13.123(3)(a)(a) Any senator authorized by the committee on senate organization to attend a meeting outside the state capital, any representative to the assembly authorized by the committee on assembly organization to attend an out-of-state meeting or authorized by the speaker to attend a meeting within this state outside the state capital, and all members of the legislature required by law, legislative rule, resolution or joint resolution to attend such meetings, shall be paid no additional compensation for such services but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses from the appropriation under
s. 20.765 (1) (a) or
(b), but no legislator may be reimbursed under this subsection for expenses on any day for which the legislator submits a claim under
sub. (1). Any expenses incurred by a legislator under
s. 14.82 shall be reimbursed from the appropriation under
s. 20.315 (1) (q).
13.123(3)(b)1.1. Notwithstanding
par. (a), no member of the legislature may be reimbursed for attendance at any meeting held outside this state, other than a meeting of the legislature, a legislative committee, committee of the joint legislative council or a statutory body of which the person is a duly constituted member, after the chief clerk of the member's house determines one of the following:
13.123(3)(b)1.a.
a. After the day of the September primary, that the member either has not filed nomination papers for reelection or election to another legislative seat or has sought a party nomination for a legislative seat but it is generally acknowledged that the member has not won nomination.
13.123(3)(b)1.b.
b. After the day of the general election, that it is generally acknowledged that the member has not been elected to a legislative seat for the succeeding session.
13.123(3)(b)2.
2. In making the determination under
subd. 1., the chief clerk is bound by the determination of the chairperson of the elections board if such determination has been issued.
13.123(3)(c)
(c) Paragraph (b) may not be construed to affect eligibility for any allowance authorized under
sub. (1) or
(2).
13.125
13.125
Chaplains. The officiating chaplain of the senate and assembly shall be paid such amount as may be established by each house for each day of service from the appropriation under
s. 20.765 (1) (a) or
(b). Payment shall be made on certification by the chief clerk of the senate or of the assembly, respectively, showing the amount to which each chaplain is entitled.
13.125 History
History: 1977 c. 29;
1983 a. 27 s.
2202 (33).
13.13
13.13
Speaker; deputy speaker; president of senate. 13.13(1)(1)
Speaker. The assembly shall elect by roll call vote one of its members as speaker who shall hold office during the term for which elected to the assembly unless separated by death, resignation or removal by a majority of the total present membership of the assembly. If the office is permanently vacated during the session, a successor shall be chosen.
13.13(2)
(2) Deputy speaker. The assembly shall elect a deputy speaker who shall hold office for the term for which elected to the assembly unless separated by death, resignation or removal.
13.13(3)
(3) President of senate. The senate shall elect a president at the commencement of each regular session. The president shall hold office until the commencement of the next succeeding regular session unless separated by death, resignation or removal.
13.13 History
History: 1979 c. 34,
110,
355.
13.14
13.14
Miscellaneous expenses. 13.14(2)
(2)
Floral pieces. The senate and assembly may procure floral pieces for deceased or ill members of the legislature and state officers who, in the judgment of the presiding officer and chief clerk, have been identified with the legislative process. Such expenses shall be by voucher, signed by the presiding officer or chief clerk of the respective house, and shall be drawn on the appropriation under
s. 20.765 (1) (a) or
(b).
13.14(3)
(3) Travel; legislative personnel. The actual and necessary expenses of legislative policy research personnel, assistants to legislators and research staff assigned to legislative committees and party caucuses incident to attending meetings outside the capital shall be reimbursed from the appropriation under
s. 20.765 (1) (a) or
(b).
13.15
13.15
Chief clerks. 13.15(1)(1)
Election. Each house, at the commencement of each regular session, shall elect a chief clerk who shall perform all duties as by custom appertain to the office and all duties imposed by law or by the rules. In the absence of the chief clerk, the duties shall be performed by one of the clerks acting under the chief clerk, appointed by the chief clerk in writing.
13.15(2)
(2) Salary and expenses. The chief clerk of the senate and of the assembly shall each receive:
13.15(2)(b)
(b) For travel to and from the state capitol and for expenses incurred for food and lodging, necessitated by the establishment of a temporary residence in Madison during any session of the legislature, the same reimbursement as is provided members of the legislature by
ss. 13.08 (2) and
13.123 (1).
13.15(2)(c)
(c) In the period when the legislature is not in session, their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Such expenses shall be reimbursed by voucher signed by the presiding officer of the respective house.
13.15(2)(d)
(d) For attendance at conferences and other official meetings approved by the president for the senate or the speaker for the assembly, their actual and necessary expenses.
13.15 History
History: 1979 c. 34;
1985 a. 135.
13.16
13.16
Chief clerks' duties. The chief clerk of each house shall be personally responsible for the safekeeping of every bill, memorial, joint resolution or other document or paper pertaining to legislation, received personally or through a deputy or assistant from any member, committee or officer of the legislature or of either house thereof. The chief clerk shall keep a full record of them and shall enter in the record the disposition made of them. The chief clerks, at the close of each session shall deposit for safekeeping in the office of the secretary of state all books, bills, documents and papers in the possession of the legislature, correctly labeled. The chief clerk of the house in which a joint resolution or resolution originates shall deposit a copy of the resolution or joint resolution in the office of the secretary of state immediately upon its adoption by the legislature, enrollment and signing.
13.16 History
History: 1983 a. 36 s.
96 (2);
1985 a. 135.
13.17
13.17
Journals. A journal of the senate and assembly shall be prepared under the direction of the chief clerks of the respective houses. When completed, each journal shall be printed as provided by law. The chief clerk of each house shall certify one copy of such journal to the secretary of state for deposit. The printed journals shall be the official record of each house of the legislature.
13.172
13.172
State agency reports. 13.172(1)
(1) In this section, "agency" means an office, department, agency, institution of higher education, association, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, which is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts, and any authority created in
ch. 231,
233 or
234.
13.172(2)
(2) Notwithstanding any other law, any agency which is required, by statute, to submit a report to the legislature shall submit the report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature. The chief clerks shall publish notice of receipt of the report in the journals of the respective houses. The chief clerks shall also periodically provide a list of the agency reports received to the members of the respective houses. Members may obtain copies of the reports by checking those reports on the list that they wish to receive and returning the list to the chief clerk. The speaker of the assembly or the president of the senate may direct the chief clerk to distribute copies of any of the reports to all members of the house, specified standing committees in that house or other persons.
13.172(3)
(3) Notwithstanding any other law, any agency which is required, by statute, to submit a report to the speaker of the assembly or the president of the senate; to appropriate standing committees of the legislature, as determined by the speaker or president; to any specified standing committee except the joint committee on finance; to standing committees with specified subject matter jurisdiction; or to standing committees with specified subject matter jurisdiction, as determined by the speaker or president, shall submit the report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature. The chief clerks shall publish notice of receipt of the report in the journals of the respective houses. The chief clerks of the assembly and the senate shall also notify the speaker and president, respectively, that the report has been received and shall distribute the report to standing committees in that house or other persons, as directed by the speaker or president.
13.175
13.175
Referenda. Every proposal for legislation which is to be submitted to the voters for their approval or for an expression of their opinion including, without limitation because of enumeration, proposed constitutional amendments, advisory referenda, and legislation designed to become effective only after ratification by the voters shall include a complete statement of the referendum question upon which the voters shall be requested to vote in the form prescribed under
s. 5.64 (2). No such proposal shall be passed by either house of the legislature unless it contains the precise wording of the referendum question which is to be submitted to the voters for their approval, expression of opinion or ratification.
13.175 History
History: 1985 a. 304.
13.175 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: Section
10.01 (2) (c) provides that on a state referendum an explanatory statement of the effect of a "Yes" or "No" vote is to be prepared by the attorney general.
13.175 Annotation
It is within discretion of legislature to submit several distinct propositions to electorate as one constitutional amendment if they relate to same subject matter and are designed to accomplish one general purpose. Milwaukee Alliance v. Elections Board, 106 W (2d) 593, 317 NW (2d) 420 (1982).
13.18
13.18
Sergeants at arms. 13.18(1)(1)
Election. Each house, at the commencement of each regular session, shall elect a sergeant at arms who shall perform all such duties as by custom appertain to the office of sergeant at arms and all duties imposed by law or by the rules.
13.18(2)
(2) Salary and expenses. The sergeant at arms of the senate and of the assembly shall each receive:
13.18(2)(b)
(b) For travel to and from the state capitol and for expenses incurred for food and lodging, necessitated by the establishment of a temporary residence in Madison during any session of the legislature, the same reimbursement as is provided members of the legislature by
ss. 13.08 (2) and
13.123 (1).
13.18(2)(c)
(c) In the period when the legislature is not in session, their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Such expenses shall be reimbursed by voucher signed by the presiding officer of the respective house.
13.18 History
History: 1991 a. 316.
13.19
13.19
Arrest of officers. No officer of the senate or assembly, while in actual attendance upon the duties of that person's office, shall be liable to arrest on civil process.
13.19 History
History: 1991 a. 316.
13.20
13.20
Legislative employes. 13.20(1)
(1)
Number and pay range of legislative employes. The legislature or either house thereof may employ under the unclassified service such policy research personnel, assistants to legislators, research staff assigned to legislative committees and party caucuses and such clerical, professional or other assistants as in the judgment of the joint committee on legislative organization or the committee on organization in each house are necessary to enable it to perform its functions and duties and to best serve the people of this state.
13.20(2)
(2) Pay ranges; duration of employment. All legislative employes shall be paid in accordance with the compensation and classification plan for employes in the classified civil service within ranges approved by the joint committee on legislative organization. The secretary of employment relations shall make recommendations concerning a compensation and classification schedule for legislative employes if requested to do so by the joint committee on legislative organization or by the committee on organization of either house. If the joint committee does not approve pay ranges for legislative employes, the committee on organization of either house may approve pay ranges for its employes. Appointments shall be made for the legislative session, unless earlier terminated by the appointing officer.
13.20(3)
(3) Application. This section does not apply to employes of any legislative branch agency created under this chapter which is authorized, or the head of which is authorized, to appoint subordinate staff.
13.21
13.21
State departments to cooperate in providing legislative help. 13.21(1)(1) Because of the difficulty in securing necessary help to fill legislative positions in regular sessions of the legislature, due to the manpower shortage, each department and agency of the state government and the employes thereof shall cooperate with the legislature to the fullest extent in the transfer to the legislature of such employes as are necessary to fill all legislative positions.
13.21(2)
(2) All employes so transferred shall receive such compensation as is prescribed by law for such legislative positions. Such employes shall continue their civil service rating, sick leave, vacation and other rights under
ch. 230 and after termination of their employment in such legislative positions shall be returned to the respective departments and agencies from which they were transferred for resumption of their regular employment.
13.21 History
History: 1977 c. 196 s.
131.
13.22
13.22
Payroll, legislative employes. The chief clerk and sergeant at arms of each house shall certify to the department of administration the payrolls for legislative employes in their respective houses. Such certificates shall be approved as provided by the rules of each house.
13.23
13.23
Election contests; notice. Any person wishing to contest the election of any senator or member of the assembly shall, within 30 days after the decision of the board of canvassers, serve a notice in writing on the person whose election the contestant intends to contest, stating briefly that the election will be contested and the cause of such contest, and shall file a copy thereof in the office of the elections board at least 10 days before the day fixed by law for the meeting of the legislature. The elections board shall then send a copy of
s. 13.24 to both contestants. If any contestant fails to so file a copy of such notice, the contestant shall not be entitled to any mileage or salary in case payment has been made therefor to the sitting member.
13.23 History
History: 1973 c. 334 s.
57;
1991 a. 316.
13.235
13.235
Election contests; legislative inquiry. 13.235(1)
(1) Either house of the legislature may by resolution inquire into a contested legislative election of its own house notwithstanding failure to comply with
s. 13.23.
13.235(2)
(2) The procedure of
s. 13.24 shall be followed except that depositions so taken shall be received by the presiding officer of the house within 30 days after jurisdiction of the contest has been taken by the house. If authorized by the resolution in
sub. (1), the house or a committee of the house may take testimony on matters not covered in the depositions.
13.235(3)
(3) If a member takes the oath while the member's seat is being contested, the member shall not be considered seated until the contest is resolved. Any election contest shall be resolved by a majority vote of the house.
13.235 History
History: 1991 a. 316.
13.24
13.24
Testimony in election contests. 13.24(1)
(1) After the service of the notice required by
s. 13.23 either party may proceed to take the depositions of witnesses before any judge, court commissioner or a municipal judge in the district where the contest is pending, upon giving 10 days' notice in writing to the opposite party of the time and place at which and the officer before whom such depositions will be taken. No deposition shall be taken after the last Monday preceding the day fixed by law for the meeting of the legislature, except in case of sickness or unavoidable absence of witnesses.
13.24(2)
(2) The officer before whom such depositions are taken shall carefully envelope and seal up the same, indorse on the envelope the names of the contestant and contestee, and direct the depositions so indorsed to the presiding officer of the house of the legislature by which the contest is to be determined.
13.24(3)
(3) The depositions so taken may be used and read in evidence by either party upon the hearing of such contest, and no other depositions than those so taken shall be used or heard, nor shall such house of the legislature, by its committees or otherwise, hear or seek to procure other testimony, but shall proceed forthwith to determine the contest upon the depositions so furnished.
13.24 History
History: 1977 c. 305 s.
64;
1983 a. 36 s.
96 (2).
13.25
13.25
Expenses of election contest; limitation. Not more than $300 shall be allowed by the legislature to any contestant or contestee for any fees or expenses of any kind incurred in a contest over a seat in either house of the legislature.
13.25 History
History: 1983 a. 36 s.
96 (2).
13.26(1)(1) Each house may punish as a contempt, by imprisonment, a breach of its privileges or the privileges of its members; but only for one or more of the following offenses:
13.26(1)(a)
(a) Arresting a member or officer of the house, or procuring such member or officer to be arrested in violation of the member's privilege from arrest.
13.26(1)(b)
(b) Disorderly conduct in the immediate view of either house or of any committee thereof and directly tending to interrupt its proceedings.
13.26(1)(c)
(c) Refusing to attend or be examined as a witness, either before the house or a committee, or before any person authorized to take testimony in legislative proceedings, or to produce any books, records, documents, papers or keys according to the exigency of any subpoena.
13.26(1)(d)
(d) Giving or offering a bribe to a member, or attempting by menace or other corrupt means or device to control or influence a member's vote or to prevent the member from voting.
13.26(2)
(2) The term of imprisonment a house may impose under this section shall not extend beyond the same session of the legislature.
13.26 History
History: 1991 a. 316;
1997 a. 35.
13.26 Annotation
The legislature cannot sentence a person to confinement for contempt without notice and without giving an opportunity to respond to the charge. Groppi v. Leslie, 404 US 496.
13.26 Annotation
Power of a legislature to punish for contempt. Boer, 1973 WLR 268.
13.27
13.27
Punishment for contempt. 13.27(1)
(1) Whenever either house of the legislature orders the imprisonment of any person for contempt under
s. 13.26 such person shall be committed to the Dane county jail, and the jailer shall receive and detain the person in close confinement for the term specified in the order of imprisonment, unless the person is sooner discharged by the order of such house or by due course of law.
13.27(2)
(2) Any person who is adjudged guilty of any contempt of the legislature or either house thereof shall be deemed guilty also of a misdemeanor, and after the adjournment of such legislature, may be prosecuted therefor in Dane county, and may be fined not more than $200 or imprisoned not more than one year in the county jail.
13.27 History
History: 1991 a. 316.
13.28
13.28
Interpellation of officers. 13.28(1)
(1) Upon the petition of 6 members of the senate, not more than 4 of whom belong to the same political party, or of 17 members of the assembly, not more than 9 of whom belong to the same political party, any appointive state officer shall appear before that house of the legislature to which the petitioning members belong, to answer written and oral interrogatories relative to any matter, function or work of such officer, relative to any act, omission or other matter pertaining to the powers or privileges exercised or duties performed by the officer or by any employe or subordinate of such officer, relative to the manner, conditions or terms of the officer's appointment or of any appointment made by the officer or relative to any act, omission or conduct unbecoming the position of any such officer. Such petition shall be in writing, shall be accompanied by written interrogatories, shall be signed by the petitioning members and shall be filed with the presiding officer of that house of the legislature to which such petitioning members belong.
13.28(2)
(2) Upon the joint petition of 6 members of the senate, not more than 4 of whom belong to the same political party, and 17 members of the assembly, not more than 9 of whom belong to the same political party, filed with the presiding officer of the senate, requesting an examination of any appointive state officer made subject thereto by
sub. (1) before a joint session of the 2 houses of the legislature, such officer shall appear before such joint session and answer written and oral interrogatories as to any matters included in
sub. (1).
