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AB981,8 12Section 8. 5.05 (2m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,7,213 5.05 (2m) (a) The commission office of the secretary of state shall investigate
14violations of laws administered by the commission secretary and may prosecute
15alleged civil violations of those laws, directly or through its agents under this
16subsection, pursuant to all statutes granting or assigning that authority or
17responsibility to the commission secretary. Prosecution of alleged criminal
18violations investigated by the commission office of the secretary of state may be
19brought only as provided in par. (c) 11., 14., 15., and 16. and s. 978.05 (1). For
20purposes of this subsection, the commission office of the secretary of state may only
21initiate an investigation of an alleged violation of chs. 5 to 10 and 12, other than an
22offense described under par. (c) 12., based on a sworn complaint filed with the
23commission secretary of state, as provided under par. (c). Neither the commission
24secretary of state nor any member or employee of the commission, including the

1commission administrator,
office of the secretary of state may file a sworn complaint
2for purposes of this subsection.
AB981,9 3Section 9. 5.05 (2m) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,7,144 5.05 (2m) (c) 2. a. Any person may file a complaint with the commission
5secretary of state alleging a violation of chs. 5 to 10 or 12. No later than 5 days after
6receiving a complaint, the commission secretary shall notify each person who or
7which the complaint alleges committed such a violation. Before voting on whether
8to take any action regarding the complaint, other than to dismiss, the commission

9The secretary shall give each person receiving a notice under this subd. 2. a. an
10opportunity to demonstrate to the commission secretary, in writing and within 15
11days after receiving the notice, that the commission secretary should take no action
12against the person on the basis of the complaint. The commission office of the
13secretary of state
may not conduct any investigation or take any other action under
14this subsection solely on the basis of a complaint by an unidentified complainant.
AB981,7,1815 am. If the commission office of the secretary of state finds, by a preponderance
16of the evidence, that a complaint is frivolous, the commission secretary of state may
17order the complainant to forfeit not more than the greater of $500 or the expenses
18incurred by the commission office in investigating the complaint.
AB981,10 19Section 10. 5.05 (2m) (c) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,8,2020 5.05 (2m) (c) 4. If the commission office of the secretary of state reviews a
21complaint and fails to find that there is a reasonable suspicion that a violation under
22subd. 2. has occurred or is occurring, the commission secretary of state shall dismiss
23the complaint. If the commission office believes that there is reasonable suspicion
24that a violation under subd. 2. has occurred or is occurring, the commission secretary
25may by resolution authorize the commencement of an investigation. The resolution

1shall specifically set forth any matter that is authorized to be investigated. To assist
2in the investigation, the commission secretary may elect to retain a special
3investigator. If the commission elects to retain a special investigator, the
4administrator of the commission shall submit to the commission the names of 3
5qualified individuals to serve as a special investigator. The commission may retain
6one or more of the individuals.
If the commission secretary retains a special
7investigator to investigate a complaint against a person who is a resident of this
8state, the commission secretary shall provide to the district attorney for the county
9in which the person resides a copy of the complaint and shall notify the district
10attorney that it he or she has retained a special investigator to investigate the
11complaint. For purposes of this subdivision, a person other than an individual
12resides within a county if the person's principal place of operation is located within
13that county. The commission secretary shall enter into a written contract with any
14individual who is retained as a special investigator setting forth the terms of the
15engagement. A special investigator who is retained by the commission secretary may
16request the commission secretary to issue a subpoena to a specific person or to
17authorize the special investigator to request the circuit court of the county in which
18the specific person resides to issue a search warrant. The commission may grant the
19request by approving a motion to that effect at a meeting of the commission if the
20commission finds that such action is legally appropriate.
AB981,11 21Section 11. 5.05 (2m) (c) 5. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (2m) (c)
225. and amended to read:
AB981,9,1823 5.05 (2m) (c) 5. Each special investigator who is retained by the commission
24shall make periodic reports to the commission, as directed by the commission, but in
25no case may the interval for reporting exceed 30 days. If the commission authorizes

1the commission administrator to investigate any matter without retaining a special
2investigator, the administrator shall make periodic reports to the commission, as
3directed by the commission, but in no case may the reporting interval exceed 30 days.

4During the pendency of any investigation, the commission office of the secretary of
5state
shall meet for the purpose of reviewing review the progress of the investigation
6at least once every 90 days. The special investigator or the administrator shall report
7in person to the commission office and the secretary at that meeting concerning the
8progress of the investigation. If, after receiving a report, the commission does not
9vote to continue an investigation for an additional period not exceeding 90 days, the
10investigation is terminated at the end of the reporting interval.
The commission
11office of the secretary of state shall not expend more than $25,000 to finance the cost
12of an investigation before receiving a report on the progress of the investigation and
13a recommendation to commit additional resources. The commission secretary of
14state
may vote to terminate an investigation at any time. If an investigation is
15terminated, any complaint from which the investigation arose is deemed to be
16dismissed by the commission. Unless an investigation is terminated by the
17commission, at the conclusion of each investigation, the administrator shall present
18to the commission one of the following:
secretary.
AB981,12 19Section 12. 5.05 (2m) (c) 5. a. to c. of the statutes are repealed.
AB981,13 20Section 13. 5.05 (2m) (c) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,9,2521 5.05 (2m) (c) 6. a. If the commission office of the secretary of state finds that
22there is probable cause to believe that a violation under subd. 2. has occurred or is
23occurring, the commission secretary of state may authorize the commission
24administrator to
file a civil complaint against the alleged violator. In such case, the
25administrator secretary may request the assistance of special counsel to prosecute

1any action brought by the commission. If the administrator requests the assistance
2of special counsel with respect to any matter, the administrator shall submit to the
3commission the names of 3 qualified individuals to serve as special counsel. The
4commission may retain one of the individuals to act as special counsel
office. The
5staff of the commission office of the secretary of state shall provide assistance to the
6special counsel as may be required by the counsel to carry out his or her
7responsibilities.
AB981,10,148 b. The commission secretary of state shall enter into a written contract with
9any individual who is retained as special counsel setting forth the terms of the
10engagement. The contract shall set forth the compensation to be paid such counsel
11by the state. The contract shall be executed on behalf of the state by the commission
12and the commission shall file the contract kept in the office of the secretary of state.
13The compensation shall be charged to the appropriation under s. 20.510 (1) 20.575
14(2)
(br).
AB981,14 15Section 14. 5.05 (2m) (c) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,10,1816 5.05 (2m) (c) 7. No individual who is appointed or retained by the commission
17secretary of state to serve as special counsel or as a special investigator is subject to
18approval under s. 20.930.
AB981,15 19Section 15. 5.05 (2m) (c) 9. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,11,320 5.05 (2m) (c) 9. At the conclusion of its investigation, the commission office of
21the secretary of state
shall, in preliminary written findings of fact and conclusions
22based thereon, make a determination of whether or not probable cause exists to
23believe that a violation under subd. 2. has occurred or is occurring. If the commission
24office determines that no probable cause exists, it the secretary of state shall dismiss
25the complaint. Whenever the commission secretary dismisses a complaint or a

1complaint is deemed to be dismissed under subd. 5., the commission office shall
2immediately send written notice of the dismissal to the accused and to the party who
3made the complaint.
AB981,16 4Section 16. 5.05 (2m) (c) 10. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,11,65 5.05 (2m) (c) 10. The commission office of the secretary of state shall inform the
6accused or his or her counsel of exculpatory evidence in its possession.
AB981,17 7Section 17. 5.05 (2m) (c) 11. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,11,168 5.05 (2m) (c) 11. If the commission office of the secretary of state finds that
9there is probable cause to believe that a violation under subd. 2. has occurred or is
10occurring, the commission secretary of state may, in lieu of civil prosecution of any
11matter by the commission office, refer the matter to the district attorney for the
12county in which the alleged violator resides, or if the alleged violator is a nonresident,
13to the district attorney for the county where the matter arises, or if par. (i) applies,
14to the attorney general or a special prosecutor. For purposes of this subdivision, a
15person other than a natural person resides within a county if the person's principal
16place of operation is located within that county.
AB981,18 17Section 18. 5.05 (2m) (c) 12. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,11,2418 5.05 (2m) (c) 12. The commission office of the secretary of state shall, by rule,
19prescribe categories of civil offenses which the commission secretary of state will
20agree to compromise and settle without a formal investigation upon payment of
21specified amounts by the alleged offender. The commission may authorize the
22commission administrator to compromise and settle such alleged offenses in the
23name of the commission if the alleged offenses by an offender, in the aggregate, do
24not involve payment of more than $2,500.
AB981,19 25Section 19. 5.05 (2m) (c) 13. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,12,10
15.05 (2m) (c) 13. If a special investigator or the commission administrator, in
2the course of an investigation authorized by the commission secretary of state,
3discovers evidence that a violation under subd. 2. that was not within the scope of
4the authorized investigation has occurred or is occurring, the special investigator or
5the administrator
may present that evidence to the commission secretary. If the
6commission secretary finds that there is a reasonable suspicion that a violation
7under subd. 2. that is not within the scope of the authorized investigation has
8occurred or is occurring, the commission secretary may authorize the special
9investigator or the administrator to investigate the alleged violation or may elect to
10authorize a separate investigation of the alleged violation as provided in subd. 4.
AB981,20 11Section 20. 5.05 (2m) (c) 14. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,12,2112 5.05 (2m) (c) 14. If a special investigator or the commission administrator, in
13the course of an investigation authorized by the commission secretary of state,
14discovers evidence of a potential violation of a law that is not administered by the
15commission office of the secretary of state arising from or in relation to the official
16functions of the subject of the investigation or any matter that involves elections, the
17special investigator or the administrator may present that evidence to the
18commission secretary. The commission secretary may thereupon refer the matter to
19the appropriate district attorney specified in subd. 11. or may refer the matter to the
20attorney general. The attorney general may then commence a civil or criminal
21prosecution relating to the matter.
AB981,21 22Section 21. 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,13,1223 5.05 (2m) (c) 15. Except as provided in subd. 17., if the commission secretary
24of state
refers a matter to the district attorney specified in subd. 11. for prosecution
25of a potential violation under subd. 2. or 14. and the district attorney informs the

1commission secretary that he or she declines to prosecute any alleged civil or
2criminal violation related to any matter referred to the district attorney by the
3commission secretary, or the district attorney fails to commence a prosecution of any
4civil or criminal violation related to any matter referred to the district attorney by
5the commission secretary within 60 days of the date of the commission's referral, the
6commission secretary may refer the matter to the district attorney for another
7prosecutorial unit that is contiguous to the prosecutorial unit of the district attorney
8to whom the matter was originally referred. If there is more than one such
9prosecutorial unit, the chairperson of the commission shall determine the district
10attorney to whom the matter shall be referred by publicly drawing lots at a meeting
11of the commission.
The district attorney may then commence a civil or criminal
12prosecution relating to the matter.
AB981,22 13Section 22. 5.05 (2m) (c) 16. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,13,2314 5.05 (2m) (c) 16. Except as provided in subd. 17., if the commission secretary
15of state
refers a matter to a district attorney under subd. 15. for prosecution of a
16potential violation under subd. 2. or 14. and the district attorney informs the
17commission secretary that he or she declines to prosecute any alleged civil or
18criminal violation related to any matter referred to the district attorney by the
19commission secretary, or the district attorney fails to commence a prosecution of any
20civil or criminal violation related to any matter referred to the district attorney by
21the commission secretary within 60 days of the date of the commission's referral, the
22commission secretary may refer the matter to the attorney general. The attorney
23general may then commence a civil or criminal prosecution relating to the matter.
AB981,23 24Section 23. 5.05 (2m) (c) 17. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,14,3
15.05 (2m) (c) 17. The commission secretary of state is not authorized to act
2under subd. 15. or 16. if a special prosecutor is appointed under s. 978.045 in lieu of
3the district attorney specified in subd. 11.
AB981,24 4Section 24. 5.05 (2m) (c) 18. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,14,125 5.05 (2m) (c) 18. Whenever the commission secretary of state refers a matter
6to special counsel or to a district attorney or to the attorney general under this
7subsection, the special counsel, district attorney, or attorney general shall report to
8the commission secretary of state concerning any action taken regarding the matter.
9The report shall be transmitted no later than 40 days after the date of the referral.
10If the matter is not disposed of during that period, the special counsel, district
11attorney, or attorney general shall file a subsequent report at the end of each 30-day
12period following the filing of the initial report until final disposition of the matter.
AB981,25 13Section 25. 5.05 (2m) (d) 1. of the statutes is repealed.
AB981,26 14Section 26. 5.05 (2m) (d) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 5.05 (2m) (d) and
15amended to read:
AB981,14,2316 5.05 (2m) (d) No employee of the commission office of the secretary of state,
17while so employed, may become a candidate, as defined in s. 11.0101 (1), for a state
18or partisan local office. No individual who is retained by the commission office of the
19secretary of state
to serve as a special investigator or as special counsel may, while
20so retained, become a candidate, as defined in s. 11.0101 (1), for any state or local
21office. A filing officer shall decline to accept nomination papers or a declaration of
22candidacy from any individual who does not qualify to become a candidate under this
23paragraph.
AB981,27 24Section 27. 5.05 (2m) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,15,10
15.05 (2m) (e) No individual who serves as an employee of the commission office
2of the secretary of state
and no individual who is retained by the commission office
3of the secretary of state
to serve as a special investigator or a special counsel may,
4while so employed or retained, make a contribution to a candidate for state or local
5office. No individual who serves as an employee of the commission office of the
6secretary of state
and no individual who is retained by the commission office of the
7secretary of state
to serve as a special investigator or as special counsel, for 12
8months prior to becoming so employed or retained, may have made a contribution to
9a candidate for a partisan state or local office. In this paragraph, contribution has
10the meaning given in s. 11.0101 (8).
AB981,28 11Section 28. 5.05 (2m) (f) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,15,1312 5.05 (2m) (f) (intro.) Pursuant to any investigation authorized under par. (c),
13the commission secretary of state has the power:
AB981,29 14Section 29. 5.05 (2m) (f) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,15,1815 5.05 (2m) (f) 1. To require any person to submit in writing such reports and
16answers to questions relevant to the proceedings as the commission office of the
17secretary of state
may prescribe, such submission to be made within such period and
18under oath or otherwise as the commission office may determine.
AB981,30 19Section 30. 5.05 (2m) (f) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,15,2320 5.05 (2m) (f) 2. To order testimony to be taken by deposition before any
21individual who is designated by the commission secretary of state and has the power
22to administer oaths, and, in such instances, to compel testimony and the production
23of evidence in the same manner as authorized by sub. (1) (b).
AB981,31 24Section 31. 5.05 (2m) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,16,6
15.05 (2m) (h) If the defendant in an action for a civil violation of chs. 5 to 10 or
212 is a district attorney or a circuit judge or a candidate for either such office, the
3action shall be brought by the commission secretary of state. If the defendant in an
4action for a civil violation of chs. 5 to 10 or 12 is the attorney general or a candidate
5for that office, the commission secretary of state may appoint special counsel to bring
6suit on behalf of the state.
AB981,32 7Section 32. 5.05 (2m) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,16,138 5.05 (2m) (i) If the defendant in an action for a criminal violation of chs. 5 to
910 or 12 is a district attorney or a circuit judge or a candidate for either such office,
10the action shall be brought by the attorney general. If the defendant in an action for
11a criminal violation of chs. 5 to 10 or 12 is the attorney general or a candidate for that
12office, the commission secretary of state may appoint a special prosecutor to conduct
13the prosecution on behalf of the state.
AB981,33 14Section 33. 5.05 (2m) (k) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,16,1715 5.05 (2m) (k) The commission's power of the secretary of state to initiate civil
16actions under this subsection for the enforcement of chs. 5 to 10 or 12 shall be the
17exclusive remedy for alleged civil violations of chs. 5 to 10 or 12.
AB981,34 18Section 34. 5.05 (2q) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,17,1719 5.05 (2q) Supplemental funding for ongoing investigations. The commission
20secretary of state may request supplemental funds to be credited to the
21appropriation account under s. 20.510 (1) 20.575 (2) (be) for the purpose of continuing
22an ongoing investigation initiated under sub. (2m). A request under this subsection
23shall be filed with the secretary of administration and the cochairpersons of the joint
24committee on finance in writing and shall contain a statement of the action
25requested, the purposes therefor, the statutory provision authorizing or directing the

1performance of the action, and information about the nature of the investigation for
2which the commission secretary of state seeks supplemental funds, excluding the
3name of any individual or organization that is the subject of the investigation. If the
4cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance do not notify the secretary of
5administration that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of
6reviewing the request within 14 working days after the commission secretary of state
7filed the request, the secretary of administration shall supplement the appropriation
8under s. 20.510 (1) 20.575 (2) (be) from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (1) (d) in
9an amount not to exceed the amount the commission secretary of state requested.
10If, within 14 working days after the commission secretary of state filed the request,
11the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance notify the secretary of
12administration
that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of
13reviewing the commission's secretary of state's request under this subsection, the
14secretary of administration may supplement the appropriation under s. 20.510 (1)
1520.575 (2) (be) only with the committee's approval. The committee and the secretary
16of administration shall notify the commission secretary of state of all their actions
17taken under this subsection.
AB981,35 18Section 35. 5.05 (2w) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,17,2019 5.05 (2w) Elections commission Secretary of state. The elections commission
20secretary of state has the responsibility for the administration of chs. 5 to 10 and 12.
AB981,36 21Section 36. 5.05 (3d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,18,422 5.05 (3d) Administrator Personnel. The commission shall appoint an
23administrator in the manner provided under s. 15.61 (1) (b). The administrator shall
24be outside the classified service.
The administrator secretary of state shall appoint
25such other personnel as he or she requires to carry out the duties of the commission

1office of the secretary of state in the administration of chs. 5 to 10 and 12 and may
2designate a commission an employee to serve as the commission's legal counsel. The
3administrator shall perform such duties as the commission assigns to him or her in
4the administration of chs. 5 to 10 and 12.
AB981,37 5Section 37. 5.05 (3g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,18,76 5.05 (3g) Chief election officer. The commission administrator secretary of
7state
shall serve as the chief election officer of this state.
AB981,38 8Section 38. 5.05 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,18,109 5.05 (4) Employees. All employees of the commission office of the secretary of
10state involved in the administration of chs. 5 to 10 and 12
shall be nonpartisan.
AB981,39 11Section 39. 5.05 (5e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,19,212 5.05 (5e) Annual report. The commission office of the secretary of state shall
13submit an annual report under s. 15.04 (1) (d) and shall include in its annual report
14the names and duties of all individuals employed by the commission office and a
15summary of its determinations and advisory opinions issued under sub. (6a). Except
16as authorized or required under sub. (5s) (f), the commission office shall make
17sufficient alterations in the summaries to prevent disclosing the identities of
18individuals or organizations involved in the decisions or opinions. The commission
19office shall identify in its report the statutory duties of the commission administrator
20secretary of state, together with a description of the manner in which those duties
21are being fulfilled. Notwithstanding sub. (5s) and s. 12.13 (5), the commission office
22of the secretary of state
shall also specify in its report the total number of
23investigations conducted by the commission office since the last annual report and
24a description of the nature of each investigation. The commission office shall make

1such further reports on the matters within its jurisdiction and such
2recommendations for further legislation as it deems desirable.
AB981,40 3Section 40. 5.05 (5f) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,19,74 5.05 (5f) Advice to commission the secretary. The joint committee on
5legislative organization shall be advisory to the commission secretary of state on all
6matters relating to operation of the commission office of the secretary of state with
7regard to the administration of chs. 5 to 10 and 12
.
AB981,41 8Section 41. 5.05 (5s) (intro.), (a), (am), (b), (bm), (c), (d), (e) (intro.), 1., 2. and
9(f) of the statutes, as affected by 2021 Wisconsin Act 38, are amended to read:
AB981,19,1310 5.05 (5s) Access to records. (intro.) Records obtained or prepared by the
11commission office of the secretary of state in connection with an investigation,
12including the full text of any complaint received by the commission office, are not
13subject to the right of inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1), except as follows:
AB981,20,414 (a) The commission office shall permit inspection of records that are distributed
15or discussed in the course of a meeting or hearing by the commission office in open
16session. The commission office shall post on its Internet site the draft minutes of
17each meeting or hearing conducted by the commission office in open session no later
18than 48 hours after the completion of the meeting or hearing. The commission office
19shall post minutes approved by the commission office no later than 48 hours after the
20minutes are approved. The commission office may indicate whether minutes posted
21on its Internet site have been approved by the commission office or are in draft form.
22Minutes posted pursuant to this paragraph shall include a summary of every action
23that the commission voted on, a record of each member's vote for or against every
24action requiring a vote, a record of all motions and seconds made by each member,
25including the full text of each motion debated and voted on by the commission, and

1a record of each member's status as being present or absent for any part of a meeting
2or hearing
taken by the office. The commission office shall maintain all minutes
3published under this paragraph on its Internet site so that the minutes are accessible
4to the public at all times.
AB981,20,75 (am) The commission office shall provide to the joint committee on finance
6records obtained or prepared by the commission office in connection with an ongoing
7investigation when required under sub. (2q).
AB981,20,98 (b) Investigatory records of the commission office may be made public in the
9course of a prosecution initiated under chs. 5 to 10 or 12.
AB981,20,1210 (bm) The commission office shall provide investigatory records to the state
11auditor and the employees of the legislative audit bureau to the extent necessary for
12the bureau to carry out its duties under s. 13.94.
AB981,20,1613 (c) The commission office shall provide information from investigation and
14hearing records that pertains to the location of individuals and assets of individuals
15as requested under s. 49.22 (2m) by the department of children and families or by a
16county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5).
AB981,20,2217 (d) If the commission office commences a civil prosecution of a person for an
18alleged violation of chs. 5 to 10 or 12 as the result of an investigation, the person who
19is the subject of the investigation may authorize the commission office to make
20available for inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1) records of the investigation
21pertaining to that person if the records are available by law to the subject person and
22the commission office shall then make those records available.
AB981,20,2423 (e) (intro.) The following records of the commission office are open to public
24inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1):
AB981,21,2
11. Any record of the action of the commission office authorizing the filing of a
2civil complaint under sub. (2m) (c) 6.
AB981,21,43 2. Any record of the action of the commission office referring a matter to a
4district attorney or other prosecutor for investigation or prosecution.
AB981,21,95 (f) The commission office shall make public formal and informal advisory
6opinions and records obtained in connection with requests for formal or informal
7advisory opinions relating to matters under the jurisdiction of the commission office,
8including the identity of individuals requesting such opinions or organizations or
9governmental bodies on whose behalf they are requested.
AB981,42 10Section 42. 5.05 (5t) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,21,1711 5.05 (5t) Guidance following binding court decisions. Within 2 months
12following the publication of a decision of a state or federal court that is binding on
13the commission secretary of state and this state, the commission secretary of state
14shall issue updated guidance or formal advisory opinions, commence the
15rule-making procedure to revise administrative rules promulgated by the
16commission,
or request an opinion from the attorney general on the applicability of
17the court decision.
AB981,43 18Section 43. 5.05 (6a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB981,22,819 5.05 (6a) Advisory opinions. (a) 1. Any individual, either personally or on
20behalf of an organization or governmental body, may make a request of the
21commission the secretary of state in writing, electronically, or by telephone for a
22formal or informal advisory opinion regarding the propriety under chs. 5 to 10 or 12
23of any matter to which the person is or may become a party. Any appointing officer,
24with the consent of a prospective appointee, may request of the commission secretary
25a formal or informal advisory opinion regarding the propriety under chs. 5 to 10 or

112 of any matter to which the prospective appointee is or may become a party. The
2commission secretary shall review a request for an advisory opinion and may issue
3a formal or informal written or electronic advisory opinion to the person making the
4request. Except as authorized or required for opinions specified in sub. (5s) (f), the
5commission's deliberations and actions of the secretary and the office of the secretary
6upon such requests shall be in meetings not open to the public. A member of the
7commission may, by written request, require the commission to review an advisory
8opinion.
AB981,22,159 2. To have legal force and effect, each formal and informal advisory opinion
10issued by the commission secretary of state must be supported by specific legal
11authority under a statute or other law, or by specific case or common law authority.
12Each formal and informal advisory opinion shall include a citation to each statute
13or other law and each case or common law authority upon which the opinion is based,
14and shall specifically articulate or explain which parts of the cited authority are
15relevant to the commission's conclusion of the secretary and why they are relevant.
AB981,22,1916 3. No person acting in good faith upon a formal or informal advisory opinion
17issued by the commission secretary of state under this subsection is subject to
18criminal or civil prosecution for so acting, if the material facts are as stated in the
19opinion request.
AB981,23,620 4. At each regular meeting of the commission, the administrator shall review
21informal advisory opinions requested of and issued by the administrator and that
22relate to recurring issues or issues of first impression for which no formal advisory
23opinion has been issued.
The commission secretary of state may determine to issue
24a formal advisory opinion adopting or modifying the informal advisory opinion. If
25the commission secretary disagrees with a formal or informal advisory opinion that

1has been issued by or on behalf of the commission secretary, the commission
2secretary may withdraw the opinion, issue a revised formal or informal advisory
3opinion, or request an opinion from the attorney general. No person acting after the
4date of the withdrawal or issuance of the revised advisory opinion is exempted from
5prosecution under this subsection if the opinion upon which the person's action is
6based has been withdrawn or revised in relevant degree.
AB981,23,107 5. Except as authorized or required under sub. (5s) (f), no member or employee
8of the commission office of the secretary of state may make public the identity of the
9individual requesting a formal or informal advisory opinion or of individuals or
10organizations mentioned in the opinion.
AB981,23,1611 (b) 1. The commission may authorize the commission administrator or his or
12her designee to issue an informal written advisory opinion or transmit an informal
13advisory opinion electronically on behalf of the commission, subject to such
14limitations as the commission deems appropriate.
Every informal advisory opinion
15shall be consistent with applicable formal advisory opinions issued by the
16commission secretary of state, statute or other law, and case law.
AB981,23,2217 2. Any individual may request in writing, electronically, or by telephone an
18informal advisory opinion from the commission secretary of state under this
19paragraph. The commission's designee secretary shall provide a written response,
20a written reference to an applicable statute or law, or a written reference to a formal
21advisory opinion of the commission secretary to the individual, or shall refer the
22request to the commission for review and the issuance of a formal advisory opinion
.
AB981,23,2523 3. Any person receiving an informal advisory opinion under this paragraph
24may, at any time, request a formal advisory opinion from the commission secretary
25of state
on the same matter.
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