Chapter 66

66.0125(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

66.0125(1)(a) (a) “Status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking,” for purposes of discrimination in housing, has the meaning given in s. 106.50 (1m) (u).

66.0125(1)(b) (b) “Local governmental unit” means a city, village, town, school district, or county.

66.0125(2) (2) Creation. Each local governmental unit is authorized and urged to either establish by ordinance a community relations-social development commission or to participate in a commission established on an intergovernmental basis within the county under enabling ordinances adopted by the participating local governmental units. A school district may establish or participate in a commission by resolution. An intergovernmental commission may be established in cooperation with a nonprofit corporation located in the county and composed primarily of public and private welfare agencies devoted to any of the purposes set forth in this section. An ordinance or resolution establishing a commission shall substantially embody the language of sub. (3). Each local governmental unit may appropriate money to defray the expenses of the commission. If the commission is established on an intergovernmental basis within the county, the provisions of s. 66.0301, relating to local cooperation, apply as optional authority and may be utilized by participating local governmental units to effectuate the purposes of this section, but a contract between local governmental units is not necessary for the joint exercise of any power authorized for the joint performance of any duty required in this section.

66.0125(3) (3) Purpose and functions of commission.

66.0125(3)(a) (a) The purpose of the commission is to study, analyze, and recommend solutions for the major social, economic, and cultural problems that affect people residing or working within the local governmental unit, including problems of the family, youth, education, the aging, juvenile delinquency, health and zoning standards, discrimination in employment and public accommodations and facilities on the basis of sex, class, race, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnic or minority status and discrimination in housing on the basis of sex, class, race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic or minority status, or status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking.

66.0125(3)(b) (b) The commission may:

66.0125(3)(b)1. 1. Include within its studies problems related to pornography, industrial strife and the inciting or fomenting of class, race or religious hatred and prejudice.

66.0125(3)(b)2. 2. Encourage and foster participation in the fine arts.

66.0125(3)(c) (c) The commission shall:

66.0125(3)(c)1. 1. Recommend to the local governmental unit’s governing body and chief executive or administrative officer the enactment of such ordinances or other action as they deem necessary:

66.0125(3)(c)1.a. a. To establish and keep in force proper health standards for the community and beneficial zoning for the community area in order to facilitate the elimination of, and prevent the start and spread of, blighted areas.

66.0125(3)(c)1.b. b. To ensure to all residents of a local governmental unit, regardless of sex, race, sexual orientation, or color, the right to enjoy equal employment opportunities and to ensure to those residents, regardless of sex, race, sexual orientation, color, or status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, the right to possess equal housing opportunities.

66.0125(3)(c)2. 2. Cooperate with state and federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations having similar or related functions.

66.0125(3)(c)3. 3. Examine the need for, initiate, participate in and promote publicly and privately sponsored studies and programs in any field of human relationship that will aid in accomplishing the purposes and duties of the commission.

66.0125(3)(c)4. 4. Have authority to conduct public hearings within the local governmental unit and to administer oaths to persons testifying before it.

66.0125(3)(c)5. 5. Employ such staff as is necessary to implement the duties assigned to it.

66.0125(4) (4) Composition of commission. The commission shall be nonpartisan and composed of citizens residing in the local governmental unit, including representatives of the clergy and minority groups. The composition of the commission and the method of appointing and removing commission members shall be determined by the governing body of the local governmental unit creating or participating in the commission. Notwithstanding s. 59.10 (4) or 66.0501 (2), a member of the local governmental unit’s governing body may serve on the commission, except that a county board member in a county having a population over 750,000 may not accept compensation for serving on the commission. Of the persons first appointed, one-third shall hold office for one year, one-third for 2 years, and one-third for 3 years from the first day of February next following their appointment, and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified. All succeeding terms shall be for 3 years. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as original appointments. Every person appointed as a member of the commission shall take and file the official oath.

66.0125(5) (5) Organization. The commission shall meet in January, April, July and October of each year, and may meet at such additional times as the members determine or the chairperson directs. Annually, it shall elect from its membership a chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary. A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum. Members of the commission shall receive no compensation, but each member shall be entitled to actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of commission duties. The commission may appoint consulting committees consisting of either members or nonmembers or both, the appointees of which shall be reimbursed their actual and necessary expenses. All expense accounts shall be paid by the commission on certification by the chairperson or acting chairperson.

66.0125(6) (6) Open meetings. All meetings of the commission and its consulting committees shall be publicly held and open to all citizens at all times as required by subch. V of ch. 19.

66.0125(7) (7) Designation of commissions as cooperating agencies under federal law.

66.0125(7)(a) (a) The commission may be the official agency of the local governmental unit to accept assistance under title II of the federal economic opportunity act of 1964. No assistance shall be accepted with respect to any matter to which objection is made by the legislative body creating the commission, but if the commission is established on an intergovernmental basis and objection is made by any participating legislative body, assistance may be accepted with the approval of a majority of the legislative bodies participating in the commission.

66.0125(7)(b) (b) The commission may be the official agency of the local governmental unit to accept assistance from the community relations service of the U.S. department of justice under title X of the federal civil rights act of 1964 to provide assistance to communities in resolving disputes, disagreements or difficulties relating to discriminatory practices based on sex, race, color or national origin which may impair the rights of persons in the local governmental unit under the constitution or laws of the United States or which affect or may affect interstate commerce.

66.0125(8) (8) Other powers of the county board of supervisors. County boards may appropriate county funds for the operation of community relations-social development commissions established or reconstituted under this section, including those participated in on an equal basis by nonprofit corporations located in the county and comprised primarily of public and private welfare agencies devoted to any of the purposes set forth in this section. The legislature finds that the expenditure of county funds for the establishment or support of such commissions is for a public purpose.

66.0125(9) (9) Intent. It is the intent of this section to promote fair and friendly relations among all the people in this state, and to that end race, creed, sexual orientation, or color ought not to be made tests in the matter of the right of any person to earn a livelihood or to enjoy the equal use of public accommodations and facilities and race, creed, sexual orientation, color, or status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking ought not to be made tests in the matter of the right of any person to sell, lease, occupy, or use real estate.

66.0125(10) (10) Short title. This section shall be known and may be cited as “The Wisconsin Bill of Human Rights”.

66.0125 History History: 1975 c. 94; 1975 c. 426 s. 3; 1979 c. 34; 1981 c. 112; 1991 a. 39, 316; 1993 a. 184; 1995 a. 201; 1999 a. 150 s. 449; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0125; 2009 a. 95; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.

66.0125 Annotation Functions of a community relations-social development commission are not limited to study, analysis, and planning. A commission has authority to carry out some human relations programs providing services directly to citizens. 63 Atty. Gen. 182.

66.0125 Annotation Vocational, technical and adult education [technical college] districts are subject to city equal employment opportunity ordinances only within the boundaries of the city. 70 Atty. Gen. 226.

66.0127 66.0127 Municipal hospital board.

66.0127(1) (1) In a city, village or town in which a municipal hospital is located, the board of trustees or other governing board of the municipal hospital may, except as otherwise provided by ordinance, do any of the following:

66.0127(1)(a) (a) Prescribe rules of order for the regulation of its own meetings and deliberations.

66.0127(1)(b) (b) Promulgate rules relating to the government, operation and maintenance of the hospital and relating to the employees of the hospital.

66.0127(1)(c) (c) Contract for and purchase all fuel, food and other supplies reasonably necessary for the operation and maintenance of the hospital.

66.0127(1)(d) (d) Promulgate rules for the admission to and government of patients at the hospital.

66.0127(1)(e) (e) Contract for the construction, installation or making of additions or improvements to or alterations of the hospital if the additions, improvements or alterations have been ordered and funds have been provided by the city council or village or town board.

66.0127(1)(f) (f) Employ all necessary employees at the hospital.

66.0127(1)(g) (g) Audit all accounts and claims against the hospital or against the board of trustees and, if approved, the city, village or town clerk and treasurer shall pay the accounts and claims in the manner provided by s. 66.0607.

66.0127(2) (2) All expenditures made under this section shall be within the limits authorized by the governing body of the municipality.

66.0127 History History: 1993 a. 246; 1995 a. 225; 1999 a. 150 s. 486; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0127.

66.0129 66.0129 Hospital facilities lease from nonprofit corporation.

66.0129(1) (1) Powers and duties of governing body. For the purpose of providing adequate hospital facilities in the state of Wisconsin to serve cities, villages and towns and the hospital service area; providing all lands, buildings, improvements, facilities or equipment or other capital items necessary or desirable in connection with the hospital; ultimately acquiring the hospital by the city, village or town; acquiring lands for future hospital development; and refinancing indebtedness created by a nonprofit corporation for acquiring lands or providing hospital buildings or additions or improvements to the hospital buildings, the governing body of a city, village or town may:

66.0129(1)(a) (a) Without limitation by any other statute, sell and convey title to a nonprofit corporation any land and any existing buildings on the land owned by the city, village or town for that consideration and upon the terms and conditions that the governing body of the city, village or town determines are in the public interest.

66.0129(1)(b) (b) Lease to a nonprofit corporation for terms not exceeding 40 years each any land and existing buildings on the land that are owned by the city, village or town upon the terms, conditions and rentals that the governing body of the city, village or town determines are in the public interest.

66.0129(1)(c) (c) Lease or sublease from the nonprofit corporation, for terms not exceeding 40 years, and make available for public use, any lands or any land and existing buildings conveyed or leased to the corporation under pars. (a) and (b), and any new buildings erected upon the land or upon any other land owned by the corporation, upon the terms, conditions and rentals, subject to available appropriations, and ultimate acquisition, that the governing body of the city, village or town determines are in the public interest. With respect to any property conveyed to the nonprofit corporation under par. (a), the lease from the nonprofit corporation may be subject or subordinated to one or more mortgages of the property granted by the corporation.

66.0129(1)(d) (d) Apply all net revenues derived from the operation of any lands or buildings to the payment of rentals due and to become due under any lease or sublease made under par. (c).

66.0129(1)(e) (e) Pledge and assign all or part of the revenues derived from the operation of any lands or new buildings as security for the payment of rentals due and to become due under any lease or sublease of the new buildings made under par. (c).

66.0129(1)(f) (f) Covenant and agree in any lease or sublease made under par. (c) to impose fees, rentals or other charges for the use and occupancy or other operation of the new buildings in an amount which together with other moneys of the city, village or town available for that purpose will produce net revenue sufficient to pay the rentals due and to become due under the lease or sublease.

66.0129(1)(g) (g) Apply all or any part of the revenues derived from the operation of any lands or existing buildings to the payment of rentals due and to become due under a lease or sublease made under par. (c).

66.0129(1)(h) (h) Pledge and assign all or any part of the revenues derived from the operation of any lands or existing buildings to the payment of rentals due and to become due under a lease or sublease made under par. (c).

66.0129(1)(i) (i) Covenant and agree in a lease or sublease made under par. (c) to impose fees, rentals or other charges for the use and occupancy or other operation of any lands or existing buildings in an amount calculated to produce net revenues sufficient to pay the rentals due and to become due under the lease or sublease.

66.0129(1)(j) (j) Operate the hospital, until it is ultimately acquired, in a manner that provides revenues sufficient to pay the costs of operation and maintenance of the hospital and the payments due the nonprofit corporation.

66.0129(2) (2) Municipal liability. The city, village or town shall be liable for accrued rentals and for any other default under any lease or sublease made under sub. (1) (c) and may be sued therefor on contract.

66.0129(3) (3) No debt inclusion. Nothing under this section shall be considered to incur any municipal debt. No obligation under this section shall be included in arriving at constitutional debt limitations.

66.0129(4) (4) Powers and duties of nonprofit corporation. In addition to all other powers granted to nonprofit corporations, the nonprofit corporation has the following additional powers and duties when leasing hospital facilities to a city, village or town:

66.0129(4)(a) (a) To acquire by purchase, gift or lease real property and buildings on the property from a city, village or town or other person, to construct hospital facilities on the property and to lease the real property and buildings to a city, village or town for terms not exceeding 40 years, and to transfer the land and buildings to the city, village or town upon termination of the lease.

66.0129(4)(b) (b) To borrow money and pledge income and rentals as security.

66.0129(5) (5) Bids for construction. The nonprofit corporation shall let all contracts exceeding $1,000 for the construction, maintenance or repair of hospital facilities to the lowest responsible bidder after advertising for bids by the publication of a class 2 notice under ch. 985. Section 66.0901 applies to bids and contracts under this subsection.

66.0129(6) (6) Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, in this section:

66.0129(6)(a) (a) “Buildings”, “new buildings” and “existing buildings” include all buildings, structures, improvements, facilities, equipment or other capital items which the governing body of the city, village or town determines are necessary or desirable for the purpose of providing hospital facilities.

66.0129(6)(b) (b) “Nonprofit corporation” means a nonstock corporation organized under ch. 181 that is a nonprofit corporation, as defined in s. 181.0103 (17).

66.0129 History History: 1993 a. 246; 1997 a. 79; 1999 a. 150 s. 487; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0129; 2015 a. 55.

66.0131 66.0131 Local governmental purchasing.

66.0131(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

66.0131(1)(a) (a) “Local governmental unit” means a political subdivision of this state, a special purpose district in this state, an agency or corporation of a political subdivision or special purpose district, or a combination or subunit of any of the foregoing.

66.0131(1)(b) (b) “Recycled or recovered content” has the meaning given in s. 16.70 (13).

66.0131(2) (2) Intergovernmental purchases without bids. Notwithstanding any statute requiring bids for public purchases, any local governmental unit may make purchases from another unit of government, including the state or federal government, without the intervention of bids.

66.0131(3) (3) Purchase of recycled materials.

66.0131(3)(a) (a)

66.0131(3)(a)1. 1. A local governmental unit shall, to the extent practicable, make purchasing selections using specifications developed by state agencies under s. 16.72 (2) (e) to maximize the purchase of products utilizing recycled or recovered materials.

66.0131(3)(a)2. 2. Each local governmental unit shall ensure that the average recycled or recovered content of all paper purchased by the local governmental unit measured as a proportion, by weight, of the fiber content of all paper products purchased in a year, is not less than the following:

66.0131(3)(a)2.a. a. By 1991, 10 percent of all purchased paper.

66.0131(3)(a)2.b. b. By 1993, 25 percent of all purchased paper.

66.0131(3)(a)2.c. c. By 1995, 40 percent of all purchased paper.

66.0131(4) (4) Purchase of recyclable materials. A local governmental unit shall, to the extent practicable, make purchasing selections using specifications prepared by state agencies under s. 16.72 (2) (f).

66.0131(5) (5) Life cycle cost estimate. A local governmental unit shall award each order or contract for materials, supplies or equipment on the basis of life cycle cost estimates whenever that action is appropriate. The terms, conditions and evaluation criteria to be applied shall be incorporated into the solicitation of bids or proposals. The life cycle cost formula may include, but is not limited to, the applicable costs of energy efficiency, acquisition and conversion, money, transportation, warehousing and distribution, training, operation and maintenance, and disposition or resale.

66.0131 History History: 1979 c. 122; 1989 a. 335; 1999 a. 9; 1999 a. 150 ss. 346, 347; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0131.

66.0131 Annotation Under sub. (2), statutorily-authorized intergovernmental agreements for purchases of services are exempt from municipal competitive bidding requirements and procedures. OAG 5-09.

66.0133 66.0133 Energy savings performance contracting.

66.0133(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

66.0133(1)(a) (a) “Energy conservation measure” means a facility alteration or training, service, or operations program designed to reduce energy consumption or operating costs, conserve water resources, improve metering accuracy, or ensure state or local building code compliance.

66.0133(1)(b) (b) “Local governmental unit” has the meaning given in s. 19.42 (7u).

66.0133(1)(bg) (bg) “Operational savings” means savings from costs eliminated or avoided as a result of installing equipment or providing services.

66.0133(1)(c) (c) “Performance contract” means a contract for the evaluation and recommendation of energy conservation and facility improvement measures, and for the implementation of these measures.

66.0133(1)(d) (d) “Qualified provider” means a person, other than a local governmental unit, who is experienced in the design, implementation and installation of energy conservation and facility improvement measures and who has the ability to provide labor and material payment and performance bonds equal to the maximum amount of any payments due under a performance contract entered into by the person.

66.0133(2) (2) Authorization; report.

66.0133(2)(a) (a)

66.0133(2)(a)1. 1. Except as provided under subd. 2., any local governmental unit may, in accordance with this section, enter into a performance contract with a qualified provider to reduce energy or operating costs, realize operational savings, conserve water resources, ensure state or local building code compliance, or enhance the protection of property of the local governmental unit.

66.0133(2)(a)2. 2. A performance contract with a qualified provider under this section may not allow a local governmental unit to increase the square footage of a facility unless the increase is necessary to make mechanical, electrical, or plumbing improvements in order to achieve reductions in energy consumption or to conserve water resources.