Chapter 15

15.107(19)(a) (a) The governor, or his or her designee, who shall serve as chairperson.

15.107(19)(b) (b) The secretary of administration, or his or her designee.

15.107(19)(c) (c) The executive director of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, or his or her designee.

15.107(19)(d) (d) The secretary of health services, or his or her designee.

15.107(19)(e) (e) The secretary of children and families, or his or her designee.

15.107(19)(f) (f) The secretary of workforce development, or his or her designee.

15.107(19)(g) (g) The secretary of veterans affairs, or his or her designee.

15.107(19)(h) (h) The secretary of corrections, or his or her designee.

15.107(19)(i) (i) The state superintendent of public instruction, or his or her designee.

15.107(19)(j) (j) One representative from each of the following organizations:

15.107(19)(j)1. 1. Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care, Inc., or its successor.

15.107(19)(j)2. 2. Milwaukee Continuum of Care, or its successor.

15.107(19)(j)3. 3. Continuum of Care for the City and County of Racine, U.A., or its successor.

15.107(19)(j)4. 4. Homeless Services Consortium of Dane County, or its successor.

15.107 History History: 1971 c. 215; 1973 c. 90; 1977 c. 29, 419; 1979 c. 34; 1979 c. 361 s. 112; 1981 c. 20, 62, 237; 1983 a. 27, 393, 410; 1985 a. 29, 84; 1987 a. 27, 142; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 32 s. 17; 1991 a. 39, 170, 269; 1995 a. 27, ss. 119, 120 and 9116 (5); 1995 a. 227, 433, 442; 1997 a. 27, 35, 231; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16, 38; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 228, 253, 421; 2007 a. 79; 2011 a. 32, 257; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59, 74.

15.13 15.13 Department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection; creation. There is created a department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under the direction and supervision of the board of agriculture, trade and consumer protection. The board shall consist of 7 members with an agricultural background and 2 members who are consumer representatives, appointed for staggered 6-year terms. Appointments to the board shall be made without regard to party affiliation, residence or interest in any special organized group.

15.13 History History: 1977 c. 29; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27.

15.135 15.135 Same; attached boards and commissions.

15.135(1) (1) Livestock facility siting review board.

15.135(1)(a) (a) There is created a livestock facility siting review board which is attached to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 15.03. The board consists of the following members:

15.135(1)(a)1. 1. A member representing the interests of towns, selected from a list of names submitted by the Wisconsin Towns Association.

15.135(1)(a)2. 2. A member representing the interests of counties, selected from a list of names submitted by the Wisconsin Counties Association.

15.135(1)(a)3. 3. A member representing environmental interests, selected from a list of names submitted by environmental organizations.

15.135(1)(a)4. 4. A member representing livestock farming interests, selected from a list of names submitted by statewide agricultural organizations.

15.135(1)(a)5. 5. Three other members.

15.135(1)(b) (b) The members under par. (a) shall be nominated by the secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, for 5-year terms.

15.135(4) (4) Land and water conservation board.

15.135(4)(am) (am) Creation. There is created a land and water conservation board which is attached to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 15.03.

15.135(4)(b) (b) Members. The board consists of all of the following members:

15.135(4)(b)1. 1. The secretaries of administration, natural resources, and agriculture, trade and consumer protection or their designees.

15.135(4)(b)2. 2. Three members of county land conservation committees designated biennially by the county land conservation committees at their annual meeting in even-numbered years, appointed for 2-year terms.

15.135(4)(b)2m. 2m. One representative appointed for a 2-year term.

15.135(4)(b)3. 3. Four other members appointed for staggered 4-year terms. One of those members shall be a resident of a city with a population of 50,000 or more, one shall represent a governmental unit involved in river management, one shall be a farmer and one shall be a member of a charitable corporation, charitable association or charitable trust, the purpose or powers of which include protecting natural resources, including scenic or open space, and maintaining or enhancing air or water quality.

15.135(4)(c) (c) Advisory members. The board shall invite:

15.135(4)(c)1. 1. The U.S. secretary of agriculture to appoint a representative of the natural resources conservation service and a representative of the farm service agency to serve as advisory members of the board.

15.135(4)(c)2. 2. The dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the director of the University of Wisconsin-Extension to serve or appoint a person to serve as an advisory member of the board.

15.135(4)(c)3. 3. The staff of the county land conservation committees employed under s. 92.09 to designate jointly a person to serve as an advisory member of the board.

15.135(4)(d) (d) Vacancies. If one or more of the county land conservation committee member positions on the board is vacant, the chairperson may call a special meeting of the committees to fill the vacancies, but vacancies may be filled only if a majority of the committees are represented at the special meeting.

15.135(5) (5) Veterinary examining board.

15.135(5)(a) (a) There is created a veterinary examining board in the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection. The veterinary examining board shall consist of the following 8 members appointed for staggered 4-year terms:

15.135(5)(a)1. 1. Five veterinarians licensed in this state.

15.135(5)(a)2. 2. One veterinary technician certified in this state.

15.135(5)(a)3. 3. Two public members.

15.135(5)(b) (b) No member of the examining board may in any way be financially interested in any school having a veterinary department or a course of study in veterinary or animal technology.

15.135 History History: 1971 c. 125; 1973 c. 299; 1977 c. 29 ss. 32d, 33, 1650m (2), (4); 1979 c. 361 s. 112; 1981 c. 305, 346; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 20, 29, 153; 1987 a. 27, 281; 1989 a. 31, 219; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27, 111; 2003 a. 235; 2005 a. 149; 2015 a. 55 ss. 128, 190.

15.137 15.137 Same; councils.

15.137(1) (1) Agricultural producer security council.

15.137(1)(a) (a) There is created in the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection an agricultural producer security council consisting of the following members appointed by the secretary of agriculture for 3-year terms:

15.137(1)(a)1. 1. One person representing the Farmers’ Educational and Cooperative Union of America, Wisconsin Division.

15.137(1)(a)2. 2. One person representing the Midwest Food Products Association, Inc.

15.137(1)(a)3. 3. One person representing the National Farmers’ Organization, Inc.

15.137(1)(a)4. 4. One person representing the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association, Inc.

15.137(1)(a)5. 5. One person representing the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association.

15.137(1)(a)6. 6. One person representing both the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, Inc., and the Wisconsin Soybean Association, Inc.

15.137(1)(a)7. 7. One person representing the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association, Inc.

15.137(1)(a)8. 8. One person representing the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.

15.137(1)(a)9. 9. One person representing Cooperative Network.

15.137(1)(a)10. 10. One person representing the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, Inc.

15.137(1)(b) (b) Each organization identified in par. (a) shall nominate 2 persons to represent that organization on the agricultural producer security council. The secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall appoint members from among the nominees.

15.137(3) (3) Farm to school council.

15.137(3)(a) (a) There is created in the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection a farm to school council.

15.137(3)(b) (b) The secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall appoint to the council an employee of the department and shall appoint farmers, experts in child health, school food service personnel, and other persons with interests in agriculture, nutrition, and education.

15.137(3)(c) (c) The secretary of health services shall appoint to the council an employee of the department of health services.

15.137(3)(d) (d) The superintendent of public instruction shall appoint to the council an employee of the department of public instruction.

15.137(5) (5) Fertilizer research council. There is created in the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection a fertilizer research council consisting of the following members:

15.137(5)(a) (a) Nonvoting members. The secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, the secretary of natural resources and the dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, or their designees, shall serve as nonvoting members.

15.137(5)(b) (b) Voting members.

15.137(5)(b)1. 1. Six voting members shall be appointed jointly by the secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection and the dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to serve for 3-year terms. Three of the members appointed under this subdivision shall be industry representatives selected from a list of candidates provided by the fertilizer industry. Three of the members appointed under this subdivision shall represent farmers who are crop producers.

15.137(5)(b)2. 2. One voting member shall be appointed by the secretary of natural resources to serve for a 3-year term. The member appointed under this subdivision shall be knowledgeable about water quality.

15.137(5)(b)3. 3. No voting member may serve more than 2 consecutive 3-year terms.

15.137(6) (6) Bioenergy council. There is created a bioenergy council which is attached to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 15.03. The secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall appoint the members of the council, to serve at the pleasure of the secretary.

15.137 History History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1650m (2), (4); 1977 c. 87, 216, 272, 418; 1979 c. 129; 1981 c. 57, 237; 1985 a. 184; 1987 a. 281; 1991 a. 269, 315; 1993 a. 417; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2007 a. 223; 2009 a. 293, 401; 2011 a. 32; 2015 a. 186; 2017 a. 59; 2021 a. 240 s. 30; 2023 a. 255.

15.14 15.14 Department of corrections; creation. There is created a department of corrections under the direction and supervision of the secretary of corrections.

15.14 History History: 1989 a. 31.

15.145 15.145 Same; attached boards, commissions, and councils.

15.145(1) (1) Parole commission. There is created in the department of corrections a parole commission consisting of 4 members. Members shall have knowledge of or experience in corrections or criminal justice. The members shall include a chairperson who is nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, for a 2-year term expiring March 1 of the odd-numbered years, subject to removal under s. 17.07 (3m), and the remaining members in the classified service appointed by the chairperson.

15.145(2) (2) Prison industries board. There is created a prison industries board which is attached to the department of corrections under s. 15.03. The board shall consist of 9 members appointed for 4-year terms. Three members shall be appointed to represent private business and industry and 3 members shall be appointed to represent private labor organizations. One member shall be appointed to represent each of the following:

15.145(2)(c) (c) The technical college system.

15.145(2)(d) (d) The department of corrections.

15.145(2)(f) (f) The department of administration.

15.145(3) (3) Interstate adult offender supervision board. There is created an interstate adult offender supervision board which is attached to the department of corrections under s. 15.03. The board shall consist of 5 members appointed for 4-year terms. The governor shall comply with the requirements of s. 304.16 (4) when appointing members of the board. The board shall have the powers, duties, and responsibilities set forth under s. 304.16.

15.145(4) (4) State board for interstate juvenile supervision. There is created a state board for interstate juvenile supervision, which is attached to the department of corrections under s. 15.03. The board shall consist of 5 members appointed for 3-year terms. The governor shall comply with the requirements of s. 938.999 (9) when appointing members of the board. The board shall have the powers, duties, and responsibilities set forth under s. 938.999.

15.145(5) (5) Council on offender reentry. There is created a council on offender reentry which is attached to the department of corrections under s. 15.03, which shall have the duties, responsibilities, and powers set forth under s. 301.095. The council shall consist of 21 members, and the appointed members shall serve for 2-year terms and may be appointed for a maximum of 2 consecutive terms. The chairperson of the council shall be the secretary of corrections or the reentry director, as decided by the secretary of corrections. The chairperson may appoint subcommittees and the council shall meet no less frequently than 4 times per year at a date and location to be determined by the chairperson. Members of the council shall include the secretary of corrections, or his or her designee; the secretary of workforce development, or his or her designee; the secretary of health services, or his or her designee; the secretary of children and families, or his or her designee; the secretary of transportation, or his or her designee; the attorney general, or his or her designee; the chairperson of the parole commission, or his or her designee; the state superintendent of public instruction; the reentry director as appointed by the secretary of corrections; a current or former judge, as appointed by the director of state courts; an individual who has been previously convicted of, and incarcerated for, a crime in Wisconsin, as appointed by the secretary of corrections; and the following persons, as appointed by the governor:

15.145(5)(a) (a) A law enforcement officer.

15.145(5)(b) (b) A representative of a crime victim rights or crime victim services organization.

15.145(5)(c) (c) A representative of a faith-based organization that is involved with the reintegration of offenders into the community.

15.145(5)(d) (d) A representative of a county department of human services.

15.145(5)(e) (e) A representative of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state.

15.145(5)(f) (f) A representative of a nonprofit organization that is involved with the reintegration of offenders into the community and that is not a faith-based organization.