Chapter 323

323.44 323.44 Public shelters.

323.44(1) (1) Any person owning or controlling real property who voluntarily and without compensation permits the state or any of its political subdivisions to inspect, designate, and use the whole or any part of the real property for the purpose of sheltering persons during a disaster, an imminent threat of a disaster, or a related training exercise is immune from civil liability for negligently causing the death of or injury to any person on or about the real property while it is being used to shelter persons during a disaster, an imminent threat of a disaster, or a related training exercise, if the owner or controller has complied with sub. (2).

323.44(2) (2) Any person owning or controlling real property who gratuitously grants the use of that real property for the purposes stated in sub. (1) shall make known to the licensee any hidden dangers or safety hazards which are known to the owner or occupant of the real property that might possibly result in death or injury or loss of property to any person making use of the property.

323.44 History History: 1979 c. 361 ss. 56, 112; Stats. 1979 s. 166.09; 2009 a. 42 s. 150; Stats. 2009 s. 323.44.

323.45 323.45 Providers of equipment and other items.

323.45(1) (1) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (4), no person who provides equipment, materials, facilities, labor, or services is liable for the death of or injury to any person or damage to any property caused by his or her actions if the person did so under all of the following conditions:

323.45(1)(a) (a) Under the direction of the governor, the adjutant general, the governing body, chief or acting chief executive officer, or head of emergency management of any local unit of government or federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state, the department of health services if that department is designated by the governor under s. 323.10, or the local health department acting under s. 251.05 (3) (e).

323.45(1)(b) (b) In response to enemy action, a disaster, or a federally declared state of emergency or during a state of emergency declared by the governor.

323.45(2) (2) This section does not apply if the person’s act or omission involved reckless, wanton, or intentional misconduct.

323.45(3) (3) This section does not affect the right of any person to receive benefits to which he or she otherwise would be entitled under the worker’s compensation law or under any pension law, nor does it affect entitlement to any other benefits or compensation authorized by state or federal law.

323.45(4) (4) 

323.45(4)(a) (a) This section does not apply to a person’s provision of services if s. 257.03 or 323.41 applies.

323.45(4)(b) (b) This section does not apply to a person’s provision of facilities if s. 257.04 or 323.44 applies.

323.45 History History: 2009 a. 42 ss. 117, 310; Stats. 2009 s. 323.45; 2021 a. 243.

subch. V of ch. 323 SUBCHAPTER V

EMERGENCY LOCATION AND
CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT

323.50 323.50 Definitions. In this subchapter:

323.50(1) (1) “Interim successor” means a person designated under this subchapter, if the officer is unavailable as the result of enemy action, to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of an office until a successor is appointed or elected and qualified as provided by law or until the lawful incumbent is able to resume the exercise of the powers and discharge the duties of the office.

323.50 Note NOTE: Sub. (1) is amended by 2009 Wis. Act 42, effective the day after the secretary of state notifies the legislature that an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution has been approved that requires the legislature to provide for temporary succession to the powers and duties of public offices for the period of an emergency resulting from a cause other than an enemy action, to read as follows:

Effective date text (1) “Interim successor” means a person designated under this subchapter, if the officer is unavailable as the result of a disaster or the imminent threat of a disaster, to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of an office until a successor is appointed or elected and qualified as provided by law or until the lawful incumbent is able to resume the exercise of the powers and discharge the duties of the office.

323.50(2) (2) “Office” includes all state and local offices, the powers and duties of which are defined by law, except the office of governor, and except those in the legislature and the judiciary.

323.50(3) (3) “Officer” means a person who holds an office.

323.50(4) (4) “Political subdivision” includes local units of government, special districts, authorities, and other public corporations and entities whether organized and existing under charter or general law.

323.50(5) (5) “Unavailable” means that a vacancy in office exists and there is no deputy authorized to exercise all of the powers and discharge the duties of the office, or that the lawful incumbent of the office and his or her duly authorized deputy are absent or unable to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office.

323.50 History History: 2009 a. 42 ss. 134, 136 to 139, 312; Stats. 2009 s. 323.50.

323.51 323.51 Emergency seat of state government.

323.51(1) (1) Designation and use of a temporary location by the governor. Whenever, as the result of a disaster or the imminent threat of a disaster, it becomes imprudent, inexpedient or impossible to conduct the affairs of state government at the state capital, the governor shall, as often as the exigencies of the situation require, designate a temporary location for the seat of government at a place in or outside this state. The governor shall take any action and issue any orders necessary for an orderly transition of the affairs of state government to the temporary location. If practicable, the temporary location the governor designates shall conform to that provided for in the current emergency management plan authorized under subch. II. The temporary location shall remain as the seat of government until the governor establishes a new location under this section, or until the seat of government is returned to its normal location.

323.51(1m) (1m) Designation of temporary location by the legislature.

323.51(1m)(a) (a) The legislature, by joint rule, may provide a process for designating a temporary seat of government for the legislature that is different than the location under sub. (1).

323.51(1m)(b) (b) Whenever, as the result of a disaster, as defined in s. 13.42 (1) (a), or the imminent threat of a disaster, it becomes imprudent, inexpedient, or impossible to conduct the business of the legislature at the state capital, the legislature may meet at the temporary location designated as provided under par. (a) or sub. (1) until it is no longer, as a result of the disaster or imminent threat of disaster, imprudent, inexpedient, or impossible, to conduct the business of the legislature at the state capital.

323.51(1m)(c) (c) Pursuant to the session schedule under s. 13.02 (3), the legislature may meet for up to one week per session in a location that is not the state capital or the temporary location designated as provided under par. (a) or sub. (1) to practice meeting at a temporary location.

323.51(1m)(d) (d) Information about the temporary location designated as provided under par. (a) is not subject to inspection or copying under s. 19.35 (1).

323.51(2) (2) Exercise of governmental authority. While the seat of government remains at a temporary location all official acts required by law to be performed at the seat of government by any officer, independent agency, department, or authority of this state, including the convening and meeting of the legislature in regular or special session under sub. (1) or (1m) (b) or (c), shall be as valid and binding when performed at the temporary location as if performed at the normal location.

323.51 History History: 1979 c. 361 ss. 56, 112, 113; Stats. 1979 s. 166.05; 1995 a. 247; 2009 a. 42 ss. 123 to 125; Stats. 2009 s. 323.51; 2009 a. 363; 2011 a. 260 ss. 49, 80.

323.52 323.52 Temporary locations of government for local units of government.

323.52(1) (1) Designation of temporary locations. Whenever during a state of emergency it becomes imprudent, inexpedient, or impossible to conduct the affairs of local government at the regular or usual place, the governing body of each local unit of government may meet at any place within or without the territorial limits of the local unit of government on the call of the presiding officer or his or her successor, and shall proceed to establish and designate by ordinance, resolution, or other manner, alternate or substitute places as the temporary locations of government where all, or any part, of the public business may be transacted and conducted during the emergency situation. Such alternate or substitute places may be within or without the territorial limits of the local unit of government and may be within or without those of the state. If practicable, they shall be the places designated as the temporary locations of government in the current emergency management plan.

323.52(2) (2) Exercise of governmental authority. While the public business is being conducted at a temporary location, the governing body and other officers of a local unit of government shall possess and exercise all of the executive, legislative, administrative, and judicial powers and functions conferred upon the body and officers under state law. Those powers and functions, except judicial, may be exercised in the light of the exigencies of the emergency situation without regard to or compliance with time-consuming procedures and formalities prescribed by law. All acts of the body and officers shall be as valid and binding as if performed within the territorial limits of their local unit of government.

323.52 History History: 1979 c. 361 ss. 56, 112; Stats. 1979 s. 166.06; 1995 a. 247; 2009 a. 42 ss. 126 to 128; Stats. 2009 s. 323.52.

323.53 323.53 Succession to office; state officers.

323.53(1) (1) Emergency interim successors to office of governor. If, during a state of emergency resulting from enemy action, the governor is unavailable and the lieutenant governor and the secretary of state are unavailable, the attorney general, state treasurer, speaker of the assembly, and the president of the senate shall in the order named if the preceding named officers are unavailable, exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office of governor until a new governor is elected and qualified, or until a preceding named officer becomes available; but no interim successor to those offices may serve as governor.

323.53 Note NOTE: Sub. (1) is amended by 2009 Wis. Act 42, effective the day after the secretary of state notifies the legislature that an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution has been approved that requires the legislature to provide for temporary succession to the powers and duties of public offices for the period of an emergency resulting from a cause other than an enemy action, to read as follows:

Effective date text (1) Emergency interim successors to office of governor. If, during a state of emergency resulting from a disaster or the imminent threat of a disaster, the governor is unavailable and the lieutenant governor and the secretary of state are unavailable, the attorney general, state treasurer, speaker of the assembly, and the president of the senate shall in the order named if the preceding named officers are unavailable, exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office of governor until a new governor is elected and qualified, or until a preceding named officer becomes available; but no interim successor to those offices may serve as governor.

323.53(2) (2) Interim successors for other state officers.

323.53(2)(a) (a) All state officers, subject to regulations that the governor, or other official authorized under the constitution or this section to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office of governor, may issue, shall, in addition to any deputy authorized to exercise all of the powers and discharge the duties of the office, designate by title interim successors and specify their order of succession. The officer shall review and revise, as necessary, designations made under this section to ensure their current status. The officer shall designate a sufficient number of interim successors so that there will be not fewer than 3 nor more than 7 deputies or interim successors or any combination of deputies or interim successors, at any time.

323.53(2)(b) (b) If, during a state of emergency resulting from enemy action, any state officer is unavailable and his or her deputy, if any, is also unavailable, the powers of his or her office shall be exercised and the duties of his or her office shall be discharged by his or her designated interim successors in the order specified. The interim successor shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office only until any of the following occurs:

323.53 Note NOTE: Par. (b) (intro.) is amended by 2009 Wis. Act 42, effective the day after the secretary of state notifies the legislature that an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution has been approved that requires the legislature to provide for temporary succession to the powers and duties of public offices for the period of an emergency resulting from a cause other than an enemy action, to read as follows:

Effective date text (b) If, during a state of emergency resulting from a disaster or the imminent threat of a disaster, any state officer is unavailable and his or her deputy, if any, is also unavailable, the powers of his or her office shall be exercised and the duties of his or her office shall be discharged by his or her designated interim successors in the order specified. The interim successor shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office only until any of the following occurs:

323.53(2)(b)1. 1. Where a vacancy exists, the governor under the constitution or authority other than this section, or other official authorized under the constitution or this section to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office of governor, appoints a successor to fill the vacancy.

323.53(2)(b)2. 2. A successor is appointed, or elected and qualified as provided by law other than under subd. 1.

323.53(2)(b)3. 3. An officer, the officer’s deputy or a preceding named interim successor becomes available to exercise, or resume the exercise of, the powers and discharge the duties of the office.

323.53 History History: 2009 a. 42 ss. 132, 140, 141, 313, 314; Stats. 2009 s. 323.53.

323.54 323.54 Succession to office; local officers.

323.54(1) (1) The governing body of any political subdivision may enact ordinances and resolutions to provide a method by which interim appointments to public office are made during periods of emergency to fill vacancies in offices that result from enemy action. The ordinances or resolutions shall define the scope of the powers and duties that interim appointees may exercise, and shall provide for termination of the interim appointments.

323.54 Note NOTE: Sub. (1) is amended by 2009 Wis. Act 42, effective the day after the secretary of state notifies the legislature that an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution has been approved that requires the legislature to provide for temporary succession to the powers and duties of public offices for the period of an emergency resulting from a cause other than an enemy action, to read as follows:

Effective date text (1) The governing body of any political subdivision may enact ordinances and resolutions to provide a method by which interim appointments to public office are made during periods of emergency to fill vacancies in offices that result from a disaster or the imminent threat of a disaster. The ordinances or resolutions shall define the scope of the powers and duties that interim appointees may exercise, and shall provide for termination of the interim appointments.

323.54(2) (2) Each officer of a political subdivision for whom an interim successor is not determined by ordinance or resolution adopted under sub. (1) shall, subject to such regulations as the executive head of the political subdivision issues, designate by title, if feasible, or by named person, interim successors and specify their order of succession. The officer shall review and revise, as necessary, designations made pursuant to this section to ensure their current status. The officer shall designate a sufficient number of persons so that there will be not fewer than 3 nor more than 7 deputies or interim successors or any combination at any time. If any officer of any political subdivision or his or her deputy provided for pursuant to law is unavailable, the powers of the office shall be exercised and duties shall be discharged by his or her designated interim successors in the order specified. The interim successor shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office to which designated until the vacancy that exists is filled in accordance with the constitution or statutes or until the officer or his or her deputy or a preceding interim successor again becomes available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of his or her office.

323.54 History History: 2009 a. 42 ss. 130, 131, 144, 315; Stats. 2009 s. 323.54.

323.55 323.55 Interim successors.

323.55(1) (1) Status and qualifications of designees. No person may be designated or serve as an interim successor under this subchapter unless he or she is eligible under the constitution and statutes to hold the office to which powers and duties he or she is designated to succeed, but no statutory provision prohibiting local or state officials from holding another office shall be applicable to an interim successor.

323.55(2) (2) Formalities of taking office. Interim successors shall take any oath required for them to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office to which they may succeed. No person, as a prerequisite to the exercise of the powers or discharge of the duties of an office to which he or she succeeds, shall be required to comply with any other provision of law relative to taking office.

323.55(3) (3) Period during which authority may be exercised. An interim successor to an office may discharge the duties of the office only during the continuance of an emergency resulting from enemy action in the form of an attack. The legislature, by joint resolution, may at any time terminate the authority of an interim successor to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of office provided in this subchapter.

323.55 Note NOTE: Sub. (3) is amended by 2009 Wis. Act 42, effective the day after the secretary of state notifies the legislature that an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution has been approved that requires the legislature to provide for temporary succession to the powers and duties of public offices for the period of an emergency resulting from a cause other than an enemy action, to read as follows:

Effective date text (3) Period during which authority may be exercised. An interim successor to an office may discharge the duties of the office only during the continuance of an emergency resulting from a disaster or the imminent threat of a disaster. The legislature, by joint resolution, may at any time terminate the authority of an interim successor to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of office provided in this subchapter.

323.55(4) (4) Removal of designees. Until such time as the persons designated as interim successors are authorized to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of an office in accordance with this subchapter, those persons shall serve in their designated capacities at the pleasure of the designating authority.

323.55(5) (5) Disputes. Any dispute concerning a question of fact arising under this subchapter with respect to an office in the executive branch of the state government, except a dispute of fact relative to the office of governor, shall be adjudicated by the governor or other official authorized under the constitution or this subchapter to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office of governor and his or her decision shall be final.

323.55 History History: 2009 a. 42 ss. 145 to 149, 316, 317; Stats. 2009 s. 323.55.

subch. VI of ch. 323 SUBCHAPTER VI

EMERGENCY PLANNING

323.60 323.60 Hazardous substances information and emergency planning.

323.60(1) (1) Definitions. In this subchapter:

323.60(1)(b) (b) “Committee” means a local emergency planning committee created under s. 59.54 (8) (a).

323.60(1)(c) (c) “Facility” means the buildings and contiguous area of a single location which is owned, operated or controlled by the same person and used for conducting the activities of a public or private agency, or as defined in 42 USC 11049 (4).

323.60(1)(d) (d) “Facility plan” means a plan for response to the release of hazardous substances from a specific facility, prepared as a component of a local emergency response plan under sub. (5) (a) and under 42 USC 11003.

323.60(1)(e) (e) “Federal act” means 42 USC 11000 to 11050.

323.60(1)(f) (f) “Hazardous chemical” means a hazardous chemical covered under 42 USC 11021 and 11022 as defined under 29 CFR 1910.1200 (c).

323.60(1)(g) (g) “Hazardous substance” means an extremely hazardous substance included in the list published by the administrator of the U.S. environmental protection agency under 42 USC 11002 (a) (2) or a hazardous substance as defined under 42 USC 9601 (14) or designated by the administrator of the U.S. environmental protection agency under 42 USC 9602 (a).

323.60(1)(gm) (gm) “Minerals” mean unbeneficiated metallic ore but does not include mineral aggregates such as stone, sand, and gravel.

323.60(1)(h) (h) “Private agency” means a privately owned and operated research facility or educational institution.

323.60(1)(i) (i) “Public agency” means a state or local office, agency, board, commission, committee, council, department, research facility, educational institution or public body corporate or politic created by constitution, law, ordinance, rule or order, or a governmental or quasi-governmental corporation.

323.60(1)(j) (j) “Threshold quantity” means a designated quantity of any of the following:

323.60(1)(j)1. 1. A hazardous chemical which, if used by or present at a facility, makes the facility subject to the requirements of sub. (5) (c).

323.60(1)(j)2. 2. A toxic chemical which, if used by or present at a facility, makes the facility subject to the requirements of sub. (5) (d).

323.60(1)(k) (k) “Toxic chemical” means a toxic chemical covered under 42 USC 11023 (c).

323.60(2) (2) Duties of the division. The division shall do all of the following:

323.60(2)(a) (a) Serve as the state emergency response commission under the federal act.

323.60(2)(b) (b) Promulgate rules necessary for the implementation of the federal act.

323.60(2)(bg) (bg) Promulgate rules establishing an amount not to exceed $6,000 that may be an eligible cost for computers in an emergency planning grant under s. 323.61 (2) (br).

323.60(2)(c) (c) Oversee the implementation of local emergency response plans by committees and provide assistance to committees in executing their duties under sub. (3) (b) to the greatest extent possible.

323.60(2)(d) (d) Administer the grant program under s. 323.61.