Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill creates the Council for Equity and Inclusion and the Office for Equity and Inclusion, both attached to the Department of Administration. Under the bill, the council must do all of the following: establish and annually update a statewide plan for equity and inclusion in this state; designate individuals to coordinate with the Office for Equity and Inclusion to implement and enforce the plan established by the council; review individual agency plans for equity and inclusion; and submit annual reports of activities and updates to the statewide plan for equity and inclusion to the governor and legislature. Under the bill, the Office for Equity and Inclusion must establish programs to implement and enforce the plan established by the Council for Equity and Inclusion.

Also under the bill, the head of each executive branch entity represented on the Council for Equity and Inclusion must appoint an officer for equity and inclusion, and each such officer must develop and implement an annual plan for equity and inclusion that must be submitted to the council for review and approval. The bill also authorizes five full-time equivalent GPR positions for the Office for Equity and Inclusion and one full-time equivalent position for each of the executive branch entities represented on the Council for Equity and Inclusion.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB768,1 Section 1 . 15.04 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB768,2,5 15.04 (4) Officer for equity and inclusion. The head of each department or entity listed in s. 15.107 (20) (b) to (v) shall appoint an officer for equity and inclusion to serve at the pleasure of the head of the department or entity outside the classified service.

AB768,2 Section 2. 15.105 (25) of the statutes is created to read:

AB768,2,11 15.105 (25) Office for equity and inclusion. There is created an office for equity and inclusion attached to the department of administration under s. 15.03. The office shall be under the direction and supervision of a director, who shall be appointed by the council for equity and inclusion, and serve at the pleasure of the council. The director shall appoint a deputy director in the unclassified service.

AB768,3 Section 3. 15.107 (20) of the statutes is created to read:

AB768,2,17 15.107 (20) Council for equity and inclusion. There is created a council for equity and inclusion, attached to the department of administration under s. 15.03. The council shall meet quarterly and may meet at other times on the call of the chairperson or a majority of its members. The council consists of the following members:

AB768,2,18 (a) The governor, or his or her designee, who shall serve as chairperson.

AB768,2,19 (b) The secretary of administration, or his or her designee.

AB768,2,21 (c) The secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, or his or her designee.

AB768,3,1 (d) The secretary of health services, or his or her designee.

AB768,3,2 (e) The secretary of children and families, or his or her designee.

AB768,3,3 (f) The secretary of workforce development, or his or her designee.

AB768,3,4 (g) The secretary of veterans affairs, or his or her designee.

AB768,3,5 (h) The secretary of corrections, or his or her designee.

AB768,3,6 (i) The state superintendent of public instruction, or his or her designee.

AB768,3,7 (j) The secretary of financial institutions, or his or her designee.

AB768,3,8 (k) The attorney general, or his or her designee.

AB768,3,9 (L) The adjutant general of military affairs, or his or her designee.

AB768,3,10 (m) The secretary of natural resources, or his or her designee.

AB768,3,11 (n) The secretary of safety and professional services, or his or her designee.

AB768,3,12 (o) The secretary of revenue, or his or her designee.

AB768,3,13 (p) The secretary of tourism, or his or her designee.

AB768,3,14 (q) The secretary of transportation, or his or her designee.