background check to determine if the
individual is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Penalties for certain offenses related to weapons
The bill establishes penalties for offenses that relate to concealed weapons or
that are committed by licensees. First, a licensee or out-of-state licensee who fails
to carry his or her license document or photographic identification, or to display
either upon the request of a law enforcement officer, while the person is carrying a
concealed weapon, may be required to forfeit $25. Second, a licensee who, for a
second or subsequent time, or an individual whose license is suspended or revoked
who fails to notify DOJ of a change in address within 30 days of the change may be
required to forfeit $50. Third, a licensee who carries a concealed weapon in a place
where the bill prohibits him or her from doing so may be fined not more than $500

or imprisoned for not more than 30 days or both. Fourth, a person who intentionally
fails to relinquish a license document to DOJ after the license has been revoked must
be fined not more than $500 and may be imprisoned for not more than 30 days, or
both. Fifth, a person who intentionally makes a false statement in an application for
a license may be charged with false swearing, a Class H felony.
The bill also prohibits an individual from intentionally representing that an
invalid license to carry a concealed weapon is valid; from selling, lending, or allowing
another individual to use his or her license; from representing that a license belongs
to the individual if it has not been issued to him or her; from permitting unlawful use
of his or her license; from reproducing a license for unlawful purposes; or from
altering a license. A person who violates one of these prohibitions is guilty of a
misdemeanor and may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more
than nine months, or both.
Active duty and former law enforcement officers
This bill codifies the provisions of federal law that make the state concealed
weapons prohibition inapplicable to active duty and former law enforcement officers
under the circumstances specified in federal law as described above. To implement
federal law, the bill also makes certain other state law prohibitions regarding the
carrying of firearms inapplicable to an active duty or former law enforcement officer
if he or she is carrying a concealed firearm under those same circumstances.
This bill also requires state and local law enforcement agencies to issue and
renew certification cards to qualified former law enforcement officers who separated
from service with those agencies and requires DOJ to issue and renew certification
cards to qualified former federal law enforcement officers who reside in Wisconsin.
The qualifications mirror those listed in federal law, including: the former officer
was in good standing when he or she separated from service; the former officer served
for a period of ten years, unless he or she separated earlier due to service-connected
disability after completing any probationary period; the former officer has met
certain standards for qualification for active duty law enforcement officers to carry
certain types of firearms; and the former officer was not disqualified from law
enforcement for reasons related to his or her mental health. The cards enable the
former officers to carry concealed firearms in the manner provided under federal law.
The law enforcement agencies or DOJ, whichever is issuing the certification card to
the former officer, must include personal information about the former officer,
including a photograph; must include a statement that the former officer has met
certain standards for qualification for active duty law enforcement officers to carry
the types of firearms that are listed on the certification card; and must provide an
expiration date of 12 months after the certification card is issued or renewed.
If a former officer is carrying his or her valid certification card, he or she is
exempt from the prohibitions against carrying a concealed weapon only if the
following apply: 1) the former officer is not carrying a firearm that is not designated
on the card or identification, if the card or identification includes such a designation,
and the firearm is not a machine gun or a destructive device and he or she is not
carrying a firearm silencer; 2) the former officer is not under the influence of an

intoxicant; and 3) federal law does not prohibit the former officer from possessing a
firearm.
Other laws regarding weapons
This bill specifies that an individual does not violate the prohibition against
disorderly conduct, or does not violate any local ordinance prohibiting disorderly
conduct, by loading, carrying, or going armed with a firearm without regard to
whether the firearm is loaded or whether the firearm is concealed or openly carried.
Current law imposes certain restrictions on the placement, possession, and
transportation (carrying) of a firearm in or on a vehicle. The restrictions vary
depending on the type of vehicle in which the firearm is carried. Generally, current
law prohibits a person from carrying a firearm in or on a vehicle unless the firearm
is unloaded and encased and prohibits a person from loading or discharging a firearm
in or from a vehicle. This bill specifies that these restrictions do not apply to a person
who carries a firearm in a vehicle, other than a commercial airplane, if the person
is a qualified active duty or former law enforcement officer or a licensee and if the
firearm is a a handgun.
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:
SB90, s. 1 1Section 1. 20.455 (2) (gs) of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,7,42 20.455 (2) (gs) Background check for licenses to carry concealed weapons. All
3moneys received as fee payments under s. 175.60 (7) (c) and (d) and (15) (b) 4. a. and
4b. to provide services under s. 175.60.
SB90, s. 2 5Section 2. 20.455 (2) (gu) of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,7,86 20.455 (2) (gu) Certification cards for carrying concealed weapons. All moneys
7received as fees under s. 175.49 (5m) to verify eligibility of, and to issue certification
8cards to, former officers seeking to carry concealed weapons.
SB90, s. 3
1Section 3. 23.33 (3) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 23.33 (3) (e) (intro.) and
2amended to read:
SB90,8,53 23.33 (3) (e) (intro.) With any firearm in his or her possession unless it is
4unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case, or any bow unless it is unstrung or enclosed
5in a carrying case. This paragraph does not apply to any of the following:
SB90, s. 4 6Section 4. 23.33 (3) (e) 1. of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,8,87 23.33 (3) (e) 1. A person who is employed in this state by a public agency as a
8law enforcement officer and to whom s. 941.23 (1) (g) 2. to 5. and (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.
SB90, s. 5 9Section 5. 23.33 (3) (e) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,8,1110 23.33 (3) (e) 2. A qualified out-of-state law enforcement officer, as defined in
11s. 941.23 (1) (g), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.
SB90, s. 6 12Section 6. 23.33 (3) (e) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,8,1413 23.33 (3) (e) 3. A former officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1) (c), to whom s. 941.23
14(2) (c) 1. to 7. applies.
SB90, s. 7 15Section 7. 23.33 (3) (e) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,8,1816 23.33 (3) (e) 4. A licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (d), or an out-of-state
17licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (g), who possesses a handgun, as defined in s.
18175.60 (1) (bm).
SB90, s. 8 19Section 8. 29.089 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 29.089 (2) (intro.) and
20amended to read:
SB90,8,2421 29.089 (2) (intro.) Except as provided in sub. (3), no person may have in his or
22her possession or under his or her control a firearm on land located in state parks or
23state fish hatcheries unless the firearm is unloaded and enclosed within a carrying
24case. This subsection does not apply to any of the following:
SB90, s. 9 25Section 9. 29.089 (2) (a) of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,9,2
129.089 (2) (a) A person who is employed in this state by a public agency as a
2law enforcement officer and to whom s. 941.23 (1) (g) 2. to 5. and (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.
SB90, s. 10 3Section 10. 29.089 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,9,54 29.089 (2) (b) A qualified out-of-state law enforcement officer, as defined in s.
5941.23 (1) (g), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.
SB90, s. 11 6Section 11. 29.089 (2) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,9,87 29.089 (2) (c) A former officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1) (c), to whom s. 941.23
8(2) (c) 1. to 7. applies.
SB90, s. 12 9Section 12. 29.089 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,9,1210 29.089 (2) (d) A licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (d), or an out-of-state
11licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (g), if the firearm is a handgun, as defined in s.
12175.60 (1) (bm).
SB90, s. 13 13Section 13. 29.091 of the statutes is renumbered 29.091 (1) and amended to
14read:
SB90,9,2215 29.091 (1) No person may hunt or trap within any wildlife refuge established
16under s. 23.09 (2) (b) or 29.621 (1), or, except as provided in sub. (2), have possession
17or control of any gun, firearm, bow or crossbow unless the gun or firearm is unloaded,
18the bow or crossbow is unstrung and the gun, firearm, bow or crossbow is enclosed
19within a carrying case. The taking of predatory game birds and animals shall be done
20as the department directs. All state wildlife refuge boundary lines shall be marked
21by posts placed at intervals of not over 500 feet and bearing signs with the words
22"Wisconsin Wildlife Refuge".
SB90, s. 14 23Section 14. 29.091 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,10,3
129.091 (2) The prohibition in sub. (1), as it relates to the possession or control
2of a loaded or unencased gun or firearm within a refuge established under s. 23.09
3(2) (b), does not apply to any of the following:
SB90,10,54 (a) A person who is employed in this state by a public agency as a law
5enforcement officer and to whom s. 941.23 (1) (g) 2. to 5. and (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.
SB90,10,76 (b) A qualified out-of-state law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1)
7(g), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.
SB90,10,98 (c) A former officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1) (c), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (c) 1.
9to 7. applies.
SB90,10,1210 (d) A licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (d), or an out-of-state licensee, as
11defined in s. 175.60 (1) (g), if the gun or firearm is a handgun, as defined in s. 175.60
12(1) (bm).
SB90, s. 15 13Section 15. 29.314 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
SB90,10,1414 29.314 (3) (b) 1. To any of the following:
SB90,10,1615 a. A person who is employed in this state by a public agency as a law
16enforcement officer and to whom s. 941.23 (1) (g) 2. to 5. and (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.
SB90,10,1817 b. A qualified out-of-state law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1)
18(g), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.
SB90,10,2019 c. A former officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1) (c), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (c) 1. to
207. applies.
SB90,10,2221 d. A licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (d), or an out-of-state licensee, as
22defined in s. 175.60 (1) (g), if the firearm is a handgun, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (bm).
SB90, s. 16 23Section 16. 29.314 (4) (b) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 29.314 (4) (b) 1r. and
24amended to read:
SB90,11,3
129.314 (4) (b) 1r. To a peace officer on official business, an employee of the
2department on official business or a person authorized by the department to conduct
3a game census.
SB90, s. 17 4Section 17. 29.314 (4) (b) 1g. of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,11,55 29.314 (4) (b) 1g. To any person under sub. (3) (b) 1.
SB90, s. 18 6Section 18. 29.621 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 29.621 (4) (intro.) and
7amended to read:
SB90,11,168 29.621 (4) Protection. (intro.) Except as provided in s. 29.091 (1), no owner
9of a wildlife refuge, and no other person, may hunt or trap within the boundaries of
10any wildlife refuge or have in his or her possession or under his or her control in the
11wildlife refuge a gun, firearm, bow or crossbow, unless the gun or firearm is unloaded,
12the bow or crossbow is unstrung and the gun, firearm, bow or crossbow is enclosed
13within a carrying case. Nothing in this section may prohibit, prevent or interfere
14with the department in the destruction of injurious animals.
This subsection, as it
15relates to the possession or control of a loaded or unencased firearm, does not apply
16to any of the following:
SB90, s. 19 17Section 19. 29.621 (4) (a) of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,11,1918 29.621 (4) (a) A person who is employed in this state by a public agency as a
19law enforcement officer and to whom s. 941.23 (1) (g) 2. to 5. and (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.
SB90, s. 20 20Section 20. 29.621 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,11,2221 29.621 (4) (b) A qualified out-of-state law enforcement officer, as defined in s.
22941.23 (1) (g), to whom s. 941.23 (2) (b) 1. to 3. applies.
SB90, s. 21 23Section 21. 29.621 (4) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,11,2524 29.621 (4) (c) A former officer, as defined in s. 941.23 (1) (c), to whom s. 941.23
25(2) (c) 1. to 7. applies.
SB90, s. 22
1Section 22. 29.621 (4) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,12,42 29.621 (4) (d) A licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (d), or an out-of-state
3licensee, as defined in s. 175.60 (1) (g), if the gun or firearm is a handgun, as defined
4in s. 175.60 (1) (bm).
SB90, s. 23 5Section 23. 29.621 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
SB90,12,76 29.621 (6) Injurious animals. Nothing in this section may prohibit, prevent,
7or interfere with the department in the destruction of injurious animals.
SB90, s. 24 8Section 24. 48.685 (2) (bb) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB90,13,29 48.685 (2) (bb) If information obtained under par. (am) or (b) 1. indicates a
10charge of a serious crime, but does not completely and clearly indicate the final
11disposition of the charge, the department, county department, agency contracted
12with under s. 48.651 (2), child welfare agency, school board, or entity shall make
13every reasonable effort to contact the clerk of courts to determine the final disposition
14of the charge. If a background information form under sub. (6) (a) or (am) indicates
15a charge or a conviction of a serious crime, but information obtained under par. (am)
16or (b) 1. does not indicate such a charge or conviction, the department, county
17department, agency contracted with under s. 48.651 (2), child welfare agency, school
18board, or entity shall make every reasonable effort to contact the clerk of courts to
19obtain a copy of the criminal complaint and the final disposition of the complaint.
20If information obtained under par. (am) or (b) 1., a background information form
21under sub. (6) (a) or (am), or any other information indicates a conviction of a
22violation of s. 940.19 (1), 940.195, 940.20, 941.30, 942.08, 947.01 (1), or 947.013
23obtained not more than 5 years before the date on which that information was
24obtained, the department, county department, agency contracted with under s.
2548.651 (2), child welfare agency, school board, or entity shall make every reasonable

1effort to contact the clerk of courts to obtain a copy of the criminal complaint and
2judgment of conviction relating to that violation.
SB90, s. 25 3Section 25. 50.065 (2) (bb) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB90,13,204 50.065 (2) (bb) If information obtained under par. (am) or (b) indicates a charge
5of a serious crime, but does not completely and clearly indicate the final disposition
6of the charge, the department or entity shall make every reasonable effort to contact
7the clerk of courts to determine the final disposition of the charge. If a background
8information form under sub. (6) (a) or (am), or any disclosure made pursuant to a
9disclosure policy described under sub. (6) (am), indicates a charge or a conviction of
10a serious crime, but information obtained under par. (am) or (b) does not indicate
11such a charge or conviction, the department or entity shall make every reasonable
12effort to contact the clerk of courts to obtain a copy of the criminal complaint and the
13final disposition of the complaint. If information obtained under par. (am) or (b), a
14background information form under sub. (6) (a) or (am), any disclosure made
15pursuant to a disclosure policy described under sub. (6) (am), or any other
16information indicates a conviction of a violation of s. 940.19 (1), 940.195, 940.20,
17941.30, 942.08, 947.01 (1), or 947.013 obtained not more than 5 years before the date
18on which that information was obtained, the department or entity shall make every
19reasonable effort to contact the clerk of courts to obtain a copy of the criminal
20complaint and judgment of conviction relating to that violation.
SB90, s. 26 21Section 26. 59.54 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB90,14,222 59.54 (6) Peace and order. The board may enact and enforce ordinances to
23preserve the public peace and good order within the county including, but not limited
24by enumeration, ordinances prohibiting conduct that is the same as or similar to

1conduct that is prohibited by ss. 947.01 (1) and 947.02, and provide a forfeiture for
2a violation of the ordinances.
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