Chapter 44

44.14 History History: 1977 c. 26; 1985 s. 332 s. 251 (3).

44.15 44.15 Historical markers program.

44.15(2) (2) Creation. It is declared to be in the public interest to stimulate interest in and knowledge of the state by marking sites of special historical, architectural, cultural, archaeological, ethnic, geological or legendary significance, and maintaining and developing such sites approximately so as to preserve their individual characteristics. The historical markers program is created to call attention to the state’s historical, cultural and natural heritage through a system of markers and plaques and to supplement, wherever possible, information contained in the state register of historic places. It is the purpose of the program to significantly increase the number of historical, cultural and natural heritage sites that are marked in this state.

44.15(3) (3) Markers and plaques.

44.15(3)(a) (a) The historical society shall do all of the following:

44.15(3)(a)1. 1. Plan, develop and publicize a uniform system of marking for state and local sites of historical, architectural, cultural, archaeological, ethnic, geological and legendary significance. The marking system shall constitute large markers of standard design, in one or more sizes, with narrative text describing the associated site.

44.15(3)(a)2. 2. Plan, develop and publicize a system of plaques for the districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects listed on the state register of historic places and a system of plaques for marking state and local sites of special historical, architectural, cultural, archaeological, ethnic, geological or legendary significance. The system of plaques shall constitute small plaques of various types, each with a standard design, intended to identify the district, site, building, structure or object, and generally without narrative text. Any narrative text included on a plaque shall be standardized for a specific type of plaque. The historical society shall consider and respond to reasonable requests to establish new types of plaques.

44.15(3)(a)3. 3. Establish criteria for the selection of appropriate sites for markers and plaques under this subsection. The historical society shall accept applications for approval of the placement of markers and plaques, and for any narrative text for markers. The historical society shall approve those applications that meet the criteria established by the historical society.

44.15(3)(a)4. 4. Prepare the text for a book listing the locations and text of all markers in this state.

44.15(3)(b) (b) The markers and plaques approved by the historical society under this subsection may not be used to mark sites other than those approved by the historical society and shall be used subject to any conditions established by the historical society. No marker or plaque may include the name of the current owner of the property. Without the approval of the historical society, no person may erect or use a marker or plaque that is identical to or misleadingly resembles the markers and plaques approved under this subsection. The historical society may require the removal of any marker or plaque that does not meet the requirements of this subsection.

44.15(4) (4) State-funded markers. The historical society may identify and authorize construction of individual markers or plaques, or any series of markers or plaques, to be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.245 (1) (a). No matching funds are required for a marker or plaque that is constructed under this subsection. Funds under this subsection may be used for the purchase of plaques to be installed on historical properties and for the construction of markers or plaques in other states or countries.

44.15(5) (5) Maintenance. Any approval issued for a marker or plaque by the historical society under this section shall include a requirement that the applicant maintain the marker or plaque, and shall also include authorization permitting the historical society, if necessary, to enter the property and maintain the marker or plaque. The historical society may issue orders to maintain markers and plaques, and may maintain markers or plaques.

44.15(6) (6) State-owned property. Each board, commission, committee, department or officer in state government shall cooperate with the historical society in the placement of markers or plaques on state-owned property, and shall place and maintain such markers or plaques, as supplied by the historical society, at locations identified by the historical society.

44.15(7) (7) Donations; assistance.

44.15(7)(a) (a) The historical society may accept gifts, appropriations and bequests made to it for the purposes of this section and use them as far as practicable in accordance with the wishes of the donor.

44.15(7)(b) (b) The historical society may accept the aid, support and cooperation of county, city, village or town agencies, or private agencies or persons in executing its projects.

44.15(8) (8) Cooperation of state agencies. All state departments, independent agencies and institutions are directed to cooperate with the historical society in the performance of its duties under this section. Applicable laws shall be liberally construed in favor of such cooperation.

44.15(9) (9) Rules. The historical society shall promulgate rules to implement and administer the program. The rules shall include all of the following:

44.15(9)(a) (a) Policies and procedures for the uniform systems of markers and plaques under sub. (3) (a) 1. and 2.

44.15(9)(b) (b) Criteria for the selection of appropriate sites for markers and plaques under sub. (3) (a) 3.

44.15 History History: 1991 a. 269; 1993 a. 471; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 16.

44.15 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. HS 4, Wis. adm. code.

44.16 44.16 Circus World Museum.

44.16(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (3), the historical society may enter into a lease agreement with the Circus World Museum Foundation, Inc., for the purpose of operating Circus World Museum, located in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The lease agreement shall not include any provision for the payment of a percentage of gross admissions income at Circus World Museum to the historical society.

44.16(2) (2) Upon request of the board of directors of the Circus World Museum Foundation, Inc., the governor may nominate, and with the advice and consent of the senate appoint, one member of the board of directors to serve at the pleasure of the governor.

44.16(3) (3) If a lease agreement under sub. (1) is in effect on September 23, 2017, the lease agreement shall terminate on January 1, 2018, or on the date that any termination occurs as provided under the lease agreement, whichever is earlier.

44.16 History History: 1985 a. 29; 1999 a. 9; 2017 a. 59.

44.20 44.20 Historic sites.

44.20(1) (1) 

44.20(1)(a) (a) The historical society shall operate and maintain the historic sites known as Stonefield Village, Pendarvis, Villa Louis, Old Wade House, Madeline Island, Old World Wisconsin, H.H. Bennett Studios and, if the First Capitol state park has been transferred to the historical society under 1993 Wisconsin Act 16, section 9142 (1e), First Capitol.

44.20(1)(b) (b) The historical society shall operate and maintain Circus World Museum. If a lease agreement under s. 44.16 (1) is in effect on September 23, 2017, this paragraph does not apply until the termination date of the lease agreement that is specified in s. 44.16 (3).

44.20(2) (2) No historic site may be closed without specific authorization to do so from the legislature and the governor.

44.20(3) (3) 

44.20(3)(a) (a) For each historic site under sub. (1), the historical society may organize and maintain a nonstock, nonprofit corporation under ch. 181 for the purposes of soliciting and accepting contributions, gifts, grants, and bequests for the historic site for which the corporation is organized and maintained, providing goods or services relating to that historic site, and providing support for the operation, management, and development of that historic site. Any corporation organized under this paragraph shall be organized so that contributions to the corporation will be deductible from gross income under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code, as defined in s. 71.01 (6), and so that the corporation will be exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue code, as defined in s. 71.22 (4), and s. 71.26 (1) (a).

44.20(3)(b) (b) The historical society may enter into a contract with a corporation organized for the purposes of soliciting and accepting contributions, gifts, grants, and bequests for a historic site under sub. (1), providing goods or services relating to that historic site, and providing support for the operation, management, and development of that historic site setting forth the methods by which the historical society and the corporation will cooperate to accomplish those purposes. The contract shall provide that any contribution, gift, grant, or bequest accepted by the corporation that is not retained by the corporation shall be deposited in the history preservation partnership trust fund, credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.245 (1) (r), and, in accordance with the wishes of the donor, used exclusively for the operation, management, and development of the historic site for which the corporation was organized and that any moneys received by the corporation for any goods or services provided by the corporation that are not retained by the corporation shall be deposited in the history preservation partnership trust fund, credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.245 (1) (r), and used exclusively for the operation, management, and development of the historic site for which the corporation was organized.

44.20(3)(c) (c) The historical society may sell memberships in a corporation specified in par. (b). All moneys received from the sale of those memberships shall be deposited in the general fund, credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.245 (1) (h), and transferred to the corporation for which the membership was sold.

44.20(4) (4) 

44.20(4)(a) (a) Subject to authorization under s. 16.505, the historical society may employ outside the classified service sales and development professionals to engage in activities intended to generate admissions, sales, and other receipts for the historic sites under sub. (1) and to solicit contributions, gifts, grants, and bequests in support of those historic sites. The historical society may provide a compensation plan for those professionals under which those professionals are compensated, in whole or in part, through commissions and bonuses.

44.20(4)(b) (b) Notwithstanding s. 230.08 (2) (cd), if a position in the classified service at the historical society is transferred outside the classified service under par. (a) and if the employee holding that position has achieved permanent status in class before the date of that transfer, that employee shall retain, while serving in the unclassified service at the historical society, those protections afforded employees in the classified service under ss. 230.34 (1) (a) and 230.44 (1) (c) relating to demotion, suspension, discharge, layoff, or reduction in base pay. Such an employee shall also be eligible for transfer under s. 230.29 and shall have reinstatement privileges to the classified service under s. 230.33 (1m). If a position in the classified service at the historical society is transferred outside the classified service under par. (a) and if the employee holding that position has not achieved permanent status in class on the date of that transfer, that employee is eligible to receive the protections, privileges, and rights preserved under this paragraph if the employee successfully completes service equivalent to the probationary period required in the classified service for the position that the employee holds on that date.

44.20(4m) (4m) The historical society and the department of tourism may enter into a memorandum of understanding setting forth the responsibilities of the department of tourism relating to promoting and marketing the historic sites under sub. (1) and the methods that the historical society and the department of tourism will use to cooperate in promoting and marketing those historic sites.

44.20(5) (5) The director of the historical society shall include in the biennial report under s. 15.04 (1) (d) information regarding revenues and expenditures for each historic site under sub. (1) and the condition of the historic sites.

44.20 History History: 1983 a. 27, 192; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16, 437; 1995 a. 3; 1999 a. 9; 2003 a. 91; 2017 a. 59.

44.21 44.21 Historical society parking regulations. The board of curators may promulgate rules to govern parking of motor vehicles on property under the control of the historical society. Whoever violates such a rule shall forfeit to the state not more than $25.

44.21 History History: 1971 c. 170; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (3).

subch. II of ch. 44 SUBCHAPTER II

HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM

44.30 44.30 Public policy. The legislature finds that the historic, architectural, archaeological and cultural heritage of the state is among the most important assets of the state and furthermore that the social, economic and physical development of contemporary society threatens to destroy the remaining vestiges of this heritage. It is therefore declared to be the public policy and in the public interest of this state to engage in a comprehensive program of historic preservation to promote the use and conservation of such property representative of both the rural and urban heritage of the state for education, inspiration, pleasure and enrichment of the citizens of this state.

44.30 History History: 1987 a. 395 s. 24.

44.31 44.31 Definitions. In this subchapter:

44.31(1) (1) “Adverse effect” means any of the following:

44.31(1)(a) (a) Physical destruction, damage or alteration of any part of a property which would adversely affect the historic significance of that property.

44.31(1)(b) (b) Isolation of a property from or alteration of the character of the property’s setting when that character contributes to the property’s qualification as a listed property.

44.31(1)(c) (c) Introduction of visual, audible or atmospheric elements that are out of character with a property or alter its setting.

44.31(1)(d) (d) Neglect of a property resulting in its deterioration or destruction.

44.31(1m) (1m) “Director” means the director of the historical society.

44.31(2) (2) “Historic preservation” means the research, protection, restoration and rehabilitation of historic properties.

44.31(3) (3) “Historic property” means any building, structure, object, district, area or site, whether on or beneath the surface of land or water, that is significant in the history, prehistory, architecture, archaeology or culture of this state, its rural and urban communities or the nation.

44.31(4) (4) “Listed property” means property which is listed on the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places, or both.

44.31(5) (5) “National register of historic places in Wisconsin” means those places in Wisconsin which are listed on the national register of historic places maintained by the U.S. department of the interior.

44.31(6) (6) “Political subdivision” means a city, village, town or county.

44.31(7) (7) “Officer” means the state historic preservation officer.

44.31(8) (8) “Owned or leased” includes:

44.31(8)(a) (a) An ownership interest involving the holding of title.

44.31(8)(b) (b) A leasehold interest.

44.31(8)(c) (c) Ownership of a beneficial interest.

44.31(8)(d) (d) Any beneficial use not involving the holding of title.

44.31(10) (10) “State agency” means any office, department, independent agency, or attached board or commission within the executive branch of state government, or any special purpose authority created by statute.

44.31(11) (11) “State review board” means the historic preservation review board.

44.31(12) (12) “Wisconsin inventory of historic places” or “the inventory” means the listing of places that have been identified by the officer as being of some historic significance.

44.31 History History: 1987 a. 395 ss. 25 to 27, 35; 1989 a. 31.

44.32 44.32 Officer. The director or his or her designee shall serve as the state historic preservation officer.

44.32 History History: 1987 a. 395 s. 28.

44.33 44.33 Duties of the state review board. The state review board shall:

44.33(1) (1) Approve, upon the recommendation of the officer, nominations to the national register of historic places in Wisconsin and the state register of historic places.

44.33(2) (2) Review the state surveys and inventories of historic properties undertaken under s. 44.34.

44.33(3) (3) Review and approve the content of the state preservation plan developed under s. 44.34.

44.33(4) (4) Review and approve the distribution of federal grants-in-aid for preservation.

44.33(5) (5) Recommend the removal of properties from the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places.

44.33(6) (6) Act in an advisory capacity to the state historical society.

44.33(7) (7) Notify planning departments of affected political subdivisions, local landmarks commissions and local historical societies regarding properties being considered for nomination to the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places that are within their jurisdictions, and request them to forward comments regarding nominations from affected neighborhood groups, public bodies and interested citizens.

44.33 History History: 1987 a. 395 s. 29.

44.34 44.34 Duties of the state historical society. The state historical society shall:

44.34(1) (1) Conduct an ongoing statewide survey to identify and document historic properties, including all those owned by the state, its instrumentalities and political subdivisions.

44.34(2) (2) Prepare, update and maintain the Wisconsin inventory of historic places.

44.34(3) (3) Maintain, publish and disseminate the national and state registers of historic places in Wisconsin and lists or descriptions of properties in the national and state registers of historic places in Wisconsin which may be of interest to the general public.

44.34(4) (4) Serve as the state’s principal agency for administration of historic preservation activities and programs of the federal government and maintain the state’s eligibility to participate in the programs.

44.34(5) (5) Prepare the state preservation plan and annually review it.

44.34(6) (6) Undertake a program of technical assistance to localities and private parties in furtherance of local and private historic preservation programs.

44.34(7) (7) Administer and distribute grants-in-aid using federal funds in furtherance of preservation and restoration of historic properties in accordance with federal law and regulations of the federal government.