AB388: Bill Text

AB388,1,4 An Act to create 13.625 (11), 15.495, 19.56 (3) (g), 44.015 (8), 44.02 (29) and 45.13 of the statutes; relating to: establishing the Wisconsin commission for the United States semiquincentennial commission to coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill creates the Wisconsin commission for the United States semiquincentennial commission and attaches the commission to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The commission is charged with planning, coordinating, and implementing a program to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, specifically highlighting the role of Wisconsin in that event. The commission must coordinate with other federal, state, and local agencies, including the Wisconsin Historical Society, to improve infrastructure and to welcome tourists and must prepare educational opportunities for public, private, and tribal elementary and secondary schools to use. Under the bill, public elementary and secondary schools in this state must provide a semiquincentennial-related event or educational opportunity to pupils during the 2025-26 school year. In addition, the commission must report annually to the governor and the legislature on its progress, its expenditures, a timeline for events, and any recommendations for legislation to implement the commission's recommendations. Under the bill, the commission ceases to exist as of January 1, 2027, and must disburse any property of the commission to federal, state, local, and private groups.

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:

AB388,1 Section 1. 13.625 (11) of the statutes is created to read:

AB388,2,6 13.625 (11) This section does not apply to the solicitation, acceptance, or furnishing of anything of pecuniary value by the Wisconsin commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial commission, or to a principal furnishing anything of pecuniary value to the Wisconsin commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial commission, under s. 19.56 (3) (g) for the activity specified in s. 19.56 (3) (g).

AB388,2 Section 2. 15.495 of the statutes is created to read:

AB388,2,16 15.495 Same; attached commission. (1) Wisconsin commission for the United States semiquincentennial commission. There is created a Wisconsin commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial commission, which is attached to the department of veterans affairs. A commission member, once installed, is a permanent member of the commission, and shall retain his or her role even if the commission member no longer retains his or her status that qualified him or her for membership, unless the commission member voluntarily steps down from the commission. Notwithstanding s. 15.01 (2), the commission shall be composed of the following members:

AB388,2,17 (a) The speaker of the assembly, or his or her designee.

AB388,2,18 (b) The senate president, or his or her designee.

AB388,2,19 (c) The senate majority leader, or his or her designee.

AB388,2,20 (d) The senate minority leader, or his or her designee.

AB388,2,21 (e) The assembly majority leader, or his or her designee.

AB388,3,1 (f) The assembly minority leader, or his or her designee.

AB388,3,2 (g) The governor, or his or her designee.

AB388,3,3 (h) The chief justice of the supreme court, or his or her designee.

AB388,3,4 (i) The director of the state historical society.

AB388,3,5 (j) The director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.

AB388,3,6 (k) The director of the Tourism Federation of Wisconsin.

AB388,3,8 (L) A member of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state.

AB388,3,9 (m) A member of the Wisconsin Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

AB388,3,10 (n) A member of the Wisconsin Society Sons of the American Revolution.

AB388,3 Section 3. 19.56 (3) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB388,3,15 19.56 (3) (g) A state public official who is a member of the Wisconsin commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial commission may solicit, receive, and retain on behalf of the state anything of value for the purposes specified under s. 45.13.

AB388,4 Section 4. 44.015 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

AB388,3,21 44.015 (8) Contract with the Wisconsin Historical Foundation, Inc., for the purpose of providing support to the Wisconsin commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial commission under s. 45.13 (4) in performance of the commission's functions of accepting donations, making procurements, expending funds, and entering into contracts, leases, or other agreements.

AB388,5 Section 5. 44.02 (29) of the statutes is created to read:

AB388,3,24 44.02 (29) Support the Wisconsin commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial commission as provided for in s. 45.13 (4).

AB388,6 Section 6. 45.13 of the statutes is created to read:

AB388,4,6 45.13 Wisconsin commission for the United States semiquincentennial commission. (1) (a) The Wisconsin commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial commission shall plan, coordinate, and implement a program to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and specifically highlight the role of Wisconsin in that event and the impact of its people on the nation's past, present, and future.

AB388,4,8 (b) The commission shall hold public meetings to solicit the input of citizens throughout the state in developing programs for the semiquincentennial.

AB388,4,10 (c) The program is subject to the support of a majority of the commission, and a majority of the members constitutes a quorum.

AB388,4,12 (d) Members may be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred when performing functions under this section.

AB388,4,15 (2) The commission shall coordinate with federal, state, local, and private agencies on infrastructural improvements and on projects to welcome regional, national, and international tourists.

AB388,4,21 (3) (a) The commission shall plan and prepare educational events and opportunities relating to the semiquincentennial for use by public, private, and tribal elementary and secondary schools throughout the state. The commission shall provide informational materials about events and opportunities planned and prepared under this paragraph to the department of public instruction for distribution to public, private, and tribal elementary and secondary schools.

AB388,4,24 (b) Each public elementary or secondary school, including each charter school, shall provide at least one event or educational opportunity under par. (a) to pupils in the 2025-26 school year.

AB388,5,7 (c) For each public elementary or secondary school in a school district, the school board of the school district and, for each charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), the operator of the charter school shall report to the department of public instruction the event or educational opportunity that the school held to satisfy the requirement under par. (b). By no later than September 1, 2026, the department of public instruction shall compile and submit to the commission the information the department of public instruction received under this paragraph.

AB388,5,9 (4) (a) The department and the state historical society shall work together to support the commission in the performance of its functions.

AB388,5,14 (b) The state historical society shall, upon request of the commission, in accordance with its powers as described in s. 44.015 (8), contract with the Wisconsin Historical Foundation, Inc., for the purpose of providing support to the commission in performance of its functions of accepting donations, making procurements, expending funds, and entering into contracts, leases, or other agreements.

AB388,5,16 (c) Upon request of the commission, any state agencies, as defined in s. 20.001 (1), shall cooperate with the commission in the performance of its functions.

AB388,5,17 (5) The commission may do any of the following:

AB388,5,18 (a) Accept donations, make procurements, and expend funds.

AB388,5,20 (b) Designate special committees with representatives from federal, state, local, and private groups to plan, develop, and coordinate specific activities.

AB388,5,21 (c) Enter into contracts, leases, or other agreements.

AB388,5,23 (d) Assume such other functions authorized by law as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

AB388,5,24 (e) Appoint such committees as may be required to carry out its functions.

AB388,6,4 (6) (a) No later than one year after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], and annually thereafter until 2027, the commission shall submit a report to the governor and the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) that contains all of the following:

AB388,6,5 1. The commission's recommendations to comply with this section.

AB388,6,6 2. A detailed timeline through 2027 of the plans for all events.

AB388,6,9 3. An accounting of all expenses incurred per year, all funds expended per year, and all donations, grants, or other moneys received per year by the commission in developing the program.

AB388,6,11 4. Any recommendations for legislation necessary to implement any aspect of the program.

AB388,6,12 5. A report on all activities and events that occurred each year.

AB388,6,14 6. Information received from the department of public instruction under sub. (3) (c).

AB388,6,19 (b) No later than January 1, 2027, the commission shall complete its duties and submit a final report to the governor and the legislature under s. 13.172 (2). The final report shall contain an accounting of all funds expended and received and all activities and events. The commission shall cease to exist on January 1, 2027, and shall disburse any of its property to federal, state, local, and private entities.

AB388,6,20 (End)