Chapter 13

13.90(1)(a) (a) Determine the types of tasks to be assigned to each legislative service bureau or staff within statutory limitations, and the quantity and quality thereof.

13.90(1)(b) (b) Consider and approve the budget of each bureau or staff.

13.90(1)(c) (c) Meet at such times as it may determine to carry out its policy-making duties, and for the purposes of this paragraph the committee may provide a method of procuring decisions by mail.

13.90(1)(d) (d) Promulgate rules under ch. 227 required for the proper operation of each legislative service bureau or staff.

13.90(1)(f) (f) Employ an outside staff of professional consultants for the purpose of studying ways to improve legislative staff services and organization. Without limitation because of enumeration, this study shall cover legislative service agencies, the management of legislative business, legislative compensation, legislative office space, and the increasing amounts of time required by legislative duties.

13.90(1)(g) (g) Supervise the development of programs for computer use and approve and monitor computer operations in the legislative process. All contracts for legislative computer equipment and services shall be signed by the cochairpersons.

13.90(1)(h) (h) Determine the officer who has operational responsibility for legislative document sales and distribution under s. 35.87.

13.90(1)(i) (i) Determine and approve a parking plan for the state capitol park consistent with s. 16.843.

13.90(1)(j) (j) Recommend to the legislature a newspaper to serve as the official state newspaper as provided in s. 985.04.

13.90(1)(k) (k) Designate the individuals authorized to sign joint purchasing contracts for the senate and assembly and the legislative service agencies under s. 16.74 (2).

13.90(1)(L) (L) Determine the method of sale and prices for subscriptions to legislative documents and the operational responsibility for any legislative document subscription services provided under s. 35.87.

13.90(1m) (1m) 

13.90(1m)(a) (a) In this subsection, “legislative service agency” means the legislative council staff, the legislative audit bureau, the legislative fiscal bureau, the legislative reference bureau, the legislative human resources office, and the legislative technology services bureau.

13.90(1m)(b) (b) The joint committee on legislative organization shall select the head of each legislative service agency. The appointment of each legislative service agency head shall be made without regard to political affiliation in order to safeguard the nonpartisan character of each legislative service agency. In the case of the state auditor, the joint legislative audit committee shall make recommendations for the approval of the joint committee on legislative organization. The committee shall designate an employee of each legislative service agency to exercise the powers and authority of each legislative service agency head in case of absence or disability.

13.90(2) (2) The cochairpersons of the joint committee on legislative organization or their designated agent shall accept service made under ss. 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 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. 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).

13.90(3) (3) 

13.90(3)(a) (a) In this subsection, “legislative service agency” has the meaning given in sub. (1m).

13.90(3)(b) (b) The cochairpersons of the joint committee on legislative organization shall lease or acquire office space for legislative offices or legislative service agencies under par. (c).

13.90(3)(c) (c) The joint committee on legislative organization shall assign office space for legislative offices and the offices of the legislative service agencies. The joint committee may assign any space in the capitol not reserved for other uses under s. 16.835. Except as provided in ss. 13.09 (6) and 13.45 (4) (c), the joint committee may locate any legislative office or the office of any legislative service agency outside the capitol at another suitable building in the city of Madison.

13.90(4) (4) The cochairpersons of the joint committee on legislative organization shall authorize payment of fees entitling the legislature to membership in national organizations from the appropriation under s. 20.765 (3) (fa).

13.90(5) (5) The joint committee on legislative organization may contract for the services of persons to advise those building commission members who also are legislators on matters related to the state’s issuance of state debt, revenue obligations and operating notes under ch. 18.

13.90(6) (6) The joint committee on legislative organization shall adopt, revise biennially and submit to the cochairpersons of the joint committee on information policy and technology, the governor and the secretary of administration, no later than September 15 of each even-numbered year, a strategic plan for the utilization of information technology to carry out the functions of the legislature and legislative service agencies, as defined in s. 16.70 (6). The plan shall address the business needs of the legislature and legislative service agencies and shall identify all resources relating to information technology which the legislature and legislative service agencies desire to acquire, contingent upon funding availability, the priority for such acquisitions and the justification for such acquisitions. The plan shall also identify any changes in the functioning of the legislature and legislative service agencies under the plan.

13.90(8) (8) The joint committee on legislative organization may designate a joint committee or another body within the legislative branch to oversee the provision of information technology support and services by the legislative technology services bureau.

13.90(9) (9) The joint committee on legislative organization may direct the department of administration to take possession of any furnishing to which the department has title under s. 16.838 (2), to restore any furnishing in the department’s possession, if necessary, and to locate any such furnishing at the place in the capitol building specified by the committee.

13.90 History History: 1971 c. 215; 1973 c. 90; 1975 c. 224, 421; 1977 c. 449; 1979 c. 34 ss. 7d to 7s, 2102 (32) (b); 1981 c. 372 s. 18; 1983 a. 27, 308; 1985 a. 29, 332; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31, 359, 366; 1993 a. 52; 1995 a. 27, 162, 417; 1997 a. 27, 237; 1999 a. 4, 29, 81; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20; 2017 a. 369; 2023 a. 19.

13.905 13.905 Legislative conduct. The joint committee on legislative organization may inquire into alleged misconduct by members or employees of the legislature.

13.91 13.91 Legislative council staff. There is created a bureau known as the “Legislative Council Staff”, headed by a director. The legislative council staff shall be strictly nonpartisan and shall at all times observe the confidential nature of the research and drafting requests received by it. The legislative council staff may call upon any state department, agency or officer, or any agency of any political subdivision, for such facilities and data as are available and such departments and agencies shall cooperate with the legislative council staff to the fullest possible extent.

13.91(1) (1) Duties of the staff. The legislative council staff shall:

13.91(1)(a) (a) Provide staff services to the joint legislative council under s. 13.81 and to any of the committees appointed under ss. 13.82 and 13.83.

13.91(1)(b) (b) As directed by the joint legislative council, gather information and prepare written studies on topics referred to the council by the legislature or which seem desirable to the council.

13.91(1)(c) (c) Perform the functions prescribed in ch. 227 relating to administrative rules and guidance documents.

13.91(1)(d) (d) Provide staff services to assist the legislature in identifying and responding to issues relating to the Wisconsin Retirement System. In the performance of these duties, the legislative council staff shall:

13.91(1)(d)1. 1. Provide legal and research staff services to the joint survey committee on retirement systems under s. 13.50.

13.91(1)(d)2. 2. Prepare fiscal estimates on bills referred to the joint survey committee on retirement systems.

13.91(1)(d)3. 3. Facilitate communication between the legislature and participants in the Wisconsin Retirement System on issues relating to public employee retirement systems.

13.91(1)(d)4. 4. Every 2 years, prepare a comparative study of major public employee retirement systems in the United States.

13.91(1)(d)5. 5. In consultation with groups representing participants in the Wisconsin Retirement System, suggest to the cochairpersons of the joint legislative council any feasible subjects for study or investigation of public employee retirement issues with respect to which committees may be appointed under s. 13.82.

13.91(2) (2) Duties of the director. The director of the legislative council staff shall:

13.91(2)(a) (a) Supervise and train the personnel assigned to him or her.

13.91(2)(b) (b) Supervise all expenditures of the legislative council staff.

13.91(2)(c) (c) Attend all scheduled meetings of the joint legislative council under s. 13.81, and may attend meetings of any of its committees under ss. 13.82 and 13.83.

13.91(2)(d) (d) Attend, personally or through a professional employee of the legislative council staff designated by him or her, all meetings of the commission on uniform state laws under s. 13.55.

13.91(2)(e) (e) Attend and participate in, personally or through a designated employee of the legislative council staff, midwest and national meetings in which the commission on uniform state laws participates and that will benefit the operations of the legislative council staff.

13.91 History History: 1971 c. 215; 1973 c. 243; 1979 c. 34 ss. 8 to 9b, 2100; 1979 c. 109, 121; 1979 c. 154 s. 45; 1979 c. 204; 1979 c. 221 s. 2202 (33); 1979 c. 328, 355; 1981 c. 335; 1983 a. 308; 1985 a. 182 s. 57; 1989 a. 31; 1989 a. 56 s. 259; 1993 a. 52, 490; 2003 a. 172; 2005 a. 316; 2017 a. 369.

13.92 13.92 Legislative reference bureau. There is created a bureau to be known as the “Legislative Reference Bureau,” headed by the chief of legislative reference bureau. The legislative reference bureau shall be strictly nonpartisan and shall at all times observe the confidential nature of the reference or drafting requests received by it.

13.92(1) (1) Duties of the bureau.

13.92(1)(a) (a) Reference section. The legislative reference bureau shall perform reference services for all members of the legislature equally and impartially and to the limits of its facilities and staff. Such reference services shall be available also to public officials, students of government and citizens generally. In the performance of its reference services, the bureau shall:

13.92(1)(a)1. 1. Collect, index and make available in the most suitable form to legislators, other public officials, students of government and citizens generally, information relative to governmental subjects which will aid the legislature, other public officials and the citizens generally, to perform their duties in the most efficient and economical manner.

13.92(1)(a)2. 2. Maintain an adequate collection of public documents of Wisconsin and other states and carry out loan arrangements with libraries.

13.92(1)(a)3. 3. Maintain the drafting records of legislation introduced in prior sessions of the legislature and utilize such records to provide information on questions of legislative intent. Such records shall be retained in the offices of the bureau at all times.

13.92(1)(a)4. 4. Utilize the materials assembled in its collection and other suitable materials to prepare studies and reports providing pertinent information regarding subjects which are or may become items of concern to the legislature, other public officials or the public generally, and where warranted publish such reports and studies in the most expeditious manner.

13.92(1)(a)5. 5. Prepare copy for the biennial Wisconsin Blue Book.

13.92(1)(a)6. 6. Beginning with the date of the decennial federal census of population and ending on December 1 of the 2nd year commencing after such census, prepare and publish such street and ward maps of the municipalities in this state as are required to show the boundary lines of congressional and legislative districts based on that census. Following the final approval of the redistricting plans, the bureau shall transfer the maps used to show the district boundaries contained in such plans to the department of administration under s. 16.96 (3) (b).

13.92(1)(b) (b) Drafting section. The legislative reference bureau shall provide drafting services equally and impartially and to the limits of its facilities and staff. In the performance of its drafting services, the bureau shall:

13.92(1)(b)1. 1. Prepare in the proper form all legislation to be introduced in the legislature. Only the following persons may use the drafting services of the bureau for this purpose:

13.92(1)(b)1.a. a. Any member or member-elect of the legislature and, on behalf of each committee thereof, the chairperson.

13.92(1)(b)1.b. b. Any agency, as defined in s. 16.70 (1e), created under ch. 13, 14, 15, or 758.

13.92(1)(b)1.c. c. The chief clerk of either house of the legislature for requests pertaining to the operation of the legislature.

13.92(1)(b)1.d. d. A party caucus of either house of the legislature.

13.92(1)(b)2. 2. Prepare in plain language an analysis of each original measure, to be printed with the measure when it is introduced. On the printed measure, the analysis shall be displayed single-spaced between the title and the enacting clause.

13.92(1)(b)3. 3. As a service to the senate and assembly, and as directed by the chief clerks thereof, enroll all measures passed by the legislature.

13.92(1)(b)3.a. a. Promptly after the passage of any bill, any joint resolution amending the constitution, or any other resolution determined by the chief clerks to require enrollment and, in the case of a bill, before it is presented to the governor for approval, the chief clerk of the house in which the measure originated shall deliver the jacket to the bureau which shall enroll the proposal and return the jacket and the required number of copies, including a camera-ready copy of any proposed constitutional amendment and each resolution requiring newspaper publication, to the chief clerk. The camera-ready original of the enrolled proposal shall be retained in the bureau.

13.92(1)(b)3.b. b. Of the copies delivered to the chief clerk, one copy shall be used as the official enrolled measure to be authenticated as provided by the rules and, in the case of an enrolled bill, be submitted to the governor for the governor’s approval. The remaining copies shall be distributed as provided by the rules and as determined by the chief clerks.

13.92(1)(b)3.c. c. Each enrolled proposal, or printed copy thereof, shall carry a heading “State of Wisconsin” as do bills and joint resolutions.

13.92(1)(b)3.d. d. After passage of any bill that, if enacted, would create congressional districts under ch. 3, in enrolling the bill for presentation to the governor for approval, the legislative reference bureau shall attach to the bill an appendix containing the population statistics for the congressional districts created under the bill; a statewide map of the congressional districts created under the bill; a map of the congressional districts created under the bill that are in Milwaukee County; and, for any city, village, or town that, under the bill, is divided among 2 or more congressional districts, except a city or village located in more than one county if the district line follows the county line, a detail map illustrating the division of the city, village, or town among the congressional districts.

13.92(1)(b)3.e. e. After passage of any bill that, if enacted, would create legislative districts under ch. 4, in enrolling the bill for presentation to the governor for approval, the legislative reference bureau shall attach to the bill an appendix containing the population statistics for the legislative districts created under the bill; a statewide map of each type of legislative district created under the bill; a map of the legislative districts created under the bill that are in Milwaukee County; and, for any city, village, or town that, under the bill, is divided among 2 or more legislative districts, except a city or village located in more than one county if the district line follows the county line, a detail map illustrating the division of the city, village, or town among the legislative districts.

13.92(1)(b)4. 4. Publish each act on its date of publication as prescribed under s. 35.095 (1) (b). The bureau shall enter the act number, date of enactment, and date of publication of each act on the copy and deliver it to the contract printer for reproduction of printed copies. The publication shall identify material deleted from existing law by stricken type, and material inserted into existing law by underscored type. In any act published “vetoed in part”, the material subject to the veto shall be displayed in full but shall be identified by distinguishing marks. The bureau shall make printed copies available as soon as possible following publication of the act. The number of copies printed, and the quality of paper used, shall be as provided in the joint rules and as further determined by the joint committee on legislative organization.

13.92(1)(b)5. 5. Prepare a biennial list of numerical cross-references in the statutes to other parts of the statutes.

13.92(1)(b)6. 6. Publish the “Laws of Wisconsin” under s. 35.15.

13.92(1)(bm) (bm) Revision of statutes. The legislative reference bureau shall prepare the Wisconsin statutes for publication under s. 35.18 (1), and for this purpose it:

13.92(1)(bm)1. 1. Shall formulate and prepare a definite plan for the order, classification, arrangement, and publication of the statutes, and prepare and at each session of the legislature present bills to the law revision committee of the joint legislative council containing such consolidation, revision, and other matter relating to the statutes as time permits.

13.92(1)(bm)2. 2. May renumber any chapter or section of the statutes for the purpose of revision, and shall change reference numbers to agree with any renumbered chapter or section. Where the term “preceding section” or similar expressions are used in the statutes the bureau may change the same by inserting the proper section or chapter reference.

13.92(1)(bm)3. 3. May, where the application or effect of a statute, by its terms, depends on the time when the act creating the statute took effect, substitute the actual effective date for the various forms of expression which mean that date, such as “when this act (or chapter, or section) takes effect”, or “after (or before) the effective date of this act (or chapter, or section)”, in publishing the Wisconsin statutes under s. 35.18 (1).

13.92(1)(bm)4. 4. May delete useless words such as “of the statutes”, “of this section”, “hereof”, “immediately above”, “inclusive” and the like, where such words appear immediately after a chapter, section or subsection reference.

13.92(1)(bm)5. 5. May delete useless words in statutory references such as “any of the provisions of” or “any of the requirements of” and the like when they appear immediately before a reference to a chapter, section, subsection or paragraph of the statutes.

13.92(1)(bm)6. 6. May delete the word “hereby” wherever used in connection with the verbs “consents”, “grants”, “gives” or “declares” or other verbs.

13.92(1)(bm)7. 7. May substitute the word “deems” for the words “may deem”.

13.92(1)(bm)8. 8. May substitute the word “may” for the phrase “is hereby authorized to” or similar phrases.

13.92(1)(bm)9. 9. May substitute “this state” for the phrase “the state of Wisconsin”.

13.92(1)(bm)10. 10. May change an incorrect form of a pronoun to the correct form.

13.92(1)(bm)11. 11. May insert the USC citations for federal acts.

13.92(1)(bm)12. 12. May delete surplus words and modernize language in penalty provisions to correspond to current drafting style. No such change shall have the effect of increasing or decreasing any penalty.

13.92(1)(bm)13. 13. Shall, whenever any statute is affected by any act of the legislature, and may, at the bureau’s discretion, ensure that the statutory language does not discriminate on the basis of sex by making the following corrections, which shall have no substantive effect:

13.92(1)(bm)13.a. a. Delete any masculine or feminine pronoun or adjective, except where the statute clearly applies to one sex only, and replace it, if necessary, with terminology which does not discriminate on the basis of sex.

13.92(1)(bm)13.b. b. Replace words of male or female gender, such as man, wife and widow, with terms such as person, spouse and surviving spouse, except where the statute clearly applies to one sex only.

13.92(1)(bm)13.c. c. Make other corrections to remove from the statutes or to replace terminology which discriminates on the basis of sex.

13.92(1)(bm)14. 14. Shall prepare for introduction in the legislature legislation substituting English terms for Latin terms in the statutes.

13.92(1)(bm)15. 15. Shall identify for deletion by the legislature provisions that have no legal effect.

13.92(1)(bm)16. 16. Shall include an index of statutes of limitation and statutes establishing procedures for assertion of claims against governmental units or their employees in ch. 893 of each biennial edition of the Wisconsin statutes.