AB126: Bill Text

AB126,1,4 An Act to amend 230.08 (2) (fs); and to create 15.04 (4), 15.105 (25), 15.107 (20), 16.02, 20.923 (6) (ak), 20.923 (6) (ar) and 230.08 (2) (ym) of the statutes; relating to: creating the Council for Equity and Inclusion and the Office for Equity and Inclusion and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill creates the Council for Equity and Inclusion and the Office for Equity and Inclusion, both attached to the Department of Administration. Under the bill, the council must do all of the following: establish and annually update a statewide plan for equity and inclusion in this state; designate individuals to coordinate with the Office for Equity and Inclusion to implement and enforce the plan established by the council; review individual agency plans for equity and inclusion; and submit annual reports of activities and updates to the statewide plan for equity and inclusion to the governor and the legislature. Under the bill, the Office for Equity and Inclusion must establish programs to implement and enforce the plan established by the Council for Equity and Inclusion.

Also, under the bill, the head of each executive branch entity represented on the Council for Equity and Inclusion must appoint an officer for equity and inclusion, and each such officer must develop and implement an annual plan for equity and inclusion that must be submitted to the council for review and approval. The bill also authorizes five full-time equivalent GPR positions for the Office for Equity and Inclusion and one full-time equivalent position for each of the executive branch entities represented on the Council for Equity and Inclusion.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB126,1 Section 1 . 15.04 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB126,2,5 15.04 (4) Officer for equity and inclusion. The head of each department or entity listed in s. 15.107 (20) (b) to (v) shall appoint an officer for equity and inclusion to serve at the pleasure of the head of the department or entity outside the classified service.

AB126,2 Section 2 . 15.105 (25) of the statutes is created to read:

AB126,2,11 15.105 (25) Office for equity and inclusion. There is created an office for equity and inclusion attached to the department of administration under s. 15.03. The office shall be under the direction and supervision of a director, who shall be appointed by the council for equity and inclusion, and serve at the pleasure of the council. The director shall appoint a deputy director in the unclassified service.

AB126,3 Section 3 . 15.107 (20) of the statutes is created to read:

AB126,2,17 15.107 (20) Council for equity and inclusion. There is created a council for equity and inclusion, attached to the department of administration under s. 15.03. The council shall meet quarterly and may meet at other times on the call of the chairperson or a majority of its members. The council consists of the following members:

AB126,2,18 (a) The governor, or his or her designee, who shall serve as chairperson.

AB126,2,19 (b) The secretary of administration, or his or her designee.

AB126,2,21 (c) The secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,1 (d) The secretary of health services, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,2 (e) The secretary of children and families, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,3 (f) The secretary of workforce development, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,4 (g) The secretary of veterans affairs, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,5 (h) The secretary of corrections, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,6 (i) The state superintendent of public instruction, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,7 (j) The secretary of financial institutions, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,8 (k) The attorney general, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,9 (L) The adjutant general of military affairs, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,10 (m) The secretary of natural resources, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,11 (n) The secretary of safety and professional services, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,12 (o) The secretary of revenue, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,13 (p) The secretary of tourism, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,14 (q) The secretary of transportation, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,15 (r) The commissioner of insurance, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,17 (s) The chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,19 (t) The executive director of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,20 (u) The chairperson of the public service commission, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,22 (v) The executive secretary of the higher educational aids board, or his or her designee.

AB126,3,24 (w) One representative to the assembly appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

AB126,4,2 (x) One representative to the assembly appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.

AB126,4,3 (y) One senator appointed by the majority leader of the senate.

AB126,4,4 (z) One senator appointed by the minority leader of the senate.

AB126,4,5 (aa) One current judge or former judge appointed by the director of state courts.

AB126,4,7 (ab) One individual designated by the board of directors of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc.

AB126,4 Section 4 . 16.02 of the statutes is created to read:

AB126,4,9 16.02 Equity and inclusion. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB126,4,10 (a) “Council” means the council for equity and inclusion.

AB126,4,11 (b) “Director” means the director appointed under s. 15.105 (25).

AB126,4,12 (c) “Office” means the office for equity and inclusion.

AB126,4,13 (2) Duties of the council. The council shall do all of the following:

AB126,4,15 (a) Establish and annually review and update a statewide plan with the purpose of promoting equity and inclusion in this state.

AB126,4,19 (b) Designate individuals from each entity represented on the council, who shall meet at least twice quarterly, to coordinate with the office regarding the implementation and enforcement of the plan established by the council under par. (a).

AB126,4,21 (c) Review and approve, or request revision of, a plan for equity and inclusion submitted under sub. (6).

AB126,4,25 (d) Not later than December 31 of each year, submit a report on the activities of the council, and updates to the plan established under par. (a), to the governor and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3).

AB126,5,2 (3) Duties of the director. The director shall coordinate the activities of the council and entities with a representative on the council.

AB126,5,3 (4) Duties of the office. The office shall do all of the following:

AB126,5,5 (a) Distribute to all state agencies an electronic copy of the most recent plan established by the council under sub. (2) (a).

AB126,5,7 (b) Establish programs to implement and enforce the plan established by the council under sub. (2) (a).

AB126,5,9 (c) Post on the office's Internet site the most recent plan established by the council under sub. (2) (a).

AB126,5,10 (5) Duties of state agencies. State agencies shall do all of the following:

AB126,5,13 (a) Cooperate with the council, the office, and individuals designated under sub. (2) (b) in the implementation and enforcement of the plan established by the council under sub. (2) (a).

AB126,5,16 (b) Post on the agency's Internet site the most recent plan established by the council under sub. (2) (a) and, as applicable, the most recent plan developed under sub. (6).

AB126,5,20 (6) Entity plans for equity and inclusion. Each officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4) shall develop and implement a plan for equity and inclusion for the department or entity. Annually, the officer shall submit the plan to the council for review and approval or revision.

AB126,5 Section 5 . 20.923 (6) (ak) of the statutes is created to read:

AB126,5,23 20.923 (6) (ak) Administration, department of; office for equity and inclusion: director.

AB126,6 Section 6 . 20.923 (6) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:

AB126,6,2 20.923 (6) (ar) Each officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,7 Section 7 . 230.08 (2) (fs) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB126,6,8 230.08 (2) (fs) All deputies of department secretaries appointed under s. 15.04 (2), assistant deputy secretaries to department secretaries appointed under s. 15.05 (3), officers for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4), and executive assistants appointed by the attorney general, the adjutant general, the director of the technical college system, and the state superintendent of public instruction.

AB126,8 Section 8 . 230.08 (2) (ym) of the statutes is created to read:

AB126,6,11 230.08 (2) (ym) The director and deputy director of the office for equity and inclusion in the department of administration.

AB126,9 Section 9 . Nonstatutory provisions.

AB126,6,14 (1) The council for equity and inclusion shall first submit the plan established under s. 16.02 (2) (a) by December 31, 2021.

AB126,6,18 (2) The authorized FTE positions for the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection are increased by 1.0 GPR position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (1) (a), for the officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,6,21 (3) The authorized FTE positions for the department of health services are increased by 1.0 GPR position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (a), to provide for an officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,6,25 (4) The authorized FTE positions for the department of children and families are increased by 1.0 GPR position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (1) (a), to provide for an officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,7,4 (5) The authorized FTE positions for the department of workforce development are increased by 1.0 GPR position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (a), to provide for an officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,7,7 (6) The authorized FTE positions for the department of veterans affairs are increased by 1.0 SEG position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.485 (2) (u), to provide for an officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,7,10 (7) The authorized FTE positions for the department of corrections are increased by 1.0 GPR position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.410 (1) (a), to provide for an officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,7,13 (8) The authorized FTE positions for the department of public instruction are increased by 1.0 GPR position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (1) (a), to provide for an officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,7,16 (9) The authorized FTE positions for the department of financial institutions are increased by 1.0 PR position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.144 (1) (g), to provide for an officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,7,19 (10) The authorized FTE positions for the department of justice are increased by 1.0 GPR position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.455 (1) (a), to provide for an officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,7,22 (11) The authorized FTE positions for the department of military affairs are increased by 1.0 GPR position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.465 (1) (a), to provide for an officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,8,2 (12) The authorized FTE positions for the department of natural resources are increased by 1.0 GPR position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (8) (ma), to provide for an officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,8,6 (13) The authorized FTE positions for the department of safety and professional services are increased by 1.0 GPR position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.165 (1) (a), to provide for an officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,8,9 (14) The authorized FTE positions for the department of revenue are increased by 1.0 GPR position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.566 (1) (a), to provide for an officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,8,12 (15) The authorized FTE positions for the department of tourism are increased by 1.0 GPR position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.380 (1) (a), to provide for an officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,8,15 (16) The authorized FTE positions for the department of transportation are increased by 1.0 SEG position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (4) (aq), to provide for an officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).

AB126,8,19 (17) The authorized FTE positions for the office of the commissioner of insurance are increased by 1.0 PR position, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.145 (1) (g), to provide for an officer for equity and inclusion appointed under s. 15.04 (4).