Chapter 15

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.

15.797(1)(b)7. 7. Two public members.

15.797(1)(b)8. 8. One member who is a University of Wisconsin System faculty member with expertise regarding the health impacts of wind energy systems.

15.797 History History: 2009 a. 40.

15.91 15.91 Board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System; creation. There is created a board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System consisting of the state superintendent of public instruction, the president, or by his or her designation another member, of the technical college system board and 14 citizen members appointed for staggered 7-year terms, and 2 students enrolled at least half-time and in good academic standing at institutions within the University of Wisconsin System who are residents of this state, for 2-year terms. At least one of the citizen members shall reside in each of this state’s congressional districts. The student members may be selected from recommendations made by elected representatives of student governments at institutions within the University of Wisconsin System. The governor shall appoint one student member who is at least 18 years old and one undergraduate student member who is at least 24 years old and represents the views of nontraditional students, such as those who are employed or are parents. The governor may not appoint a student member from the same institution in any 2 consecutive terms; the 2 student members who are appointed may not be from the same institution; and a student from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a student from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee may not serve on the Board of Regents at the same time. If a student member loses the status upon which the appointment was based, he or she shall cease to be a member of the board of regents.

15.91 History History: 1971 c. 100; 1977 c. 29; 1985 a. 85; 1991 a. 68; 1993 a. 399; 1995 a. 27, 78; 1997 a. 237; 2005 a. 76; 2011 a. 89.

15.915 15.915 Same; attached boards and commissions.

15.915(1) (1) Veterinary diagnostic laboratory board.

15.915(1)(a) (a) There is created a veterinary diagnostic laboratory board attached to the University of Wisconsin System under s. 15.03.

15.915(1)(b) (b) The veterinary diagnostic laboratory board shall consist of the following members:

15.915(1)(b)1. 1. The secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection or his or her designee.

15.915(1)(b)2. 2. The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison or his or her designee.

15.915(1)(b)3. 3. The dean of the school of veterinary medicine or his or her designee.

15.915(1)(b)4. 4. A veterinarian employed by the federal government, to serve at the pleasure of the governor.

15.915(1)(b)5. 5. Five other members representing persons served by the veterinary diagnostic laboratory, at least one of whom is a livestock producer, at least one of whom represents the animal agriculture industry and at least one of whom is a practicing veterinarian who is a member of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association, appointed for 3-year terms.

15.915(1)(b)6. 6. The director of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory, who shall serve as a nonvoting member.

15.915(2) (2) Laboratory of hygiene board. There is created in the University of Wisconsin System a laboratory of hygiene under the direction and supervision of the laboratory of hygiene board. The board shall consist of:

15.915(2)(a) (a) The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the secretary of health services, the secretary of natural resources and the secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, or their designees.

15.915(2)(b) (b) A representative of local health departments who is not an employee of the department of health services, one physician representing clinical laboratories, one member representing private environmental testing laboratories, one member representing occupational health laboratories and 3 additional members, one of whom shall be a medical examiner or coroner, appointed for 3-year terms. No member appointed under this paragraph may be an employee of the laboratory of hygiene.

15.915(2)(c) (c) The director of the laboratory, who shall serve as a nonvoting member.

15.915(7) (7) Public leadership board. There is created a public leadership board attached to the University of Wisconsin System under s. 15.03. The board consists of the following members:

15.915(7)(a) (a) The director of the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership appointed under s. 36.68 (3).

15.915(7)(b) (b) The president of the Thompson Family Charitable Foundation, Inc., or his or her designee.

15.915(7)(c) (c) One member, appointed for a 3-year term, who worked under the personal direction of former governor Tommy G. Thompson during the former governor’s career in state or federal government.

15.915(7)(d) (d) Two members appointed for 3-year terms from a list of at least 3 names submitted by the speaker of the assembly.

15.915(7)(e) (e) Two members appointed for 3-year terms from a list of at least 3 names submitted by the senate majority leader.

15.915 History History: 1971 c. 323; 1973 c. 335; 1975 c. 39; 1977 c. 29 s. 1650m (2); 1977 c. 203, 418; 1979 c. 34 s. 50m; 1981 c. 346; 1985 a. 29; 1989 a. 20; 1989 a. 31 ss. 60m, 95e; 1991 a. 25; 1993 a. 27; 1995 a. 27 ss. 112b, 112c, 112d, 112h, 9126 (19); 1995 a. 227; 1997 a. 27 ss. 75m, 94e to 94m; 1997 a. 237 s. 722p; 1999 a. 107; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 404; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59.

15.917 15.917 Same; attached council.

15.917(1) (1) Rural health development council. There is created in the University of Wisconsin System a rural health development council consisting of 17 members nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, for 5-year terms, and the secretary of health services, or his or her designee. The appointed members shall include all of the following:

15.917(1)(a) (a) A representative of the University of Wisconsin Medical School.

15.917(1)(b) (b) A representative of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc.

15.917(1)(c) (c) A representative of the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority.

15.917(1)(d) (d) One representative of a private lender that makes loans in rural areas.

15.917(1)(e) (e) A representative of a hospital located in a rural area and a representative of a clinic located in a rural area.

15.917(1)(f) (f) A physician licensed under ch. 448, a dentist licensed under ch. 447, a nurse licensed under ch. 441, and a dental hygienist licensed under ch. 447, all of whom practice in a rural area, and a representative of public health services.

15.917(1)(g) (g) The secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection or the secretary’s designee.

15.917(1)(h) (h) The secretary of workforce development or the secretary’s designee.

15.917(1)(i) (i) A representative of an economic development organization operating in a rural area.

15.917(1)(j) (j) A member of the public from a rural area.

15.917 History History: 2009 a. 28 ss. 40g to 40n, 43 to 43g; 2011 a. 32.

15.94 15.94 Technical college system board; creation. There is created a technical college system board consisting of 13 members. No person may serve as president of the board for more than 2 successive annual terms. The board shall be composed of:

15.94(1m) (1m) The state superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent’s designee. 

15.94(2) (2) The secretary of workforce development or the secretary’s designee.

15.94(2m) (2m) The president, or by his or her designation another member, of the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System.

15.94(3) (3) One employer of labor, one employee who does not have employing or discharging power, one person whose principal occupation is farming and who is actually engaged in the operation of farms and 6 additional members appointed for 6-year terms.

15.94(4) (4) 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, for a 2-year term. The governor may not appoint a student member from the same technical college in any 2 consecutive terms. If the student member loses the status upon which the appointment was based, other than through graduation, he or she shall cease to be a member of the board.

15.94 History History: 1971 c. 100; 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 32; 1981 c. 269; 1985 a. 29; 1991 a. 29, 68; 1993 a. 399; 1995 a. 27 ss. 222, 9130 (4); 1995 a. 78; 1997 a. 3, 161.

15.94 Annotation A member of a local district board of vocational, technical, and adult education [now technical college] cannot serve as a state board member. 60 Atty. Gen. 178.