SB887: Bill Text

SB887,103,25 227.135 (6) An agency that intends to concurrently promulgate an emergency rule and a permanent rule that are identical in substance may submit one statement of scope indicating this intent.

SB887,139 Section 139. 227.137 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,104,7 227.137 (2) An agency shall prepare an economic impact analysis for a proposed rule before submitting the proposed rule to the legislative council staff under s. 227.15. Prior to preparing an economic impact analysis as provided in this subsection, the agency shall review the statement of scope for the proposed rule prepared under s. 227.135 to determine whether a revised statement of scope is required under s. 227.135 (4).

SB887,140 Section 140. 227.137 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB887,104,12 227.137 (2m) An agency's economic impact analysis under sub. (2) or revised economic impact analysis under sub. (4) shall be prepared and submitted separately from any fiscal estimate or revised fiscal estimate prepared and submitted under s. 227.14 (4) (a) or (d).

SB887,141 Section 141. 227.137 (3) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 227.137 (3) (e) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB887,104,20 227.137 (3) (e) (intro.) A determination made in consultation with the businesses, local governmental units, and individuals that may be affected by the proposed rule as to whether the proposed rule would adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, jobs, or the overall economic competitiveness of this state. The agency shall make the determination required under this paragraph by doing all of the following:

SB887,142 Section 142. 227.137 (3) (e) 1. to 4. of the statutes are created to read:

SB887,104,23 227.137 (3) (e) 1. Compiling a list of affected persons and potential economic concerns identified in the comments solicited by the agency.

SB887,104,24 2. Contacting affected persons to discuss economic concerns.

SB887,104,25 3. Considering any raised concerns in drafting the economic impact analysis.

SB887,105,3 4. Documenting in the economic impact analysis the persons who were consulted and whether the agency's determination is disputed by any of the affected persons.

SB887,143 Section 143 . 227.137 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB887,105,16 227.137 (3m) (a) When soliciting comments under sub. (3) for an economic impact analysis, an agency shall accept comments for a period of at least 14 calendar days if, under s. 227.135 (1) (g), the statement of scope for the proposed rule indicates that the proposed rule will have minimal or no economic impact, at least 30 calendar days if it indicates a moderate economic impact, and at least 60 calendar days if it indicates a significant economic impact or if the agency anticipates that the proposed rule will result in $10,000,000 or more in implementation and compliance costs being incurred by or passed along to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals over any 2-year period. If the agency subsequently determines that the anticipated economic impact will be greater than indicated in the statement of scope, the agency shall adjust the comment period accordingly. An agency may not reduce a comment period once determined under this subsection.

SB887,105,18 (b) This subsection does not apply to a person preparing an independent economic impact analysis under sub. (4m).

SB887,144 Section 144 . 227.137 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,106,12 227.137 (4) On the same day that the agency submits the economic impact analysis to the legislative council staff under s. 227.15 (1), the agency shall also submit that analysis to the department of administration, to the governor, and to the chief clerks of each house of the legislature, who shall distribute the analysis to the presiding officers of their respective houses, to the chairpersons of the appropriate standing committees of their respective houses, as designated by those presiding officers, and to the cochairpersons of the joint committee for review of administrative rules. If a proposed rule is modified after the economic impact analysis is submitted under this subsection so that the economic impact of the proposed rule is significantly changed, the agency shall prepare a revised economic impact analysis for the proposed rule as modified. For purposes of this subsection, a significant change includes an increase or a decrease of at least 10 percent or $50,000, whichever is greater, in the expected implementation and compliance costs reasonably expected to be incurred by or passed along to a majority of the businesses, local governmental units, and individuals as a result of the proposed rule, as identified under sub. (3) (b), or a significant change in the persons expected to be affected by the proposed rule. A revised economic impact analysis shall be prepared and submitted in the same manner as an original economic impact analysis is prepared and submitted.

SB887,145 Section 145. 227.138 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 227.138 (1) and amended to read:

SB887,106,20 227.138 (1) The joint committee for review of administrative rules may direct an agency to prepare a retrospective economic impact analysis for any of an agency's rules that are published in the code. The committee may identify one or more specific chapters, sections, or other subunits in the code that are administered by the agency as the rules that are to be the subject of the analysis and may specify a deadline for the preparation of the analysis.

SB887,107,7 (1r) A retrospective economic impact analysis shall contain information on the economic effect of the rules on specific businesses, business sectors, public utility ratepayers, local governmental units, and the state's economy as a whole. When preparing the analysis, the agency or person preparing the analysis shall solicit information and advice from businesses, associations representing businesses, local governmental units, and individuals that have been affected by the rules. The agency or person shall prepare the retrospective economic impact analysis in coordination with local governmental units that have been affected by the rules. The agency or person may request information that is reasonably necessary for the preparation of a retrospective economic impact analysis from other businesses, associations, local governmental units, and individuals and from other agencies. The retrospective economic impact analysis shall include all of the following:

SB887,146 Section 146 . 227.138 (1) (a) to (h) of the statutes are renumbered 227.138 (1r) (a) to (h).

SB887,147 Section 147. 227.138 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

SB887,107,19 227.138 (1g) Within 90 days after an agency submits a retrospective economic impact analysis under sub. (2), either cochairperson of the joint committee for review of administrative rules may request an independent retrospective economic impact analysis to be prepared using the same procedure and payment methods described under s. 227.137 (4m) (am) and (b). A person preparing an independent retrospective economic impact analysis under this subsection shall prepare the independent retrospective economic impact analysis for the same rules that were the subject of the agency's analysis under sub. (1) and shall include the information that is required under sub. (1r).

SB887,148 Section 148 . 227.138 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,108,5 227.138 (2) An agency or person that prepares a retrospective economic impact analysis under sub. (1) or (1g) shall submit that analysis to the department of administration, to the governor, and to the chief clerks of each house of the legislature, who shall distribute the analysis to the presiding officers of their respective houses, to the chairpersons of the appropriate standing committees of their respective houses, as designated by those presiding officers, and to the cochairpersons of the joint committee for review of administrative rules. The agency or person shall also send an electronic copy of the analysis to the legislative reference bureau, in a format approved by the legislative reference bureau, for publication in the register.

SB887,149 Section 149 . 227.18 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB887,108,8 227.18 (3m) If, after holding a hearing under this section, an agency makes any changes to the proposed rule, the agency shall do all of the following:

SB887,108,11 (a) Review the statement of scope of the proposed rule prepared under s. 227.135 to determine whether a revised statement of scope is required under s. 227.135 (4).

SB887,108,14 (b) Review the economic impact analysis for the proposed rule prepared under s. 227.137 to determine whether a revised economic impact analysis is required under s. 227.137 (4).

SB887,150 Section 150 . 227.185 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,108,24 227.185 Approval by governor. After a proposed rule is in final draft form, the agency shall submit the proposed rule to the governor for approval. The governor, in his or her discretion, may approve or reject the proposed rule. If the governor approves a proposed rule, the governor shall provide the agency with a written notice of that approval. No proposed rule may be submitted to the legislature for review under s. 227.19 (2) unless the governor has approved the proposed rule in writing. The agency shall notify the joint committee for review of administrative rules whenever it submits a proposed rule for approval under this section. This section does not apply to proposed rules prepared by the department of public instruction.

SB887,151 Section 151. 227.20 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,109,1 227.20 (3) (a) That the rule was duly promulgated by the agency.

SB887,152 Section 152. 227.20 (3) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

SB887,153 Section 153 . 227.24 (1) (e) 1d. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,109,16 227.24 (1) (e) 1d. Prepare a statement of the scope of the proposed emergency rule as provided in s. 227.135 (1), obtain approval of the statement as provided in s. 227.135 (2), send the statement to the legislative reference bureau for publication in the register as provided in s. 227.135 (3), and hold a preliminary public hearing and comment period if directed under s. 227.136 (1). If the agency changes the scope of a proposed emergency rule as described in s. 227.135 (4), the agency shall prepare and obtain approval of a revised statement of the scope of the proposed emergency rule as provided in s. 227.135 (4). No state employee or official may perform any activity in connection with the drafting of a proposed emergency rule , except for an activity necessary to prepare the statement of the scope of the proposed emergency rule, until the governor approves the statement, if such approval is required, and the individual or body with policy-making powers over the subject matter of the proposed emergency rule approve approves the statement.

SB887,154 Section 154 . 227.24 (1) (e) 1g. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,109,25 227.24 (1) (e) 1g. Submit the proposed emergency rule in final draft form to the governor for approval. The governor, in his or her discretion, may approve or reject the proposed emergency rule. If the governor approves a proposed emergency rule, the governor shall provide the agency with a written notice of that approval. An agency may not file an emergency rule with the legislative reference bureau as provided in s. 227.20 and an emergency rule may not be published until the governor approves the emergency rule in writing. This subdivision does not apply to proposed emergency rules of the department of public instruction.

SB887,155 Section 155. 227.26 (2) (im) of the statutes is created to read:

SB887,110,4 227.26 (2) (im) Multiple suspensions. Notwithstanding pars. (i) and (j), the committee may act to suspend a rule as provided under this subsection multiple times.

SB887,156 Section 156 . 227.40 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,110,22 227.40 (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), the exclusive means of judicial review of the validity of a rule or guidance document shall be an action for declaratory judgment as to the validity of the rule or guidance document brought in the circuit court for the county where the party asserting the invalidity of the rule or guidance document resides or has its principal place of business or, if that party is a nonresident or does not have its principal place of business in this state, in the circuit court for the county where the dispute arose. The officer or other agency whose rule or guidance document is involved shall be the party defendant. The summons in the action shall be served as provided in s. 801.11 (3) and by delivering a copy to that officer or, if the agency is composed of more than one person, to the secretary or clerk of the agency or to any member of the agency. The court shall render a declaratory judgment in the action only when it appears from the complaint and the supporting evidence that the rule or guidance document or its threatened application interferes with or impairs, or threatens to interfere with or impair, the legal rights and privileges of the plaintiff. A declaratory judgment may be rendered whether or not the plaintiff has first requested the agency to pass upon the validity of the rule or guidance document in question.

SB887,157 Section 157 . 227.40 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,110,25 227.40 (2) (intro.) The validity of a rule or guidance document may be determined in any of the following judicial proceedings when material therein:

SB887,158 Section 158. 227.40 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,111,6 227.40 (2) (e) Proceedings under s. 66.191, 1981 stats., or s. 40.65 (2), 106.50, 106.52, 303.07 (7) or 303.21 or ss. 227.52 to 227.58 or under ch. 102, 108 or 949 for review of decisions and orders of administrative agencies if the validity of the rule or guidance document involved was duly challenged in the proceeding before the agency in which the order or decision sought to be reviewed was made or entered.

SB887,159 Section 159 . 227.40 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 227.40 (3) (ag) and amended to read:

SB887,111,18 227.40 (3) (ag) In any judicial proceeding other than one set out above under sub. (1) or (2), in which the invalidity of a rule or guidance document is material to the cause of action or any defense thereto, the assertion of such that invalidity shall be set forth in the pleading of the party so maintaining the invalidity of such the rule or guidance document in that proceeding. The party so asserting the invalidity of such the rule or guidance document shall, within 30 days after the service of the pleading in which the party sets forth such the invalidity, apply to the court in which such the proceedings are had for an order suspending the trial of said the proceeding until after a determination of the validity of said the rule or guidance document in an action for declaratory judgment under sub. (1) hereof.

SB887,160 Section 160 . 227.40 (3) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 227.40 (3) (ar) and amended to read:

SB887,112,2 227.40 (3) (ar) Upon the hearing of such the application, if the court is satisfied that the validity of such the rule or guidance document is material to the issues of the case, an order shall be entered staying the trial of said proceeding until the rendition of a final declaratory judgment in proceedings to be instituted forthwith by the party asserting the invalidity of such the rule or guidance document. If the court shall find finds that the asserted invalidity of a the rule or guidance document is not material to the case, an order shall be entered denying the application for stay.

SB887,161 Section 161 . 227.40 (3) (b) and (c) of the statutes are amended to read:

SB887,112,10 227.40 (3) (b) Upon the entry of a final order in said the declaratory judgment action, it shall be the duty of the party who asserts the invalidity of the rule or guidance document to formally advise the court of the outcome of the declaratory judgment action so brought as ordered by the court. After the final disposition of the declaratory judgment action the court shall be bound by and apply the judgment so entered in the trial of the proceeding in which the invalidity of the rule or guidance document is asserted.

SB887,112,15 (c) Failure to set forth the invalidity of a rule or guidance document in a pleading or to commence a declaratory judgment proceeding within a reasonable time pursuant to such the order of the court or to prosecute such the declaratory judgment action without undue delay shall preclude such the party from asserting or maintaining such that the rule or guidance document is invalid.

SB887,162 Section 162 . 227.40 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,112,21 227.40 (4) (a) In any proceeding pursuant to this section for judicial review of a rule or guidance document, the court shall declare the rule or guidance document invalid if it finds that it violates constitutional provisions or exceeds the statutory authority of the agency or was promulgated or adopted without compliance with statutory rule-making or adoption procedures.

SB887,163 Section 163 . 227.40 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,113,4 227.40 (6) Upon entry of a final order in a declaratory judgment action under sub. (1) with respect to a rule, the court shall send an electronic notice to the legislative reference bureau of the court's determination as to the validity or invalidity of the rule, in a format approved by the legislative reference bureau, and the legislative reference bureau shall publish a notice of that determination in the Wisconsin administrative register under s. 35.93 (2) and insert an annotation of that determination in the Wisconsin administrative code under s. 13.92 (4) (a).

SB887,164 Section 164. 227.46 (1) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,113,7 227.46 (1) (h) Make or recommend Recommend findings of fact, conclusions of law and decisions to the extent permitted by law.

SB887,165 Section 165. 227.46 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,113,22 227.46 (2) Except as provided in sub. (2m) and s. 227.47 (2), in any contested case which is a class 2 or class 3 proceeding, where a majority of the officials of the agency who are to render the final decision are not present for the hearing, the hearing examiner presiding at the hearing shall prepare a proposed decision, including findings of fact, conclusions of law, order and opinion, in a form that may be adopted by the agency as the final decision in the case under s. 227.47 (3). The proposed decision shall be a part of the record and shall be served by the agency on all parties. Each party adversely affected by the proposed decision shall be given an opportunity to file objections to the proposed decision, briefly stating the reasons and authorities for each objection, and to argue with respect to them before the officials who are to participate in the decision. The agency may direct whether such argument shall be written or oral. If an agency's decision varies in any respect from the proposed decision of the hearing examiner, the agency's decision shall include an explanation of the basis for each variance.

SB887,166 Section 166. 227.46 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,114,16 227.46 (2m) In any hearing or review assigned to a hearing examiner under s. 227.43 (1) (bg), the hearing examiner presiding at the hearing shall prepare a proposed decision, including findings of fact, conclusions of law, order and opinion, in a form that may be adopted by the agency as the final decision in the case under s. 227.47 (3). The proposed decision shall be a part of the record and shall be served by the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration on all parties. Each party adversely affected by the proposed decision shall be given an opportunity to file objections to the proposed decision within 15 days, briefly stating the reasons and authorities for each objection, and to argue with respect to them before the administrator of the division of hearings and appeals. The administrator of the division of hearings and appeals may direct whether such argument shall be written or oral. If the decision of the administrator of the division of hearings and appeals varies in any respect from the proposed decision of the hearing examiner, the decision of the administrator of the division of hearings and appeals shall include an explanation of the basis for each variance. The decision of the administrator of the division of hearings and appeals is a final decision of the agency subject to judicial review under s. 227.52. The department of transportation may petition for judicial review.

SB887,167 Section 167. 227.46 (3) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

SB887,168 Section 168. 227.46 (8) of the statutes is repealed.

SB887,169 Section 169. 227.47 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,115,3 227.47 (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), every proposed or final decision of an agency or a hearing examiner following a hearing and every final decision of an agency shall be in writing accompanied by findings of fact and conclusions of law. The findings of fact shall consist of a concise and separate statement of the ultimate conclusions upon each material issue of fact without recital of evidence. Every proposed or final decision shall include a list of the names and addresses of all persons who appeared before the agency in the proceeding who are considered parties for purposes of review under s. 227.53. The agency shall by rule establish a procedure for determination of parties.

SB887,170 Section 170. 227.47 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

SB887,115,13 227.47 (3) Every final decision of an agency in a contested case shall be approved, signed, and dated by the agency head and shall include a signed certification stating as follows: “I hereby certify that this decision complies with the requirements of chapter 227 of the Wisconsin Statutes and constitutes the final agency action in this matter. I further certify that this decision contains no standard, requirement, or threshold that is not explicitly required or explicitly permitted by statute or a rule that has been lawfully promulgated and that this decision contains no standard, requirement, or threshold that is more restrictive than a standard, requirement, or threshold contained in the Wisconsin Statutes.”

SB887,171 Section 171 . 227.57 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,115,18 227.57 (11) Upon review of an agency action or decision affecting a property owner's use of the property owner's property, the court shall accord no deference to the agency's interpretation of law if the agency action or decision restricts the property owner's free use of the property owner's property.

SB887,172 Section 172. 230.08 (2) (sb) of the statutes is repealed.

SB887,173 Section 173. 238.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,116,13 238.02 (1) There is created an authority, which is a public body corporate and politic, to be known as the “Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation." The members of the board shall consist of 6 members nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, to serve at the pleasure of the governor; 3 5 members appointed by the speaker of the assembly, consisting of one majority and one minority party representative to the assembly, appointed as are the members of standing committees in the assembly, and one person employed in the private sector, to serve at the speaker's pleasure; and 3 4-year terms; one member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly to serve a 4-year term; 5 members appointed by the senate majority leader, consisting of one majority and one minority party senator, appointed as are members of standing committees in the senate, and one person employed in the private sector, to serve at the majority leader's pleasure 4-year terms; and one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate to serve a 4-year term. The secretary of administration and the secretary of revenue shall also serve on the board as nonvoting members. The board shall elect a chairperson from among its nonlegislative voting members. A vacancy on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment to the board for the remainder of the unexpired term, if any.

SB887,174 Section 174 . 238.02 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,116,19 238.02 (2) A majority of the voting appointed members of the board currently serving constitutes a quorum for the purpose of conducting its business and exercising its powers and for all other purposes, notwithstanding the existence of any vacancies. Action may be taken by the board upon a vote of a majority of the voting appointed members present.

SB887,175 Section 175. 238.02 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,116,25 238.02 (3) A chief executive officer shall be nominated by the governor board, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, to serve at the pleasure of the governor board. The board may delegate to the chief executive officer any powers and duties the board considers proper. The chief executive officer shall receive such compensation as may be determined by the board.

SB887,176 Section 176. 238.04 (15) of the statutes is created to read:

SB887,117,3 238.04 (15) Appoint and supervise the economic development liaison project position created in 2017 Wisconsin Act 58, section 61 (1).

SB887,177 Section 177 . 238.399 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,117,6 238.399 (3) (a) The corporation may designate not more than 30 any number of enterprise zones in this state.

SB887,178 Section 178. 238.399 (3) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

SB887,117,9 238.399 (3) (am) The corporation may not designate a new enterprise zone under par. (a) except as follows:

SB887,117,13 1. Before the corporation designates a new enterprise zone, the corporation shall notify the joint committee on finance in writing of the corporation's intention to designate a new enterprise zone. The notice shall describe the new zone and the purposes for which the corporation proposes to designate the new zone.

SB887,117,22 2. If, within 14 working days after the date of the corporation's notice under subd. 1., the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance do not notify the corporation that the committee has scheduled a meeting to review the corporation's proposal, the corporation may designate the new enterprise zone as proposed in the corporation's notice. If, within 14 working days after the date of the corporation's notice under subd. 1., the cochairpersons of the committee notify the corporation that the committee has scheduled a meeting to review the corporation's proposal, the corporation may designate the new enterprise zone only upon approval of the committee.

SB887,179 Section 179 . 238.399 (3) (e) of the statutes is repealed.

SB887,180 Section 180 . 281.665 (5) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB887,118,5 281.665 (5) (d) Notwithstanding pars. (a) to (c), during the 2017-19 and 2019-21 fiscal biennium bienniums, the department shall consider an applicant to be eligible for a cost-sharing grant for a project under this section if the project is funded or executed in whole or in part by the U.S. army corps of engineers under 33 USC 701s.