Chapter 15

15.257(3)(i) (i) Two senators and 2 representatives to the assembly from the 2 major political parties, appointed as are members of standing committees.

15.257(3)(j) (j) To be appointed by the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association, one district attorney holding office in this state.

15.257(3)(k) (k) To be appointed by the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, one chief of police or chief of a combined protective services department holding office in this state.

15.257(3)(L) (L) To be appointed by the Badger State Sheriffs’ Association, one sheriff holding office in this state.

15.257(3)(m) (m) To be appointed by the Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association, one sheriff holding office in this state.

15.257(3)(n) (n) To be appointed by the attorney general, 4 representatives of organizations that provide human trafficking victim support services. The representatives appointed under this paragraph shall be from organizations that serve different geographic areas of the state, including both urban and rural communities.

15.257(3)(o) (o) To be appointed by the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc., one Native American member.

15.257(3)(p) (p) One representative of the office of crime victim services.

15.257(3)(q) (q) The director of the department of justice division of criminal investigation human trafficking and Internet crimes against children bureau, or his or her designee.

Effective date note NOTE: Sub. (3) is created eff. 7-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 239. Sub. (3) is repealed eff. 6-30-29 by 2023 Wis. Act 239.

15.257 History History: 1979 c. 34, 189; 1981 c. 20; 1985 a. 29 s. 3200 (35); 1985 a. 332; 1987 a. 27; 1997 a. 27, 88; 2023 a. 239.

15.31 15.31 Department of military affairs; creation. There is created a department of military affairs under the direction and supervision of the adjutant general who shall be appointed by the governor for a 5-year term. The adjutant general may be reappointed to successive terms. Notwithstanding s. 17.28, if a vacancy occurs in the office of the adjutant general, the governor shall appoint a successor for a 5-year term. A person must meet all of the following requirements to be appointed as the adjutant general:

15.31(1) (1) Hold the federally recognized minimum rank of full colonel.

15.31(2) (2) Except for those qualified under sub. (4), be a current participating member of one of the following components:

15.31(2)(a) (a) The Wisconsin army national guard.

15.31(2)(b) (b) The army national guard of the United States.

15.31(2)(c) (c) The U.S. army reserve.

15.31(2)(d) (d) The Wisconsin air national guard.

15.31(2)(e) (e) The air national guard of the United States.

15.31(2)(f) (f) The U.S. air force reserve.

15.31(3) (3) Be fully qualified to receive federal recognition at the minimum rank of brigadier general and have successfully completed a war college course or the military equivalent acceptable to the appropriate service.

15.31(4) (4) If the applicant is already a federally recognized general officer, meet all of the following conditions:

15.31(4)(a) (a) Be retired from active drilling status within the proceeding 2 years.

15.31(4)(b) (b) The basis of the applicant’s retired status was service with one of the service components noted in sub. (2).

15.31(4)(c) (c) Be 62 years of age or less.

15.31(4)(d) (d) Continue to be eligible for federal recognition as a major general.

15.31 History History: 1981 c. 35; 1983 a. 391; 1987 a. 63; 1989 a. 19; 2003 a. 25, 321.

15.313 15.313 Same; specified division.

15.313(1) (1) Division of emergency management. There is created in the department of military affairs a division of emergency management. The administrator of this division shall be nominated by the governor and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, to serve at the pleasure of the governor.

15.313 History History: 1989 a. 31 ss. 58, 83; 1995 a. 247.

15.315 15.315 Same; councils.

15.315(1) (1) Interoperability council.

15.315(1)(a) (a) There is created an interoperability council, attached to the department of military affairs under s. 15.03.

15.315(1)(b) (b) The council consists of all of the following:

15.315(1)(b)1. 1. The attorney general, the adjutant general, the secretary of natural resources, the secretary of transportation, and a representative from the department of administration with knowledge of information technology, or their designees.

15.315(1)(b)2. 2. Ten members appointed by the governor for staggered 4-year terms, including a chief of police, a sheriff, a chief of a fire department, a director of emergency medical services, a local government elected official, a local emergency management director, a representative of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state, a hospital representative, a local health department representative, and one other person with relevant experience or expertise in interoperable communications.

15.315(1)(c) (c) The governor shall designate a member of the council as the chairperson and a member as the vice chairperson.

15.315(2) (2) 911 subcommittee.

15.315(2)(a) (a) There is created a 911 subcommittee of the interoperability council, attached to the department of military affairs under s. 15.03. The 911 subcommittee consists of one member serving a 3-year term who is appointed by the adjutant general and the following members serving 3-year terms who are appointed by the governor:

15.315(2)(a)1. 1. An individual recommended by an association of Wisconsin cities, villages, or towns.

15.315(2)(a)2. 2. An individual recommended by an association of Wisconsin counties.

15.315(2)(a)3. 3. An individual recommended by a Wisconsin association, or a Wisconsin chapter of an association, that promotes a universal emergency telephone number system.

15.315(2)(a)4. 4. An individual recommended by an association of Wisconsin county sheriffs.

15.315(2)(a)5. 5. Two individuals, each of whom represents a different commercial mobile radio service provider, as defined in s. 196.01 (2g), operating in Wisconsin: one serving a primarily regional market and one serving a national market.

15.315(2)(a)6. 6. Two individuals recommended by a Wisconsin association, or a Wisconsin chapter of an association, of public safety communications professionals.

15.315(2)(a)7. 7. Two individuals recommended by an association of Wisconsin telecommunications providers, as defined in s. 196.01 (8p), each of whom represents an incumbent local exchange carrier.

15.315(2)(a)8. 8. An individual who represents a competitive local exchange carrier.

15.315(2)(a)9. 9. An individual who represents a voice over Internet protocol provider.

15.315(2)(a)10. 10. A police chief recommended by an association of Wisconsin police chiefs.

15.315(2)(a)11. 11. A fire chief recommended by an association of Wisconsin fire chiefs.

15.315(2)(a)12. 12. An individual recommended by a Wisconsin association that promotes emergency management.

15.315(2)(a)13. 13. An individual who represents a video service provider, as defined in s. 196.01 (12r).

15.315(2)(a)14. 14. An individual recommended by a Wisconsin association of emergency medical service providers.

15.315(2)(a)15. 15. An individual recommended by an association of land information professionals.

15.315(2)(b) (b) In making appointments under par. (a), the governor shall consider the geographical diversity of, and the representation of urban and rural interests by, the membership of the 911 subcommittee.

15.315 History History: 2017 a. 59 s. 34m, 39m.

15.34 15.34 Department of natural resources; creation.

15.34(1) (1) There is created a department of natural resources under the direction and supervision of the natural resources board.

15.34(2) (2) 

15.34(2)(a) (a) The natural resources board shall consist of 7 members appointed for staggered 6-year terms.

15.34(2)(b) (b) At least 3 members of the natural resources board shall be from the territory north, and at least 3 members of the board shall be from the territory south, of a line running east and west through the south limits of the city of Stevens Point.

15.34(2)(bg) (bg) At least one member of the natural resources board shall have an agricultural background. The governor may request statewide agricultural organizations to submit recommendations for nominees under this paragraph. The requirements of this paragraph apply to individuals who are members of the natural resources board on May 1, 2017, and thereafter.

15.34(2)(br) (br)

15.34(2)(br)1. 1. At least 3 members of the natural resources board shall be individuals who held an annual hunting, fishing, or trapping license, in this state or another state, in at least 7 of the 10 years previous to the year in which the individual is nominated, except as provided in subd. 2. The governor may request statewide organizations that are primarily interested in supporting hunting, fishing, or trapping to submit recommendations for nominees under this paragraph. The requirements of this paragraph apply to individuals who are members of the natural resources board on May 1, 2017, and thereafter.

15.34(2)(br)2. 2. If an individual served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or national guard during the 10 years previous to the year in which the individual is nominated, the number of years in which the individual is required to have held an annual hunting, fishing, or trapping license equals 7 minus the number of years of active duty served during those 10 years.

15.34(2)(c) (c) No person may be appointed to the natural resources board, or remain a member of the board, who receives, or has during the previous 2 years received, a significant portion of his or her income directly or indirectly from holders of or applicants for permits issued by the department under ch. 283, except that this paragraph does not apply to permits issued under s. 283.33.

15.34(2)(d) (d) The majority of members of the natural resources board may not derive a significant portion of their incomes from persons who are subject to permits or enforcement orders under ch. 285. Each board member shall inform the governor of any significant change in the income that he or she derives from persons who are subject to permits or enforcement orders under ch. 285.

15.34(2)(e) (e) The restrictions in pars. (c) and (d) do not apply with respect to permits or licenses held or applied for by agencies, departments, or subdivisions of this state.

15.34 History History: 1973 c. 74; 1991 a. 316; 2001 a. 16; 2011 a. 149.

15.34 Annotation Because the Department of Natural Resources operates under the supervision of a board under sub. (1), and because declaratory judgments can be brought against the officer or agency charged with administering a statute, the board is a proper party to a declaratory judgment challenging some of the department’s policies as invalid and unenforceable rules. Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Inc. v. DNR, 2024 WI App 18, 411 Wis. 2d 462, 5 N.W.3d 903, 22-0718.

15.343 15.343 Same; specified divisions.

15.343(1) (1) Division of forestry. There is created in the department of natural resources a division of forestry.

15.343 History History: 1999 a. 9.

15.345 15.345 Same; attached boards and commissions.

15.345(1) (1) Wisconsin waterways commission. There is created a Wisconsin waterways commission which is attached to the department of natural resources under s. 15.03.

15.345(1)(a) (a) The commission shall be composed of 5 members appointed for staggered 5-year terms.

15.345(1)(a)1. 1. One resident of the Lake Superior area.

15.345(1)(a)2. 2. One resident of the Lake Michigan area.

15.345(1)(a)3. 3. One resident of the Mississippi River area.

15.345(1)(a)3m. 3m. One resident of the Lake Winnebago watershed area.

15.345(1)(a)4. 4. One resident from the inland area of the state.

15.345(1)(b) (b) Each member of the commission must be able to assess the recreational water use problems in his or her geographical area of the state.

15.345(1)(c) (c) No member of the commission may receive any salary for services performed as a commission member. Each commission member shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred while performing official duties.

15.345(2) (2) Lake Superior commercial fishing board. There is created a Lake Superior commercial fishing board attached to the department of natural resources under s. 15.03.

15.345(2)(a) (a) The board shall be composed of 5 members who reside in counties contiguous to Lake Superior appointed by the governor to serve at the governor’s pleasure.

15.345(2)(b) (b) The 5 members shall include:

15.345(2)(b)1. 1. Three licensed, active commercial fishers.

15.345(2)(b)2. 2. One licensed, active wholesale fish dealer.

15.345(2)(b)3. 3. One state citizen.