19.47(5) (5) No later than September 1 of each year, the board shall submit a report concerning its actions in the preceding fiscal year to the governor and the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2). Such report shall contain the names and duties of all individuals employed by the board and a summary of its determinations and advisory opinions. The board shall make sufficient alterations in the summaries to prevent disclosing the identities of individuals or organizations involved in the decisions or opinions. The board shall make such further reports on the matters within its jurisdiction and such recommendations for further legislation as it deems desirable.

19.47(6) (6) The joint committee on legislative organization shall be advisory to the board on all matters relating to operation of the board.

19.48(1) (1) Promulgate rules necessary to carry out this subchapter and subch. III of ch. 13. The board shall give prompt notice of the contents of its rules to state public officials who will be affected thereby.

19.48(2) (2) Prescribe and make available forms for use under this subchapter and subch. III of ch. 13, including the forms specified in s. 13.685 (1).

19.48(3) (3) Accept and file any information related to the purposes of this subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13 which is voluntarily supplied by any person in addition to the information required by this subchapter.

19.48(4) (4) Preserve the statements of economic interests filed with it for a period of 6 years from the date of receipt in such form, including microfilming, optical imaging or electronic formatting, as will facilitate document retention, except that:

19.48(4)(a) (a) Upon the expiration of 3 years after an individual ceases to be a state public official the board shall, unless the former state public official otherwise requests, destroy any statement of economic interests filed by him or her and any copies thereof in its possession.

19.48(4)(b) (b) Upon the expiration of 3 years after any election at which a candidate for state public office was not elected, the board shall destroy any statements of economic interests filed by him or her as a candidate for state public office and any copies thereof in the board's possession, unless the individual continues to hold another position for which he or she is required to file a statement, or unless the individual otherwise requests.

19.48(4)(c) (c) Upon the expiration of 3 years from the action of the senate upon a nomination for state public office at which the senate refused to consent to the appointment of the nominee, the board shall destroy any statements of economic interests filed by him or her as a nominee and any copies thereof in the board's possession, unless the individual continues to hold another position for which he or she is required to file a statement, or unless the nominee otherwise requests. This paragraph does not apply to any individual who is appointed to state public office under s. 17.20 (2).

19.48(5) (5) Except as provided in s. 19.55 (2) (c), make statements of economic interests filed with the board available for public inspection and copying during regular office hours and make copying facilities available at a charge not to exceed actual cost.

19.48(6) (6) Compile and maintain an index to all the statements of economic interests currently on file with the board to facilitate public access to such statements of economic interests.

19.48(7) (7) Prepare and publish special reports and technical studies to further the purposes of this subchapter and subch. III of ch. 13.

19.48(8) (8) Report the full name and address of any individual and the full name and address of any person represented by an individual seeking to copy or obtain information from a statement of economic interests in writing to the individual who filed it, as soon as possible.

19.48(9) (9) Administer programs to explain and interpret this subchapter and subch. III of ch. 13 for state public officials, and for elective state officials, candidates for state public office, legislative officials, agency officials, lobbyists, as defined in s. 13.62, local public officials, corporation counsels and attorneys for local governmental units. The programs shall provide advice regarding appropriate ethical and lobbying practices, with special emphasis on public interest lobbying. The board may delegate creation and implementation of any such program to a group representing the public interest. The board may charge a fee to participants in any such program.

19.48(10) (10) Compile and make available information filed with the board in ways designed to facilitate access to the information. The board may charge a fee to a person requesting information for compiling, disseminating or making available such information, except that the board shall not charge a fee for inspection at the board's office of any record otherwise open to public inspection under s. 19.35 (1).

19.49(1)(1) The board shall accept from any individual, either personally or on behalf of an organization or governmental body, a verified complaint in writing which states the name of any person alleged to have committed a violation of this subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13 and which sets forth the particulars thereof. The board shall forward to the accused within 10 days a copy of the complaint and a general statement of the applicable statutes with respect to such verified complaint. If the board determines that the verified complaint does not allege facts sufficient to constitute a violation of this subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13, it shall dismiss the complaint and notify the complainant and the accused. If the board determines that the verified complaint alleges facts sufficient to constitute a violation of this subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13, it may make an investigation with respect to any alleged violation. If the board determines that the verified complaint was brought for harassment purposes, the board shall so state.

19.49(1m) (1m) No complaint alleging a violation of s. 19.45 (13) may be filed during the period beginning 120 days before a general or spring election, or during the period commencing on the date of the order of a special election under s. 8.50, and ending on the date of that election, against a candidate who files a declaration of candidacy to have his or her name appear on the ballot at that election.

19.49(2) (2) Any person to whom this subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13 may have application may request the board to make an investigation of his or her own conduct or of allegations made by other persons as to his or her conduct. Such a request shall be made in writing and shall set forth in detail the reasons therefor.

19.49(3) (3) Following the receipt of a verified complaint or upon the receipt of other information, whether or not under oath, that provides a reasonable basis for the belief that a violation of this subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13 has been committed or that an investigation of a possible violation is warranted, the board may investigate the circumstances concerning the possible violation. Prior to invoking any power under s. 19.50, the board shall authorize an investigation by resolution, which shall state the nature and purpose of the investigation and the actions or activities to be investigated. Upon adoption of a resolution, the board shall notify each person who is the subject of the investigation pursuant to sub. (4). If the board, during the course of an investigation, finds probable cause to believe that a violation of this subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13 has occurred, it may:

19.49(3)(a) (a) If no verified complaint has been filed, make upon its own motion a verified complaint, which shall be in writing, shall state the name of the person who is alleged to have committed a violation of this subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13 and shall set forth the particulars thereof. The board shall forward to the accused within 10 days a copy of the complaint, a general statement of the applicable statutes with respect to such verified complaint and a specific statement enumerating the source or sources of information upon which the complaint is based.

19.49(3)(b) (b) If a verified complaint has been filed and the board finds probable cause to believe that a violation of this subchapter or subch. III of ch. 13, other than one contained in the complaint, has occurred, it may amend the complaint, upon its own motion, to include such violations. If the complaint is so amended by the board, the board shall send a copy of the amendment to the person complained against within 48 hours.

19.49(4) (4) Upon adoption of a resolution authorizing an investigation under sub. (3), the board shall mail a copy of the resolution to each alleged violator who is identified in the resolution, together with a notice informing the alleged violator that the person is the subject of the investigation authorized by the resolution and a general statement of the applicable statutes with respect to such investigation. Service of the notice is complete upon mailing.