13.48(46s)(a) (a) The legislature finds and determines that providing hands-on learning experiences to teach students about agricultural innovation and sustainability will attract more interest in agricultural careers; assist in workforce and development training for elementary, secondary, technical college, and university students; and help the state retain talent and is a statewide responsibility of statewide dimension. It is the public policy of this state, and it is in the interest of the state, to assist Farming for the Future Foundation, Inc., with the construction of the Food and Farm Exploration Center.

13.48(46s)(b) (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.867 (3) (x), the building commission may award a grant to Farming for the Future Foundation, Inc. The amount authorized for the grant is $3,000,000. The grant shall be to assist in the construction of the Food and Farm Exploration Center. Farming for the Future Foundation, Inc., shall secure additional funding for the project of at least $38,000,000 from nonstate revenue sources.

13.48(46s)(c) (c) If the building commission awards a grant to Farming for the Future Foundation, Inc., under par. (b), and if, for any reason, the Food and Farm Exploration Center constructed with funds from the grant is not used for agricultural education, the state shall retain an ownership interest in the facility equal to the amount of the state’s grant.

13.48(48) (48) Versiti Wisconsin, Inc.

13.48(48)(a) (a) The legislature finds and determines that research focused on blood health, including research in the areas of blood cancers, benign hematology, cellular therapy, and immunology is essential to the health and well-being of the people of this state and is a statewide responsibility of statewide dimension. It is therefore in the public interest, and it is the public policy of this state, to assist Versiti Wisconsin, Inc., in the expansion of Versiti Wisconsin for purposes of blood research.

13.48(48)(b) (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.867 (3) (x), the building commission may award a grant to Versiti Wisconsin, Inc. The amount authorized for the grant is $10,000,000. The grant shall be to assist in the expansion of Versiti Wisconsin. Versiti Wisconsin, Inc., shall secure additional funding for the project of at least $53,500,000 from nonstate revenue sources.

13.48(48)(c) (c) If the building commission awards a grant to Versiti Wisconsin, Inc., under par. (b), and if, for any reason, the expanded space constructed with funds from the grant is not used for blood research, the state shall retain an ownership interest in the expanded space equal to the amount of the state’s grant.

13.48(49) (49) Regional forensic science center.

13.48(49)(a) (a) The legislature finds and determines that offering training and continuing education opportunities to coroners and medical examiners, law enforcement, district attorney offices, and emergency medical and health services providers will improve the quality of the death investigation process for central and northern Wisconsin and is a statewide responsibility of statewide dimension. It is therefore in the public interest, and it is the public policy of this state, to assist Marathon County with the construction of a regional forensic science center.

13.48(49)(b) (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.867 (3) (x), the building commission may award a grant to Marathon County. The amount authorized for the grant is $7,000,000. The grant shall be to assist in the construction of a regional forensic science center. Marathon County shall secure additional funding for the project of at least $7,800,000 from nonstate revenue sources.

13.48(49)(c) (c) If the building commission awards a grant to Marathon County under par. (b), and if, for any reason, the space constructed with funds from the grant is not used as a regional forensic science center, the state shall retain an ownership interest in the expanded space equal to the amount of the state’s grant.

13.48 History History: 1971 c. 125; 1973 c. 90; 1973 c. 243 s. 82; 1973 c. 335 s. 13; 1975 c. 39, 40, 198, 199; 1977 c. 26; 1977 c. 29 ss. 7, 8r, 1654 (8) (c); 1977 c. 325; 1977 c. 418 ss. 5, 5m, 924 (18) (c); 1979 c. 34, 221, 350; 1981 c. 341; 1983 a. 27 ss. 11 to 12n, 2202 (5); 1983 a. 36 ss. 18 to 20, 96 (3); 1983 a. 207; 1985 a. 29, 120; 1987 a. 27, 186, 395, 399; 1989 a. 31, 366; 1991 a. 39, 269, 315; 1993 a. 16, 288, 414; 1995 a. 27, 216, 225, 227; 1997 a. 5, 27, 35, 237; 1999 a. 9; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 1999 a. 197; 2001 a. 16, 103; 2003 a. 33 ss. 25 to 26i, 9160; 2003 a. 91; 2005 a. 25, 253, 391; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28, 185, 361; 2011 a. 7, 10, 32; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55, 185, 230; 2017 a. 59, 185, 237; 2019 a. 9; 2021 a. 58, 240; 2023 a. 6, 19, 77; s. 35.17 correction in (20v) (e).

13.48 Annotation The requirement of “final plans” under sub. (10) was satisfied when plans were adequate to award a contract under design/build process. Waiver standards under sub. (19) are sufficient. This section does not violate the separation of powers doctrine. J.F. Ahern Co. v. Building Commission, 114 Wis. 2d 69, 336 N.W.2d 679 (Ct. App. 1983).

13.48 Annotation State building projects that necessitate construction of utility services, sidewalks, driveway entrances, etc. are not subject to municipal control or regulation. 59 Atty. Gen. 62. See also Hartford Union H.S. v. Hartford, 51 Wis. 2d 591, 187 N.W.2d 849 (1971).

13.48 Annotation The building commission has the power of condemnation under sub. (16) for the acquisitions authorized by sub. (17), and also for acquisitions under sub. (18), provided that the acquisitions fall within the criteria of sub. (16). The commission must file the plan called for in s. 32.25 whenever it contemplates engaging in land acquisition activities for which the power of condemnation exists under law. 63 Atty. Gen. 290.

13.48 Annotation Under sub. (13), the state is subject to local zoning when remodeling a newly acquired or leased facility. 67 Atty. Gen. 251.

13.48 Annotation Subject to certain limitations, the lease of state office building space to a commercial enterprise serving both state employees and the general public is constitutional. Such leases do not require bidding. 69 Atty. Gen. 121.

13.48 Annotation Sub. (13) does not subject the Department of Natural Resources to local zoning with respect to its construction of any facility whose purpose is to assure public access to outdoor recreational areas, rather than to facilitate the department’s internal operations. 81 Atty. Gen. 56.

13.482 13.482 State Public Building Corporation.

13.482(1) (1) Organization. The building commission is authorized to organize a nonprofit-sharing corporation to be known as the Wisconsin State Public Building Corporation. When so requested by the building commission, such corporation shall have authority to lease any state-owned land that may be available for the purposes of this section and to construct thereon such building projects, including all necessary buildings, improvements, facilities, equipment and other capital items as are required for the proper use and operation of such building projects after their completion. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the building commission from exercising the powers conferred upon it by this section and s. 13.488 with nonstock, nonprofit corporations other than the Wisconsin state public building corporation.

13.482(2) (2) Building commission may acquire and lease lands.

13.482(2)(a) (a) For the purpose of providing housing for state departments and agencies, including housing for state offices and the completion of the state office building, and to enable the construction, financing and ultimate acquisition thereof by the state, the building commission may acquire any necessary lands, and, subject to s. 13.48 (14) (am), lease and re-lease any lands owned by the state and available for the purpose to the Wisconsin State Public Building Corporation or other nonstock corporation organized under ch. 181 that is a nonprofit corporation, as defined in s. 181.0103 (17). The lease and re-lease shall be for a term or terms not exceeding 50 years each and shall be made on the condition that such corporation shall construct and provide on such leased lands such building projects, including buildings, improvements, facilities or equipment or other capital items, as the building commission requires, and shall re-lease the same to the building commission upon satisfactory terms as to the rental, maintenance and ultimate acquisition by the state as is in its best interests in the judgment of the building commission. After such leases and re-leases are executed and until the projects are acquired by the state, they shall be operated by the building commission through the department of administration, which shall have charge of such property as provided in ss. 16.85 and 16.8511. The building commission shall operate the projects in such manner as to provide revenues therefrom sufficient to pay the costs of operation and maintenance of the project and to provide for the payments due the Wisconsin State Public Building Corporation or other nonstock, nonprofit corporation but if the building commission finds and declares that the housing available in any such project is in excess of the current housing needs or requirements of the state departments and agencies occupying or availing themselves of the space in or capacity of such project, the building commission need not operate such project in a manner to provide revenues therefrom sufficient to pay the costs of operation and maintenance of the project and to provide for the rental payments due the Wisconsin State Public Building Corporation or other nonstock, nonprofit corporation.

13.482(2)(b) (b) The building commission shall annually determine and fix the rate of annual rental and the share which shall be paid by each state department and agency occupying the building project. Such share shall be computed on a basis of square feet of floor space occupied or used by each department and agency, giving proper weight to the quality of space occupied. The building commission may continue to charge each such department and agency such rental after the project has been completed and acquired by the state. Such rentals shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (5) (ka). Plans for projects and all contracts and leases and re-leases made pursuant to this section shall, before becoming effective, have the written approval of the secretary of administration and the governor. This paragraph does not authorize the building commission to incur any state debt for the construction, lease or re-lease of such buildings, improvements, facilities or equipment for the housing of state departments and agencies.

13.482(3) (3) Powers. In exercising the powers, functions and duties conferred upon the building commission pursuant to this section, the building commission shall have and may exercise all of the powers conferred upon it pursuant to s. 13.488 not inconsistent with this section. The state shall be liable for accrued rentals and for any other default under any lease or re-lease made with the Wisconsin State Public Building Corporation or other nonstock, nonprofit corporation under this section and may be sued therefor on contract as in other contract actions pursuant to ch. 775, except that it shall not be necessary for the Wisconsin State Public Building Corporation or other nonstock, nonprofit corporation or any assignee of any such corporation or any person or other legal entity proceeding on behalf of any such corporation to file any claim with the legislature prior to the commencement of any such action.

13.482 History History: 1979 c. 32 s. 92 (5); 1983 a. 36 ss. 21, 96 (3), (4); 1987 a. 27; 1997 a. 79; 2005 a. 149; 2013 a. 20.

13.484 13.484 Limitation on certain building projects.

13.484(1) (1) This section does not apply to building projects which are amortized from private user charges such as, without limitation because of enumeration, student dormitories and food service buildings.

13.484(2) (2) No state building corporation may undertake any project or the financing of any project that would increase the total outstanding bonded indebtedness of all state building corporations to an amount in excess of 200 percent of that portion of all state taxes which were retained by the state during the preceding fiscal year and which became general purpose revenues in the general fund. Any project for which binding commitments have been made before July 1, 1966 and which is not in compliance with this section may be completed.

13.485 13.485 Parking structure funding.