AB50: Bill Text

AB50,26,1 ....(Address)***

AB50,26,2 Signed ....

AB50,26,4 * — An elector who provides an identification serial number issued under s. 6.47 (3), Wis. Stats., need not provide a street address.

AB50,26,8 ** — An individual who serves as a witness for a military elector or an overseas elector voting absentee, regardless of whether the elector qualifies as a resident of Wisconsin under s. 6.10, Wis. Stats., need not be a U.S. citizen but must be 18 years of age or older.

AB50,26,10 *** — If this form is executed before 2 special voting deputies under s. 6.875 (6), Wis. Stats., both deputies shall witness and sign.

AB50,34 Section 34. 6.87 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,26,18 6.87 (6) The ballot shall be returned so it is delivered to the polling place election inspectors of the proper ward or election district no later than 8 p.m. on election day. Except in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, if the municipal clerk receives an absentee ballot on election day, the clerk shall secure the ballot and cause the ballot to be delivered to the polling place serving the elector’s residence before 8 p.m. Any ballot not mailed or delivered as provided in this subsection may not be counted.

AB50,35 Section 35. 6.88 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,27,12 6.88 (1) When an absentee ballot arrives at the office of the municipal clerk, or at an alternate site under s. 6.855, if applicable, the clerk shall enclose it, unopened, in a carrier envelope which shall be securely sealed and endorsed with the name and official title of the clerk, and the words “This envelope contains the ballot of an absent elector and must be opened in the same room where votes are being cast at the polls during polling hours on election day or, in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, stats., at a meeting of the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers under s. 7.52, stats only as provided by law.” If the elector is a military elector, as defined in s. 6.34 (1), or an overseas elector, regardless of whether the elector qualifies as a resident of this state under s. 6.10, and the ballot was received by the elector by facsimile transmission or electronic mail and is accompanied by a separate certificate, the clerk shall enclose the ballot in a certificate envelope and securely append the completed certificate to the outside of the envelope before enclosing the ballot in the carrier envelope. The clerk shall keep the ballot in the clerk’s office or at the alternate site, if applicable until delivered, as required in sub. (2).

AB50,36 Section 36. 6.88 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,28,17 6.88 (3) (a) Except in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, at any time between the opening and closing of the polls on election day, or between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the day before the election if authorized for that election under s. 7.525, the inspectors shall, in the same room where votes are being cast, or in the place where absentee ballots begin being canvassed early under s. 7.525, in such a manner that members of the public can hear and see the procedures, open the carrier envelope only, and announce the name of the absent elector or the identification serial number of the absent elector if the elector has a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2). When the inspectors find that the certification has been properly executed, the applicant is a qualified elector of the ward or election district, and the applicant has not voted in the election, they shall enter an indication on the poll list next to the applicant’s name indicating an absentee ballot is cast by the elector. They shall then open the envelope containing the ballot in a manner so as not to deface or destroy the certification thereon. The inspectors shall take out the ballot without unfolding it or permitting it to be unfolded or examined. Unless the ballot is cast under s. 6.95, the inspectors shall verify that the ballot has been endorsed by the issuing clerk. If the poll list indicates that proof of residence under s. 6.34 is required and proof of residence is enclosed, the inspectors shall enter both the type of identifying document submitted by the absent elector and the name of the entity or institution that issued the identifying document on the poll list in the space provided. If the poll list indicates that proof of residence under s. 6.34 is required and no proof of residence is enclosed or the name or address on the document that is provided is not the same as the name and address shown on the poll list, the inspectors shall proceed as provided under s. 6.97 (2). The inspectors shall then deposit the ballot into the proper ballot box and enter the absent elector’s name or voting number after his or her name on the poll list in the same manner as if the elector had been present and voted in person.

AB50,37 Section 37. 6.94 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,29,11 6.94 Challenged elector oath. If the person challenged refuses to answer fully any relevant questions put to him or her by the inspector under s. 6.92, the inspectors shall reject the elector’s vote. If the challenge is not withdrawn after the person offering to vote has answered the questions, one of the inspectors shall administer to the person the following oath or affirmation: “You do solemnly swear (or affirm) that: you are 18 years of age; you are a citizen of the United States; you are now and for 28 10 consecutive days have been a resident of this ward except under s. 6.02 (2); you have not voted at this election; you have not made any bet or wager or become directly or indirectly interested in any bet or wager depending upon the result of this election; you are not on any other ground disqualified to vote at this election”. If the person challenged refuses to take the oath or affirmation, the person’s vote shall be rejected. If the person challenged answers fully all relevant questions put to the elector by the inspector under s. 6.92, takes the oath or affirmation, and fulfills the applicable registration requirements, and if the answers to the questions given by the person indicate that the person meets the voting qualification requirements, the person’s vote shall be received.

AB50,38 Section 38. 7.52 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,30,9 7.52 (1) (a) The governing body of any municipality may provide by ordinance that, in lieu of canvassing absentee ballots at polling places under s. 6.88, the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers designated under s. 7.53 (2m) shall, at each election held in the municipality, canvass all absentee ballots received by the municipal clerk by 8 p.m. on election day. Prior to enacting an ordinance under this subsection, the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners of the municipality shall notify the elections commission in writing of the proposed enactment and shall consult with the elections commission concerning administration of this section. At every election held in the municipality following enactment of an ordinance under this subsection, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall, between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the day before the election if authorized for that election under s. 7.525 or any time after the opening of the polls and before 10 p.m. on election day, publicly convene to count the absentee ballots for the municipality. The municipal clerk shall give at least 48 hours’ notice of any meeting under this subsection. Any member of the public has the same right of access to a meeting of the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers under this subsection that the individual would have under s. 7.41 to observe the proceedings at a polling place. The board of absentee ballot canvassers may order the removal of any individual exercising the right to observe the proceedings if the individual disrupts the meeting.

AB50,39 Section 39. 7.52 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,31,7 7.52 (5) (b) For the purpose of deciding upon ballots that are challenged for any reason, the board of absentee ballot canvassers may call before it any person whose absentee ballot is challenged if the person is available to be called. If the person challenged refuses to answer fully any relevant questions put to him or her by the board of absentee ballot canvassers under s. 6.92, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall reject the person’s vote. If the challenge is not withdrawn after the person offering to vote has answered the questions, one of the members of the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall administer to the person the following oath or affirmation: “You do solemnly swear (or affirm) that: you are 18 years of age; you are a citizen of the United States; you are now and for 28 10 consecutive days have been a resident of this ward except under s. 6.02 (2), stats.; you have not voted at this election; you have not made any bet or wager or become directly or indirectly interested in any bet or wager depending upon the result of this election; you are not on any other ground disqualified to vote at this election.” If the person challenged refuses to take the oath or affirmation, the person’s vote shall be rejected. If the person challenged answers fully all relevant questions put to the elector by the board of absentee ballot canvassers under s. 6.92, takes the oath or affirmation, and fulfills the applicable registration requirements, and if the answers to the questions given by the person indicate that the person meets the voting qualification requirements, the person’s vote shall be received.

AB50,40 Section 40. 7.52 (10) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,31,11 7.52 (10) If, subject to s. 7.525, absentee ballots begin being canvassed under this section on the day before the election, no action under subs. (4) to (8) may be performed before election day.

AB50,41 Section 41. 7.525 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,31,16 7.525 Early canvassing of absentee ballots. (1) Authorizing early canvassing; requirements. (a) 1. The municipal clerk or municipal board of election commissioners may elect to begin the canvassing of absentee ballots received by the municipal clerk on the day before any election.

AB50,31,19 2. Prior to the canvass under subd. 1., the municipal clerk or municipal board of election commissioners shall notify the elections commission in writing and shall consult with the elections commission concerning administration of this section.

AB50,31,22 (b) Ballots may be canvassed early under this section only between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the day before the election and may not be tallied until after the polls close on election day.

AB50,32,2 (c) Any member of the public has the same right of access to a place where absentee ballots are being canvassed early under this section that the individual would have under s. 7.41 to observe the proceedings at a polling place.

AB50,32,6 (d) When not in use, automatic tabulating equipment used for purposes of this section and the areas where the programmed media, memory devices, and ballots are housed shall be secured with tamper-evident security seals in a double-lock location such as a locked cabinet inside a locked office.

AB50,32,10 (e) No person may act in any manner that would give him or her the ability to know or to provide information on the accumulating or final results from the ballots canvassed early under this section before the close of the polls on election day. A person who violates this paragraph is guilty of a Class I felony.

AB50,32,12 (2) Notice requirements. Absentee ballots may not begin being canvassed early under this section for any election unless all of the following apply:

AB50,32,16 (a) At least 70 days before the election, the municipal clerk or executive director of the municipal board of election commissioners notifies in writing the county clerk or executive director of the county board of election commissioners that early canvassing of absentee ballots will take place in the election.

AB50,32,18 (b) The notice under s. 10.01 (2) (e) specifies the date and time during which, and each location where, the early canvassing of absentee ballots will be conducted.

AB50,42 Section 42. 8.50 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,33,11 8.50 Special elections. (intro.) Unless otherwise provided, this section applies to filling vacancies in the U.S. senate and house of representatives, executive state offices except the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, and district attorney, judicial and legislative state offices, county, city, village, and town offices, and the offices of municipal judge and member of the board of school directors in school districts organized under ch. 119. State legislative offices may be filled in anticipation of the occurrence of a vacancy whenever authorized in sub. (4) (e). No Except as provided in sub. (4m), no special election may be held after February 1 preceding the spring election unless it is held on the same day as the spring election, nor after August 1 preceding the general election unless it is held on the same day as the general election, until the day after that election. If the special election is held on the day of the general election, the primary for the special election, if any, shall be held on the day of the partisan primary. If the special election is held on the day of the spring election, the primary for the special election, if any, shall be held on the day of the spring primary.

AB50,43 Section 43. 8.50 (2) (a) and (b) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB50,33,22 8.50 (2) (a) The Except as provided in sub. (4m), the date for the special election shall be not less than 62 nor more than 77 days from the date of the order except when the special election is held to fill a vacancy in a national office or the special election is held on the day of the general election or spring election. If a special election is held concurrently with the spring election, the special election may be ordered not earlier than 92 days prior to the spring primary and not later than 49 days prior to that primary. If a special election is held concurrently with the general election or a special election is held to fill a national office, the special election may be ordered not earlier than 122 days prior to the partisan primary or special primary, respectively, and not later than 92 days prior to that primary.

AB50,34,7 (b) If Except as provided in sub. (4m), if a primary is required, the primary shall be on the day 4 weeks before the day of the special election except when the special election is held on the same day as the general election the special primary shall be held on the same day as the partisan primary or if the special election is held concurrently with the spring election, the primary shall be held concurrently with the spring primary, and except when the special election is held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of an odd-numbered year, the primary shall be held on the 2nd Tuesday of August in that year.

AB50,44 Section 44. 8.50 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,35,2 8.50 (3) (a) Nomination Except as provided in sub. (4m), nomination papers may be circulated no sooner than the day the order for the special election is filed and shall be filed not later than 5 p.m. 28 days before the day that the special primary will or would be held, if required, except when a special election is held concurrently with the spring election or general election, the deadline for filing nomination papers shall be specified in the order and the date shall be no earlier than the date provided in s. 8.10 (2) (a) or 8.15 (1), respectively, and no later than 35 days prior to the date of the spring primary or no later than June 1 preceding the partisan primary. Nomination papers may be filed in the manner specified in s. 8.10, 8.15, or 8.20. Each candidate shall file a declaration of candidacy in the manner provided in s. 8.21 no later than the latest time provided in the order for filing nomination papers. If a candidate for state or local office has not filed a registration statement under s. 11.0202 (1) (a) at the time he or she files nomination papers, the candidate shall file the statement with the papers. A candidate for state office shall also file a statement of economic interests with the ethics commission no later than the end of the 3rd day following the last day for filing nomination papers specified in the order.

AB50,45 Section 45. 8.50 (4) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB50,46 Section 46. 8.50 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,35,7 8.50 (4m) Special elections for national office. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a vacancy in the office of U.S. senator or representative in congress shall be filled as soon as practicable in the following manner:

AB50,35,12 1. At a special election to be held on the 3rd Tuesday in May following the first day of the vacancy. The special primary shall be held concurrently with the spring primary on the 3rd Tuesday in February. The first day for circulating nomination papers shall be November 1, and the papers shall be filed no later 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday in December preceding the primary.

AB50,35,16 2. At a special election to be held on the 2nd Tuesday in August following the first day of the vacancy. The special primary shall be held on the 3rd Tuesday in May in that year. The first day for circulating nomination papers shall be February 1, and the papers shall be filed no later than 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday in March.

AB50,35,20 3. At a special election to be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November following the first day of the vacancy. The special primary shall be held on the 2nd Tuesday in August in that year. Nomination papers shall be circulated and filed as provided under s. 8.15.

AB50,35,23 (b) A special election shall not be held under par. (a) 3. in any year in which the general election is held for that office, but, instead, the vacancy shall be filled at the partisan primary and general election.

AB50,36,2 (c) A vacancy filled under par. (a) shall be for the residue of the unexpired term.

AB50,47 Section 47. 9.01 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,36,20 9.01 (4) Right to complete recount. Whenever a recount petition for part of the wards within a jurisdiction or district, or for part of the municipalities within a district where there are no wards, is filed under this section, the opposing candidate a candidate, other than the candidate filing that petition, who, upon completion of the partial recount, is an aggrieved party, as determined under s. 9.01 (1) (a) 5., or any voter or other interested party including a municipality if on a referendum question, may similarly file a petition for recount in any or all of the remaining wards or municipalities in the jurisdiction or district. With respect to a petition for a partial recount on a referendum question, any voter or other interested party, including a municipality, may similarly file a petition for recount in any or all of the remaining wards or municipalities in the jurisdiction or district. The Any petition under this subsection shall be filed not later than 5 p.m. 2 days after the board of canvassers completes the first recount. The proper board of canvassers shall reconvene at 9 a.m. on the next business day following the filing of the petition and proceed to recount the ballots in all wards or municipalities specified and to otherwise review the allegations of fact contained in the petition. Any errors shall be corrected.

AB50,48 Section 48. 13.09 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,37,2 13.09 (7) If a member of the committee objects to a proposed action or item during a period of passive review required by law for the purpose of reviewing the proposed action or item, the name of each objecting member, as well as the reason for each objection, shall be recorded and made publicly available.

AB50,49 Section 49. 13.124 of the statutes is repealed.

AB50,50 Section 50. 13.127 of the statutes is repealed.

AB50,51 Section 51. 13.365 of the statutes is repealed.

AB50,52 Section 52. 13.48 (20v) of the statutes is renumbered 16.095, and 16.095 (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5), as renumbered, are amended to read:

AB50,37,12 16.095 (1) The building commission department shall establish and operate a grant program under this subsection section to assist nonstate organizations and cities, villages, towns, counties, and tribal governments to carry out construction projects having a statewide public purpose, as determined by the building commission or as specified in subs. (6) to (14).

AB50,37,18 (2) From the appropriation under s. 20.867 (3) (x) 20.505 (1) (aw), the building commission department may award a grant to any nonstate organization for a construction project that satisfies par. (a) having a statewide public purpose, as determined by the building commission under sub. (1) or as specified in sub. (7) (a), (8) (a), (9) (a), (10) (a), (11) (a), or (14) (a), if the grant is approved by the building commission.

AB50,37,23 (3) Before approving each grant under sub. (2) or (6), the building commission shall determine that the nonstate organization or city, village, town, county, or tribal government carrying out the project has secured additional funding for the project from nonstate revenue sources in an amount that is equal to at least half of the total cost of the project.

AB50,38,6 (4) If the building commission department awards a grant under par. (b) sub. (2), and if, for any reason, the space that is constructed or otherwise improved with funds from the grant is not used for one or more public purposes determined by the building commission under par. (a) sub. (1), or for the grants described in subs. (6) to (14), the public purposes specified in those subsections, the state shall retain an ownership interest in the constructed or otherwise improved space equal to the amount of the state’s grant.

AB50,38,12 (5) The building commission department is prohibited from awarding a grant under par. (b) sub. (2) or (6) unless the department of administration has reviewed and approved plans for the construction project associated with the grant. Notwithstanding ss. 16.85 (1) and 16.855 (1m), the department of administration is prohibited from supervising any services or work or letting any contract for the project. Section 16.87 does not apply to the project.

AB50,53 Section 53. 13.48 (26m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,38,19 13.48 (26m) Lead service line replacement. The legislature finds and determines that the prevalence of lead service lines in connections to public water systems poses a public health hazard and that processes for reducing lead entering drinking water from such pipes requires additional treatment of wastewater. It is therefore in the public interest, and it is the public policy of this state, to assist private users of public water systems in replacing lead service lines.

AB50,54 Section 54. 13.56 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,39,5 13.56 (2) Participation in certain proceedings. The cochairpersons of the joint committee for review of administrative rules or their designated agents shall accept service made under ss. 227.40 (5) and 806.04 (11). If the committee determines that the legislature should be represented in the proceeding, it shall request the joint committee on legislative organization to intervene in designate the legislature’s representative for the proceeding as provided under s. 806.04 (11). The costs of participation in the proceeding shall be paid equally from the appropriations under s. 20.765 (1) (a) and (b), except that such costs incurred by the department of justice shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.455 (1) (d).

AB50,55 Section 55. 13.75 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,39,8 13.75 (2) All fees collected under this section shall be deposited in the general fund.

AB50,56 Section 56. 13.90 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,39,20 13.90 (2) The cochairpersons of the joint committee on legislative organization or their designated agent shall accept service made under ss. s. 806.04 (11) and 893.825 (2). If the committee, the senate organization committee, or the assembly organization committee determines that the legislature should intervene be represented in the proceeding as provided under s. 803.09 (2m), the assembly shall represent the assembly, the senate shall represent the senate, and the joint committee on legislative organization shall represent the legislature, that committee shall designate the legislature’s representative for the proceeding. The costs of participation in the proceeding shall be paid equally from the appropriations under s. 20.765 (1) (a) and (b), except that such costs incurred by the department of justice shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.455 (1) (d).

AB50,57 Section 57. 13.94 (1) (zm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,40,2 13.94 (1) (zm) Biennially, beginning in 2027, prepare a performance evaluation audit of the program to accredit productions for purposes of ss. 71.07 (5f) and (5h), 71.28 (5f) and (5h), and 71.47 (5f) and (5h) by the department of tourism.

AB50,58 Section 58. 14.38 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,40,20 14.38 (9) Furnish certified copies; fees. Make a copy of any law, resolution, deed, bond, record, document or paper deposited or kept in his or her office, upon request therefor, attach thereto his or her certificate, with the greater or lesser seal affixed, and collect therefor 50 cents per page and $5 for such certificate; if a copy is not to be certified and if the reproduction is performed by the office of the secretary of state, then collect a fee to cover the actual and necessary cost of reproduction and actual and necessary cost of transcription required to produce the copy or $2, whichever is greater; also to record any document authorized or required by law to be recorded in his or her office, and to charge therefor a fee of $1 per page. The fee for certified copies and for certificates as to results of searches of the records and files of his or her office, when a printed form is used, shall be $5, but when a an apostille or other specially prepared form is required the fee shall be $10. Telegraphic reports as to results of record searches shall be $5 plus the cost of the telegram. The secretary of state shall charge and collect for preparing any record or certificate under this subsection in an expeditious manner, an expedited service fee of $25 in addition to the fee otherwise required under this subsection.

AB50,59 Section 59. 14.38 (12) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,40,24 14.38 (12) Affix great seal; authentications. Perform authentication services as the exclusive provider of such services and affix the great seal to such authentications in the manner necessary to perform such services.

AB50,60 Section 60. 14.38 (13) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,41,4 14.38 (13) Affix great seal or lesser seal; apostilles. Perform apostille services and affix the great seal or a lesser seal to such apostilles in the manner necessary to perform such services.

AB50,61 Section 61. 14.46 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,41,11 14.46 Deputy secretary of state. The secretary of state may appoint a deputy secretary of state who may perform and execute any duty or power of the secretary of state, except duties and powers the secretary of state performs as a member of the board of commissioners of public lands. The deputy secretary of state shall take and file the official oath and shall file an official bond in the sum and with the conditions as the secretary of state prescribes.

AB50,62 Section 62. 15.01 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,42,3 15.01 (6) “Division,” “bureau,” “section,” and “unit” means the subunits of a department or an independent agency, whether specifically created by law or created by the head of the department or the independent agency for the more economic and efficient administration and operation of the programs assigned to the department or independent agency. The office of credit unions in the department of financial institutions, the office of the inspector general in the department of children and families, the office of the inspector general in the department of health services, and the office of the public intervenor in the office of the commissioner of insurance, the office of children’s mental health in the department of health services, and the office of violence prevention in the department of administration have the meaning of “division” under this subsection. The office of the long-term care ombudsman under the board on aging and long- term care and the office of educational accountability and the office of literacy in the department of public instruction have the meaning of “bureau” under this subsection.

AB50,63 Section 63. 15.02 (3) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,42,13 15.02 (3) (c) 1. The principal subunit of the department is the “division”. Each division shall be headed by an “administrator”. The office of credit unions in the department of financial institutions and, the office of children’s mental health in the department of health services, and the office of violence prevention in the department of administration have the meaning of “division” and the director of credit unions in the department of financial institutions and, the director of the office of children’s mental health in the department of health services, and the director of the office of violence prevention in the department of administration have the meaning of “administrator” under this subdivision.

AB50,64 Section 64. 15.03 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,43,6 15.03 Attachment for limited purposes. Any division, office, commission, council or board attached under this section to a department or independent agency or a specified division thereof shall be a distinct unit of that department, independent agency or specified division. Any division, office, commission, council or board so attached shall exercise its powers, duties and functions prescribed by law, including rule making, licensing and regulation, and operational planning within the area of program responsibility of the division, office, commission, council or board, independently of the head of the department or independent agency, but budgeting, program coordination and related management functions shall be performed under the direction and supervision of the head of the department or independent agency, except that with respect to the office of the commissioner of railroads, all personnel and biennial budget requests by the office of the commissioner of railroads shall be provided to the department of transportation as required under s. 189.02 (7) and shall be processed and properly forwarded by the public service commission department of transportation without change except as requested and concurred in by the office of the commissioner of railroads.

AB50,65 Section 65. 15.07 (3) (bm) 7. of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,43,9 15.07 (3) (bm) 7. The prescription drug affordability review board shall meet at least 4 times each year.

AB50,66 Section 66. 15.105 (35) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,43,13 15.105 (35) Office of violence prevention. There is created an office of violence prevention, attached to the department of administration under s. 15.03. The director of the office shall be appointed by the secretary of administration.

AB50,67 Section 67. 15.145 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,43,16 15.145 (title) Same; attached boards, commissions, and councils, and offices.

AB50,68 Section 68. 15.145 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,43,23 15.145 (7) Office of the ombudsperson for corrections. There is created an office of the ombudsperson for corrections, attached to the department of corrections under s. 15.03. The office shall be under the direction and supervision of an ombudsperson who shall be nominated by the governor, with the advice and consent of three-fourths of members elected to the senate appointed, and may be removed only by the governor for just cause.