Chapter 15

15.62(1)(a)3. 3. One member appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

15.62(1)(a)4. 4. One member appointed by the assembly minority leader.

15.62(1)(a)5. 5. Two individuals who formerly served as judges for a court of record in this state, who were elected to the positions in which they served, 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.

15.62(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.

15.62(1)(b) (b)

15.62(1)(b)1. 1. The ethics 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 ethics 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.

15.62(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.

15.62(1m) (1m) Members appointed with the advice and consent of the senate may serve prior to senate confirmation.

15.62(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.

15.62(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.

15.62(4) (4) No member may be a lobbyist, as defined in s. 13.62 (11), or an employee of a principal, as defined in s. 13.62 (12), except that a member may serve as a circuit judge or court of appeals judge under s. 753.075.

15.62(5) (5) 

15.62(5)(a) (a)

15.62(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.

15.62(5)(a)2. 2. If the political party affiliation of the individual responsible for filling a vacancy under this paragraph is not the same as the political party affiliation of the individual who made the initial appointment, the legislative leader of the political party that made the initial appointment shall fill the vacancy.

15.62(5)(b) (b) If a vacancy occurs for a member appointed under sub. (1) (a) 5. or 6., a new member shall be selected, nominated, and submitted to the senate for confirmation no later than 45 days after the date of the vacancy.

15.62 History History: 2015 a. 118 ss. 165, 172; 2017 a. 366.

15.67 15.67 Higher educational aids board; creation.

15.67(1) (1) There is created a higher educational aids board consisting of the state superintendent of public instruction and the following members appointed for 3-year terms, except that the members specified under pars. (a) 5. and 6. and (b) 3. shall be appointed for 2-year terms:

15.67(1)(a) (a) To represent public institutions of higher education, all of the following:

15.67(1)(a)1. 1. One member of the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

15.67(1)(a)2. 2. One member of the technical college system board.

15.67(1)(a)3. 3. One financial aids administrator within the University of Wisconsin System.

15.67(1)(a)4. 4. One financial aids administrator within the technical college system.

15.67(1)(a)5. 5. One undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time and in good academic standing at an institution within the University of Wisconsin System who is at least 18 years old and a resident of this state.

15.67(1)(a)6. 6. One student enrolled at least half-time and in good academic standing at a technical college who is at least 18 years old and a resident of this state.

15.67(1)(b) (b) To represent private, nonprofit institutions of higher education, all of the following:

15.67(1)(b)1. 1. One member of a board of trustees of an independent college or university in this state.

15.67(1)(b)2. 2. One financial aids administrator of a private nonprofit institution of higher education located in this state.

15.67(1)(b)3. 3. One undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time and in good academic standing at a private, nonprofit institution of higher education located in this state who is at least 18 years old and a resident of this state.

15.67(1)(c) (c) One member to represent the general public.

15.67(2) (2) If a student member under sub. (1) loses the status upon which the appointment was based, he or she shall cease to be a member of the higher educational aids board upon appointment to the higher educational aids board of a qualified successor.

15.67 History History: 1997 a. 27, 237.

15.675 15.675 Same; attached board.

15.675(1) (1) Distance learning authorization board. There is created a distance learning authorization board, for higher education, that is attached to the higher educational aids board under s. 15.03 and that consists of all of the following members:

15.675(1)(a) (a) The president of the University of Wisconsin System or his or her designee.

15.675(1)(b) (b) The president of the technical college system as appointed under s. 38.04 (2) or his or her designee.

15.675(1)(c) (c) The president of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities or his or her designee.

15.675(1)(d) (d) The secretary of safety and professional services or his or her designee.

15.675(1)(e) (e) One person representing tribal colleges in this state, appointed for a 4-year term.

15.675 History History: 2015 a. 208; 2017 a. 59; 2021 a. 240 s. 30.

15.70 15.70 Historical society. There is continued the state historical society of Wisconsin initially organized under chapter 17, laws of 1853, to be known for statutory purposes as the historical society, under the direction and supervision of a board of curators. The board of curators is not subject to s. 15.07. The board of curators shall consist of:

15.70(1) (1) The governor, or his or her designee.

15.70(2) (2) The speaker of the assembly or his or her designee chosen from the representatives to the assembly.

15.70(3) (3) The president of the senate or his or her designee chosen from the members of the senate.

15.70(4) (4) Three members nominated by the governor and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed for staggered 3-year terms.

15.70(5) (5) Members selected as provided in the constitution and bylaws of the historical society. After July 1, 1986, the number of members on the board of curators selected under this subsection may not exceed 30.

15.70(6) (6) One member of the senate from the minority party in the senate and one representative to the assembly from the minority party in the assembly, appointed as are members of standing committees in their respective houses.

15.70 History History: 1983 a. 27.

15.705 15.705 Same; attached boards.

15.705(1) (1) Burial sites preservation board. There is created a burial sites preservation board attached to the historical society under s. 15.03, consisting of the state archaeologist, as a nonvoting member, the director of the historical society if the director is not serving as the state historic preservation officer, the state historic preservation officer, or her or his formally appointed designee, who shall be a nonvoting member unless the director of the historical society is serving as the state historic preservation officer, and the following members appointed for 3-year terms:

15.705(1)(a) (a) Three members, selected from a list of names submitted by the Wisconsin archaeological survey, who shall have professional qualifications in the fields of archaeology, physical anthropology, history or a related field.

15.705(1)(b) (b) Three members who shall be members of federally recognized Indian tribes or bands in this state, selected from names submitted by those tribes or bands. Each such member shall be knowledgeable in the field of tribal preservation planning, history, archaeology, or a related field or shall be an elder, traditional person, or spiritual leader of his or her tribe.

15.705(2) (2) Historic preservation review board. There is created a historic preservation review board attached to the historical society under s. 15.03, consisting of 15 members appointed for staggered 3-year terms. At least 9 members shall be persons with professional qualifications in the fields of architecture, archaeology, art history and history and up to 6 members may be persons qualified in related fields including, but not limited to, landscape architecture, urban and regional planning, law or real estate.

15.705 History History: 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 110; 1981 c. 237; 1985 a. 316; 1995 a. 27; 1995 a. 216 ss. 2j, 2k; 2017 a. 222.

15.73 15.73 Office of commissioner of insurance; creation. There is created an office of the commissioner of insurance under the direction and supervision of the commissioner of insurance. The commissioner shall not:

15.73(1) (1) Be a candidate for public office in any election;

15.73(2) (2) Directly or indirectly solicit or receive, or be in any manner concerned with soliciting or receiving any assessment, subscription, contribution or service, whether voluntary or involuntary, for any political purpose whatever, from any person within or without the state; nor

15.73(3) (3) Act as an officer or manager for any candidate, political party or committee organized to promote the candidacy of any person for any public office.

15.76 15.76 Investment board; creation. There is created a state of Wisconsin investment board, to be known for statutory purposes as the investment board. The investment board shall consist of the following members:

15.76(1) (1) The secretary of administration, or the secretary’s designee.

15.76(1r) (1r) One member appointed for a 6-year term, who is a representative of a local government that participates in the local government pooled-investment fund under s. 25.50. The member shall be employed by the local government in a finance position and have had at least 10 years of financial experience, but may not be an elected official, an employee of a county with a population greater than 450,000 or an employee of a city, town or village with a population greater than 150,000. If the member appointed under this subsection loses the status upon which the appointment was based, he or she shall cease to be a member of the investment board.

15.76(2) (2) Five members appointed for staggered 6-year terms, 4 of whom shall have had at least 10 years’ experience in making investments, but any person having a financial interest in or whose employer is primarily a dealer or broker in securities or mortgage or real estate investments is not eligible for appointment, and any member who acquires such an interest or accepts such appointment shall thereupon vacate his or her membership.

15.76(3) (3) Two participants in the Wisconsin retirement system appointed for 6-year terms, one of whom shall be a teacher participant appointed by the teacher retirement board and one of whom shall be a participant other than a teacher appointed by the Wisconsin retirement board.

15.76 History History: 1981 c. 96; 1985 a. 29; 1991 a. 316; 1995 a. 274.

15.78 15.78 Public defender board. There is created a public defender board consisting of 9 members appointed for staggered 3-year terms. No member may be, or be employed on the staff of, a judicial or law enforcement officer, district attorney, corporation counsel, or the state public defender. At least 5 members shall be members of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

15.78 History History: 1977 c. 29; 2001 a. 103.

15.79 15.79 Public service commission; creation.

15.79(1) (1) There is created a public service commission consisting of one chairperson and 2 commissioners. The chairperson and any commissioner may not have a financial interest in a railroad, water carrier, or public utility. If the chairperson or a commissioner voluntarily becomes so interested, the chairperson’s or commissioner’s office shall become vacant. If the chairperson or commissioner involuntarily becomes so interested, the chairperson’s or commissioner’s office shall become vacant unless the chairperson or commissioner divests himself or herself of the interest within a reasonable time. The chairperson and each commissioner shall hold office until a successor is appointed and qualified.

15.79(2) (2) The chairperson and each commissioner of the public service commission may not do any of the following:

15.79(2)(a) (a) Be a candidate for public office in any election.

15.79(2)(b) (b) Directly or indirectly solicit or receive any contribution, as defined in s. 11.0101 (8), from any person within or outside of the state.

15.79(2)(c) (c) Act as an officer or manager for any candidate, political party, or committee organized to promote the candidacy of any person for any public office.

15.79(2)(d) (d) Serve on or under any committee of a political party.

15.79 History History: 1979 c. 171; 2005 a. 179; 2011 a. 155; 2015 a. 55, 117.

15.79 Annotation A public service commissioner may attend a political party convention as a delegate. 61 Atty. Gen. 265.

15.795 15.795 Same; attached office.

15.795(1) (1) Office of the commissioner of railroads. There is created an office of the commissioner of railroads which is attached to the public service commission under s. 15.03, provided that s. 85.02 (1) does not apply to the office of the commissioner of railroads. The commissioner of railroads shall have expertise in railroad issues and may not have a financial interest in a railroad, as defined in s. 195.02 (1), or a water carrier, as defined in s. 195.02 (5). The commissioner may not serve on or under any committee of a political party. The commissioner shall hold office until a successor is appointed and qualified.

15.795 History History: 1993 a. 123; 2003 a. 89; 2005 a. 179.

15.797 15.797 Same; council.

15.797(1) (1) Wind siting council.

15.797(1)(a) (a) In this subsection, “wind energy system” has the meaning given in s. 66.0403 (1) (m).

15.797(1)(b) (b) There is created in the public service commission a wind siting council that consists of the following members appointed by the public service commission for 3-year terms:

15.797(1)(b)1. 1. Two members representing wind energy system developers.

15.797(1)(b)2. 2. One member representing towns and one member representing counties.

15.797(1)(b)3. 3. Two members representing the energy industry.

15.797(1)(b)4. 4. Two members representing environmental groups.

15.797(1)(b)5. 5. Two members representing realtors.

15.797(1)(b)6. 6. Two members who are landowners living adjacent to or in the vicinity of a wind energy system and who have not received compensation by or on behalf of owners, operators, or developers of wind energy systems.