Chapter 16

16.401(7)(a) (a) The total amount of funds in the treasury, specifying in what kind of currency they consist, the amount of each kind, and the amount belonging to each separate fund.

16.401(7)(b) (b) The amounts in each of the state depositories, together with the interest earned thereon.

16.401(7)(c) (c) Any defalcation or neglect of duty of any disbursing or collecting officer or agent of the state.

16.401(8) (8) Submit biennial report. As part of the report submitted under s. 15.04 (1) (d), include a statement showing for each of the 2 preceding fiscal years the cash balance in each state fund at the beginning of the fiscal year, the aggregate amount of receipts credited, and the aggregate amount of disbursements charged to each said fund during the fiscal year and the resultant cash balance in each state fund at the end of the fiscal year. This statement shall further show as of the end of each said 2 fiscal years, at par, the aggregate value of securities held for each state fund and the aggregate value of securities held in trust or deposited for safekeeping, and shall show the manner in which the total cash balance was accounted for by listing the balances on deposit in each state account in a public depository, deducting from the total of such balances the aggregate amount of checks, share drafts, or other drafts outstanding and adding thereto the aggregate amount of cash and cash items in office.

16.401(9) (9) Report certain payments. Whenever the secretary or any state department shall remit to any county, city, town, or village any sum in payment of a state aid or other item, the remitter shall transmit a statement of the amount and purpose thereof to the clerk of such municipality. After the receipt thereof, the clerk of such municipality shall present such statement at the next regular meeting of the governing body and shall thereafter file and keep such statement for 6 years.

16.401(10) (10) Stamp checks and drafts. Cause to be plainly printed or stamped upon each check, share draft, and other draft issued by the secretary the period of time, as determined by the secretary but not to exceed one year, during which the check or other draft may be presented for payment. The secretary shall cancel on his or her records any check or other draft that is not presented for payment within the prescribed time period and shall credit the amount thereof to the fund upon which it is drawn.

16.401(11) (11) Provide services in connection with securities held in trust. Upon request therefor from any company, corporation, society, order, or association that has securities on deposit with the secretary, in trust, mail to its address not to exceed 60 days before the same become due, any or all interest coupons; return to it any or all bonds, notes, or other deposits as they become due and are replaced by other securities; cut all interest coupons, make any endorsement of interest or otherwise on any such securities; and collect therefor from the company, corporation, society, order, or association making the request, a 25-cent fee for a single coupon cut, or for each entry of interest endorsed on a note or return of a bond, note, or other security, and a 10-cent fee for each additional coupon cut, or entry of interest endorsed on a note, bond, or other security, and may withhold any and all coupons cut or refuse endorsement of interest on securities until such fee is paid. Such fees shall be paid into the state treasury as a part of the general fund, and an extra charge may be required for postage or registered mail.

16.401(12) (12) Hold safekeeping receipts for federal securities. Whenever any federal securities are purchased under authority of any law and the secretary is custodian thereof the secretary may accept and hold safekeeping receipts of a federal reserve bank for such securities. Each such receipt shall be identified on its face with the name of the fund to which the securities described in the receipt belong.

16.401(13) (13) Sale of investments. Whenever the department draws a check, share draft, or other draft dated the next following business day upon a fund whose investment and collection is under the exclusive control of the investment board pursuant to s. 25.17 (1), and the receipts of the state are insufficient to permit a disbursement from said fund in the amount of such check, share draft, or other draft, the investment board shall sell investments owned by such fund for delivery in time to provide sufficient money to cover such check, share draft, or other draft on the date that it bears.

16.401(14) (14) Apportion interest. Apportion at least quarterly the interest earned on state moneys in all depositories among the several funds as provided in s. 25.14 (3), except that earnings attributable to the investment of temporary excess balances under sub. (4) (b) shall be distributed according to a formula prescribed by the secretary or his or her designee. To the maximum extent deemed administratively feasible by the secretary or his or her designee, the formula shall approximate the distribution of earnings among funds which would occur if earnings were allocated in proportion to each fund’s actual contribution to the earnings. Interest so apportioned shall be added to and become a part of such funds.

16.401(15) (15) Report fees and surcharges. Report annually to the legislature the amount of money collected by municipal and circuit courts as costs, fees, fines, forfeitures, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814.

16.401 History History: 2003 a. 33 ss. 55 to 60, 62 to 68, 165, 166; 2003 a. 139 s. 2d; 2017 a. 59.

16.405 16.405 Requests for issuance of operating notes.

16.405(1) (1) At any time the department determines that a deficiency will occur in the funds of the state which will not permit the state to meet its operating obligations in a timely manner, it may prepare a request for the issuance of operating notes under subch. III of ch. 18 and, subject to subs. (2) and (3), may submit the request to the building commission.

16.405(2) (2) The department may not submit a request to the building commission under sub. (1) unless the request is signed by the secretary and the governor.

16.405(3) (3) If the department proposes to submit a request to the building commission under sub. (1), the secretary shall notify the joint committee on finance in writing of the proposed action. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the secretary that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed submission within 14 working days after the date of the secretary’s notification, the department may submit the request to the building commission as proposed. If, within 14 working days after the date of the secretary’s notification, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the secretary that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed submission, the department may submit the request to the building commission only upon approval of the committee.

16.405 History History: 1983 a. 3; 1985 a. 29; 1997 a. 27.

16.41 16.41 Agency and authority accounting; information; aid.

16.41(1) (1) All agencies shall keep their accounts and other financial records as prescribed by the secretary under s. 16.40 (5), except as otherwise specifically directed by law. All agencies and authorities shall furnish to the secretary all information relating to their financial transactions which the secretary requests pursuant to this subchapter for such periods as the secretary requests, and shall render such assistance in connection with the preparation of the state budget report and the budget bill and in auditing accounts, as the secretary or the governor may require.

16.41(2) (2) The secretary and his or her duly authorized employees shall have free access to all financial accounts of every agency and authority, and each agency and authority shall assist the secretary in preparing estimates of receipts and expenditures for inclusion in the state budget report.

16.41(3) (3) Upon request of the secretary all agencies and authorities shall furnish such information concerning anticipated revenues and expenditures as the secretary requires for effective control of state finances.

16.41(4) (4) In this section, “authority” means a body created under subch. II of ch. 114 or under ch. 231, 233, 234, 237, 238, or 279.

16.41 History History: 1977 c. 196 s. 130 (3); 1977 c. 272, 273; 1983 a. 27; 1987 a. 399; 1995 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 74, 335; 2007 a. 20, 97; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 7, 10; 2013 a. 20.

16.412 16.412 Agency payments. At the request of any agency, the secretary may authorize the processing of specified regular periodic payments through the use of money transfer techniques including, without limitation because of enumeration, direct deposit, electronic funds transfer, and automated clearinghouse procedures.

16.412 History History: 1981 c. 20; 2003 a. 33.

16.413 16.413 Disclosure of expenditures relating to state agency operations and state agency contracts and grants.

16.413(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

16.413(1)(a) (a) “Financial instrument” includes any check, draft, warrant, money order, note, certificate of deposit, letter of credit, bill of exchange, credit or credit card, transaction authorization mechanism, marketable security, and any computer representation of them.

16.413(1)(b) (b) “Grant” means a payment made to a person, other than aids to individuals and organizations and local assistance and the payment of salaries and fringe benefits for state employees.

16.413(1)(c) (c) “Searchable Internet website” means a website that allows any person to search for both of the following:

16.413(1)(c)1. 1. State aggregate expenditures for state operations by state agency, expenditure category, expenditure amount, and the person to whom the expenditure is made.

16.413(1)(c)2. 2. Grants made by state agencies and contracts entered into by state agencies.

16.413(1)(d) (d) “State agency” has the meaning given in s. 20.001 (1).

16.413(1)(e) (e) “State operations” means all purposes except aids to individuals and organizations and local assistance.

16.413(2) (2) State agency expenditures for state operations.

16.413(2)(a) (a) The department shall ensure that all state agency expenditures for state operations exceeding $100, including salaries and fringe benefits paid to state agency employees, are available for inspection on a searchable Internet website maintained by the department. Copies of each financial instrument relating to these expenditures, other than payments relating to state employee salaries, shall be available for inspection on the searchable Internet website.

16.413(2)(b) (b) The department shall categorize the expenditure information under par. (a) by state agency, expenditure category, expenditure amount, and the person to whom the expenditure is made. If any of the expenditure information may be found on other websites, the department shall ensure that the information is accessible through the searchable Internet website under par. (a).

16.413(2)(c) (c) State agencies shall provide the department with all expenditure information required under par. (a). The department may specify the format in which state agencies provide the expenditure information.

16.413(3) (3) State agency contracts and grants.

16.413(3)(a) (a) The department shall ensure that all of the following information relating to each grant made by a state agency or contract entered into by a state agency is available for inspection on a searchable Internet website maintained by the department:

16.413(3)(a)1. 1. A copy of the contract and grant award.

16.413(3)(a)2. 2. The state agency making the grant or entering into the contract.

16.413(3)(a)3. 3. The name and address of the person receiving the grant or entering into the contract.

16.413(3)(a)4. 4. The purpose of the grant or contract.

16.413(3)(a)5. 5. The amount of the grant or the amount the state agency must expend under the contract and the name of the state fund from which the grant is paid or moneys are expended under the contract.

16.413(3)(b) (b) State agencies shall provide the department with all of the information required under par. (a). The department may specify the format in which state agencies provide the information. The department shall make the information available on the searchable Internet website.

16.413 History History: 2011 a. 32; 2017 a. 365 s. 112.

16.415 16.415 Certification of payrolls.

16.415(1) (1) Neither the secretary nor any other fiscal officer of this state may draw, sign, or issue, or authorize the drawing, signing, or issuing of any warrant on any disbursing officer of the state to pay any compensation to any person in the classified service of the state unless an estimate, payroll, or account for such compensation, containing the names of every person to be paid, bears the certificate of the appointing authority that each person named in the estimate, payroll, or account has been appointed, employed, or subject to any other personnel transaction in accordance with, and that the pay for the person has been established in accordance with, the law, compensation plan, or applicable collective bargaining agreement, and applicable rules of the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department and the director of the bureau of merit recruitment and selection in the department then in effect.

16.415(2) (2) Any person entitled to be certified as described in sub. (1), as having been appointed or employed in pursuance of law and of the rules pursuant thereto, and refused such certificate, may maintain an action of mandamus to compel the appointing authority to issue such certificate.

16.415(3) (3) Any sums paid contrary to this section may be recovered from any appointing authority making such appointments in contravention of law or of the rules promulgated pursuant thereto, or from any appointing authority signing or countersigning or authorizing the signing or countersigning of any warrant for the payment of the same, or from the sureties on the official bond of any such appointing authority, in an action in the circuit court for any county within the state, maintained by the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department, or by a citizen resident therein, who is assessed for, and liable to pay, or within one year before the commencement of the action has paid, a state, city or county tax within this state. All moneys recovered in any action brought under this section when collected, shall be paid into the state treasury except that if a citizen taxpayer is plaintiff in any such action he or she shall be entitled to receive for personal use the taxable cost of such action and 5 percent of the amount recovered as attorney fees.

16.415 History History: 1971 c. 270 ss. 67, 68; 1973 c. 12; 1977 c. 196 ss. 63, 65, 130 (5), 131; 1977 c. 272 s. 98; 1977 c. 273; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (1); 1989 a. 31; 2003 a. 33 ss. 169 to 171, 9160; 2003 a. 320; 2015 a. 55.

16.417 16.417 Dual employment or retention.

16.417(1) (1) In this section:

16.417(1)(a) (a) “Agency” means an office, department, independent agency, institution of higher education, association, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, that is entitled to expend moneys appropriated by law, including the legislature and the courts.

16.417(1)(b) (b) “Authority” means a body created under subch. II of ch. 114 or ch. 231, 232, 233, 234, 237, 238, or 279.

16.417(1)(c) (c) “Elective state official” has the meaning given in s. 13.62 (6).

16.417(1)(e) (e) “Health care professional” means any of the following:

16.417(1)(e)1. 1. A registered nurse who is licensed under s. 441.06, who is permitted under s. 441.08, or who holds a multistate license, as defined in s. 441.51 (2) (h), issued in a party state, as defined in s. 441.51 (2) (k).

16.417(1)(e)2. 2. A licensed practical nurse who is licensed or has a temporary permit under s. 441.10 or who holds a multistate license, as defined in s. 441.51 (2) (h), issued in a party state, as defined in s. 441.51 (2) (k).

16.417(1)(e)3. 3. A physician who is licensed to practice medicine and surgery under s. 448.02.

16.417(1)(e)3m. 3m. A physician assistant who is licensed under subch. IX of ch. 448 or who holds a compact privilege under subch. XIII of ch. 448.

16.417(1)(e)4. 4. A psychologist who is licensed to practice psychology under subch. I of ch. 455.

16.417(2) (2) 

16.417(2)(a) (a) No individual other than an elective state official who is employed or retained in a full-time position or capacity with an agency or authority may hold any other position or be retained in any other capacity with an agency or authority from which the individual receives, directly or indirectly, more than $12,000 from the agency or authority as compensation for the individual’s services during any 12-month period.

16.417(2)(b) (b) No elective state official may hold any other position or be retained in any other capacity with an agency or authority, except an unsalaried position or unpaid service with an agency or authority that is compatible with the official’s duties, the emoluments of which are limited to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of duties.

16.417(2)(c) (c) No agency or authority may employ any individual or enter into any contract in violation of this subsection.

16.417(2)(d) (d) The department shall annually check to assure that no individual violates this subsection. The department shall order any individual whom it finds to be in violation of this subsection to forfeit that portion of the economic gain that the individual realized in violation of this subsection.

16.417(2)(e) (e) The attorney general, when requested by the department, shall institute proceedings to recover any forfeiture incurred under this subsection which is not paid by the individual against whom it is assessed.

16.417(2)(f) (f) This subsection does not apply to any of the following:

16.417(2)(f)1. 1. An individual other than an elective state official who has a full-time appointment for less than 12 months, during any period of time that is not included in the appointment.

16.417(2)(f)2. 2. An individual who is employed by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, but only with respect to compensation received within the system.

16.417(2)(f)3. 3. A health care professional who is employed or retained in a full-time position or capacity with an agency or authority and who holds another position or is retained in any other capacity with an agency or authority for less than 1,040 hours during any 12-month period.

16.417 History History: 1987 a. 365 ss. 1, 4m; 1987 a. 399; 1989 a. 56 s. 259; 1993 a. 362; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 74, 335; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 7, 10, 32, 229; 2013 a. 20 ss. 65p, 2365m, 9448; 2013 a. 165; 2017 a. 59; 2021 a. 23, 131, 238; 2023 a. 81.

16.417 Annotation Discussing restrictions that sub. (2) imposes on dual state employment of state employees. 77 Atty. Gen. 245.

16.42 16.42 Agency requests.

16.42(1) (1) All agencies, other than the legislature and the courts, no later than September 15 of each even-numbered year, in the form and content prescribed by the department, shall prepare and forward to the department and to the legislative fiscal bureau the following program and financial information:

16.42(1)(a) (a) A clear statement of the purpose or goal for each program or subprogram.

16.42(1)(b) (b) Clear statements of specific objectives to be accomplished and, as appropriate, the performance measures used by the agency to assess progress toward achievement of these objectives.

16.42(1)(c) (c) Proposed plans to implement the objectives and the estimated resources needed to carry out the proposed plans.

16.42(1)(d) (d) A statement of legislation required to implement proposed programmatic and financial plans.

16.42(1)(e) (e) All fiscal or other information relating to such agencies that the secretary or the governor requires on forms prescribed by the secretary.

16.42(1)(f) (f) The information required under s. 16.423.

16.42(1)(g) (g) The information required under s. 16.529 (2).

16.42(2) (2) The secretary may make budget estimates for all such agencies which fail to furnish the information required under sub. (1) by the date specified in sub. (1).

16.42(3) (3) The department of safety and professional services shall include in its agency request under sub. (1) a proposal to eliminate any council, board, or commission that has not held a meeting since the preceding September 15, unless the council, board, or commission is required to exist under federal law.

16.42(4) (4) 

16.42(4)(a) (a) In this subsection, “state operations” has the meaning given in s. 16.413 (1) (e).

16.42(4)(b) (b) Each agency required to submit a budget request under sub. (1) shall include with its request, and shall submit to the governor and to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2), all of the following: