SB385: Bill Text

LRB-3331/1

MPG:eev:jf

2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

2013 Senate BILL 385

November 4, 2013 - Introduced by Senators Leibham, Lassa, Darling and L. Taylor, cosponsored by Representatives Williams, Brooks, Endsley, Knodl, Marklein, Murphy, Ohnstad and Petryk. Referred to Committee on Economic Development and Local Government.

SB385,1,4 An Act to repeal 238.02 (3); to renumber and amend 238.02 (4); to amend 238.07 (1); and to create 238.02 (4) (b) and 238.02 (4) (c) of the statutes; relating to: the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation's officers, committees, and reporting obligations.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes several changes to the laws governing the operation of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), including the following:

Under current law, any power or duty assigned by law to WEDC is to be exercised by the board of WEDC (board), unless the board delegates the power or duty to a WEDC employee. The bill further authorizes the board to delegate any power or duty to a committee created by the board.

Also under current law, the governor appoints the chief executive officer of WEDC with the advice and consent of the senate, and the chief executive officer serves at the pleasure of the governor. Under the bill, the board, not the governor, is required to hire the chief executive officer of WEDC. The bill also requires the board to hire a chief operating officer and a chief financial officer for WEDC. Under the bill, the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, and chief financial officer all serve at the pleasure of the board. The bill requires the governor to treat the chief executive officer of WEDC as if he or she were the secretary of a department in the executive branch of state government appointed by the governor.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB385,1 Section 1. 238.02 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

SB385,2 Section 2. 238.02 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 238.02 (4) (a) and amended to read:

SB385,2,7 238.02 (4) (a) All powers and duties assigned to the corporation under this chapter shall be exercised or carried out by the board, unless the board delegates the power or duty to an employee of the corporation or a committee established by the board, except that an employee may not exercise any power or duty under par. (b).

SB385,3 Section 3. 238.02 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB385,2,12 238.02 (4) (b) The board shall hire a chief executive officer, who shall serve as the corporation's head administrator, a chief operating officer, and a chief financial officer, all of whom shall serve at the pleasure of the board and receive such compensation as may be determined by the board.

SB385,4 Section 4. 238.02 (4) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

SB385,2,16 238.02 (4) (c) The governor shall coordinate with the chief executive officer as if the chief executive officer is the secretary of a department in the executive branch of state government who is appointed by the governor.

SB385,5 Section 5. 238.07 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB385,3,2 238.07 (1) Annually, by January October 1, the board shall submit to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2), a report identifying the economic development projects that the board intends to develop and implement during the current calendar fiscal year.

SB385,3,3 (End)