19.49(2)(g)(g) If the defendant in an action for a civil violation of ch. 11, subch. III of ch. 13, or this subchapter is a district attorney or a circuit judge or a candidate for either such office, the action shall be brought by the commission. If the defendant in an action for a civil violation of ch. 11, subch. III of ch. 13, or this subchapter is the attorney general or a candidate for that office, the commission may appoint special counsel to bring suit on behalf of the state.

19.49(2)(h)(h) If the defendant in an action for a criminal violation of ch. 11, subch. III of ch. 13, or this subchapter is a district attorney or a circuit judge or a candidate for either such office, the action shall be brought by the attorney general. If the defendant in an action for a criminal violation of ch. 11, subch. III of ch. 13, or this subchapter is the attorney general or a candidate for that office, the commission may appoint a special prosecutor to conduct the prosecution on behalf of the state.

19.49(2g)(2g) Auditing. In addition to the facial examination of reports and statements required under s. 11.1304 (9), the commission shall conduct an audit of reports and statements which are required to be filed with it to determine whether violations of ch. 11 have occurred. The commission may examine records relating to matters required to be treated in such reports and statements. The commission shall make official note in the file of a committee, as defined in s. 11.0101 (6), of any error or other discrepancy which the commission discovers and shall inform the person submitting the report or statement. The commission may not audit reports, statements, or records beyond the 3-year period for which a committee must retain records under ch. 11.

19.49(2q)(2q) Supplemental funding for ongoing investigations. The commission may request supplemental funds to be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.521 (1) (be) for the purpose of continuing an ongoing investigation initiated under sub. (2). A request under this subsection shall be filed with the secretary of administration and the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance in writing and shall contain a statement of the action requested, the purposes therefor, the statutory provision authorizing or directing the performance of the action, and information about the nature of the investigation for which the commission seeks supplemental funds, excluding the name of any individual or organization that is the subject of the investigation. If the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance do not notify the secretary of administration that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the request within 14 working days after the commission filed the request, the secretary shall supplement the appropriation under s. 20.521 (1) (be) from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (d) in an amount not to exceed the amount the commission requested. If, within 14 working days after the commission filed the request, the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance notify the secretary that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the commission’s request under this subsection, the secretary may supplement the appropriation under s. 20.521 (1) (be) only with the committee’s approval. The committee and the secretary shall notify the commission of all their actions taken under this subsection.

19.50(1)(1) Except as specifically authorized by law and except as provided in sub. (2), no investigator, prosecutor, employee of an investigator or prosecutor, or member or employee of the commission may disclose information related to an investigation or prosecution under ch. 11, subch. III of ch. 13, or this subchapter or any other law specified in s. 978.05 (1) or (2) or provide access to any record of the investigator, prosecutor, or the commission that is not subject to access under s. 19.55 (3) to any person other than an employee or agent of the prosecutor or investigator or a member, employee, or agent of the commission prior to presenting the information or record in a court of law.

19.50(2)(2) This section does not apply to any of the following communications made by an investigator, prosecutor, employee of an investigator or prosecutor, or member or employee of the commission:

19.55(1)(1) Except as provided in subs. (2) to (4) and s. 19.36 (15), all records under ch. 11, this subchapter, or subch. III of ch. 13 in the possession of the commission are open to public inspection at all reasonable times. The commission shall require an individual wishing to examine a statement of economic interests or the list of persons who inspect any statements which are in the commission’s possession to provide his or her full name and address, and if the individual is representing another person, the full name and address of the person which he or she represents. Such identification may be provided in writing or in person. The commission shall record and retain for at least 3 years information obtained by it pursuant to this subsection. No individual may use a fictitious name or address or fail to identify a principal in making any request for inspection.

Effective date noteNOTE: Sub. (1) is shown as amended eff. 4-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 235. The cross-reference to s. 19.36 (15) was changed from s. 19.36 (14) by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2. to reflect the renumbering under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2. of s. 19.36 (14), as created by 2023 Wis. Act 235. Prior to 4-1-25 sub. (1) reads:

Effective date text(1) Except as provided in subs. (2) to (4), all records under ch. 11, this subchapter, or subch. III of ch. 13 in the possession of the commission are open to public inspection at all reasonable times. The commission shall require an individual wishing to examine a statement of economic interests or the list of persons who inspect any statements which are in the commission’s possession to provide his or her full name and address, and if the individual is representing another person, the full name and address of the person which he or she represents. Such identification may be provided in writing or in person. The commission shall record and retain for at least 3 years information obtained by it pursuant to this subsection. No individual may use a fictitious name or address or fail to identify a principal in making any request for inspection.

19.55(2)(2) The following records in the commission’s possession are not open for public inspection:

19.55(2)(c)(c) Statements of economic interests and reports of economic transactions which are filed with the commission by members or employees of the investment board, except that the commission shall refer statements and reports filed by such individuals to the legislative audit bureau for its review, and except that a statement of economic interests filed by a member or employee of the investment board who is also an official required to file shall be open to public inspection.

19.55(2)(cm)(cm) If a judicial officer, as defined in s. 757.07 (1) (e), submits a written request under s. 757.07 (4), the personal information, as defined in s. 757.07 (1) (g), of a judicial officer contained in statements of economic interests, reports of economic transactions, and campaign finance reports that are filed with the commission by judicial officers or the candidate committees of judicial officers. The commission shall quarterly review the electronic campaign finance information system for the personal information of judicial officers and remove such information from the system. In addition, before providing, upon a request, a statement of economic interests of a judicial officer, the commission shall remove the personal information of the judicial officer.

19.55(2)(d)(d) Records of the social security number of any individual who files an application for licensure as a lobbyist under s. 13.63 or who registers as a principal under s. 13.64, except to the department of children and families for purposes of administration of s. 49.22, to the department of revenue for purposes of administration of s. 73.0301, and to the department of workforce development for purposes of administration of s. 108.227.