LRB-5799/1
FFK:cdc
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
February 13, 2024 - Introduced by Senators Stroebel and Quinn, cosponsored by
Representatives Maxey, Michalski, Behnke, Bodden, Dittrich, Goeben,
Gundrum, Gustafson, Kitchens, Magnafici, Murphy, O'Connor, Rettinger,
Rozar, Schmidt, Schutt and Penterman. Referred to Committee on
Government Operations.
SB1018,1,2
1An Act to create 16.55 of the statutes;
relating to: payments to individuals
2holding over in executive positions.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, vacancies in public office may occur in a number of ways,
including when the incumbent resigns, dies, or is removed from office, or, in the case
of elected office, when the incumbent's term expires. However, as the Wisconsin
Supreme Court held in State ex rel. Kaul v. Prehn, 2022 WI 50, expiration of an
incumbent's term of office does not create a vacancy if the office is filled by
appointment for a fixed term. Absent a vacancy or removal for cause, these
incumbents may remain in office until their successors are appointed and qualified.
Under the bill, if such an incumbent remains in the public office after the expiration
of the incumbent's term, any salary or other payments the incumbent receives for
duties related to the public office must be withheld beginning 90 days after the
expiration of the incumbents term. The bill specifies that this provision applies only
to incumbents who were appointed by a person in the executive branch.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB1018,1
3Section
1. 16.55 of the statutes is created to read:
SB1018,1,5
416.55 Salary; legal holdovers in public office. (1) In this section, “eligible
5public office” is a public office to which all of the following apply:
SB1018,2,1
1(a) The public office is for a fixed term.
SB1018,2,32
(b) An individual is appointed to the public office by a person in the executive
3branch, including any executive branch entity under ch. 15.
SB1018,2,54
(c) No statutory or constitutional language prohibits a holdover period at the
5end of the fixed term of the public office.
SB1018,2,10
6(2) If an individual continues to legally hold an eligible public office after the
7expiration of the individual's fixed term, beginning with the pay period that begins
890 days after the expiration of the individual's fixed term in the eligible public office,
9any salary or other payments made to the individual for duties related to the eligible
10public office shall be withheld.
SB1018,2
11Section
2.
Initial applicability.
SB1018,2,1312
(1) This act first applies to the pay period beginning after the effective date of
13this subsection.
