Chapter 15

15.16(1) (1) Employee trust funds board. The employee trust funds board shall consist of the governor or the governor’s designee on the group insurance board, the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration or the administrator’s designee and 11 persons appointed or elected for 4-year terms as follows:

15.16(1)(a) (a) Four members shall be members of the teachers retirement board, appointed by that board.

15.16(1)(a)1. 1. At least one appointee under this paragraph shall have been appointed or elected to the board under s. 15.165 (3) (a) 1. or 2.

15.16(1)(a)2. 2. At least one appointee under this paragraph shall have been appointed to the board under s. 15.165 (3) (a) 4.

15.16(1)(a)3. 3. At least one appointee under this paragraph shall have been elected to the board under s. 15.165 (3) (a) 7.

15.16(1)(a)4. 4. At least one appointee under this paragraph shall have been appointed to the board under s. 15.165 (3) (a) 3. or 5.

15.16(1)(b) (b) Four members shall be members of the Wisconsin retirement board, appointed by that board.

15.16(1)(b)1. 1. At least one appointee under this paragraph shall have been appointed to the board under s. 15.165 (3) (b) 1., 2., 4., 5. or 8.

15.16(1)(b)2. 2. At least one appointee under this paragraph shall have been appointed to the board under s. 15.165 (3) (b) 3., 6. or 7.

15.16(1)(b)3. 3. At least one appointee under this paragraph shall have been appointed to the board under s. 15.165 (3) (b) 7. or 8.

15.16(1)(c) (c) One member shall be a public member who is not a participant in or beneficiary of the Wisconsin retirement system, with at least 5 years of experience in actuarial analysis, administration of an employee benefit plan or significant administrative responsibility in a major insurer. It is the intent of the legislature that the member appointed under this paragraph shall represent the interests of the taxpayers of this state and shall not be representative of public employee or employer interests.

15.16(1)(d) (d) One member shall be an annuitant, as defined for purposes other than life insurance under s. 40.02 (4), elected by annuitants, as defined for purposes other than life insurance under s. 40.02 (4).

15.16(1)(f) (f) One member who is a participant in the Wisconsin retirement system and who is a technical college educational support personnel employee, as defined in s. 40.02 (55g), or an educational support personnel employee, as defined in s. 40.02 (22m), elected by participating employees meeting the same criteria.

15.16 History History: 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 96; 1991 a. 116; 1999 a. 181; 2003 a. 33 ss. 101, 9160; 2005 a. 25; 2015 a. 55.

15.16 Annotation Membership requirements under sub. (1) (a) and (b) apply only at the time of appointment. Appointees serve “at pleasure” of the appointing boards under sub. (1) (a) and (b). 75 Atty. Gen. 127.

15.165 15.165 Same; attached boards.

15.165(1) (1) Board members.

15.165(1)(a) (a) Any member of a board created under this section who loses the status upon which the appointment or election was based shall cease to be a member of the board upon appointment or election to the board of a qualified successor.

15.165(1)(b) (b) For purposes of this section, annuitants are deemed to be employees in the last position in which they were covered by the Wisconsin retirement system, except that annuitants may not be elected, appointed or vote under sub. (3) (a) 1., 2., 4. or 7.

15.165(2) (2) Group insurance board. There is created in the department of employee trust funds a group insurance board. The board shall consist of the governor, the attorney general, the secretary of administration, the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration, and the commissioner of insurance or their designees, and 6 persons appointed for 2-year terms, of whom one shall be an insured participant in the Wisconsin Retirement System who is not a teacher, one shall be an insured participant in the Wisconsin Retirement System who is a teacher, one shall be an insured participant in the Wisconsin Retirement System who is a retired employee, one shall be an insured employee of a local unit of government, and one shall be the chief executive or a member of the governing body of a local unit of government that is a participating employer in the Wisconsin Retirement System.

15.165(3) (3) Retirement boards.

15.165(3)(a) (a) Teachers retirement board. There is created in the department of employee trust funds a teachers retirement board. The board shall consist of 13 members, to serve for staggered 5-year terms. The board shall consist of the following members:

15.165(3)(a)1. 1. Six public school teachers who are participating employees in the Wisconsin retirement system and who are not eligible for election under any other subdivision of this paragraph, elected by participating employees meeting the same criteria.

15.165(3)(a)2. 2. One public school teacher from a technical college district who is a participating employee in the Wisconsin retirement system, elected by teacher participating employees from technical college districts.

15.165(3)(a)3. 3. One administrator in Wisconsin’s public schools who is not a classroom teacher.

15.165(3)(a)4. 4. Two University of Wisconsin System representatives who are teacher participants in the Wisconsin retirement system. The representatives under this subdivision shall not be from the same campus.

15.165(3)(a)5. 5. One representative who is a member of a school board.

15.165(3)(a)6. 6. One annuitant who was a teacher participant in the Wisconsin retirement system, elected by the annuitants who were teacher participants.

15.165(3)(a)7. 7. One teacher in the city of Milwaukee who is a participating employee in the Wisconsin retirement system, elected by the teachers of the public schools in that city who are participating employees.

15.165(3)(b) (b) Wisconsin retirement board. There is created in the department of employee trust funds a Wisconsin retirement board. The board shall consist of 9 members, and board members appointed under subds. 1. to 8. shall serve for staggered 5-year terms. The member appointed under subd. 1. shall be appointed from a list of 5 names submitted by the board of directors of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, and the member appointed under subd. 4. shall be appointed from a list of 5 names submitted by the executive committee of the Wisconsin Counties Association. Each member appointed under subds. 1., 2., and 3. shall be from a different county. Each member appointed under subds. 4., 5., and 6. shall be appointed from a different county. The board shall consist of the following members:

15.165(3)(b)1. 1. One member who is the chief executive or a member of the governing body of a participating city or village.

15.165(3)(b)2. 2. One member who is a participating employee and the principal finance officer of a participating city or village.

15.165(3)(b)3. 3. One member who is a participating employee of a participating city or village.

15.165(3)(b)4. 4. One member who is the chairperson or a member of the governing body of a participating county or town.

15.165(3)(b)5. 5. One member who is a county clerk or deputy county clerk of a participating county.

15.165(3)(b)6. 6. One member who is a participating employee of a participating local employer other than a city or village.

15.165(3)(b)7. 7. One member who is a participating state employee.

15.165(3)(b)8. 8. One member who is a public member not a participant in or beneficiary of the Wisconsin retirement system. It is the intent of the legislature that the members appointed under this paragraph shall represent the interests of the taxpayers of this state and shall not be representative of public employee or employer interests.

15.165(3)(b)9. 9. The commissioner of insurance or the commissioner’s designee under s. 601.415 (3).

15.165(4) (4) Deferred compensation board. There is created in the department of employee trust funds a deferred compensation board consisting of 5 members appointed for 4-year terms.

15.165 History History: 1973 c. 151, 329; 1977 c. 29, 418; 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 96; 1983 a. 192 s. 303 (7); 1983 a. 290; 1985 a. 230; 1987 a. 403; 1989 a. 31; 1993 a. 399; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 103; 2003 a. 33 ss. 102, 9160; 2005 a. 66; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2021 a. 240; 2023 a. 212.

15.165 Annotation Public school administrators are eligible to be candidates for and to vote for teacher representatives on the teachers retirement board. 76 Atty. Gen. 141.

15.18 15.18 Department of financial institutions. There is created a department of financial institutions under the direction and supervision of the secretary of financial institutions.

15.18 History History: 1995 a. 27.

15.183 15.183 Same; specified divisions.

15.183(1) (1) Division of banking. There is created a division of banking. Prior to July 1, 2000, the division is attached to the department of financial institutions under s. 15.03. After June 30, 2000, the division is created in the department of financial institutions. The administrator of the division shall be appointed outside the classified service by the secretary of financial institutions and shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary.

15.183(3) (3) Division of securities. There is created a division of securities. Prior to July 1, 2000, the division is attached to the department of financial institutions under s. 15.03. After June 30, 2000, the division is created in the department of financial institutions. The administrator of the division shall be appointed outside the classified service by the secretary of financial institutions and shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary.

15.183 History History: 1995 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2003 a. 33.

15.185 15.185 Same; attached boards, offices, and councils.

15.185(1) (1) Banking institutions review board. There is created in the department of financial institutions a banking institutions review board consisting of 5 persons, appointed for staggered 5-year terms. At least 3 members shall be experienced bankers or savings institution employees having at least 5 years’ experience in the banking or savings institution business. No member is qualified to act in any matter involving a bank or savings institution in which the member is an officer, director, or stockholder, or to which the member is indebted.

15.185(5) (5) College savings program board. There is created a college savings program board that is attached to the department of financial institutions under s. 15.03 and that consists of all of the following members:

15.185(5)(a) (a) The secretary of financial institutions or his or her designee.

15.185(5)(b) (b) The president of the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System or his or her designee.

15.185(5)(c) (c) The president of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities or his or her designee.

15.185(5)(d) (d) The chairperson of the investment board or his or her designee.

15.185(5)(e) (e) The president of the technical college system board or his or her designee.

15.185(5)(f) (f) Six other members, appointed for 4-year terms.

15.185(7) (7) Office of credit unions.

15.185(7)(a) (a) Office of credit unions; creation. There is created an office of credit unions which is attached to the department of financial institutions under s. 15.03. The director shall be appointed by the governor to serve at the pleasure of the governor. No person may be appointed director who has not had at least 3 years of actual experience either in the operation of a credit union, or serving in a credit union supervisory capacity, or a combination of both. Notwithstanding s. 15.03, all personnel and budget requests by the office of credit unions shall be processed and forwarded by the department of financial institutions without change except as requested and concurred in by the office of credit unions.

15.185(7)(b) (b) Credit union review board. There is created in the office of credit unions a credit union review board consisting of 5 persons, appointed for staggered 5-year terms. All members shall have at least 5 years’ experience in the operations of a credit union. The office of credit unions may call special meetings of the review board.

15.185(8) (8) Remote notary council.

15.185(8)(a) (a) There is created a remote notary council which is attached to the department of financial institutions under s. 15.03.

15.185(8)(b) (b) The council shall be composed of the following members appointed for 3-year terms:

15.185(8)(b)1. 1. One member who represents an association of title insurance companies.

15.185(8)(b)2. 2. One member who represents attorneys who practice real estate law.

15.185(8)(b)3. 3. One member who represents an association of bankers.

15.185(8)(b)4. 4. One member who represents the providers of communication technology used to perform a notarial act involving a remotely located individual.

15.185(8)(b)5. 5. The secretary of financial institutions or the secretary’s designee.

15.185 History History: 1995 a. 27, ss. 135, 136, 196, 197, 201, 203, 216, 217; 1997 a. 27; 2003 a. 33; 2017 a. 59 s. 34; 2019 a. 65, 125.

15.19 15.19 Department of health services; creation. There is created a department of health services under the direction and supervision of the secretary of health services.

15.19 History History: 1975 c. 39; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a).

15.193 15.193 Same; specified divisions.

15.193(1) (1) Office of the inspector general. There is created in the department of health services an office of the inspector general.

15.193 History History: 2013 a. 20.

15.194 15.194 Same; offices.

15.194(1) (1) Office of children’s mental health. There is created an office of children’s mental health in the department of health services. The director of the office shall be appointed by the governor to serve at the pleasure of the governor.

15.194 History History: 2013 a. 20.

15.195 15.195 Same; attached boards and commissions.

15.195(8) (8) Emergency medical services board.

15.195(8)(a) (a) There is created an emergency medical services board, which is attached to the department of health services under s. 15.03. The board shall consist of 13 voting members, appointed for 3-year terms, who have an interest and expertise in emergency medical services issues, who represent the various geographical areas of the state, and, subject to par. (b), who include representatives of the various types of emergency medical services providers.

15.195(8)(b) (b) At least 2 of the voting members of the board shall satisfy all of the following:

15.195(8)(b)1. 1. Be an emergency medical responder, as defined in s. 256.01 (4p), an emergency medical technician, as defined in s. 256.01 (6), an advanced emergency medical technician, as defined in s. 256.01 (1k), or an emergency medical technician - intermediate, as defined in s. 256.01 (7).

15.195(8)(b)2. 2. Have a local credentialing agreement solely with a volunteer department that serves a rural area or multiple volunteer departments that serve a rural area. For purposes of this subdivision, “rural area” means an area for which the population of the largest single municipality, as defined in s. 5.02 (11), in the volunteer department’s service area is less than 10,000.

15.195(8)(c) (c) In addition to the 13 voting members, the secretary of health services, the secretary of transportation, the director of the technical college system board and the state medical director for emergency medical services or their designees shall serve as nonvoting members of the board.

15.195 History History: 1971 c. 219; 1977 c. 29 s. 1650m (2); 1977 c. 273; 1983 a. 27; 1983 a. 109 ss. 1, 3; 1985 a. 56; 1987 a. 399; 1989 a. 102, 107; 1991 a. 250; 1993 a. 16, 168, 184, 233; 1995 a. 27 ss. 138, 139, 9126 (19); 1995 a. 225, 305; 1997 a. 27 ss. 60e to 61, 93; 1997 a. 231; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16, 79; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 228, 319; 2007 a. 20 ss. 39 to 50, 9121 (6) (a); 2013 a. 203; 2023 a. 181.

15.197 15.197 Same; councils.

15.197(1) (1) Council on mental health. There is created in the department of health services a council on mental health consisting of not less than 21 nor more than 25 members nominated by the secretary of health services and appointed by the governor for 3-year terms. Persons appointed to the council on mental health shall include representatives of groups and a proportion of members as specified in 42 USC 300x-3 (c), as amended to April 2, 2008.

15.197(2) (2) Council on blindness. There is created in the department of health services a council on blindness consisting of 9 members appointed by the secretary of health services for staggered 3-year terms. At least 7 of the persons appointed to the council shall be blind or visually impaired, as defined in s. 47.01 (1) or (5) and shall reflect a broad representation of blind or visually impaired persons. All council members shall have a recognized interest in and demonstrated knowledge of the problems of the blind or visually impaired. Council members may be persons receiving services from the department. The council has the functions specified in s. 47.03 (9).

15.197(4) (4) Council on physical disabilities.