SB94: Bill Text

LRB-2239/1

MES:kjf

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Senate BILL 94

March 15, 2019 - Introduced by Senators Stroebel, Wanggaard, Nass and Jacque, cosponsored by Representatives Brooks, Skowronski and Tusler. Referred to Committee on Local Government, Small Business, Tourism and Workforce Development.

SB94,1,2 An Act to amend 60.31 (3) (b) and 755.03 (1) of the statutes; relating to: changing the official bond requirements for town municipal judges.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill authorizes a town board to choose whether to require a municipal town judge to execute and file an official bond with the town clerk upon his or her election or appointment. If the town does not require a municipal judge to execute and file a bond, the town must obtain a dishonesty or other appropriate insurance policy that covers the judge. These provisions are similar to current law provisions that apply to city and village municipal judges.

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:

SB94,1 Section 1. 60.31 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB94,2,2 60.31 (3) (b) Municipal judges shall take and file the official oath and, if required to do so by the town board, the official bond, under s. 755.03. If the town board does not require municipal judges to file an official bond, the board shall obtain a dishonesty or other appropriate insurance policy that covers the judges, as described in s. 755.03.

SB94,2 Section 2. 755.03 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB94,2,12 755.03 (1) The judge shall, after election or appointment, take and file the official oath as prescribed in s. 757.02 (1) and at the same time, if required to do so by a city's or, village's, or town's governing body, execute and file an official bond in an amount to be fixed by the governing body. If the governing body does not require the judge to execute and file an official bond, the governing body shall obtain a dishonesty insurance policy or other appropriate insurance policy that covers the judge, in an amount fixed by the governing body, in lieu of the bond requirement. The governing body shall pay the costs of the bond or insurance policy. No judge may act as such until he or she has complied with the requirements of sub. (2).

SB94,3 Section 3. Initial applicability.

SB94,2,15 (1) This act first applies to an individual who is elected or appointed municipal judge on the effective date of this subsection.

SB94,2,16 (End)