6. Requires a clerk to notify a county commissioner of highways of the
commissioner's election within ten days of the election and notify town officers of the
levy and rate of tax for the county road and bridge fund. Currently, a clerk performed
such notifications only in counties with a population of less than 150,000.
Under current law, a clerk is required to transmit annually to the secretary of
state a typed or printed list showing the name and post-office address of certain
specified municipal officials. Under this bill, a clerk is required to transmit annually
to the secretary of state a list of the name, phone number, e-mail address, and
post-office address of these same municipal officials, other unspecified local officials,
and elective and appointive officials of any other local governmental unit that is
wholly or partly within the county. The bill also requires the clerk, secretary, or other
administrative officer of a local governmental unit to provide the county clerk any
information he or she needs to complete this requirement.
The bill also repeals a number of obsolete provisions of current law. The bill
repeals a requirement that a clerk transmit to the Department of Public Instruction
certified copies of certain resolutions relating to raising money for school purposes,
and repeals a requirement that a clerk transmit to the secretary of state a certified
copy of an ordinance enacted by a village or town that relates to a change of the
village's or town's name, the name of a newly organized town, or town boundary
changes that result from county board action.
Currently, in each county over 500,000 population, elections are administered
on the county level by a board of election commissioners instead of by the county
clerk. This bill provides that, in each county over 750,000 population, elections are
administered on the county level by a board of election commissioners instead of by
the county clerk.
Currently, counties, municipalities, and special purpose districts share
responsibility for administering elections in their jurisdictions. For purposes of
election administration, county clerks are responsible for county functions except
that, in counties having a population of more than 500,000 (Milwaukee County),
county election functions are delegated by law to a bipartisan board of election
commissioners. The board of election commissioners may hire an individual to serve
as its executive director, whose employment and removal is subject to civil service
standards. This bill provides that each county clerk is the chief election officer of the

county in which the clerk serves. The bill does not change the distribution of election
administration functions among governmental units. The bill also provides that, in
counties having a population of more than 750,000, the county clerk shall serve as
the executive director of the board of election commissioners. The change is effective
on the day on which the bill becomes law.
For further information see the 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:
AB613,1 1Section 1. 5.62 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,3,62 5.62 (4) (b) The county board of election commissioners in counties having a
3population of more than 500,000 750,000 shall prepare the official primary ballot.
4The commissioners shall arrange the names of all candidates for each office whose
5nomination papers are filed at the county level, using the same method as that used
6by the government accountability board under s. 5.60 (1) (b).
AB613,2 7Section 2. 7.20 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,3,118 7.20 (1) A municipal board of election commissioners and a county board of
9election commissioners
shall be established in every city and county over 500,000
10population. A county board of election commissioners shall be established in every
11county over 750,000 population.
AB613,3 12Section 3. 7.21 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,4,213 7.21 (2) The county clerk shall serve as executive director of the county board
14of election commissioners may hire an executive director who. The clerk shall
15perform whatever duties the board of election commissioners assigns to him or her.
16The county board shall determine the salary of that executive director. Appointment
17and removal of that executive director shall be subject to civil service standards.
An

1executive director of the city board of election commissioners shall be appointed
2under s. 62.51.
AB613,4 3Section 4. 59.23 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,4,124 59.23 (1) (a) Every clerk shall appoint in writing one or more full-time
5equivalent
deputies to work exclusively in the clerk's office and shall file the
6appointment in the clerk's office. A deputy appointed under this paragraph may be
7removed only by the clerk.
The deputy or deputies shall aid in the performance of
8the duties of the clerk under the clerk's direction, and in case of the absence or
9disability of the clerk or of a vacancy in the clerk's office, unless another is appointed
10therefor as provided in par. (c), shall perform all of the duties of the clerk during the
11absence or until the vacancy is filled. The board may, at any meeting, shall provide
12a salary for the deputy or deputies.
AB613,5 13Section 5. 59.23 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,4,1714 59.23 (1) (b) In each county having a population exceeding 150,000 according
15to the last state or national census,
the clerk may also appoint the number of
16assistants that the board authorizes and prescribes, and the assistants shall receive
17salaries that the board provides and fixes.
AB613,6 18Section 6. 59.23 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,5,319 59.23 (1) (c) If a clerk is incapable of discharging the duties of office the board
20may shall appoint an acting clerk , who shall within 90 days after the board adopts
21a resolution finding that the clerk is incapable of discharging the duties of the office.
22The acting clerk shall
serve until the disability is removed. If the board is not in
23session at the time of the incapacity, the chairperson of the board may appoint an
24acting clerk, whose term shall not extend beyond the next regular or special meeting
25of the board. A person appointed as acting clerk or appointed to fill a vacancy in the

1office of clerk, upon giving an official bond with sureties as required of a clerk, shall
2perform all of the duties of the office; and thereupon the powers and duties of the
3deputy of the last clerk shall cease.
AB613,7 4Section 7. 59.23 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,5,165 59.23 (2) (a) Board proceedings. Act as clerk of the board at all of the board's
6regular, special, limited term, and standing committee
meetings thereof; under the
7direction of the county board chairperson or committee chairperson, create the
8agenda for board meetings;
keep and record in a book therefor true minutes of all the
9proceedings of the board; in a format chosen by the clerk, including all committee
10meetings, either personally or through the clerk's appointee; file in the clerk's office
11copies of agendas and minutes of board meetings and committee meetings;
make
12regular entries of the board's resolutions and decisions upon all questions; record the
13vote of each supervisor on any question submitted to the board, if required by any
14member present; publish ordinances as provided in s. 59.14 (1); and perform all
15duties prescribed by law or required by the board in connection with its meetings and
16transactions.
AB613,8 17Section 8. 59.23 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,5,1918 59.23 (2) (b) Recording of proceedings. Record at length in a book therefor every
19resolution adopted, order passed and ordinance enacted by the board.
AB613,9 20Section 9. 59.23 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,6,621 59.23 (2) (c) Orders for payment. Sign all orders for the payment of money
22directed by the board to be issued, and keep in a book therefor a true and correct
23account thereof of such orders, and of the name of the person to whom each order is
24issued; but he or she shall not sign or issue any county order except upon a recorded
25vote or resolution of the board authorizing the same; and shall not sign or issue any

1such order for the payment of the services of any clerk of court, district attorney or
2sheriff until the person claiming the order files an affidavit stating that he or she has
3paid into the county treasury all moneys due the county and personally collected or
4received in an official capacity; and shall not sign or issue any order for the payment
5of money for any purpose in excess of the funds appropriated for such purpose unless
6first authorized by a resolution adopted by the county board under s. 65.90 (5).
AB613,10 7Section 10. 59.23 (2) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,6,98 59.23 (2) (cm) Apportionment of taxes. Apportion taxes and carry out other
9responsibilities as specified in s. 70.63 (1).
AB613,11 10Section 11. 59.23 (2) (d) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,6,1111 59.23 (2) (d) (title) Accounts, access to financial records.
AB613,12 12Section 12. 59.23 (2) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 59.23 (2) (d) 1.
AB613,13 13Section 13. 59.23 (2) (d) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,6,1914 59.23 (2) (d) 2. Without regard to whether the board creates an office of county
15audit or under s. 59.47 (2), have free access to the books, accounts, bills, vouchers,
16and receipts as described in s. 59.47 (1), as often as may be necessary to perform the
17duties required under this section and the duties described under s. 59.47 (1), and
18the clerk shall report in writing the results of the examinations conducted under s.
1959.47 (1) to the board.
AB613,14 20Section 14. 59.23 (2) (de) of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,6,2221 59.23 (2) (de) Property. To the extent authorized by the board, exercise the
22authority under s. 59.52 (6).
AB613,15 23Section 15. 59.23 (2) (dg) of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,6,2524 59.23 (2) (dg) Dogs. Perform the responsibilities relating to dog licensing,
25which are assigned to the clerk under ch. 174, and the dog fund specified in ch. 174.
AB613,16
1Section 16. 59.23 (2) (di) of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,7,42 59.23 (2) (di) Marriage licenses, domestic partnerships. Administer the
3program for issuing marriage licenses as provided in ch. 765 and the program for
4forming and terminating domestic partnerships as provided in ch. 770.
AB613,17 5Section 17. 59.23 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,7,76 59.23 (2) (e) Reports of receipts and disbursements. Record in a book therefor
7the reports of the treasurer of the receipts and disbursements of the county.
AB613,18 8Section 18. 59.23 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,7,149 59.23 (2) (f) Recording receipts and disbursements. Keep a true and accurate
10account in a book therefor of all money which comes into the clerk's hands by virtue
11of the clerk's office, specifying the date of every receipt or payment, the person from
12or to whom the receipt or payment was received or paid, and the purpose of each
13particular receipt or disbursement, and keep the book at all times open to the
14inspection of the county board or any member of the board.
AB613,19 15Section 19. 59.23 (2) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,7,1816 59.23 (2) (h) Books of account. Keep all of the accounts of the county and all
17books of account as in a manner that the board directs. Books of account shall be
18maintained on a calendar year basis, which shall be the fiscal year in every county.
AB613,20 19Section 20. 59.23 (2) (i) of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,7,2320 59.23 (2) (i) Chief election officer, election duties. As the chief election officer
21of the county, perform all duties that are imposed on the clerk in relation to the
22preparation and distribution of ballots and the canvass and return of votes at
23general, judicial, and special elections.
AB613,21 24Section 21. 59.23 (2) (j) of the statutes is repealed.
AB613,22 25Section 22. 59.23 (2) (k) of the statutes is repealed.
AB613,23
1Section 23. 59.23 (2) (m) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,8,72 59.23 (2) (m) 2. Except as otherwise provided, receive and file the official oaths
3and bonds of all county officers and upon request shall certify under the clerk's
4signature and seal the official capacity and authority of any county officer so filing
5and charge therefor the statutory fee. Upon the commencement of each term every
6clerk shall file the clerk's signature and the impression of the clerk's official seal in
7the office of the secretary of state.
AB613,24 8Section 24. 59.23 (2) (n) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,8,129 59.23 (2) (n) Taxes; election duties. Perform all duties that are imposed on the
10clerk in relation to the assessment and collection of taxes, and to the preparation and
11distribution of ballots and the canvass and return of votes at general, judicial and
12special elections
.
AB613,25 13Section 25. 59.23 (2) (nm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB613,8,1514 59.23 (2) (nm) Timber harvest notices. Provide notice to a town chairperson
15regarding the harvesting of raw forest products, as described in s. 26.03 (1m) (a) 2.
AB613,26 16Section 26. 59.23 (2) (q) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,8,1917 59.23 (2) (q) County highway commissioner; notify of election. Except in
18counties having a population of 150,000 or more, notify
Notify a county commissioner
19of highways of the commissioner's election within 10 days thereafter.
AB613,27 20Section 27. 59.23 (2) (r) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,8,2321 59.23 (2) (r) County tax for road and bridge fund. Except in counties having
22a population of 150,000 or more, notify
Notify the proper town officers of the levy and
23rate of any tax for the county road and bridge fund.
AB613,28 24Section 28. 59.23 (2) (s) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,9,11
159.23 (2) (s) List of municipal officers local officials. Annually, on the first
2Tuesday of June, transmit to the secretary of state a typewritten or printed list
3showing the name, phone number, electronic mail address, and post-office address
4of local officials, including the chairperson, mayor, president, clerk, treasurer,
5council and board members,
and assessor of each municipality, and of the elective or
6appointive officials of any other local governmental unit, as defined in s. 66.0135 (1)
7(c), that is located wholly or partly
within the county. Such lists shall be placed on
8file for the information of the public. The clerk, secretary, or other administrative
9officer of a local governmental unit, as defined in s. 66.0137 (1) (ae), shall provide the
10county clerk the information he or she needs to complete the requirements of this
11paragraph.
AB613,29 12Section 29. 889.04 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB613,9,21 13889.04 County and municipal ordinances. Matter entered or recorded in
14any ordinance or, record book, or other format authorized under ss. 59.23 (2) (b),
1560.33 (1) and (2), 61.25 (3) and 62.09 (11) (c) or printed in any newspaper, book,
16pamphlet, or other form purporting to be so published, entered or recorded by any
17county, town, city or village in this state as a copy of its ordinance, bylaw, resolution
18or regulation, is prima facie evidence thereof; and after 3 years from the date of such
19publication, entry or recording such book or pamphlet shall be conclusive proof of the
20regularity of the adoption and publication of the ordinance, bylaw, resolution or
21regulation.
AB613,9,2222 (End)
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