SB383: Bill Text

SB383,11,5 755.01 (2) The governing body may by ordinance or bylaw abolish the municipal court at the end of any term for which the judge has been elected or appointed. The governing body may not abolish the municipal court while an agreement under sub. (4) is in effect.

SB383, s. 18 Section 18. 755.01 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,11,24 755.01 (4) Two or more cities, towns or villages of this state may enter into an agreement under s. 66.0301 for the joint exercise of the power granted under sub. (1), except that for purposes of this subsection, any agreement under s. 66.0301 shall be effected by the enactment of identical ordinances by each affected city, town or village. Electors of each municipality entering into the agreement shall be eligible to vote for the judge of the municipal court so established. If a municipality enters into an agreement with a municipality that already has a municipal court, the municipalities may provide by ordinance or resolution that the judge for the existing municipal court shall serve as the judge for the joint court until the end of the term or until a special election is held under s. 8.50 (4) (fm). Each municipality shall adopt an ordinance or bylaw under sub. (1) prior to entering into the agreement. The contracting municipalities need not be contiguous and need not all be in the same county. Upon entering into or discontinuing such an agreement, the contracting municipalities shall each transmit a certified copy of the ordinance or bylaw effecting or discontinuing the agreement to the appropriate filing officer under s. 11.02 (3e) and to the director of state courts. When a municipal judge is elected under this subsection, candidates shall be nominated by filing nomination papers under s. 8.10 (6) (bm), and shall register with the filing officer specified in s. 11.02 (3e).

SB383, s. 19 Section 19. 755.01 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 800.04 (1) (bm) and amended to read:

SB383,12,14 800.04 (1) (bm) A municipal court shall appoint a guardian ad litem or social worker certified or licensed under ch. 457 for any defendant that the court has reason to believe is mentally incompetent lacks substantial mental capacity to understand the proceedings or assist in his or her defense. The person appointed under this paragraph shall assist the court in making a determination concerning the defendant's mental capacity. If the court determines that the defendant lacks the mental capacity to understand the proceedings or assist in his or her defense, the court shall suspend the proceedings. The cost of the guardian ad litem or social worker shall be paid by the municipality or municipalities that established the court. The governing body may by ordinance or bylaw authorize the appointment of a guardian ad litem by the municipal judge in any other matter within the jurisdiction of the municipal court.

SB383, s. 20 Section 20. 755.02 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,12,18 755.02 Term. The judges shall be elected at large for a term of 2 4 years unless a longer term, not exceeding 4 years, is provided by ordinance or bylaw. The term shall commence on May 1 of the year of the judge's election.

SB383, s. 21 Section 21. 755.03 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,12,25 755.03 (1) The judge shall, after election, designation or appointment, take and file the official oath as prescribed in s. 757.02 (1) and at the same time execute and file an official bond in an amount to be fixed by the governing body. The governing body shall pay the costs of the bond. No judge may act as such until his or her oath and bond have been filed as required by s. 19.01 (4) (c) and he or she has complied with the requirements of sub. (2) have been complied with.

SB383, s. 22 Section 22. 755.03 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,13,11 755.03 (2) The clerk of the circuit court shall, within Within 10 days after a municipal judge files takes the oath and bond, execute and mail to, the judge shall file the oath and bond with the clerk of the city, town or village , where the judge was elected, a certified copy of the bond, which shall be filed and preserved in the office by the city, town or village clerk. The certified copy is presumptive evidence of its execution by the judge and sureties or appointed. If the municipal judge is elected under s. 755.01 (4), the clerk of circuit court judge shall file copies of the oath and bond with each applicable municipal clerk. The clerk of the circuit court judge shall file a certified copy of the oath with the office of director of state courts within the 10-day time period after the judge takes the oath.

SB383, s. 23 Section 23. 755.04 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,13,24 755.04 Salary and fees. The governing body shall fix a salary for the judge which shall be in lieu of fees and costs. Fees and taxable costs shall be paid into the municipal treasury as the governing body directs. The salary may be increased by the governing body before the start of the 2nd or a subsequent year of service of the term of the judge, but shall not be decreased during a term. The salary of a municipal judge who is designated or appointed under s. 8.50 (4) (fm) or 800.06 shall be determined by contract between the municipality and the judge. The judge may not serve until the contract is entered into. Salaries may be paid annually or in equal installments as determined by the governing body, but no judge may be paid a salary for any time during the term during which the judge has not executed and filed his or her official bond or official oath, as required by s. 755.03, and filed under s. 19.01 (4) (c).

SB383, s. 24 Section 24. 755.045 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,14,2 755.045 (1) (a) If the action is transferred under s. 800.04 (1) 800.035 (5) (c) or 800.05 (3) to a court of record.

SB383, s. 25 Section 25. 755.045 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,14,6 755.045 (2) A municipal judge may issue civil warrants to enforce matters which are under the jurisdiction of the municipal court, as provided in ch. 800. Municipal judges are also authorized to issue inspection warrants under s. 66.0119.

SB383, s. 26 Section 26. 755.05 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,14,15 755.05 Territorial jurisdiction. Every judge has countywide statewide jurisdiction. If elected in a city or village lying in more than one county, the judge shall qualify and have jurisdiction in each county, the same as though the municipality lay wholly therein, and may hold court in one county while exercising jurisdiction in the other. If elected under s. 755.01 (4) and the contracting municipalities lie in more than one county, the judge shall qualify and have jurisdiction in each county and may hold court in one county while exercising jurisdiction in another county as authorized by this chapter and ch. 800.

SB383, s. 27 Section 27. 755.06 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,14,20 755.06 Sessions of court. The municipal court shall be open daily or, after the judge consults with the governing body, as directed by the governing body, but the governing body may by ordinance or bylaw allow the judge to determine when the court shall be open judge.

SB383, s. 28 Section 28. 755.09 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,15,2 755.09 (1) Every judge shall keep his or her office and hold court in any adequate facility provided by the The governing body of the city, village, or town, shall provide the judge with an office or appropriate work space other than at a place prohibited under sub. (2). The judge may issue process or perform ministerial functions at any place in the county.

SB383, s. 29 Section 29. 755.09 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,15,8 755.09 (2) No judge may keep his or her office or hold court in any tavern, or in any room in which intoxicating liquors are sold, or in any room connecting therewith. For any violation of this section the judge shall forfeit $25 but the violation of the subsection does not make any order or judgment void with a tavern or room in which intoxicating liquors are sold.

SB383, s. 30 Section 30. 755.09 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

SB383, s. 31 Section 31. 755.10 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,15,19 755.10 Employees. The judge shall in writing appoint such clerks and deputy clerks personnel as are authorized by the council or board. The council or board shall authorize at least one clerk for each court. Their salaries shall be fixed by the council or board. The hiring, termination, hours of employment, and work responsibilities of the court personnel, when working during hours assigned to the court, shall be under the judge's authority. The clerks shall, before entering upon the duties of their offices, take the oath provided by s. 19.01 and give a bond if required by the council or board. The cost of the bond shall be paid by the municipality. Oaths and bonds of the clerks shall be filed with the municipal clerk.

SB383, s. 32 Section 32. 755.11 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,16,3 755.11 Papers, how kept Records. Every judge shall file and keep together all papers records in an action, separate from all other papers records. The judge shall store all records in the office of the court clerk or in another appropriate facility designated by the council or board. Access to the records shall be restricted to court personnel except as authorized by the judge or by law. Nothing in this section is intended to restrict the ability of counsel or parties to read the records. The purchase or implementation of any electronic records management system shall be approved by the judge.

SB383, s. 33 Section 33. 755.15 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,16,8 755.15 Pending actions triable by court which receives books. When any action is pending before a judge at the time his or her office becomes vacant and his or her books and papers records have been delivered to the circuit court, it may try the action and enter judgment as though the action was begun before it.

SB383, s. 34 Section 34. 755.16 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,16,14 755.16 Continuance on vacancy; notice of trial. All actions before any judge undetermined or appealable when his or her office becomes vacant are continued until the expiration of 10 days from the time when his or her books and papers records were delivered to the circuit court. The court shall give 3 days' notice to the parties to the action.

SB383, s. 35 Section 35. 755.17 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,16,17 755.17 (title) Decorum in municipal Municipal court decorum and facilities.

SB383, s. 36 Section 36. 755.17 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,16,21 755.17 (1) A municipal judge shall be properly attired in a robe or other suitable clothing when officially wear a black robe while presiding in a municipal court except when exceptional circumstances exist.

SB383, s. 37 Section 37. 755.17 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB383,16,25 755.17 (1m) The clerk of the municipal court shall be attired in appropriate clothing and may not, while performing municipal court functions, wear anything that implies or indicates that he or she is a law enforcement officer.

SB383, s. 38 Section 38. 755.17 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,17,8 755.17 (2) The governing body of the city, village, or town shall provide a courtroom for a municipal judge shall be provided by a municipality court, which shall be in an adequate facility. The courtroom shall be in a public building if a suitable public building is available within the municipality and shall be located in an area separate from the police department by design or signage. The courtroom shall be designed and furnished to create and promote the proper atmosphere of dignity and decorum for the operation of the court.

SB383, s. 39 Section 39. 755.17 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

SB383,17,11 755.17 (3) All personnel employed by the court shall be located in an area separate and distinct from the police department.

SB383, s. 40 Section 40. 755.17 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

SB383,17,15 755.17 (4) Every municipal court shall have a telephone number or extension separate from the telephone number or extension of any other governmental department.

SB383, s. 41 Section 41. 755.18 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,17,17 755.18 (title) Municipal judge and court clerk training.

SB383, s. 42 Section 42. 755.18 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,17,20 755.18 (1) Municipal court clerks and judges shall participate in a program of continuing judicial education as required by the supreme court.

SB383, s. 43 Section 43. 755.19 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,18,2 755.19 (2) (a) Under ss. 800.04 800.035 and 800.095 (4) and (5) (1), conduct initial appearances and receive noncontested forfeiture pleas, order the revocation or suspension of driving privileges and impose forfeitures, impose community service and restitution according to the schedule adopted by the municipal court where appointed, and issue dispositional and sanction orders pursuant to ch. 938.

SB383, s. 44 Section 44. 755.21 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,18,11 755.21 Collection. (intro.) The municipal governing body or court may contract with a collection agency for the collection of unpaid forfeitures, assessments, and surcharges under s. 66.0114 (1) (a). Collection under this section may not begin until the court refers the case to the collection agency. The contract shall provide that the collection agency shall be paid from the proceeds recovered by the collection agency. For each violation for which a forfeiture, assessment, or surcharge is imposed, the municipal court shall determine the amount to be distributed to each entity under s. 66.0114 (1) (bm) and (3) (b) and (c) as follows:

SB383, s. 45 Section 45. 778.30 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,18,18 778.30 (1) (intro.) In addition to the procedures under s. 23.795 or 345.47 or under this chapter for the collection of forfeitures, costs, assessments, surcharges, municipal court judgments, or restitution payments if a defendant fails to pay the forfeiture, costs, assessment, surcharge, municipal court judgment, or restitution payment within the period specified by the circuit court, the court may do any of the following:

SB383, s. 46 Section 46. 800.001 of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

SB383,18,20 800.001 Definitions. In this chapter:

SB383,18,23 (1) "Judicial administrative district" means the judicial administrative district having the largest portion of the population in the jurisdiction served by the municipal court.

SB383,19,2 (2) "Municipality" means the city, village, or town that governs the municipal court, or if more than one city, village, or town has agreed jointly to establish a municipal court under s. 755.01, "municipality" means the city, village, or town where the violation occurred.

SB383, s. 47 Section 47. 800.01 (1) (intro.) and (a) of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 800.01 (1) and amended to read:

SB383,19,9 800.01 (1) In municipal court, personal jurisdiction in municipal ordinance violation cases and cases involving a violation of a resolution or bylaw if the resolution or bylaw is authorized by statute is obtained over a defendant when the defendant: (a) Is served with a summons and are commenced when the complaint or citation and such documents are is filed with or transmitted to the court;.

SB383, s. 48 Section 48. 800.01 (1) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

SB383, s. 49 Section 49. 800.01 (1) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

SB383, s. 50 Section 50. 800.01 (2) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

SB383,19,14 800.01 (2) The municipal court has jurisdiction over a defendant when any of the following conditions is met:

SB383,19,16 (a) The defendant is served with a citation or a summons and complaint as provided under s. 801.11 (1) (a) to (c), (5), and (6).

SB383,19,19 (b) The defendant is arrested and brought before the court personally or through interactive video and audio transmission conducted in accordance with the rules of the supreme court.

SB383,19,20 (c) The defendant voluntarily appears before the court.

SB383,19,22 (d) The court finds that the defendant has acknowledged receipt of the citation or summons and complaint.

SB383,19,24 (e) The summons and complaint or citation are sent to the defendant by 1st class mail.

SB383, s. 51 Section 51. 800.01 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB383,20,3 800.01 (2m) The law enforcement officer or municipal employee who serves the summons shall indicate the method of service on the copy of the documents filed or transmitted to the court.

SB383, s. 52 Section 52. 800.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB383,20,8 800.02 (1) Action. An action in municipal court for violation of a municipal ordinance, or violation of a resolution or bylaw if the resolution or bylaw is authorized by statute, is a civil action, and the forfeiture or penalty imposed by any ordinance of the municipality may be collected in an action in the name of the municipality.

SB383, s. 53 Section 53. 800.02 (2) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

SB383,20,10 800.02 (2) (title) Form of citation or complaint.

SB383, s. 54 Section 54. 800.02 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 800.02 (2) (a) and amended to read:

SB383,20,22 800.02 (2) (a) The citation or complaint shall be signed by a peace officer or endorsed by a municipal law enforcement officer, attorney representing the municipality, or, if applicable, signed by a conservation warden. In addition, the governing body of a municipality authorized to adopt the use of citations may designate by ordinance or resolution other municipal officials who may sign and issue citations with respect to ordinances which are directly related to the official responsibilities of the officials. Officials granted the authority to sign and issue citations may delegate, with the approval of the governing body, the authority to employees. Authority delegated to an official or employee may be revoked only in the same manner by which it is conferred.

SB383,20,24 (ag) The citation or complaint shall contain substantially the following information:

SB383, s. 55 Section 55. 800.02 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 800.02 (2) (ag) 1.

SB383, s. 56 Section 56. 800.02 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 800.02 (2) (ag) 2.

SB383, s. 57 Section 57. 800.02 (2) (a) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 800.02 (2) (ag) 3. and amended to read:

SB383,21,7 800.02 (2) (ag) 3. The violation alleged, the time and place of the occurrence of the violation, a statement that the defendant committed the violation, the ordinance, resolution or bylaw violated, and a designation description of the violation in language which that can be readily understood.

SB383, s. 58 Section 58. 800.02 (2) (a) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 800.02 (2) (ag) 4. and amended to read:

SB383,21,12 800.02 (2) (ag) 4. A notice to appear at a date, time and place for the court appearance, and a notice to appear statement as to whether the appearance is mandated by the judge.

SB383, s. 59 Section 59. 800.02 (2) (a) 5. and 6. of the statutes are renumbered 800.02 (2) (ag) 5. and 6.

SB383, s. 60 Section 60. 800.02 (2) (a) 7. of the statutes is renumbered 800.02 (2) (ag) 7. and amended to read:

SB383,21,19 800.02 (2) (ag) 7. Notice that the defendant may by mail, in writing, prior to the court appearance, enter a plea of not guilty and may within 10 days after entry of the plea request a jury trial.