Chapter 25

25.187(1)(a) (a) In this section, “operating expenditures” include all costs and expenses incurred by the investment board for the purpose of operating the board and managing the assets of each fund for which the board has management responsibility, but does not include costs or expenses incurred under s. 25.18 (1) or (2) or 40.04 (3) (intro.) or incurred in connection with information technology purchases, including those contemplated under s. 16.751, business travel, recruitment of job applicants, or subscriptions to relevant news or industry publications, or office management expenses.

25.187(1)(b) (b) The investment board’s expenditure of operating expenditures contemplated by this section is not subject to the provisions of subch. IV of ch. 16, but the investment board may, in its discretion, coordinate purchases with the department of administration under s. 16.71.

25.187(1)(c) (c) The investment board shall adopt policies and procedures that specify all of the following:

25.187(1)(c)1. 1. When the investment board is required to publicly solicit proposals from multiple vendors of goods or services.

25.187(1)(c)2. 2. How the investment board is to evaluate proposals from multiple vendors.

25.187(1)(c)3. 3. How the investment board is to assess any conflict of interest a vendor may have if the vendor sells goods or services to the investment board.

25.187(2) (2) 

25.187(2)(a) (a) On September 1 of each year, the investment board shall assess each fund for which the board has management responsibility for its share of the board’s operating expenditures for the current fiscal year in an equitable manner. The board shall pay the assessment from the current income of each fund, unless an appropriation is made for payment of the assessment, in which case the assessment shall be paid from that appropriation account.

25.187(2)(b) (b) The investment board may establish the operating budget for operating expenditures and monitor the fiscal management of this operating budget.

25.187(3) (3) The investment board shall transmit a notice of each assessment to each fund at the time that the assessment is made, and shall transmit a statement of the board’s actual expenditures for management of each fund at the close of each fiscal year both to the state agency having primary responsibility for expenditure of principal or earnings of the fund and to the department of administration or, if there is no state agency, only to the department of administration.

25.187(4) (4) The investment board shall establish travel policies for investment board employees and job applicants and a schedule for the reimbursement of investment board employees and job applicants for travel expenses, which shall take into account the maximum rate for lodging expenses incurred in this state under the approved uniform travel schedule incorporated under s. 20.916 (8) (b) into the current compensation plan under s. 230.12 (1).

25.187 History History: 1999 a. 9, 185; 2005 a. 25, 153; 2007 a. 20; 2011 a. 32; 2021 a. 177.

25.19 25.19 Treasurer; bond; deposit of securities; cash management.

25.19(1) (1) The state treasurer shall be the treasurer of the board and shall give an additional bond in the amount and with the corporate sureties required and approved by the board, the cost of which shall be borne by the board.

25.19(1m) (1m) Any of the securities purchased by the board for any of the funds whose investment is under the control of the board may be deposited by the board in vaults or other safe depositories either in or outside of this state.

25.19(3) (3) The secretary of administration or his or her designee shall allocate bank service costs to the funds incurring those costs.

25.19(4) (4) The secretary of administration shall provide advice to state agencies concerning efficient cash management practices.

25.19 History History: 1979 c. 110; 1989 a. 31; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27; 1999 a. 83; 2003 a. 33, 320; 2017 a. 59.

25.20 25.20 General fund. All moneys in the state treasury not specifically designated in any statute as belonging to any other funds constitute the general fund.

25.29 25.29 Conservation fund.

25.29(1) (1) There is established a separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the conservation fund to consist of:

25.29(1)(a) (a) Except as provided in ss. 25.293 and 25.295, all moneys accruing to the state for or in behalf of the department under chs. 26, 27, 28, 29, 169, and 350, subchs. I and VI of ch. 77 and ss. 23.09 to 23.31, 23.325, 23.33, 23.335, except as provided in s. 25.40 (1) (bt), 23.35 to 23.42, 23.50 to 23.99, 30.50 to 30.55, 71.10 (5), 71.30 (10), and 90.21, including grants received from the federal government or any of its agencies except as otherwise provided by law.

25.29(1)(b) (b) One percent of all sales and use taxes under s. 77.61 (1) on all-terrain vehicles, utility terrain vehicles, boats and snowmobiles collected under ss. 23.33, 30.52 (4), 350.12 and 350.122.

25.29(1)(c) (c) For fiscal year 1992-93, and for each fiscal year thereafter, an amount equal to the estimated motorboat gas tax payment multiplied by 1.4. Except for fiscal years 2007-08, 2008-09, and 2009-10, the estimated motorboat gas tax payment is calculated by multiplying the number of motorboats registered under s. 30.52 on January 1 of the previous fiscal year by 50 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on April 1 of the previous fiscal year. For fiscal years 2007-08, 2008-09, and 2009-10, the estimated motorboat gas tax payment is calculated by multiplying the number of motorboats registered under s. 30.52 on January 1 of the previous fiscal year by 50.5 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on April 1 of the previous fiscal year.

25.29(1)(d) (d)

25.29(1)(d)1m. 1m. An amount equal to the estimated snowmobile gas tax payment.

25.29(1)(d)2m. 2m. For fiscal years before fiscal year 2013-14, the estimated snowmobile gas tax payment is the sum of the following amounts:

25.29(1)(d)2m.a. a. An amount calculated by multiplying the number of snowmobiles registered under s. 350.12 or 350.122 on the last day of March of the previous fiscal year by 50 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on the last day of March of the previous fiscal year.

25.29(1)(d)2m.b. b. An amount equal to 40 percent of the amount calculated under subd. 2m. a.

25.29(1)(d)3. 3. For fiscal year 2013-14, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the estimated snowmobile gas tax payment is the sum of the following amounts:

25.29(1)(d)3.a. a. An amount calculated by multiplying the number of snowmobiles registered under s. 350.12 or 350.122 on the last day of March of the previous fiscal year by 50 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on the last day of March of the previous fiscal year.

25.29(1)(d)3.b. b. An amount equal to 55 percent of the amount calculated under subd. 3. a.

25.29(1)(dm) (dm)

25.29(1)(dm)1. 1. An amount equal to the estimated all-terrain vehicle gas tax payment.

25.29(1)(dm)2. 2. For fiscal years before fiscal year 2013-14, the estimated all-terrain vehicle gas tax payment is calculated by multiplying the sum of the number of all-terrain vehicles registered for public use under s. 23.33 (2) (c) or (2g) and the number of reflectorized plates issued under s. 23.33 (2) (dm), 2009 stats., on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year by 25 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year.

25.29(1)(dm)3. 3. For fiscal year 2013-14, the estimated all-terrain vehicle gas tax payment is calculated by multiplying the sum of the number of all-terrain vehicles registered for public use under s. 23.33 (2) (c) or (2g), the number of reflectorized plates issued under s. 23.33 (2) (dm), 2009 stats., and the number of commercial all-terrain vehicle registration decals issued under s. 23.33 (2) (dm) on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year by 25 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year.

25.29(1)(dm)4. 4. For fiscal year 2014-15, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the estimated all-terrain vehicle gas tax payment is calculated by multiplying the sum of the number of all-terrain vehicles registered for public use under s. 23.33 (2) (c) or (2g) and the number of commercial all-terrain vehicle registration decals issued under s. 23.33 (2) (dm) on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year by 25 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year.

25.29(1)(dr) (dr) For fiscal year 2013-14 and for each fiscal year thereafter, an amount equal to the estimated utility terrain vehicle gas tax payment. The estimated utility terrain vehicle gas tax payment is calculated by multiplying the sum of the number of utility terrain vehicles registered for public use under s. 23.33 (2) (c) or (2g) on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year by 25 gallons and multiplying that product by the excise tax imposed under s. 78.01 (1) on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year.

25.29(1)(e) (e) An amount equal to the amounts expended under s. 20.370 (7) (aq).

25.29(1)(f) (f) Moneys received under s. 341.14 (6r) (b) 5., 7., and 12.

25.29(1m) (1m) There is established in the conservation fund a separate account that is designated the snowmobile account and that consists of the moneys paid into the conservation fund under s. 20.855 (4) (t) and the moneys collected under s. 350.12.

25.29(2) (2) License fees and other state moneys collected by each field employee of the department shall be remitted to the department within one month after receipt together with a report of the number of licenses issued and details covering the type and the amount of money remitted.

25.29(3) (3) Funds accruing to the conservation fund from license fees paid by hunters and from sport and recreation fishing license fees shall not be diverted for any other purpose than the administration of the department when it is exercising its responsibilities that are specific to the management of the fish and wildlife resources of this state.

25.29(3m) (3m) 

25.29(3m)(a) (a) The total amount that the department may expend for a given fiscal year from the fish and wildlife account of the conservation fund for administrative costs may not exceed 16 percent of the expenditures from that account for that fiscal year.

25.29(3m)(b) (b) For purposes of par. (a), administrative costs consist of the costs incurred in the administration of the department and its divisions and in providing support services for the department.

25.29(4) (4) No money shall be expended or paid from the conservation fund except in pursuance of an appropriation by law.

25.29(4m) (4m) No moneys that accrue to the state for or in behalf of the department under ch. 29 or 169 or s. 90.21 may be expended or paid for the enforcement of the treaty-based, off-reservation rights to fish held by members of federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands domiciled in Wisconsin.

25.29(5) (5) A gift or bequest shall be used in accordance with the directions of the donor.

25.29(6) (6) All moneys received from the United States for fire prevention and control, forest planting, and other forestry activities, for wildlife restoration projects and fish restoration and management projects, and for other purposes shall be devoted to the purposes for which these moneys are received.

25.29(7) (7) All moneys received under s. 70.58, and all moneys paid into the state treasury as the counties’ share of compensation of emergency fire wardens under s. 26.14 shall be used for acquiring, preserving and developing the forests of the state, including the acquisition of lands owned by counties by virtue of any tax deed and of other lands suitable for state forests, and for the development of lands so acquired and the conduct of forestry thereon, including the growing and planting of trees; for forest and marsh fire prevention and control; for grants to forestry cooperatives under s. 36.56; for compensation of emergency fire wardens; for maintenance, permanent property and forestry improvements; for other forestry purposes authorized by law and for the payment of aid for forests as authorized in s. 28.11 and subchs. I and VI of ch. 77.

25.29(7)(a) (a) Eight percent of the moneys received under s. 70.58 or of the funds provided for in lieu of the levy shall be used to acquire and develop forests of the state for the purposes or capable of providing the benefits described under s. 28.04 (2) within areas approved by the department and the governor and located within the region composed of Manitowoc, Calumet, Winnebago, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Washington, Dodge, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, Racine, Kenosha, Walworth, Rock, and Outagamie counties.

25.29(7)(b) (b) An additional 4 percent of the moneys received under s. 70.58 or of the funds provided in lieu of the levy shall be used to purchase forests for the state for the purposes or capable of providing the benefits described under s. 28.04 (2) within areas approved by the department and the governor and located within the region specified under par. (a).

25.29 History History: 1971 c. 125; 1973 c. 90; 1977 c. 29; 1977 c. 418 ss. 244, 245, 929 (37); 1979 c. 34 ss. 707v, 2102 (39) (a); 1979 c. 221; 1979 c. 361 s. 113; 1983 a. 27 ss. 636m, 637, 2202 (38); 1985 a. 29 ss. 638g, 3202 (39); 1985 a. 135; 1987 a. 27; 1987 a. 312 s. 17; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1995 a. 27; 1995 a. 257 s. 3; 1997 a. 1, 27, 248; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16, 56, 105; 2003 a. 166; 2007 a. 204; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 208; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 170; 2017 a. 59.

25.293 25.293 Natural resources land endowment fund. There is established a separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the natural resources land endowment fund, to consist of:

25.293(1) (1) All gifts, grants or bequests made to the natural resources land endowment fund. The department of natural resources may convert any noncash gift, grant or bequest into cash for deposit into the fund.

25.293(2) (2) All interest and other income generated from these gifts, grants and bequests.

25.293 History History: 1999 a. 9.

25.295 25.295 Heritage state parks and forests trust fund.

25.295(1) (1) There is established a separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the heritage state parks and forests trust fund, to consist of:

25.295(1)(a) (a) All gifts, grants or bequests or other contributions made to the heritage state parks and forests trust fund. The department of natural resources may convert any noncash gift, grant, bequest or other contribution into cash.

25.295(1)(b) (b) Notwithstanding s. 23.15 (4), all moneys received by the department of natural resources from utility easements on property located in the state park system, a southern state forest, as defined in s. 27.016 (1) (c), or a state recreation area under ss. 23.09 (10), 27.01 (2) (g) and 28.02 (5).

25.295 History History: 1995 a. 27.

25.297 25.297 Wisconsin outdoor wildlife heritage trust fund. There is established a separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the Wisconsin outdoor wildlife heritage trust fund, to consist of all gifts, grants, or bequests or other contributions made to the Wisconsin outdoor wildlife heritage trust fund.

25.297 History History: 2001 a. 92.

25.30 25.30 State building trust fund. The state building trust fund consists of all appropriations or transfers made thereto by the legislature, together with all donations, gifts, bequests or contributions of money or other property, all restored advances and all investment income.

25.30 History History: 1979 c. 221.

25.31 25.31 Benevolent fund. The benevolent fund, amounting to the principal sum of $13,500, transferred to the state by chapter 636, laws of 1917, constitutes a separate trust fund and shall be conserved and applied as follows:

25.31(1) (1) First: The principal of said trust fund shall be held by the secretary of administration, and be invested and reinvested as provided in this chapter.

25.31(2) (2) Second: The income of said trust fund shall be used and expended exclusively for the benefit of girls committed to the Wisconsin School for Girls, or such other institutions as the state may hereafter establish and maintain for the care, custody and education of girls of the classes now or hereafter authorized by law to be committed to said institution, in providing healthful and instructive recreation and amusements, furnishing advance educational facilities for such of them as show special fitness therefor, providing needed medical or surgical care in exceptional cases, and other similar purposes; but no part of said income shall be used for defraying any of the ordinary expenses of any such institution.

25.31(3) (3) Third: The income shall be disbursed from the state treasury only upon warrants issued on certifications by the department of corrections upon the recommendation of the superintendent or other managing officer of such school or other institution.

25.31 History History: 1981 c. 390 s. 252; 1985 a. 135; 1989 a. 31, 107; 1995 a. 27; 2003 a. 33.

25.315 25.315 Wholesale drug distributor bonding fund. There is established a separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the wholesale drug distributor bonding fund to consist of moneys paid to the state under s. 450.071 (5) to secure payment of fees or costs that relate to the issuance of a license to engage in the wholesale distribution of prescription drugs.

25.315 History History: 2007 a. 20.

25.35 25.35 State capitol restoration fund. There is established a separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the state capitol restoration fund, to consist of all monetary public and private gifts, grants and bequests received by the state capitol and executive residence board under s. 16.83 (2) (e).

25.35 History History: 1993 a. 477.

25.36 25.36 Veterans trust fund.

25.36(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), all moneys appropriated or transferred by law shall constitute the veterans trust fund which shall be used for the veterans programs under ss. 20.485 (2) (m), (tm), (u), and (z), and (5) (mn), (v), (vo), and (zm), 45.03 (19), 45.07, 45.20, 45.21, 45.40 (1m), 45.41, 45.42, 45.43, and 45.82 and administered by the department of veterans affairs, including all moneys received from the federal government for the benefit of veterans or their dependents, and for the veteran grant jobs pilot program under s. 38.31 administered by the technical college system board; all moneys paid as interest on and repayment of loans under the post-war rehabilitation fund; soldiers rehabilitation fund, veterans housing funds as they existed prior to July 1, 1961; all moneys paid as interest on and repayment of loans under this fund; all moneys paid as expenses for, interest on, and repayment of veterans trust fund stabilization loans under s. 45.356, 1995 stats.; all moneys paid as expenses for, interest on, and repayment of veterans personal loans; the net proceeds from the sale of mortgaged properties related to veterans personal loans; all mortgages issued with the proceeds of the 1981 veterans home loan revenue bond issuance purchased with moneys in the veterans trust fund; all moneys received from the state investment board under s. 45.42 (8); and all gifts of money received by the board of veterans affairs for the purposes of this fund.

25.36(2) (2) Any moneys appropriated or transferred by law for programs other than those listed under sub. (1) after April 23, 1994, shall be repaid from the state general fund with interest at a rate of 5 percent per year computed from the date of the appropriation or transfer to the date of repayment.

25.36 History History: 1993 a. 16, 254; 1995 a. 27, 255; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33, 83; 2005 a. 22, 25; 2009 a. 113; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59; 2019 a. 9; 2021 a. 239.

25.37 25.37 Wisconsin veterans homes members fund. There is established a separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the Wisconsin veterans homes members fund. The fund shall consist of moneys belonging to persons residing in Wisconsin veterans homes, that are paid to the homes, and that are transferred into the fund by the department of veterans affairs under s. 45.51 (8).

25.37 History History: 1991 a. 39; 1999 a. 63; 2005 a. 22.

25.38 25.38 Military family relief fund. There is established a separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the military family relief fund. The fund shall consist of money deposited in the fund under s. 71.10 (5i) (i), together with all donations, gifts, or bequests made to the fund.

25.38 History History: 2009 a. 28.

25.40 25.40 Transportation fund.

25.40(1) (1) The separate nonlapsible trust fund designated as the transportation fund shall consist of the following:

25.40(1)(a) (a) All collections of the department of transportation and all moneys transferred under s. 84.59 (3) except all of the following:

25.40(1)(a)1. 1. Net sales taxes as determined in s. 77.61 (4) (c).

25.40(1)(a)2. 2. Other revenues specified in ch. 218 derived from the issuance of licenses under the authority of the division of banking which shall be paid into the general fund.