Chapter 15

15.197(4)(a)1. 1. “Major life activity” means any of the following:

15.197(4)(a)1.a. a. Self-care.

15.197(4)(a)1.b. b. Performance of manual tasks unrelated to gainful employment.

15.197(4)(a)1.c. c. Walking.

15.197(4)(a)1.d. d. Receptive and expressive language.

15.197(4)(a)1.e. e. Breathing.

15.197(4)(a)1.f. f. Working.

15.197(4)(a)1.g. g. Participating in educational programs.

15.197(4)(a)1.h. h. Mobility, other than walking.

15.197(4)(a)1.i. i. Capacity for independent living.

15.197(4)(a)2. 2. “Physical disability” means a physical condition, including an anatomical loss or musculoskeletal, neurological, respiratory or cardiovascular impairment, which results from injury, disease or congenital disorder and which significantly interferes with or significantly limits at least one major life activity of a person.

15.197(4)(a)3. 3. “Physically disabled person” means an individual having a physical disability.

15.197(4)(b) (b) Creation and membership. There is created a council on physical disabilities, attached to the department of health services under s. 15.03. The council shall consist of all of the following:

15.197(4)(b)1. 1. The governor, or his or her designee.

15.197(4)(b)3. 3. Thirteen members, appointed for 3-year terms, under the following criteria:

15.197(4)(b)3.a. a. The members shall be appointed from residents of this state who have a demonstrated professional or personal interest in problems of physical disability and shall be selected so as to include a reasonably equitable representation of those communities located in the state’s urban and rural areas and with regard to sex and race.

15.197(4)(b)3.b. b. At least 6 members shall be physically disabled persons. Two members may be parents, guardians or relatives of physically disabled persons.

15.197(4)(b)3.c. c. At least one member shall be a provider of services to physically disabled persons.

15.197(4)(c) (c) Functions. The council has the functions specified in s. 46.29.

15.197(8) (8) Council for the deaf and hard of hearing. There is created in the department of health services a council for the deaf and hard of hearing consisting of 9 members appointed for staggered 4-year terms.

15.197(12) (12) Council on birth defect prevention and surveillance. There is created in the department of health services a council on birth defect prevention and surveillance. The council shall consist of the following members appointed for a 4-year term by the secretary of health services:

15.197(12)(a) (a) A representative of the University of Wisconsin Medical School who has technical expertise in birth defects epidemiology.

15.197(12)(b) (b) A representative from the Medical College of Wisconsin who has technical expertise in birth defects epidemiology.

15.197(12)(bn) (bn) A pediatric nurse or a nurse with expertise in birth defects.

15.197(12)(c) (c) A representative from the subunit of the department that is primarily responsible for the children with special health needs program.

15.197(12)(d) (d) A representative from the subunit of the department that is primarily responsible for early intervention services.

15.197(12)(e) (e) A representative from the subunit of the department that is primarily responsible for health statistics research and analysis.

15.197(12)(f) (f) A representative of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin.

15.197(12)(g) (g) A representative of the Wisconsin Health and Hospital Association.

15.197(12)(h) (h) A representative of the American Academy of Pediatrics — Wisconsin Chapter.

15.197(12)(i) (i) A representative of the board for people with developmental disabilities.

15.197(12)(j) (j) A representative of a nonprofit organization that has as its primary purpose the prevention of birth defects and does not promote abortion as a method of prevention.

15.197(12)(k) (k) A parent or guardian of a child with a birth defect.

15.197(12)(L) (L) A representative of a local health department, as defined in s. 250.01 (4), who is not an employee of the department of health services.

15.197(13) (13) Public health council. There is created in the department of health services a public health council consisting of 23 members, nominated by the secretary of health services, and appointed for 3-year terms. The council shall include representatives of health care consumers, health care providers, health professions educators, local health departments and boards, federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands in this state, public safety agencies, and, if created by the secretary of health services under s. 15.04 (1) (c), the public health advisory committee.

15.197(25) (25) Trauma advisory council.

15.197(25)(a) (a) There is created in the department of health services a trauma advisory council. The trauma advisory council shall consist of the following members who have an interest and expertise in emergency medical services and who are appointed by the secretary of health services:

15.197(25)(a)1. 1. Four physicians who represent urban and rural areas.

15.197(25)(a)2. 2. Two registered nurses, as defined in s. 146.40 (1) (f).

15.197(25)(a)3. 3. Two prehospital emergency medical services providers, including one representative of a municipality.

15.197(25)(a)4. 4. Two representatives of a rural hospital.

15.197(25)(a)5. 5. Two representatives of an urban hospital.

15.197(25)(a)6. 6. One member of the emergency medical services board.

15.197(25)(b) (b) In appointing the members under par. (a), the secretary of health services shall ensure that all geographic areas of the state are represented.

15.197 History History: 1971 c. 125, 219, 255, 322, 332; 1973 c. 198, 321, 322; 1975 c. 39 ss. 46 to 52, 732 (2); 1975 c. 115, 168, 199, 200; 1977 c. 29 ss. 36, 40, 41, 42, 42c, 42g, 42k, 42p, 42t, 42x, 43, 1650m (2), (4), 1657 (18) (c); 1977 c. 160, 213, 428; 1979 c. 34, 111, 221, 320, 355; 1981 c. 20, 24; 1983 a. 27, 113, 188, 204, 435, 439, 538; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 27, 413; 1989 a. 31, 202; 1991 a. 32, 39, 189, 250; 1993 a. 16, 27, 98, 213, 399; 1995 a. 27 ss. 139m to 143, 9126 (19), 9130 (4); 1995 a. 225, 303, 352; 1997 a. 3, 27, 154; 1999 a. 9, 114; 2001 a. 59, 109; 2003 a. 29, 186; 2007 a. 20 ss. 40 to 50, 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 113; 2009 a. 180; 2021 a. 239; 2021 a. 240 s. 30.

15.20 15.20 Department of children and families; creation. There is created a department of children and families under the direction and supervision of the secretary of children and families.

15.20 History History: 2007 a. 20.

15.204 15.204 Same; offices.

15.204(1) (1) Office of the inspector general. There is created an office of the inspector general in the department of children and families. The inspector general shall be appointed by, and report directly to, the secretary of children and families.

15.204 History History: 2013 a. 20.

15.205 15.205 Same; attached boards.

15.205(4) (4) Child abuse and neglect prevention board. There is created a child abuse and neglect prevention board which is attached to the department of children and families under s. 15.03. The board shall consist of 20 members as follows:

15.205(4)(a) (a) The governor or his or her designee.

15.205(4)(b) (b) The attorney general or his or her designee.

15.205(4)(c) (c) The secretary of health services or his or her designee.

15.205(4)(d) (d) The state superintendent of public instruction or his or her designee.

15.205(4)(dg) (dg) The secretary of corrections or his or her designee.

15.205(4)(dr) (dr) The secretary of children and families or his or her designee.

15.205(4)(e) (e) One representative to the assembly appointed by the speaker of the assembly or that appointed representative’s designee.

15.205(4)(em) (em) One representative to the assembly appointed by the minority leader of the assembly or that appointed representative’s designee.

15.205(4)(f) (f) One senator appointed by the president of the senate or that appointed senator’s designee.

15.205(4)(fm) (fm) One senator appointed by the minority leader of the senate or that appointed senator’s designee.

15.205(4)(g) (g) Ten public members appointed by the governor for staggered 3-year terms. The public members shall be appointed on the basis of expertise, experience, leadership, or advocacy in the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

15.205 History History: 2007 a. 20 ss. 39 to 50, 66, 9121 (6) (a).

15.207 15.207 Same; councils.

15.207(16) (16) Council on domestic abuse. There is created in the department of children and families a council on domestic abuse. The council shall consist of 13 members appointed for staggered 3-year terms. Of those 13 members, 9 shall be nominated by the governor and appointed with the advice and consent of the senate, and one each shall be designated by the speaker of the assembly, the senate majority leader and the minority leader in each house of the legislature and appointed by the governor. Persons appointed shall have a recognized interest in and knowledge of the problems and treatment of victims of domestic abuse.

15.207(24) (24) Milwaukee child welfare partnership council.

15.207(24)(a) (a) There is created a Milwaukee child welfare partnership council, attached to the department of children and families under s. 15.03. The council shall consist of the following members:

15.207(24)(a)1. 1. Three members of the Milwaukee County board nominated by the Milwaukee County executive.

15.207(24)(a)2. 2. One representative to the assembly appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

15.207(24)(a)3. 3. One representative to the assembly appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.

15.207(24)(a)4. 4. One senator appointed by the president of the senate.

15.207(24)(a)5. 5. One senator appointed by the minority leader of the senate.

15.207(24)(a)6. 6. Ten members who are residents of this state, not less than 6 of whom shall be residents of Milwaukee County.

15.207(24)(a)8. 8. The Milwaukee County district attorney or his or her designee.

15.207(24)(a)9. 9. The presiding judge of the children’s division of the Milwaukee County circuit court.

15.207(24)(b) (b) Notwithstanding s. 15.09 (2), the governor shall designate one of the members appointed under par. (a) 6. as chairperson of the council.

15.207(24)(c) (c) The members of the council appointed under par. (a) 1. and 6. shall be appointed for 3-year terms.

15.207 History History: 2007 a. 20 ss. 53 to 64, 67; 2009 a. 180 s. 13; 2013 a. 225; 2015 a. 55 ss. 78 to 85; 2019 a. 9.

15.22 15.22 Department of workforce development; creation. There is created a department of workforce development under the direction and supervision of the secretary of workforce development.

15.22 History History: 1977 c. 29; 1995 a. 27 s. 9130 (4); 1997 a. 3.

15.223 15.223 Same; specified divisions.

15.223(1) (1) Division of equal rights. There is created in the department of workforce development a division of equal rights.

15.223 History History: 1995 a. 27 ss. 144, 9130 (4); 1997 a. 3, 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16.

15.225 15.225 Same; attached boards and commission.

15.225(2) (2) Employment relations commission. There is created an employment relations commission which is attached to the department of workforce development under s. 15.03, except the budget of the employment relations commission shall be transmitted by the department to the governor without change or modification by the department, unless agreed to by the employment relations commission.

15.225 History History: 1977 c. 29; 1995 a. 27 ss. 107 to 111, 9126 (19), 9130 (4); 1995 a. 221; 1997 a. 3; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25; 2013 a. 20 s. 47; 2015 a. 55.

15.227 15.227 Same; councils.

15.227(3) (3) Council on unemployment insurance. There is created in the department of workforce development a council on unemployment insurance appointed by the secretary of workforce development to consist of 5 representatives of employers and 5 representatives of employees appointed to serve for 6-year terms and a permanent classified employee of the department of workforce development who shall serve as nonvoting chairperson. In making appointments to the council, the secretary shall give due consideration to achieving balanced representation of the industrial, commercial, construction, nonprofit and public sectors of the state’s economy. One of the employer representatives shall be an owner of a small business or a representative of an association primarily composed of small businesses. In this subsection, “small business” means an independently owned and operated business which is not dominant in its field and which has had less than $2,000,000 in gross annual sales for each of the previous 2 calendar years or has 25 or fewer employees. A member vacates his or her office if the member loses the status upon which his or her appointment is based.