254.67 History
History: 1975 c. 413 s.
13; Stats. 1975 s. 50.52;
1993 a. 27 s.
70; Stats. 1993 s. 254.67.
254.68
254.68
Fees. Except as provided in
s. 254.69 (2) (d) and
(e), the department shall promulgate rules that establish, for permits issued under
s. 254.64, permit fees, preinspection fees, reinspection fees, fees for operating without a permit, late fees for untimely permit renewal, fees for comparable compliance or variance requests, and fees for pre-permit review of restaurant plans.
254.69
254.69
Agent status for local health departments. 254.69(1)(1)
Vending operations. In the administration and enforcement of this subchapter, the department may use local health departments as its agents in making inspections and investigations of vending machine commissaries, vending machine operators and vending machines if the jurisdictional area of the local health department has a population greater than 5,000. If the designation is made and the services are furnished, the department shall reimburse the local health department furnishing the service at the rate of 80% of the net license fee per license per year issued in the jurisdictional area.
254.69(2)
(2) Hotels, restaurants, tourist rooming houses and other establishments. 254.69(2)(am)(am) In the administration of this subchapter or
s. 254.47, the department may enter into a written agreement with a local health department with a jurisdictional area that has a population greater than 5,000, which designates the local health department as the department's agent in issuing permits to and making investigations or inspections of hotels, restaurants, temporary restaurants, tourist rooming houses, bed and breakfast establishments, campgrounds and camping resorts, recreational and educational camps and public swimming pools. In a jurisdictional area of a local health department without agent status, the department of health services may issue permits, collect fees established by rule under
s. 254.68 and make investigations or inspections of hotels, restaurants, temporary restaurants, tourist rooming houses, bed and breakfast establishments, campgrounds and camping resorts, recreational and educational camps and public swimming pools. If the department designates a local health department as its agent, the department or local health department may require no permit for the same operations other than the permit issued by the local health department under this subsection. The department shall coordinate the designation of agents under this subsection with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection to ensure that, to the extent feasible, the same local health department is granted agent status under this subsection and under
s. 97.41. Except as otherwise provided by the department, a local health department granted agent status shall regulate all types of establishments for which this subchapter permits the department of health services to delegate regulatory authority.
254.69(2)(b)
(b) A local health department granted agent status under this subsection shall meet standards promulgated, by rule, by the department of health services. The department shall annually evaluate the licensing, investigation and inspection program of each local health department granted agent status. If, at any time, a local health department granted agent status fails to meet the standards, the department of health services may revoke its agent status.
254.69(2)(c)
(c) The department shall provide education and training to agents designated under this subsection to ensure uniformity in the enforcement of this subchapter,
s. 254.47 and rules promulgated under this subchapter and
s. 254.47.
254.69(2)(d)
(d) Except as provided in
par. (dm), a local health department granted agent status under this subsection shall establish and collect the permit fee for each type of establishment. The local health department may establish separate fees for preinspections of new establishments, for preinspections of existing establishments for which a person intends to be the new operator or for the issuance of duplicate permits. No fee may exceed the local health department's reasonable costs of issuing permits to, making investigations and inspections of, and providing education, training and technical assistance to the establishments, plus the state fee established under
par. (e). A local health department granted agent status under this subsection or under
s. 97.41 may issue a single permit and establish and collect a single fee which authorizes the operation on the same premises of more than one type of establishment for which it is granted agent status under this subsection or under
s. 97.41.
254.69(2)(dm)
(dm) A local health department granted agent status under this subsection may contract with the department of health services for the department of health services to collect fees and issue permits. The department shall collect from the local health department the actual and reasonable cost of providing the services.
254.69(2)(e)
(e) The department shall establish state fees for its costs related to setting standards under this subchapter and
s. 254.47 and monitoring and evaluating the activities of, and providing education and training to, agent local health departments. Agent local health departments shall include the state fees in the permit fees established under
par. (d), collect the state fees and reimburse the department for the state fees collected. For each type of establishment, the state fee may not exceed 20% of the permit fees charged under
ss. 254.47 and
254.68.
254.69(2)(f)
(f) If, under this subsection, a local health department becomes an agent or its agent status is discontinued during a permittee's permit year, the department of health services and the local health department shall divide any permit fee paid by the permittee for that permit year according to the proportions of the permit year occurring before and after the local health department's agent status is granted or discontinued. No additional fee may be required during the permit year due to the change in agent status.
254.69(2)(g)
(g) A village, city or county may adopt ordinances and a local board of health may adopt regulations regarding the permittees and premises for which the local health department is the designated agent under this subsection, which are stricter than this subchapter,
s. 254.47 or rules promulgated by the department of health services under this subchapter or
s. 254.47. No such provision may conflict with this subchapter or with department rules.
254.69(2)(h)
(h) This subsection does not limit the authority of the department to inspect establishments in jurisdictional areas of local health departments where agent status is granted if it inspects in response to an emergency, for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating the local health department's licensing, inspection and enforcement program or at the request of the local health department.
254.69(2)(j)
(j) The department shall hold a hearing under
ch. 227 if any interested person, in lieu of proceeding under
ch. 68, appeals to the department alleging either of the following:
254.69(2)(j)1.
1. A permit fee established by a local health department granted agent status exceeds the reasonable costs described under
par. (d).
254.69(2)(j)2.
2. The person issuing, refusing to issue, suspending or revoking a permit or making an investigation or inspection of the appellant has a financial interest in a regulated establishment which may interfere with his or her ability to properly take that action.
254.69 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
DHS 192, Wis. adm. code.
254.70(1)(1) An applicant for a permit under this subchapter shall complete the application prepared by the department or the local health department granted agent status under
s. 254.69 (2) and provide, in writing, any additional information the department of health services or local health department issuing the permit requires.
254.70(2)
(2) Upon receipt of an application for a vending machine operator permit, the department may cause an investigation to be made of the applicant's commissary, servicing and transport facilities, if any, and representative machines and machine locations. The operator shall maintain at his or her place of business within this state a list of all vending machines operated by him or her and their location. This information shall be kept current and shall be made available to the department upon request. The operator shall notify the department of any change in operations involving new types of vending machines or conversion of existing machines to dispense products other than those for which such machine was originally designed and constructed.
254.71
254.71
Certificate of food protection practices. 254.71(1g)(a)
(a) "Approved examination" means an examination that allows an individual to demonstrate basic knowledge of food protection practices and that is approved by the department as meeting the standards established under
sub. (6) (b).
254.71(1g)(b)
(b) "Certificate holder" means an individual who holds a valid certificate of food protection practices issued under this section.
254.71(1r)
(1r) After January 1, 1995, no person may conduct, maintain, manage or operate a restaurant unless the operator or manager of the restaurant is a certificate holder.
254.71(2)
(2) Except as provided in
s. 250.041, the department may issue a certificate of food protection practices to an individual who satisfactorily completes an approved examination or who has achieved comparable compliance.
254.71(3)
(3) Each certificate is valid for 5 years from the date of issuance and, except as provided in
s. 250.041, may be renewed by the certificate holder if he or she satisfactorily completes an approved examination.
254.71(3m)
(3m) The department shall accept relevant education, training, instruction, or other experience that an applicant has obtained in connection with military service, as defined in
s. 111.32 (12g), to count toward satisfying the education, training, instruction, or other experience that is required to obtain a certificate of food protection practices if the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the education, training, instruction, or other experience that the applicant obtained in connection with his or her military service is substantially equivalent to the education, training, instruction, or other experience that is required to obtain a certificate of food protection practices.
254.71(5)
(5) The department shall conduct evaluations of the effect that the food protection practices certification program has on compliance by restaurants with requirements established under
s. 254.74 (1).
254.71(6)
(6) The department shall promulgate rules concerning all of the following:
254.71(6)(a)
(a) Establishing a fee for certification and recertification of food protection practices, except that a certification fee may not be imposed on an individual who is eligible for the veterans fee waiver program under
s. 45.44.
254.71(6)(b)
(b) Specifying standards for approval of examinations required under this section.
254.71(6)(c)
(c) Establishing procedures for issuance, except as provided in
s. 250.041, of certificates of food protection practices, including application submittal and review.
254.71 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
DHS 196, Wis. adm. code.
254.715
254.715
Restaurants serving fish. 254.715(1)
(1) A restaurant or temporary restaurant may serve fish taken from the wild to the individual who caught the fish, or to his or her guests, without obtaining a permit under
s. 29.541 (1) (b) if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
254.715(1)(b)
(b) While the fish are at the restaurant and before the fish are prepared for eating, they are stored in a cooler, which may be a portable cooler, that does not contain any other food.
254.715(1)(c)
(c) The area where the fish are prepared for eating is washed and sanitized before and after preparation of the fish.
254.715(1)(d)
(d) All items used to prepare and serve the fish are washed in a dishwasher after such use.
254.715(2)
(2) A restaurant or temporary restaurant may make a pecuniary profit from preparing and serving fish as provided under
sub. (1).
254.715 History
History: 2007 a. 20.
254.72
254.72
Health and safety; standard. Every hotel, tourist rooming house, bed and breakfast establishment, restaurant, temporary restaurant, vending machine commissary and vending machine shall be operated and maintained with a strict regard to the public health and safety and in conformity with this subchapter and the rules and orders of the department.
254.72 History
History: 1975 c. 413 s.
13; Stats. 1975 s. 50.55;
1983 a. 163,
203,
538;
1987 a. 27;
1993 a. 27 s.
75; Stats. 1993 s. 254.72.
254.72 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also chs.
DHS 195,
196,
197, and
198, Wis. adm. code.
254.73(1)(1) Every hotel with sleeping accommodations with more than 12 bedrooms above the first story shall, between the hours of 12 midnight and 6 a.m. provide a system of security personnel patrol, or of mechanical and electrical devices, or both, adequate, according to standards established by the department of safety and professional services, to warn all guests and employees in time to permit their evacuation in case of fire.
254.73(2)
(2) Every hotel shall offer to every guest, at the time of registration for accommodation and of making a reservation for accommodation, an opportunity to identify himself or herself as a person needing assistance in an emergency because of a physical condition and shall keep a record at the registration desk of where each person so identified is lodged. No hotel may lodge any person so identified in areas other than those designated by the local fire department as safe for persons so identified, based on the capabilities of apparatus normally available to the fire company or companies assigned the first alarm. A person who does not identify himself or herself as permitted in this subsection may be lodged in the same manner as any other guest. Violation of this subsection shall be punished by a forfeiture of not more than $50 for the first violation and not more than $100 for each subsequent violation.
254.73 History
History: 1975 c. 112,
199;
1975 c. 413 s.
13; Stats. 1975 s. 50.56;
1985 a. 135;
1993 a. 27 s.
76; Stats. 1993 s. 254.73;
1995 a. 27 ss.
6343,
9116 (5);
2011 a. 32.
254.74
254.74
Powers of the department and local health departments. 254.74(1)(1) The department shall do all of the following:
254.74(1)(a)
(a) Administer and enforce this subchapter, the rules promulgated under this subchapter and any other rules or laws relating to the public health and safety in hotels, tourist rooming houses, bed and breakfast establishments, restaurants, vending machine commissaries, vending machines and vending machine locations.
254.74(1)(am)
(am) Promulgate rules, in consultation with the department of safety and professional services, under which the department of health services shall conduct regular inspections of sealed combustion units, as required under
s. 101.149 (5) (c), for carbon monoxide emissions in hotels, tourist rooming houses, and bed and breakfast establishments. The rules shall specify conditions under which it may issue orders as specified under
s. 101.149 (8) (a). The rules may not require the department of health services to inspect sealed combustion units during the period in which the sealed combustion units are covered by a manufacturer's warranty against defects.
254.74(1)(b)
(b) Require hotels, tourist rooming houses, restaurants, vending machine operators and vending machine commissaries to file reports and information the department deems necessary.
254.74(1)(c)
(c) Ascertain and prescribe what alterations, improvements or other means or methods are necessary to protect the public health and safety on those premises.
254.74(1)(d)
(d) Prescribe rules and fix standards, including rules covering the general sanitation and cleanliness of premises regulated under this subchapter, the proper handling and storing of food on such premises, the construction and sanitary condition of the premises and equipment to be used and the location and servicing of equipment. The rules relating to the public health and safety in bed and breakfast establishments may not be stricter than is reasonable for the operation of a bed and breakfast establishment, shall be less stringent than rules relating to other establishments regulated by this subchapter and may not require 2nd exits for a bed and breakfast establishment on a floor above the first level.
254.74(1)(e)
(e) Hold a hearing under
ch. 227 if, in lieu of proceeding under
ch. 68, any interested person in the jurisdictional area of a local health department not granted agent status under
s. 254.69 appeals to the department of health services alleging that a permit fee for a hotel, restaurant, temporary restaurant, tourist rooming house, campground, camping resort, recreational or educational camp or public swimming pool exceeds the permit issuer's reasonable costs of issuing permits to, making investigations and inspections of, and providing education, training and technical assistance to the establishment.
254.74(1g)
(1g) The department shall inspect hotels, tourist rooming houses, and bed and breakfast establishments to ensure compliance with
s. 101.149 (2) and
(3).
254.74(1p)(a)(a) The department may grant the holder of a permit for a bed and breakfast establishment a waiver from the requirement specified under
s. 254.61 (1) (b) to allow the holder of a permit for a bed and breakfast establishment to serve breakfast to other tourists or transients if all of the following conditions are met:
254.74(1p)(a)1.
1. The department determines that the public health, safety or welfare would not be jeopardized.
254.74(1p)(a)2.
2. The other tourists or transients are provided sleeping accommodations in a tourist rooming house for which the permit holder for the bed and breakfast establishment is the permit holder.
254.74(1p)(a)3.
3. The tourist rooming house is located on the same property as the bed and breakfast establishment or on property contiguous to the property on which the bed and breakfast establishment is located.
254.74(1p)(a)4.
4. The number of rooms offered for rent in the bed and breakfast establishment combined with the number of rooms offered for rent in the tourist rooming house does not exceed 8.
254.74(1p)(a)5.
5. The number of tourists or transients who are provided sleeping accommodations in the bed and breakfast establishment combined with the number of tourists or transients who are provided sleeping accommodations in the tourist rooming house does not exceed 20.
254.74(1p)(b)
(b) A waiver granted under
par. (a) is valid for the period of validity of a permit that is issued for the bed and breakfast establishment under
s. 254.64 (1) (b).
254.74 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also chs.
DHS 195,
196,
197, and
198, Wis. adm. code.
254.76
254.76
Causing fires by tobacco smoking. 254.76(1)
(1) Any person who, by smoking, or attempting to light or to smoke cigarettes, cigars, pipes or tobacco, in any manner in which lighters or matches are employed, shall, in a careless, reckless or negligent manner, set fire to any bedding, furniture, curtains, drapes, house or any household fittings, or any part of any building specified in
sub. (2), so as to endanger life or property in any way or to any extent, shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $250, together with costs, or imprisoned not less than 10 days nor more than 6 months or both.
254.76(2)
(2) In each sleeping room of all hotels, rooming houses, lodging houses and other places of public abode, a plainly printed notice shall be kept posted in a conspicuous place advising tenants of the provisions of this section.
254.76 History
History: 1975 c. 413 s.
13; Stats. 1975 s. 50.58;
1993 a. 27 s.
79; Stats. 1993 s. 254.76.
254.78
254.78
Authority of department of safety and professional services. Nothing in this chapter shall affect the authority of the department of safety and professional services relative to places of employment, elevators, boilers, fire escapes, fire protection, or the construction of public buildings.
254.78 History
History: 1975 c. 413 s.
13; Stats. 1975 s. 50.60;
1993 a. 27 s.
81; Stats. 1993 s. 254.78;
1995 a. 27 ss.
6344,
9116 (5);
2011 a. 32.
254.79
254.79
Joint employment. The department and the department of safety and professional services may employ experts, inspectors or other assistants jointly.
254.79 History
History: 1975 c. 413 s.
13; Stats. 1975 s. 50.61;
1993 a. 27 s.
82; Stats. 1993 s. 254.79;
1995 a. 27 ss.
6345,
9116 (5);
2011 a. 32.
254.80
254.80
Hotelkeeper's liability. 254.80(1)
(1) A hotelkeeper who complies with
sub. (2) is not liable to a guest for loss of money, jewelry, precious metals or stones, personal ornaments or valuable papers which are not offered for safekeeping.
254.80(2)
(2) To secure exemption from liability the hotelkeeper shall do all of the following:
254.80(2)(a)
(a) Have doors on sleeping rooms equipped with locks or bolts.
254.80(2)(b)
(b) Offer, by notice printed in large plain English type and kept conspicuously posted in each sleeping room, to receive valuable articles for safekeeping, and explain in the notice that the hotel is not liable for loss unless articles are tendered for safekeeping.
254.80(2)(c)
(c) Keep a safe or vault suitable for keeping the articles and receive them for safekeeping when tendered by a guest, except as provided in
sub. (3).
254.80(3)
(3) A hotelkeeper is liable for loss of articles accepted for safekeeping up to $300. The hotelkeeper need not receive for safekeeping property over $300 in value. This subsection may be varied by written agreement between the parties.
