May 24, 2023 - Introduced by Senators Ballweg, Feyen, Marklein, Spreitzer and Stroebel, cosponsored by Representatives Kurtz, Schutt, Armstrong, Behnke, Edming, Green, Magnafici, Moses, Mursau, Oldenburg, Plumer, Schmidt, Summerfield, Tittl and Shankland. Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Tourism.
SB311,,22An Act to amend 93.23 (1) (a) 1. (intro.) and 93.23 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes; relating to: state aid for prizes awarded at local fairs. SB311,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Under current law, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection provides state aid to counties, agricultural societies, associations, and boards that hold local fairs to cover the cost of prizes paid out to exhibitors, up to $10,000 per fair. This bill increases that maximum to $20,000 per fair.
Current law also provides that an entity operating a fair may impose restrictions on the total number of fairs at which an exhibitor may participate in order to be eligible, at that fair, for a prize that is paid for with state aid. This bill keeps this provision, but provides that DATCP may not impose such restrictions.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
SB311,,44The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: SB311,15Section 1. 93.23 (1) (a) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read: SB311,,6693.23 (1) (a) 1. (intro.) To each county, and any organized agricultural society, association, or board in the state that complies with the requirements of this section, 95 percent of the first $8,000 paid in net premiums and 70 percent of all net premiums paid in excess of $8,000 at its annual fair upon livestock, articles of production, educational exhibits, agricultural implements and tools, domestic manufactures, mechanical implements, and productions, but not more than $10,000 $20,000 per fair, subject to equitable prorating if the total amount due exceeds the amount available and to all of the following: SB311,27Section 2. 93.23 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read: SB311,,8893.23 (1) (a) 2. In order to have a more equitable distribution of state aid among fairs and to effect wider participation and interest by the public in exhibits, the department may prescribe uniform premium lists setting forth classes of exhibits which will be approved for the purposes of state aid, premium awards in such classes and entry qualifications, fees and charges for exhibitors. All fairs shall receive aid in the same manner and the department may not restrict the number of fairs at which an exhibitor may participate and be eligible to receive state-aided premium awards, except that an entity operating a fair may impose restrictions on the total number of fairs at which an exhibitor may participate in order to be eligible for premium awards for exhibits at that fair.
