Chapter 15

15.46 15.46 Department of transportation; creation. There is created a department of transportation under the direction and supervision of the secretary of transportation.

15.46 Annotation The Department of Transportation is entitled to sovereign immunity. It is not an independent going concern. Canadian National Railroad v. Noel, 2007 WI App 179, 304 Wis. 2d 218, 736 N.W.2d 900, 06-2617.

15.465 15.465 Same; attached board.

15.465(2) (2) Rustic roads board. There is created a rustic roads board in the department of transportation. The rustic roads board shall consist of the following members: the chairpersons of the senate and assembly standing committees having jurisdiction over transportation matters as determined by the speaker of the assembly and the president of the senate and 8 members appointed by the secretary of transportation for staggered 4-year terms of whom at least 4 members shall be selected from a list of nominees submitted by the Wisconsin Counties Association.

15.465 History History: 1973 c. 142; 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 34; 1981 c. 347; 1983 a. 192 s. 303 (7); 1993 a. 16.

15.467 15.467 Same; councils.

15.467(3) (3) Council on highway safety. There is created in the department of transportation a council on highway safety. The council shall consist of 15 members, as follows:

15.467(3)(a) (a) Five citizen members appointed for staggered 3-year terms.

15.467(3)(b) (b) Five state officers, part of whose duties shall be related to transportation and highway safety, appointed for staggered 3-year terms.

15.467(3)(c) (c) Three representatives to the assembly, appointed as are the members of assembly standing committees, at least one of whom serves on any assembly standing committee dealing with transportation matters.

15.467(3)(d) (d) Two senators, appointed as are the members of senate standing committees, at least one of whom serves on any senate standing committee dealing with transportation matters.

15.467(4) (4) Council on uniformity of traffic citations and complaints. There is created in the department of transportation a council on uniformity of traffic citations and complaints. Notwithstanding s. 15.09 (6), members of the council shall not be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties on the council. The council shall consist of the following members:

15.467(4)(a) (a) The secretary, or his or her designee, as chairperson.

15.467(4)(b) (b) A member of the department of transportation responsible for law enforcement.

15.467(4)(c) (c) A member of the Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association, designated by the president thereof.

15.467(4)(d) (d) A member of the County Traffic Patrol Association, designated by the president thereof.

15.467(4)(e) (e) A member of the Chiefs of Police Association, designated by the president thereof.

15.467(4)(f) (f) A member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, designated by the president thereof.

15.467(4)(g) (g) A member of the Wisconsin council of safety, designated by the president thereof.

15.467(4)(h) (h) A member of the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association, designated by the president thereof.

15.467(4)(i) (i) A member of the judicial conference, designated by the chairperson of the conference.

15.467(4)(j) (j) A member designated by the director of state courts.

15.467 History History: 1977 c. 325; 1979 c. 34 s. 16; 1979 c. 361 s. 112; 1985 a. 145 ss. 1, 4; 1987 a. 27; 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 103; 2011 a. 245.

15.49 15.49 Department of veterans affairs; creation.

15.49(1) (1) In this section, “veteran” means a veteran, as defined in s. 45.01 (12) (a) to (f), who has served on active duty, as defined in s. 45.01 (1).

15.49(2) (2) There is created a department of veterans affairs and a board of veterans affairs. Except as otherwise provided by law, the department shall be under the direction and supervision of the secretary of veterans affairs, who shall be a veteran. The board shall consist of 9 members all of whom shall be veterans. The members shall be appointed for staggered 4-year terms. The board shall be composed so that for each congressional district in the state there is at least one member of the board who is a resident of that district. If a member ceases to reside within the boundaries of the congressional district where he or she resided as that district existed at the time that member’s current term began, the member vacates his or her office.

15.49 History History: 1975 c. 77; 1981 c. 199; 1991 a. 165; 2011 a. 36.

15.495 15.495 Same; attached commission.

15.495(1) (1) Wisconsin commission for the United States semiquincentennial commission. There is created a Wisconsin commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial commission, which is attached to the department of veterans affairs. A commission member, once installed, is a permanent member of the commission, and shall retain his or her role even if the commission member no longer retains his or her status that qualified him or her for membership, unless the commission member voluntarily steps down from the commission. Notwithstanding s. 15.01 (2), the commission shall be composed of the following members:

15.495(1)(a) (a) The speaker of the assembly, or his or her designee.

15.495(1)(b) (b) The senate president, or his or her designee.

15.495(1)(c) (c) The senate majority leader, or his or her designee.

15.495(1)(d) (d) The senate minority leader, or his or her designee.

15.495(1)(e) (e) The assembly majority leader, or his or her designee.

15.495(1)(f) (f) The assembly minority leader, or his or her designee.

15.495(1)(g) (g) The governor, or his or her designee.

15.495(1)(h) (h) The chief justice of the supreme court, or his or her designee.

15.495(1)(i) (i) The director of the state historical society.

15.495(1)(j) (j) The director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.

15.495(1)(k) (k) The director of the Tourism Federation of Wisconsin.

15.495(1)(L) (L) A member of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state.

15.495(1)(m) (m) A member of the Wisconsin Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

15.495(1)(n) (n) A member of the Wisconsin Society Sons of the American Revolution.

15.495 History History: 2021 a. 95.

15.497 15.497 Same; councils.

15.497(2) (2) Council on veterans programs. There is created in the department of veterans affairs a council on veterans programs consisting of all of the following:

15.497(2)(ag) (ag) The following representatives appointed for staggered 3-year terms by the organization that each member represents:

15.497(2)(ag)1. 1. One representative each of the state departments of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Marine Corps League, the Veterans of World War II (AMVETS), the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., the Polish Legion of American Veterans, the National Association for Black Veterans, Inc., the Wisconsin Association of Concerned Veteran Organizations, the United Women Veterans, Inc., the Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans, Inc., and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

15.497(2)(ag)2. 2. One representative of the American Red Cross.

15.497(2)(ag)3. 3. One representative of the Wisconsin county veterans service officers.

15.497(2)(ag)4. 4. One representative of the Wisconsin chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

15.497(2)(ag)5. 5. One representative of the Wisconsin Council of the Military Officers Association of America.

15.497(2)(ag)6. 6. One representative of The Retired Enlisted Association.

15.497(2)(ag)7. 7. One representative of the Wisconsin American GI Forum.

15.497(2)(am) (am) For a 3-year term, a veteran services coordinator who is employed at a technical college in this state and who is popularly selected by other technical college veteran services coordinators in this state.

15.497(2)(ar) (ar) For a 3-year term, a veteran services coordinator who is employed at a University of Wisconsin System institution, as defined in s. 36.05 (9), and who is popularly selected by other University of Wisconsin System institution veteran services coordinators.

15.497(2)(at) (at) For a 3-year term, a veteran services coordinator who is employed at a college or university that is a member of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and who is selected by the president of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities or his or her designee.

15.497 History History: 1973 c. 90, 333; 1975 c. 316; 1981 c. 237; 1983 a. 437; 1987 a. 243; 1987 a. 403 s. 255; 1989 a. 31, 36, 359; 1995 a. 120; 2001 a. 21; 2005 a. 22; 2007 a. 25; 2009 a. 49, 298; 2023 a. 70.

subch. III of ch. 15 SUBCHAPTER III

INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

15.57 15.57 Educational communications board; creation. There is created an educational communications board consisting of:

15.57(1) (1) The secretary of administration, the state superintendent of public instruction, the president of the University of Wisconsin System and the director of the technical college system board, or their designees.

15.57(2) (2) Two public members appointed for 4-year terms.

15.57(3) (3) One representative of public schools and one representative of private schools or of tribal schools, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), appointed for 4-year terms.

15.57(4) (4) One majority and one minority party senator and one majority and one minority party representative to the assembly, appointed as are the members of standing committees in their respective houses.

15.57(5) (5) One member appointed by the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System for a 4-year term.

15.57(6g) (6g) The president of the Wisconsin Public Radio Association.

15.57(6m) (6m) One member with a demonstrated interest in public television who resides within the coverage area of an education television channel subject to s. 39.11 (3).

15.57(7) (7) One member appointed by the technical college system board for a 4-year term.

15.57 History History: 1971 c. 100 s. 4; Stats. 1971 s. 15.57; 1977 c. 325; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 29; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 399; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27; 2009 a. 302.

15.61 15.61 Elections commission; creation.

15.61(1) (1) 

15.61(1)(a) (a) There is created an elections commission consisting of the following members who shall serve for 5-year terms:

15.61(1)(a)1. 1. One member appointed by the senate majority leader.

15.61(1)(a)2. 2. One member appointed by the senate minority leader.

15.61(1)(a)3. 3. One member appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

15.61(1)(a)4. 4. One member appointed by the assembly minority leader.

15.61(1)(a)5. 5. Two members who formerly served as county or municipal clerks and who are nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of a majority of the members of the senate confirmed. The legislative leadership of the 2 major political parties that received the largest number of votes for president shall prepare a list of 3 individuals such that each major political party has prepared one list. The governor shall choose one nominee from each list.

15.61(1)(a)6. 6. For each political party, other than the 2 major political parties, qualifying for a separate ballot under s. 5.62 (1) (b) or (2) whose candidate for governor received at least 10 percent of the vote in the most recent gubernatorial election, one member, nominated by the governor from a list of 3 individuals selected by the chief officer of that political party, and with the advice and consent of a majority of the members of the senate confirmed.

15.61(1)(b) (b)

15.61(1)(b)1. 1. The elections commission shall be under the direction and supervision of an administrator, who shall be appointed by a majority of the members of the commission, with the advice and consent of the senate, to serve for a 4-year term expiring on July 1 of the odd-numbered year. Until the senate has confirmed an appointment made under this subdivision, the elections commission shall be under the direction and supervision of an interim administrator selected by a majority of the members of the commission. If a vacancy occurs in the administrator position, the commission shall appoint a new administrator, and submit the appointment for senate confirmation, no later than 45 days after the date of the vacancy. If the commission has not appointed a new administrator at the end of the 45-day period, the joint committee on legislative organization shall appoint an interim administrator to serve until a new administrator has been confirmed by the senate but for a term of no longer than one year. If the administrator position remains vacant at the end of the one-year period, the process for filling the vacancy described in this subdivision is repeated until the vacancy is filled.

15.61(1)(b)2. 2. The administrator may be removed by the affirmative vote of a majority of all members of the commission voting at a meeting of the commission called for that purpose.

15.61(1m) (1m) Members appointed with the advice and consent of the senate may serve prior to senate confirmation.

15.61(2) (2) No member of the commission may hold another office or position that is a state public office or a local public office, as defined in s. 19.42, except the office of circuit judge or court of appeals judge under s. 753.075.

15.61(3) (3) No member, while serving on the commission, may become a candidate, as defined in s. 11.0101 (1), for state office or local office, as defined in s. 5.02.

15.61(4) (4) No member may be a lobbyist, as defined in s. 13.62 (11), except that a member may serve as a circuit judge or court of appeals judge under s. 753.075.

15.61(5) (5) 

15.61(5)(a) (a)

15.61(5)(a)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if a vacancy occurs for a member appointed under sub. (1) (a) 1. to 4., the individual responsible for making the appointment shall appoint a new member no later than 45 days after the date of the vacancy.