Chapter 15

15.227(15)(a)18. 18. A representative of food product and food processing businesses.

15.227(15)(a)19. 19. A representative of businesses related to animal agriculture.

15.227(15)(a)20. 20. A representative of businesses related to renewable energy.

15.227(15)(a)21. 21. A representative of agricultural communication interests.

15.227(15)(a)22. 22. A representative of businesses providing engineering, mechanical, electronic, and power services relating to agriculture.

15.227(15)(a)23. 23. A representative of the board of agriculture, trade and consumer protection.

15.227(15)(a)24. 24. A teacher who teaches classes in science, vocational technology, business, math, or a similar field.

15.227(15)(a)25. 25. A school guidance counselor.

15.227(15)(a)26. 26. A school board member.

15.227(15)(a)27. 27. A school district administrator.

15.227(15)(b) (b) A person who is authorized under par. (a) 1. to 7. to appoint a designee may only appoint a designee who is an employee or appointive officer of the person’s department or educational institution and who has sufficient authority to deploy department or system resources and directly influence department or educational institution decision making.

15.227(15)(c) (c) The secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall appoint members of the council under par. (a) 11. to 23. to serve for 3-year terms. A member under par. (a) 11. to 23. may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms on the council.

15.227(15)(cm) (cm) The superintendent of public instruction shall appoint members of the council under par. (a) 24. to 27. to serve for 3-year terms. A member under par. (a) 24. to 27. may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms on the council.

15.227 History History: 1971 c. 271; 1975 c. 147 s. 54; 1975 c. 404, 405; 1977 c. 17, 29, 325; 1979 c. 102, 189; 1979 c. 221 ss. 45, 46m; 1981 c. 237, 341; 1983 a. 122, 388; 1985 a. 332; 1987 a. 27, 399; 1989 a. 31, 64; 1991 a. 39, 269, 295; 1993 a. 126, 399; 1995 a. 27 ss. 152 to 165, 9126 (19), 9130 (4); 1995 a. 225; 1997 a. 3, 27, 39; 1999 a. 9, 14; 2001 a. 37; 2009 a. 291; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59 s. 35; 2023 a. 152.

15.25 15.25 Department of justice; creation. There is created a department of justice under the direction and supervision of the attorney general.

15.253 15.253 Same; specified divisions.

15.253(2) (2) Division of criminal investigation. There is created in the department of justice a division of criminal investigation.

15.253(3) (3) Office of school safety. There is created an office of school safety. The director of the office shall be appointed by the attorney general.

15.253 History History: 1979 c. 34 s. 39; 1983 a. 192; 1985 a. 29; 1989 a. 122; 1991 a. 269; 1993 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2017 a. 143.

15.255 15.255 Same; attached boards.

15.255(1) (1) Law enforcement standards board. There is created a law enforcement standards board which is attached to the department of justice under s. 15.03.

15.255(1)(a) (a) The board shall be composed of 15 members as follows:

15.255(1)(a)1. 1. Seven representatives of local law enforcement in this state, at least one of whom shall be a sheriff and at least one of whom shall be a chief of police.

15.255(1)(a)2. 2. One district attorney holding office in this state.

15.255(1)(a)3. 3. Two representatives of local government in this state who occupy executive or legislative posts.

15.255(1)(a)4. 4. One public member, not employed in law enforcement, who is a citizen of this state.

15.255(1)(a)5. 5. The secretary of transportation or the secretary’s designee.

15.255(1)(a)6. 6. The attorney general or a member of the attorney general’s staff designated by the attorney general.

15.255(1)(a)8. 8. The secretary of natural resources or the secretary’s designee.

15.255(1)(a)9. 9. The special agent in charge of the Milwaukee office of the federal bureau of investigation, or a member of the special agent’s staff designated by the special agent, who shall act in an advisory capacity but shall have no vote.

15.255(1)(b) (b) The members of the board under par. (a) 1. to 4. shall be appointed for staggered 4-year terms, but no member shall serve beyond the time when the member ceases to hold the office or employment by reason of which the member was initially eligible for appointment.

15.255(1)(c) (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of any statute, ordinance, local law or charter provision, membership on the board does not disqualify any member from holding any other public office or employment, or cause the forfeiture thereof.

15.255(2) (2) Crime victims rights board.

15.255(2)(a) (a) There is created a crime victims rights board which is attached to the department of justice under s. 15.03.

15.255(2)(b) (b) The crime victims rights board shall be composed of 5 members as follows:

15.255(2)(b)1. 1. One district attorney holding office in this state.

15.255(2)(b)2. 2. One representative of local law enforcement in this state.

15.255(2)(b)3. 3. One person who is employed or contracted by a county board of supervisors under s. 950.06 to provide services for victims and witnesses of crimes.

15.255(2)(b)4. 4. Two members, not employed in law enforcement, by a district attorney or as specified in subd. 3., who are citizens of this state.

15.255(2)(c) (c) The members of the crime victims rights board specified in par. (b) 2. and 3. shall be appointed by the attorney general. One of the members specified in par. (b) 4. shall be appointed by the crime victims council and the other member shall be appointed by the governor. The member specified in par. (b) 1. shall be appointed by the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association.

15.255(2)(d) (d) The members of the crime victims rights board under par. (a) shall be appointed for 4-year terms, but no member shall serve beyond the time when the member ceases to hold the office or employment by reason of which the member was initially eligible for appointment.

15.255(2)(e) (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of any statute, ordinance, local law or charter provision, membership on the crime victims rights board does not disqualify any member from holding any other public office or employment, or cause the forfeiture thereof.

15.255 History History: 1971 c. 40; 1977 c. 29; 1981 c. 9; 1983 a. 27; 1987 a. 27, 403; 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 181; 2013 a. 20.

15.257 15.257 Same; councils.

15.257(2) (2) Crime victims council. There is created in the department of justice a crime victims council consisting of 15 persons appointed by the attorney general for staggered 3-year terms. Of the 15 members, 10 shall be citizen members, 2 shall represent organizations providing victim support services and one each shall be representatives of law enforcement, district attorneys and the judiciary. The citizen members shall have demonstrated sensitivity and concern for crime victims.

15.257(3) (3) Human trafficking council. There is created in the department of justice a human trafficking council. The council shall consist of the following members:

15.257(3)(a) (a) The secretary of administration, or his or her designee.

15.257(3)(b) (b) The secretary of children and families, or his or her designee.

15.257(3)(c) (c) The secretary of health services, or his or her designee.

15.257(3)(d) (d) The state superintendent of public instruction, or his or her designee.

15.257(3)(e) (e) The secretary of safety and professional services, or his or her designee.

15.257(3)(f) (f) The secretary of transportation, or his or her designee.

15.257(3)(g) (g) The secretary of workforce development, or his or her designee.

15.257(3)(h) (h) The state public defender, or his or her designee.

15.257(3)(i) (i) Two senators and 2 representatives to the assembly from the 2 major political parties, appointed as are members of standing committees.

15.257(3)(j) (j) To be appointed by the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association, one district attorney holding office in this state.

15.257(3)(k) (k) To be appointed by the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, one chief of police or chief of a combined protective services department holding office in this state.

15.257(3)(L) (L) To be appointed by the Badger State Sheriffs’ Association, one sheriff holding office in this state.

15.257(3)(m) (m) To be appointed by the Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association, one sheriff holding office in this state.

15.257(3)(n) (n) To be appointed by the attorney general, 4 representatives of organizations that provide human trafficking victim support services. The representatives appointed under this paragraph shall be from organizations that serve different geographic areas of the state, including both urban and rural communities.

15.257(3)(o) (o) To be appointed by the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc., one Native American member.

15.257(3)(p) (p) One representative of the office of crime victim services.

15.257(3)(q) (q) The director of the department of justice division of criminal investigation human trafficking and Internet crimes against children bureau, or his or her designee.

Effective date note NOTE: Sub. (3) is created eff. 7-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 239. Sub. (3) is repealed eff. 6-30-29 by 2023 Wis. Act 239.

15.257 History History: 1979 c. 34, 189; 1981 c. 20; 1985 a. 29 s. 3200 (35); 1985 a. 332; 1987 a. 27; 1997 a. 27, 88; 2023 a. 239.

15.31 15.31 Department of military affairs; creation. There is created a department of military affairs under the direction and supervision of the adjutant general who shall be appointed by the governor for a 5-year term. The adjutant general may be reappointed to successive terms. Notwithstanding s. 17.28, if a vacancy occurs in the office of the adjutant general, the governor shall appoint a successor for a 5-year term. A person must meet all of the following requirements to be appointed as the adjutant general:

15.31(1) (1) Hold the federally recognized minimum rank of full colonel.

15.31(2) (2) Except for those qualified under sub. (4), be a current participating member of one of the following components:

15.31(2)(a) (a) The Wisconsin army national guard.

15.31(2)(b) (b) The army national guard of the United States.

15.31(2)(c) (c) The U.S. army reserve.

15.31(2)(d) (d) The Wisconsin air national guard.

15.31(2)(e) (e) The air national guard of the United States.

15.31(2)(f) (f) The U.S. air force reserve.

15.31(3) (3) Be fully qualified to receive federal recognition at the minimum rank of brigadier general and have successfully completed a war college course or the military equivalent acceptable to the appropriate service.

15.31(4) (4) If the applicant is already a federally recognized general officer, meet all of the following conditions:

15.31(4)(a) (a) Be retired from active drilling status within the proceeding 2 years.

15.31(4)(b) (b) The basis of the applicant’s retired status was service with one of the service components noted in sub. (2).

15.31(4)(c) (c) Be 62 years of age or less.

15.31(4)(d) (d) Continue to be eligible for federal recognition as a major general.

15.31 History History: 1981 c. 35; 1983 a. 391; 1987 a. 63; 1989 a. 19; 2003 a. 25, 321.

15.313 15.313 Same; specified division.

15.313(1) (1) Division of emergency management. There is created in the department of military affairs a division of emergency management. The administrator of this division shall be nominated by the governor and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, to serve at the pleasure of the governor.

15.313 History History: 1989 a. 31 ss. 58, 83; 1995 a. 247.

15.315 15.315 Same; councils.

15.315(1) (1) Interoperability council.

15.315(1)(a) (a) There is created an interoperability council, attached to the department of military affairs under s. 15.03.

15.315(1)(b) (b) The council consists of all of the following:

15.315(1)(b)1. 1. The attorney general, the adjutant general, the secretary of natural resources, the secretary of transportation, and a representative from the department of administration with knowledge of information technology, or their designees.