Chapter 946

946.13 946.13 Private interest in public contract prohibited.

946.13(1) (1) Any public officer or public employee who does any of the following is guilty of a Class I felony:

946.13(1)(a) (a) In the officer’s or employee’s private capacity, negotiates or bids for or enters into a contract in which the officer or employee has a private pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, if at the same time the officer or employee is authorized or required by law to participate in the officer’s or employee’s capacity as such officer or employee in the making of that contract or to perform in regard to that contract some official function requiring the exercise of discretion on the officer’s or employee’s part; or

946.13(1)(b) (b) In the officer’s or employee’s capacity as such officer or employee, participates in the making of a contract in which the officer or employee has a private pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, or performs in regard to that contract some function requiring the exercise of discretion on the officer’s or employee’s part.

946.13(2) (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any of the following:

946.13(2)(a) (a) Contracts in which any single public officer or employee is privately interested that do not involve receipts and disbursements by the state or its political subdivision aggregating more than $15,000 in any year.

946.13(2)(b) (b) Contracts involving the deposit of public funds in public depositories.

946.13(2)(c) (c) Contracts involving loans made pursuant to s. 67.12.

946.13(2)(d) (d) Contracts for the publication of legal notices required to be published, provided such notices are published at a rate not higher than that prescribed by law.

946.13(2)(e) (e) Contracts for the issuance to a public officer or employee of tax titles, tax certificates, or instruments representing an interest in, or secured by, any fund consisting in whole or in part of taxes in the process of collection, provided such titles, certificates, or instruments are issued in payment of salary or other obligations due such officer or employee.

946.13(2)(f) (f) Contracts for the sale of bonds or securities issued by a political subdivision of the state; provided such bonds or securities are sold at a bona fide public sale to the highest bidder and the public officer or employee acquiring the private interest has no duty to vote upon the issuance of the bonds or securities.

946.13(2)(g) (g) Contracts with, or tax credits or payments received by, public officers or employees for wildlife damage claims or abatement under s. 29.889, for farmland preservation under s. 91.13, 2007 stats., or s. 91.60 or subch. IX of ch. 71, soil and water resource management under s. 92.14, soil erosion control under s. 92.10, 1985 stats., animal waste management under s. 92.15, 1985 stats., and nonpoint source water pollution abatement under s. 281.65.

946.13(3) (3) A contract entered into in violation of this section is void and the state or the political subdivision in whose behalf the contract was made incurs no liability thereon.

946.13(4) (4) In this section “contract” includes a conveyance.

946.13(5) (5) Subsection (1) (b) shall not apply to a public officer or public employee by reason of his or her holding not more than 2 percent of the outstanding capital stock of a corporate body involved in such contract.

946.13(6) (6) Subsection (3) shall not apply to contracts creating a public debt, as defined in s. 18.01 (4), if the requirements of s. 18.14 (1) have been met. No evidence of indebtedness, as defined in s. 18.01 (3), shall be invalidated on account of a violation of this section by a public officer or public employee, but such officer or employee and the surety on the officer’s or employee’s official bond shall be liable to the state for any loss to it occasioned by such violation.

946.13(7) (7) Subsection (1) shall not apply to any public officer or public employee, who receives compensation for the officer’s or employee’s services as such officer or employee, exclusive of advances or reimbursements for expenses, of less than $10,000 per year, merely by reason of his or her being a director, officer, employee, agent or attorney of or for a state or national bank, savings bank or trust company, or any holding company thereof. This subsection shall not apply to any such person whose compensation by such financial institution is directly dependent upon procuring public business. Compensation determined by longevity, general quality of work or the overall performance and condition of such financial institution shall not be deemed compensation directly dependent upon procuring public business.

946.13(8) (8) Subsection (1) shall not apply to contracts or transactions made or consummated or bonds issued under s. 66.1103.

946.13(9) (9) Subsection (1) does not apply to the member of a local committee appointed under s. 289.33 (7) (a) acting as a member of that committee in negotiation, arbitration or ratification of agreements under s. 289.33.

946.13(10) (10) Subsection (1) (a) does not apply to a member of a local workforce development board established under 29 USC 2832 or to a member of the council on workforce investment established under 29 USC 2821.

946.13(11) (11) Subsection (1) does not apply to an individual who receives compensation for services as a public officer or public employee of less than $10,000 annually, exclusive of advances or reimbursements for expenses, merely because that individual is a partner, shareholder or employee of a law firm that serves as legal counsel to the public body that the officer or employee serves, unless one of the following applies:

946.13(11)(a) (a) The individual has an interest in that law firm greater than 2 percent of its net profit or loss.

946.13(11)(b) (b) The individual participates in making a contract between that public body and that law firm or exercises any official discretion with respect to a contract between them.

946.13(11)(c) (c) The individual’s compensation from the law firm directly depends on the individual’s procurement of business with public bodies.

946.13(12) (12) 

946.13(12)(a) (a) In this subsection:

946.13(12)(a)1. 1. “Research company” means an entity engaged in commercial or nonprofit activity that is related to research conducted by an employee or officer of the system or to a product of such research.

946.13(12)(a)2. 2. “System” means the University of Wisconsin System.

946.13(12)(b) (b) Subsection (1) does not apply to a contract between a research company and the system or any institution or college campus within the system for purchase of goods or services, including research, if the interest that a system employee or officer has in the research company has been evaluated and addressed in a management plan issued by the individual or body responsible for evaluating and managing potential conflicts of interest and the management plan complies with the policy adopted under par. (d).

946.13(12)(d) (d) The board shall adopt a policy specifying the contents required for a management plan under par. (b).

946.13 History History: 1971 c. 40 s. 93; 1973 c. 12 s. 37; 1973 c. 50, 265; 1977 c. 166, 173; 1983 a. 282; 1987 a. 344, 378, 399; 1989 a. 31, 232; 1993 a. 486; 1995 a. 27, 225, 227, 435; 1997 a. 35, 248; 1999 a. 9, 85; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 109; 2005 a. 417; 2009 a. 28; 2019 a. 36.

946.13 Annotation A county board member did not violate sub. (1) by accepting a job as airport manager while he was serving as a county board member for a county that was co-owner of the airport when he was appointed pursuant to advice and approval of the county corporation counsel. State v. Davis, 63 Wis. 2d 75, 216 N.W.2d 31 (1974).

946.13 Annotation Sub. (1) (b) is a strict liability offense. It does not include the element of corrupt motive. State v. Stoehr, 134 Wis. 2d 66, 396 N.W.2d 177 (1986).

946.13 Annotation The defendant could not have had a pecuniary interest in, or have negotiated in the defendant’s private capacity for, a position that had not yet been posted. State v. Venema, 2002 WI App 202, 257 Wis. 2d 491, 650 N.W.2d 898, 01-2502.

946.13 Annotation A county board member employed by an engineering and survey firm may have a possible conflict of interest in public contracts. 60 Atty. Gen. 98.

946.13 Annotation A member of the Wisconsin board of vocational, technical, and adult education [now technical college] may not bid on and contract for the construction of a building project for a vocational-technical district that would entail expenditures exceeding $2,000 in any year, when availability of federal funds for use on such project is subject to the member’s approval as a member of the board. 60 Atty. Gen. 310.

946.13 Annotation Discussing conflicts arising from election of a school principal to the office of alderperson. 60 Atty. Gen. 367.

946.13 Annotation Appointment of counsel for indigents involves a public contract. 62 Atty. Gen. 118.

946.13 Annotation A county supervisor who is a pharmacist probably does not violate this section in furnishing prescription services to medicaid patients when the state is solely liable for payment. 64 Atty. Gen. 108.

946.13 Annotation The marital property law does not change the applicability of this section to a member of a governmental body when that body employs the member’s spouse. 76 Atty. Gen. 15.

946.13 Annotation This section applies to county board or department purchases aggregating more than $5,000 from a county supervisor-owned business. 76 Atty. Gen. 178.

946.13 Annotation When the village board administers a community development block grant program, a member of the village board would violate this section if the board member obtained a loan in excess of $5,000 under the program. Acting as a private contractor, the board member would violate sub. (1) if the board member contracted to perform the construction work for a third person who obtained a loan under the program. 76 Atty. Gen. 278.

946.13 Annotation Sub. (1) (a) may be violated by members of the Private Industry Councils when private or public entities of which they are executives, directors, or board members receive benefits under the Job Training Partnership Act. 77 Atty. Gen. 306.

946.13 Annotation A municipality’s zoning decision is not a contract under sub. (1) (a), and therefore the statute does not apply to an official’s participation in a zoning decision. OAG 9-14.

946.14 946.14 Purchasing claims at less than full value. Any public officer or public employee who in a private capacity directly or indirectly intentionally purchases for less than full value or discounts any claim held by another against the state or a political subdivision thereof or against any public fund is guilty of a Class I felony.

946.14 History History: 1977 c. 173; 2001 a. 109.

946.16 946.16 Judicial officer collecting claims. Any judicial officer who causes to be brought in a court over which the officer presides any action or proceeding upon a claim placed with the officer as agent or attorney for collection is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

946.16 History History: 1977 c. 173.

946.17 946.17 Corrupt means to influence legislation; disclosure of interest. Any person who gives or agrees or offers to give anything of value to any person, for the service of such person or of any other person in procuring the passage or defeat of any measure before the legislature or before either house or any committee thereof, upon the contingency or condition of the passage or defeat of the measure, or who receives, or agrees to receive anything of value for such service, upon any such contingency or condition, or who, having a pecuniary or other interest, or acting as the agent or attorney of any person in procuring or attempting to procure the passage or defeat of any measure before the legislature or before either house or any committee thereof, attempts in any manner to influence any member of the legislature for or against the measure, without first making known to the member the real and true interest he or she has in the measure, either personally or as such agent or attorney, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

946.17 History History: 1977 c. 278 s. 1; Stats. 1977 s. 946.17; 1993 a. 213.

946.18 946.18 Misconduct sections apply to all public officers. Sections 946.10 to 946.17 apply to public officers, whether legally constituted or exercising powers as if legally constituted.

946.18 History History: 1977 c. 278; 1979 c. 110.

subch. III of ch. 946 SUBCHAPTER III

PERJURY AND FALSE SWEARING

946.31 946.31 Perjury.

946.31(1) (1) Whoever under oath or affirmation orally makes a false material statement which the person does not believe to be true, in any matter, cause, action or proceeding, before any of the following, whether legally constituted or exercising powers as if legally constituted, is guilty of a Class H felony:

946.31(1)(a) (a) A court;

946.31(1)(b) (b) A magistrate;

946.31(1)(c) (c) A judge, referee or court commissioner;

946.31(1)(d) (d) An administrative agency or arbitrator authorized by statute to determine issues of fact;

946.31(1)(e) (e) A notary public while taking testimony for use in an action or proceeding pending in court;

946.31(1)(f) (f) An officer authorized to conduct inquests of the dead;

946.31(1)(g) (g) A grand jury;

946.31(1)(h) (h) A legislative body or committee.

946.31(2) (2) It is not a defense to a prosecution under this section that the perjured testimony was corrected or retracted.

946.31 History History: 1977 c. 173; 1979 c. 110; 2001 a. 109.

946.31 Annotation An arbitrator selected from a list provided by the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission is authorized by s. 111.10 to arbitrate as provided in ch. 298 [now ch. 788] and so is “authorized by statute” within the meaning of sub. (1) (d). Layton School of Art & Design v. WERC, 82 Wis. 2d 324, 262 N.W.2d 218 (1978).

946.31 Annotation Perjury consists of a false statement that the defendant knew was false, was made under oath in a proceeding before a judge, and was material to the proceeding. Materiality is determined by whether the trial court could have relied on the testimony in making a decision, not on whether it actually did. State v. Munz, 198 Wis. 2d 379, 541 N.W.2d 821 (Ct. App. 1995), 95-0635.

946.31 Annotation A defendant may be charged with multiple counts of perjury based on testimony given in the same proceeding when each charge requires proof of an additional fact that the others do not. State v. Warren, 229 Wis. 2d 172, 599 N.W.2d 431 (Ct. App. 1999), 99-0129.

946.31 Annotation Issue preclusion does not bar the prosecution for perjury of a defendant who was tried and acquitted on a single issue when newly discovered evidence suggests that the defendant falsely testified on the issue. The state must show that: 1) the evidence came to the state’s attention after trial; 2) the state was not negligent in failing to discover the evidence; 3) the evidence is material to the issue; and 4) the evidence is not merely cumulative. State v. Canon, 2001 WI 11, 241 Wis. 2d 164, 622 N.W.2d 270, 98-3519.

946.31 Annotation Perjury Prosecutions After Acquittals: The Evils of False Testimony Balanced Against the Sanctity of Determinations of Innocence. Shellenberger. 71 MLR 703 (1988).

946.32 946.32 False swearing.

946.32(1) (1) Whoever does either of the following is guilty of a Class H felony:

946.32(1)(a) (a) Under oath or affirmation or upon signing a statement pursuant to s. 887.015 makes or subscribes a false statement which he or she does not believe is true, when such oath, affirmation, or statement is authorized or required by law or is required by any public officer or governmental agency as a prerequisite to such officer or agency taking some official action.

946.32(1)(b) (b) Makes or subscribes 2 inconsistent statements under oath or affirmation or upon signing a statement pursuant to s. 887.015 in regard to any matter respecting which an oath, affirmation, or statement is, in each case, authorized or required by law or required by any public officer or governmental agency as a prerequisite to such officer or agency taking some official action, under circumstances which demonstrate that the witness or subscriber knew at least one of the statements to be false when made. The period of limitations within which prosecution may be commenced runs from the time of the first statement.

946.32(2) (2) Whoever under oath or affirmation or upon signing a statement pursuant to s. 887.015 makes or subscribes a false statement which the person does not believe is true is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

946.32 History History: 1977 c. 173; 1993 a. 486; 2001 a. 109; 2009 a. 166.

946.32 Annotation This section applies to oral statements. The mere fact that a statement is permitted by law does not mean it is “authorized by law” within meaning of sub. (1) (a). State v. Devitt, 82 Wis. 2d 262, 262 N.W.2d 73 (1978).

946.32 Annotation The reference to the statute of limitations in sub. (1) (b) does not make it an element of the offense. The statute of limitations is an affirmative defense and is subject to tolling under s. 939.74. State v. Slaughter, 200 Wis. 2d 190, 546 N.W.2d 490 (Ct. App. 1996), 95-0141.

946.32 Annotation What is to be “authorized or required” under sub. (1) (b) is the oath itself, not the matter respecting which the oath is taken. State v. Slaughter, 200 Wis. 2d 190, 546 N.W.2d 490 (Ct. App. 1996), 95-0141.

subch. IV of ch. 946 SUBCHAPTER IV

INTERFERENCE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT

946.40 946.40 Refusing to aid officer.

946.40(1) (1) Whoever, without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails, upon command, to aid any person known by the person to be a peace officer is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

946.40(2) (2) This section does not apply if under the circumstances the officer was not authorized to command such assistance.

946.40 History History: 1977 c. 173.

946.40 Annotation Under s. 343.305, hospital personnel must administer a blood alcohol test and report the results at the request of an officer, subject to the penalty under this section. 68 Atty. Gen. 209.

946.40 Annotation In certain circumstances, a peace officer may command medical staff at a hospital or clinic to gather evidence from a sexual assault victim. 72 Atty. Gen. 107.

946.41 946.41 Resisting or obstructing officer.