Chapter 13

13.42 13.42 Virtual meetings of the legislature and legislative committees.

13.42(1) (1) In this section:

13.42(1)(a) (a) “Disaster” means a severe or prolonged, natural or human-caused, occurrence that threatens or negatively impacts life, health, property, infrastructure, the environment, the security of this state or a portion of this state, or critical systems, including computer, telecommunications, or agricultural systems.

13.42(1)(b) (b) “Member” means a member of the legislature.

13.42(2) (2) Either house of the legislature, under its rules or joint rules, may issue a notice that the house and its committees are prevented from physically meeting at the seat of government due to an emergency resulting from a disaster or the imminent threat of a disaster.

13.42(3) (3) If a house issues a notice under sub. (2), that house and any committee of that house may conduct a meeting and transact business through the use of any means of communication by which all of the following occur:

13.42(3)(a) (a) The identity of each participating member may be verified, and the actions of each participating member may be authenticated, in a manner satisfactory to the presiding officer or committee chairperson.

13.42(3)(b) (b) During the meeting, all participating members may simultaneously hear or read the comments of each member who is recognized by the presiding officer or committee chairperson.

13.42(3)(c) (c) Any document that is used during the meeting by a member and that is accepted by the presiding officer or committee chairperson is immediately transmitted to each participating member.

13.42(3)(d) (d) Except as provided in sub. (8), within technological limits, the public may monitor the proceedings of the house or committee.

13.42(4) (4) In order to hold a meeting of a joint committee in the manner provided under sub. (3), each house of the legislature shall issue a notice of emergency under sub. (2).

13.42(5) (5) For purposes of article IV, section 11, of the Wisconsin Constitution, a meeting held under sub. (3) or (10) shall be considered to have occurred at the seat of government and all actions taken during the meeting shall have the same legal effect as if the members were physically present at the seat of government.

13.42(6) (6) For purposes of determining the presence of a quorum in proceedings or meetings held under this section, any participating member shall be considered present as if the member were physically present at the seat of government.

13.42(7) (7) Except as provided in sub. (8), a meeting held under sub. (3) or (10) shall be preceded by the same or substantially equivalent public notice as would be required if the members were physically present at the seat of government.

13.42(8) (8) Subsections (3) (d) and (7) do not apply with respect to a meeting held under sub. (3), if pursuant to article IV, section 10, of the Wisconsin Constitution, the public welfare requires secrecy.

13.42(9) (9) In presiding over a meeting of a house of the legislature described under sub. (3) or (10), the presiding officer shall interpret and apply all rules of proceeding of that house that presume the physical presence of members in the house’s chambers at the seat of government, in such a manner as to accomplish the same purposes for which the rules were adopted.

13.42(10) (10) Notwithstanding the requirement for a notice of emergency under sub. (2), and pursuant to the session schedule under s. 13.02 (3), the legislature may meet for up to one week per session by holding a meeting as described under sub. (3) in order to practice meeting in that manner.

13.42(11) (11) This section does not limit the authority of either house of the legislature to use teleconferencing for purposes of holding a committee meeting at the seat of government.

13.42 History History: 2009 a. 363.

subch. II of ch. 13 SUBCHAPTER II

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES

13.45 13.45 General provisions on legislative committees.

13.45(1) (1) Term; eligibility; vacancies.

13.45(1)(a) (a) Unless otherwise provided by law, the terms of all legislator members of committees or other bodies established by statute on which there are legislator members appointed as are the members of standing committees in their respective houses, shall expire on the date specified in s. 13.02 (1). Unless otherwise provided by rule or resolution, any special legislative committee and the memberships thereof shall expire upon the accomplishment of the purpose for which the committee was created or the termination of the legislative session biennium in which the committee was created.

13.45(1)(b) (b) A legislator’s membership, on any committee or other body established by statute to which the legislator was appointed by reason of being a member of the legislature, terminates when such person ceases to be a legislator.

13.45(1)(c) (c) Legislator vacancies on committees or other bodies established by statute, including first appointments upon the creation of such committees or bodies, shall be filled as are original appointments at the commencement of the legislative session biennium.

13.45(2) (2) Appointments reported. The chief clerk of each house shall file a duplicate of each report required by s. 14.40 (4) with the director of the legislative council staff.

13.45(3) (3) Expenses.

13.45(3)(a) (a) For any day for which the legislator does not file a claim under s. 13.123 (1), any legislator appointed to serve on a legislative committee or a committee to which the legislator was appointed by either house or the officers thereof shall be reimbursed from the appropriations under s. 20.765 (1) (a) or (b) for actual and necessary expenses incurred as a member of the committee.

13.45(3)(b) (b) Unless otherwise provided by law, any state officer or employee representing an agency as a member of a committee under this chapter shall be reimbursed by the agency for the actual and necessary expenses incurred by the officer or employee in the performance of duties as a committee member.

13.45(3)(c) (c) Unless otherwise provided by law, any member of a committee under this chapter and not covered by par. (a) or (b) shall be reimbursed from the appropriation of the committee on which the member serves for the actual and necessary expenses incurred by the member in the performance of duties as a committee member.

13.45(4) (4) Organization. Unless otherwise provided by law, and except as provided in sub. (4m), every legislative committee or committee on which there are legislative members selected by either house or the officers thereof shall:

13.45(4)(a) (a) Elect a chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary from among its members.

13.45(4)(b) (b) Meet at such times, and at such locations within this state, as the chairperson with the consent of the members announces.

13.45(4)(c) (c) Maintain its office in the capitol.

13.45(4)(d) (d) Maintain a written record of its proceedings.

13.45(4)(e) (e) On or before May 1 of each odd-numbered year, submit a written report of its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the governor and the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2).

13.45(4m) (4m) Cochairpersons of joint legislative committees. Except as provided in s. 13.81 (1), every joint standing, statutory, special or other joint committee shall be chaired jointly by a senator and a representative to the assembly appointed as are other members of the joint committee.

13.45(5) (5) Rules of procedure; quorum. Unless otherwise provided by law, every legislative committee or committee on which there are legislative members selected by either house or the officers thereof may adopt such rules for the conduct of its business as are necessary, but a majority of the members appointed to a committee shall constitute a quorum to do business and a majority of such quorum may act in any matter within the jurisdiction of the committee.

13.45(6) (6) Committee members may administer oaths. Any senator or representative to the assembly, while acting as a member of a legislative committee, may administer oaths to persons to be examined before such committee.

13.45(7) (7) Cooperation of state agencies. The departments, officers and employees of Wisconsin state government, and the governing bodies of the political subdivisions of this state, shall assist legislative committees in the completion of their tasks. They shall provide legislative committees with ready access to any books, records or other information relating to such tasks. Upon request by legislative committees, and within the limits of existing appropriations, departments of state government shall supply such specialized staff assistance as a legislative committee may require.

13.45 History History: 1975 c. 224; 1977 c. 325; 1979 c. 34 s. 2102 (48) (a); 1981 c. 391; 1983 a. 27 s. 2202 (33); 1987 a. 186; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 52, 184; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25.

13.46 13.46 Majority and minority parties. In any law or legislative rule:

13.46(1) (1) “Majority leader” means the leader elected by the majority party in each house of the legislature.

13.46(2) (2) “Majority party” means the political party in each house which has the most members.

13.46(3) (3) “Minority leader” means the leader elected by the minority party in each house.

13.46(4) (4) “Minority party” means the political party in each house which has the 2nd most members.

13.46(5) (5) “Two major political parties” means the majority party and the minority party in each house.

13.46 History History: 1977 c. 325; 1983 a. 189.

13.47 13.47 Legislative state supported programs study and advisory committee. There is created a joint legislative state supported programs study and advisory committee, consisting of 5 senators and 6 representatives to the assembly, appointed as are the members of standing committees in their respective houses. The 2 major political parties shall be represented in the membership from each house. One legislator from each house shall be a member of the building commission created in s. 13.48 (2) (a).

13.47(1) (1) Meetings. The committee shall meet when the legislature is not in actual session.

13.47(2) (2) Duties of the committee. The committee, in groups or individually as assigned by the cochairpersons with the consent of the committee, shall visit all institutions and office buildings owned or leased by the state and the capitol building and inspect the grounds and the buildings thereon. Each member shall participate in the groups to which he or she is assigned, but if the appointed member of the building commission is unable to participate in a specific visit he or she shall appoint an alternate member, selected from his or her house of the legislature, to participate in his or her place. It shall thoroughly inspect the state buildings or grounds and shall have free access to any part of such state buildings or the surrounding grounds and all persons therein in order to make such examination as it sees fit of the conditions found.

13.47(3) (3) Visits to institutions receiving state funds. The committee, in groups or individually as assigned by the cochairpersons with the consent of the committee, may visit any institution, program or organization in this state in which the state directly or indirectly has provided financial support. Upon request of the committee, any such institution, program or organization shall allow the committee to examine its records.

13.47 History History: 1973 c. 266; 1975 c. 224; 1977 c. 325; 1983 a. 36 s. 96 (4); 1987 a. 403; 1993 a. 184.

13.48 13.48 Long-range public building program.

13.48(1) (1) Policy. The legislature finds and determines that it is necessary to improve the adequacy of the public building facilities that are required by the various state agencies including the educational institutions, for the proper performance of their duties and functions, and that it is in the interest of economy, efficiency and the public welfare that such improvement be accomplished by means of a long-range public building program, with funds to be provided by successive legislatures. The long-range program shall include the necessary lands, new buildings, and all facilities and equipment required and also the remodeling, reconstruction, maintenance and reequipping of existing buildings and facilities, as determined by the building commission.

13.48(1m) (1m) Historic properties.

13.48(1m)(a) (a) In this subsection, “historic property” means any building, structure or site which is any of the following:

13.48(1m)(a)1. 1. Listed on, or has been nominated by the state historical society for listing on, the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places.

13.48(1m)(a)2. 2. Included in a district which is listed on, or has been nominated by the state historical society for listing on, the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places, and has been determined by the state historical society to contribute to the historic significance of the district.

13.48(1m)(a)3. 3. Included on a list of properties which have been determined by the state historical society to be eligible for listing on the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places.

13.48(1m)(b) (b) The long-range public building program shall recognize the importance of historic properties and shall include a program of preservation and restoration of those historic properties under the control of the state as provided in s. 44.41, including criteria for determining which historic properties should be preserved and restored.

13.48(1m)(c) (c) The long-range public building program shall require the biennial review of each historic property under the control of the state to determine the current uses of the property and state agency compliance with the requirements of the long-range program.

13.48(1m)(d) (d) The building commission shall allocate, from that portion of the state building program funding which is available to all state agencies, an amount of funds deemed necessary by the building commission for the preservation, restoration and maintenance of historic properties under the control of the state.

13.48(1m)(e) (e) Notwithstanding par. (b), the building commission may grant waivers under s. 44.39 (5).

13.48(2) (2) Building commission; powers and duties.

13.48(2)(a) (a) There is created a building commission consisting of the governor, who shall serve as chairperson, and 3 senators and 3 representatives to the assembly appointed as are the members of standing committees in their respective houses. The 2 major political parties shall be represented in the membership from each house. One legislator from each house shall be a member of the state supported programs study and advisory committee created by s. 13.47. One citizen member shall be appointed by the governor to serve at the governor’s pleasure. The secretary, head of the engineering function, and ranking architect of the department of administration shall be nonvoting advisory members. The building commission shall bear a title beginning with the words “State of Wisconsin”. The members shall be liable only for misconduct. Nonlegislator members of the building commission shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses, incurred as members of the building commission, from the appropriation under s. 20.505.

13.48(2)(b) (b)

13.48(2)(b)1. 1. The building commission shall have all the powers necessary to carry out its duties and may accept all donations, gifts and bequests made to the state for public building purposes, including any grants made by the federal government, and apply the same in accordance with the terms of the grant or the wishes of the donors, insofar as such is practicable. The building commission with respect to any of such buildings shall have all the powers so far as applicable as were conferred by law on the state office building commission with respect to the state office building.

13.48(2)(b)1m. 1m. The University of Wisconsin System may not accept any gift, grant or bequest of real property with a value in excess of $150,000 or any gift, grant or bequest of a building or structure that is constructed for the benefit of the system or any institution thereof without the approval of the building commission. This subdivision does not apply to agricultural land acquired by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System under s. 36.33 (1).

13.48(2)(b)2. 2. In the construction of all new buildings or additions to existing buildings used for housing state offices and constructed for general state purposes and not specially for the use of any particular state agency, the building commission shall function with respect to such construction in the same manner as other state agencies function with respect to buildings constructed for such agencies. The building commission shall fix the rental for all space in such buildings, and, notwithstanding any other statute, may remove to any building any department housed in the state capitol. After the completion of such buildings, they shall be in the charge of the department of administration as provided by s. 16.84.

13.48(2)(b)3. 3. Except as provided in sub. (14) (am), the building commission may lease space in buildings described under subd. 2. to other governmental bodies or to nonprofit associations organized for public purposes and shall charge those bodies or associations an annual rental which shall be not less than the cost of operating, maintaining and amortizing the construction cost of the leased space.

13.48(2)(c) (c) The building commission may employ, outside the classified service, staff or consultants and fix the salary or conditions of such employment.

13.48(2)(d) (d) The building commission, for the purpose of carrying out s. 36.33 relating to the sale and purchase of agricultural lands of the University of Wisconsin, may authorize the advance of sums from the state building trust fund for the purchase price, including option payments, of agricultural lands to be acquired by the University of Wisconsin and for expenses incurred in selling agricultural lands presently owned by the University of Wisconsin, including, without limitation because of enumeration, expenses of surveying, platting, constructing and improving streets and utilities and drainage in such a way as to realize the greatest return to the state in the sale of such lands, and other selling expenses. All such sums advanced shall be repaid to the state building trust fund from the appropriation made by s. 20.285 (1) (gb).

13.48(2)(e) (e)

13.48(2)(e)1. 1. During each regular session, the building commission shall submit to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2), a report on the progress on projects authorized in the 2 preceding and current biennia including the total project budget, the encumbrance and expenditure to date, and the unencumbered balance remaining for each project. Such report shall either be made as part of the biennial building program or shall accompany same.

13.48(2)(e)2. 2. It is the intent of the legislature that it be given a complete picture of the results of its past decisions regarding the state’s building program which will serve as background for making further decisions.

13.48(2)(f) (f) The building commission may allocate funds from the state building trust fund or other sources available to them to equip any University of Wisconsin System college campus, as defined in s. 36.05 (6m), if the facilities have been provided by the counties or other units of local government under s. 66.0913 or 67.04 and the operation of the college campus has been approved by the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

13.48(2)(g) (g) The building commission shall review assessments on property of the state under s. 66.0703 (6).

13.48(2)(h) (h)

13.48(2)(h)1. 1. In this paragraph:

13.48(2)(h)1.a. a. “Active solar energy system” means a solar energy system which operates with mechanical means, including but not limited to motors, pumps and valves.

13.48(2)(h)1.b. b. “Energy” means work or heat produced from any source.

13.48(2)(h)1.c. c. “Passive solar energy system” means a solar energy system which operates without mechanical means.

13.48(2)(h)1.d. d. “Photovoltaic solar energy system” means a solar energy system which converts solar energy directly into electricity.

13.48(2)(h)1.e. e. “Renewable energy resource system” means a solar energy system or a wind energy system. “Renewable energy resource system” does not include any equipment which would be present as part of a conventional energy system; any equipment which would be present as part of a system primarily used to heat a swimming pool; or a passive solar system which serves a dual purpose, as defined by the building commission by rule. “Dual purpose” includes, but is not limited to, a passive solar system serving also as a structural component, a greenhouse or a living space.

13.48(2)(h)1.f. f. “Solar energy” means radiant energy received from the sun.

13.48(2)(h)1.g. g. “Solar energy system” means equipment which directly converts and then transfers or stores solar energy into usable forms of thermal or electrical energy.

13.48(2)(h)2. 2. The building commission may not authorize the release of funds for bidding and construction of any new building, structure, major remodeling or building addition as enumerated in the authorized state building program as required by s. 20.924 (1) (a) and (b), or such other projects as the building commission determines to be appropriate, unless the design concept does all of the following for purposes of space heating and cooling and water heating: