Chapter 15

15.377(2)(b) (b) One licensed teacher of pupils who are hearing impaired.

15.377(2)(c) (c) One person who is licensed as a speech-language pathologist under subch. II of ch. 459.

15.377(2)(d) (d) One school district special education director.

15.377(2)(e) (e) One person who is licensed as an audiologist under subch. II of ch. 459 and whose expertise is in educational audiology.

15.377(2)(f) (f) One person who is experienced in educating the hearing impaired, or in educating teachers of the hearing impaired, and is affiliated with an institution of higher education.

15.377(2)(g) (g) One person who is an instructor in a technical college interpreter training program.

15.377(2)(h) (h) One person employed as an educational interpreter.

15.377(2)(i) (i) Three other members.

15.377(4) (4) Council on special education. There is created in the department of public instruction a council on special education to advise the state superintendent of public instruction about the unmet educational needs of children with disabilities, in developing evaluations and reporting on data to the federal department of education, in developing plans to address findings identified in federal monitoring reports, in developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services for children with disabilities and on any other matters upon which the state superintendent wishes the council’s opinion; and to comment publicly on any rules proposed by the department of public instruction regarding the education of children with disabilities. The state superintendent of public instruction shall appoint the members of the council for 3-year terms, and shall ensure that a majority of the members are individuals with disabilities or parents of children with disabilities and that the council is representative of the state population, as determined by the state superintendent. The council shall be composed of individuals who are involved in, or concerned with, the education of children with disabilities, including all of the following:

15.377(4)(a) (a) Teachers of regular education and teachers of special education.

15.377(4)(b) (b) Representatives of institutions of higher education that train special education and related services personnel.

15.377(4)(c) (c) State and local education officials.

15.377(4)(d) (d) Administrators of programs for children with disabilities.

15.377(4)(e) (e) Representatives of agencies other than the department of public instruction involved in the financing or delivery of related services to children with disabilities.

15.377(4)(f) (f) Representatives of private schools, charter schools, and tribal schools, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m).

15.377(4)(g) (g) At least one representative of a vocational, community or business organization that provides transition services for children with disabilities.

15.377(4)(h) (h) Representatives from the department of corrections.

15.377(4)(i) (i) Parents of children with disabilities.

15.377(4)(j) (j) Individuals with disabilities.

15.377(6) (6) Council on library and network development. There is created in the department of public instruction a council on library and network development composed of 19 members. Nine of the members shall be library science, audiovisual and informational science professionals representative of various types of libraries and information services, including public libraries, public library systems, school libraries, public and private academic libraries, special libraries and library educators. Ten of the members shall be public members who have demonstrated an interest in libraries or other types of information services. The members of the council shall be appointed for 3-year terms. The council shall meet 6 times annually and shall meet also on the call of the state superintendent of public instruction, and may meet at other times on the call of the chairperson or a majority of its members.

15.377(8) (8) Professional standards council for teachers.

15.377(8)(a) (a) Definition. In this subsection, “labor organization” means an association of employee organizations that represents the public policy, labor and professional interests of teachers.

15.377(8)(b) (b) Creation. There is created a professional standards council for teachers in the department of public instruction.

15.377(8)(c) (c) Members. The professional standards council for teachers shall consist of the following members, nominated by the state superintendent of public instruction and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed:

15.377(8)(c)1. 1. Two persons licensed and actively employed as elementary school teachers in the public schools, recommended by the largest statewide labor organization representing teachers.

15.377(8)(c)2. 2. Two persons licensed and actively employed as middle school, junior high school or senior high school teachers in the public schools, recommended by the largest statewide labor organization representing teachers.

15.377(8)(c)3. 3. Two persons licensed and actively employed as pupil services professionals, as defined in s. 118.257 (1) (c), in the public schools, recommended by the largest statewide labor organization representing teachers.

15.377(8)(c)4. 4. One person licensed and actively employed as a special education teacher in the public schools, recommended by the largest statewide labor organization representing teachers.

15.377(8)(c)5. 5. Two other persons licensed and actively employed as teachers in the public schools, recommended by the largest statewide labor organization representing teachers.

15.377(8)(c)5m. 5m. One person licensed as a teacher and actively employed in a private school, recommended by the Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools.

15.377(8)(c)6. 6. One person actively employed as a public school district administrator, recommended by the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators.

15.377(8)(c)7. 7. One person actively employed as a public school principal, recommended by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators.

15.377(8)(c)8. 8. One faculty member of a department or School of Education in the University of Wisconsin System, recommended by the president of the University of Wisconsin System.

15.377(8)(c)9. 9. One faculty member of a department or School of Education in a private college in Wisconsin, recommended by the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

15.377(8)(c)10. 10. One additional faculty member, appointed from the list of persons recommended under subd. 8. or 9.

15.377(8)(c)11. 11. Two members of public school boards, recommended by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards.

15.377(8)(c)12. 12. One person who is a parent of a child who is enrolled in a public school.

15.377(8)(c)13. 13. One person who is a student enrolled in a teacher preparatory program, located in this state, that leads to initial licensure as a teacher.

15.377(8)(c)14. 14. One person licensed as a teacher and actively employed in a tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), recommended by a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state that has a tribal school.

15.377(8)(d) (d) Recommendations. For each vacancy on the council under par. (c) 1. to 9. and 11., the entity authorized to recommend a member shall provide the names of 3 qualified persons to the state superintendent of public instruction.

15.377(8)(e) (e) Terms. Members of the council shall serve 3-year terms except that the student appointed under par. (c) 13. shall serve a 2-year term.

15.377(8)(f) (f) Meetings. The council shall meet on a regular basis and at least twice each year.

15.377(9) (9) Council on early literacy curricula.

15.377(9)(a) (a) There is created in the department of public instruction a council on early literacy curricula composed of 9 members who have knowledge of or experience with science-based early reading instruction, as defined in s. 118.015 (1c) (b), and literacy curricula for pupils in grades kindergarten to 3. The members of the council shall be appointed for staggered 3-year terms, as follows:

15.377(9)(a)1. 1. Three members appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

15.377(9)(a)2. 2. Three members appointed by the senate majority leader.

15.377(9)(a)3. 3. Three members appointed by the state superintendent of public instruction.

15.377(9)(b) (b) An individual may not serve as a member of the council under this subsection if any of the following applies:

15.377(9)(b)1. 1. The individual has a financial interest in an entity that develops, sells, or markets a product to assess reading ability.

15.377(9)(b)2. 2. The individual has a financial interest in an entity that develops, sells, or markets a product specifically intended to be used to teach reading.

15.377(9)(b)3. 3. The individual has a financial interest in an entity that develops, sells, or markets a product to treat reading difficulties.

15.377(9)(c) (c) For purposes of par. (b), “financial interest in an entity” includes all of the following:

15.377(9)(c)1. 1. A direct or indirect ownership interest in the entity.

15.377(9)(c)2. 2. Receiving income from the entity during the 12 months preceding the consideration for appointment under par. (a).

15.377 History History: 1971 c. 152, 211, 292; 1973 c. 89, 220, 336; 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 346, 347; 1985 a. 29, 177; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1993 a. 184, 399; 1995 a. 27 ss. 183 to 187, 9126 (19), 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27, 164, 298; 1999 a. 9, 100, 186; 2001 a. 57; 2005 a. 121; 2009 a. 302; 2023 a. 20; s. 35.17 correction in (9) (a) (intro.).

15.40 15.40 Department of safety and professional services; creation. There is created a department of safety and professional services under the direction and supervision of the secretary of safety and professional services.

15.40 History History: 1971 c. 270 s. 104; 1975 c. 39; 1977 c. 29; 1977 c. 196 s. 131; 1977 c. 418 ss. 24 to 27; 2011 a. 32.

15.405 15.405 Same; attached boards and examining boards.

15.405(1) (1) Accounting examining board. There is created an accounting examining board in the department of safety and professional services. The examining board shall consist of 7 members, appointed for staggered 4-year terms. Five members shall hold certificates as certified public accountants and be eligible for licensure to practice in this state. Two members shall be public members.

15.405(2) (2) Examining board of architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, designers, professional land surveyors, and registered interior designers.

15.405(2)(ag) (ag) There is created an examining board of architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, designers, professional land surveyors, and registered interior designers in the department of safety and professional services. Any professional member appointed to the examining board shall be registered or licensed to practice architecture, landscape architecture, professional engineering, the design of engineering systems, professional land surveying, or interior design under ch. 443. The examining board shall consist of the following members appointed for 4-year terms: 3 architects, 3 landscape architects, 3 professional engineers, 3 designers, 3 professional land surveyors, 3 registered interior designers, and 12 public members.

15.405(2)(ar) (ar) In operation, the examining board shall be divided into an architect section, a landscape architect section, a professional engineer section, a designer section, a professional land surveyor section, and a registered interior designer section. Each section shall consist of the 3 members of the named profession appointed to the examining board and 2 public members appointed to the section. The examining board shall elect its own officers and shall meet at least twice annually.

15.405(2)(b) (b) All matters pertaining to passing upon the qualifications of applicants for and the granting or revocation of registration or licensure, and all other matters of interest to either the architect, landscape architect, engineer, designer, professional land surveyor, or registered interior designer section shall be acted upon solely by the interested section.

15.405(2)(c) (c) All matters of joint interest shall be considered by joint meetings of all sections of the examining board or of those sections to which the problem is of interest.

15.405(2m) (2m) Examining board of professional geologists, hydrologists and soil scientists.

15.405(2m)(a) (a) There is created in the department of safety and professional services an examining board of professional geologists, hydrologists and soil scientists consisting of the following members appointed for 4-year terms:

15.405(2m)(a)1. 1. Three members who are professional geologists licensed under ch. 470.

15.405(2m)(a)2. 2. Three members who are professional hydrologists licensed under ch. 470.

15.405(2m)(a)3. 3. Three members who are professional soil scientists licensed under ch. 470.

15.405(2m)(a)4. 4. Three public members.

15.405(2m)(b) (b) In operation, the examining board shall be divided into a professional geologist section, a professional hydrologist section and a professional soil scientist section. Each section shall consist of the 3 members of the named profession appointed to the examining board and one public member appointed to the section. The examining board shall elect its own officers, and shall meet at least twice annually.

15.405(2m)(c) (c) All matters pertaining to passing upon the qualifications of applicants for and the granting or revocation of licenses, and all other matters of interest to either the professional geologist, hydrologist or soil scientist section shall be acted upon solely by the interested section.

15.405(2m)(d) (d) All matters of joint interest shall be considered by joint meetings of all sections of the examining board or of those sections to which the matter is of interest.

15.405(3) (3) Auctioneer board.

15.405(3)(a) (a) There is created in the department of safety and professional services an auctioneer board consisting of the following members appointed for 4-year terms:

15.405(3)(a)1. 1. Four members, each of whom is registered under ch. 480 as an auctioneer, or is an auction company representative, as defined in s. 480.01 (3), of an auction company that is registered under ch. 480 as an auction company.

15.405(3)(a)2. 2. Three public members.

15.405(3)(b) (b) No member of the board may serve more than 2 terms.

15.405(3m) (3m) Cemetery board.

15.405(3m)(a) (a) In this subsection:

15.405(3m)(a)1. 1. “Business representative” has the meaning given in s. 452.01 (3k).

15.405(3m)(a)2. 2. “Licensed cemetery authority” means a cemetery authority that is licensed under s. 440.91 (1).

15.405(3m)(b) (b) There is created in the department of safety and professional services a cemetery board consisting of the following members, who shall serve 4-year terms:

15.405(3m)(b)1. 1. Four members, each of whom is a business representative of a licensed cemetery authority.

15.405(3m)(b)2. 2. Two public members.

15.405(3m)(c) (c) No member of the cemetery board may be a business representative of a religious cemetery authority, unless the religious cemetery is regulated by the board.

15.405(3m)(d) (d) No member of the cemetery board may serve more than 2 consecutive terms.

15.405(5) (5) Chiropractic examining board. There is created a chiropractic examining board in the department of safety and professional services. The chiropractic examining board shall consist of 6 members, appointed for staggered 4-year terms. Four members shall be graduates from a school of chiropractic and licensed to practice chiropractic in this state. Two members shall be public members. No person may be appointed to the examining board who is in any way connected with or has a financial interest in any chiropractic school.

15.405(5g) (5g) Controlled substances board. There is created in the department of safety and professional services a controlled substances board consisting of the attorney general, the secretary of health services, and the secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, or their designees; the chairperson of the pharmacy examining board, the chairperson of the medical examining board, the chairperson of the dentistry examining board, and the chairperson of the board of nursing, or a designee; and one psychiatrist and one pharmacologist appointed for 3-year terms.