Chapter 59

59.54(27)(a) (a) Definition. In this subsection, “board” includes any department, as defined in s. 59.60 (2) (as).

59.54(27)(b) (b) General purpose and authority. The purpose of this subsection is to allow the board to contract with, or award grants to, religious organizations, under any program administered by the county dealing with delinquency and crime prevention or the rehabilitation of offenders, on the same basis as any other nongovernmental provider, without impairing the religious character of such organizations and without diminishing the religious freedom of beneficiaries of assistance funded under such program.

59.54(27)(c) (c) Nondiscrimination against religious organizations. If the board is authorized to contract with a nongovernmental entity, or is authorized to award grants to a nongovernmental entity, religious organizations are eligible, on the same basis as any other private organization, to be contractors and grantees under any program administered by the board so long as the programs are implemented consistently with the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution and article I, section 18, of the Wisconsin constitution. Except as provided in par. (L), the board may not discriminate against an organization that is or applies to be a contractor or grantee on the basis that the organization does or does not have a religious character or because of the specific religious nature of the organization.

59.54(27)(d) (d) Religious character and freedom.

59.54(27)(d)1. 1. The board shall allow a religious organization with which the board contracts or to which the board awards a grant to retain its independence from government, including the organization’s control over the definition, development, practice, and expression of its religious beliefs.

59.54(27)(d)2. 2. The board may not require a religious organization to alter its form of internal governance or to remove religious art, icons, scripture, or other symbols to be eligible for a contract or grant.

59.54(27)(e) (e) Rights of beneficiaries of assistance.

59.54(27)(e)1. 1. If the board contracts with, or awards grants to, a religious organization for the provision of crime prevention or offender rehabilitation assistance under a program administered by the board, an individual who is eligible for this assistance shall be informed in writing that assistance of equal value and accessibility is available from a nonreligious provider upon request.

59.54(27)(e)2. 2. The board shall provide an individual who is otherwise eligible for assistance from an organization described under subd. 1. with assistance of equal value from a nonreligious provider if the individual objects to the religious character of the organization described under subd. 1. and requests assistance from a nonreligious provider. The board shall provide such assistance within a reasonable period of time after the date of the objection and shall ensure that it is accessible to the individual.

59.54(27)(g) (g) Nondiscrimination against beneficiaries. A religious organization may not discriminate against an individual in regard to rendering assistance that is funded under any program administered by the board on the basis of religion, a religious belief or nonbelief, or a refusal to actively participate in a religious practice.

59.54(27)(h) (h) Fiscal accountability.

59.54(27)(h)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., any religious organization that contracts with or receives a grant from the board is subject to the same laws and rules as other contractors and grantees regarding accounting, in accord with generally accepted auditing principles, for the use of the funds provided under such programs.

59.54(27)(h)2. 2. If the religious organization segregates funds provided under programs administered by the board into separate accounts, only the financial assistance provided with those funds shall be subject to audit.

59.54(27)(i) (i) Compliance. Any party that seeks to enforce its rights under this subsection may bring a civil action for injunctive relief against the entity that allegedly commits the violation.

59.54(27)(j) (j) Limitations on use of funds for certain purposes. No funds provided directly to religious organizations by the board may be expended for sectarian worship, instruction, or proselytization.

59.54(27)(k) (k) Certification of compliance. Every religious organization that contracts with or receives a grant from the county board to provide delinquency and crime prevention or offender rehabilitation services to eligible recipients shall certify in writing that it has complied with the requirements of pars. (g) and (j) and submit to the board a copy of this certification and a written description of the policies the organization has adopted to ensure that it has complied with the requirements under pars. (g) and (j).

59.54(27)(L) (L) Preemption. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to preempt any other statute that prohibits or restricts the expenditure of federal or state funds by or the granting of federal or state funds to religious organizations.

59.54(28) (28) Crime prevention funding board.

59.54(28)(a) (a) In this subsection:

59.54(28)(a)1. 1. “Chief elected official” means the mayor of a city or, if the city is organized under subch. I of ch. 64, the president of the council of that city, the village president of a village, or the town board chairperson of a town.

59.54(28)(a)2. 2. “Crime board” means a crime prevention funding board that is created under this subsection.

59.54(28)(a)3. 3. “Municipality” means a city, village, or town.

59.54(28)(b) (b) A county may create a crime board. In a county that creates a crime board, the treasurer shall receive moneys and deposit them as described in s. 59.25 (3) (gm). The funds in such an account may be distributed upon the direction of the crime board under par. (d). The crime board shall meet, and its members may receive no compensation, other than reimbursement for actual and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Members shall serve for the terms that are determined by the crime board.

59.54(28)(c) (c) A county crime board shall consist of the following members:

59.54(28)(c)1. 1. The presiding judge of the circuit court, or his or her designee.

59.54(28)(c)2. 2. The district attorney, or his or her designee.

59.54(28)(c)3. 3. The sheriff, or his or her designee.

59.54(28)(c)4. 4. One of the following county officials, or his or her designee:

59.54(28)(c)4.a. a. The county executive.

59.54(28)(c)4.b. b. If the county does not have a county executive, the county administrator.

59.54(28)(c)4.c. c. The chairperson of the county board of supervisors if the county does not have a county executive or a county administrator.

59.54(28)(c)5. 5. The chief elected official of the largest municipality in the county, as determined by population, or his or her designee.

59.54(28)(c)6. 6. A person chosen by a majority vote of the sheriff and all of the chiefs of police departments that are located wholly or partly within the county.

59.54(28)(c)7. 7. A person chosen by the county’s public defender’s office.

59.54(28)(d) (d)

59.54(28)(d)1. 1. The crime board may solicit applications for grants in a format determined by the crime board, and may vote to direct the treasurer to distribute grants to applicants from moneys in the crime prevention fund under s. 59.25 (3) (gm). The crime board may direct the treasurer to distribute grants to any of the following entities, in amounts determined by the crime board:

59.54(28)(d)1.a. a. One or more private nonprofit organizations within the county that has as its primary purpose preventing crime, providing a funding source for crime prevention programs, encouraging the public to report crime, or assisting law enforcement agencies in the apprehension of criminal offenders.

59.54(28)(d)1.b. b. A law enforcement agency within the county that has a crime prevention fund, if the contribution is credited to the crime prevention fund and is used for crime prevention purposes.

59.54(28)(d)2. 2. Not less than 50 percent of the payments made under subd. 1. shall be made to one or more organizations described in subd. 1. a., except that if no organization described in subd. 1. a. exists within the county, all of the payments may be made to a law enforcement agency under subd. 1. b.

59.54(28)(e) (e) Annually, the crime board shall submit a report on its activities to the clerk of court for the county that distributed the funds, to the county board, and to the legislative bodies of each municipality that is located wholly or partly within the county. The report shall contain at least all of the following information for the year to which the report relates:

59.54(28)(e)1. 1. The name and address of each entity that received a grant, including contact information for the leadership of the entity.

59.54(28)(e)2. 2. A full accounting of all funds disbursed by the treasurer at the direction of the crime board, including the amount of the funds disbursed, the dates of disbursal, and the purposes for which the grant was made.

59.54(28)(f) (f) Annually, each recipient of a grant awarded under this subsection shall submit a report on its activities to all of the entities specified in par. (e). The report shall contain at least all of the following information for the year to which the report relates:

59.54(28)(f)1. 1. The name and address of the entity.

59.54(28)(f)2. 2. The name and address, and title, of each member of the governing body of the entity.

59.54(28)(f)3. 3. The purposes for which the grant money was spent.

59.54(28)(f)4. 4. A detailed accounting of all receipts and expenditures of the entity that relate to the grant money.

59.54(28)(f)5. 5. The balance of any funds remaining.

59.54(28)(g) (g) Upon the creation of a crime prevention funding board, the initial members of the board specified under par. (c) shall declare that they are serving on the board, or appoint their designees, not later than the first day of the 4th month beginning after a board is created.

59.54(29) (29) Sex trafficking task forces. In any county that has received a recommendation from the human trafficking council under s. 165.29 (1) (d), the board shall review the recommendation, and the board is encouraged to establish a sex trafficking task force that includes representatives from law enforcement agencies, county departments, and local nonprofit groups to coordinate efforts to combat sex trafficking in that county, including identifying and investigating sex trafficking, supporting victims, and raising community awareness.

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

59.54 History History: 1995 a. 201 ss. 146 to 149, 154 to 156, 159, 160, 162, 175 to 177, 179, 180, 183, 191, 193, 210 to 213, 222, 226 to 228, 274, 283, 366, 403, 404; 1995 a. 448 s. 59; 1997 a. 27, 35; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 193; 2005 a. 90; 2009 a. 42; 2011 a. 31, 35; 2013 a. 226, 293, 351; 2015 a. 55, 170, 195; 2017 a. 366; 2019 a. 42; 2023 a. 239.

59.54 Annotation A town has initial authority to name town roads under s. 82.03 (7). However, the town’s authority is subject to the county’s discretionary authority under sub. (4) to establish a road naming and numbering system for the specific purpose of aiding in fire protection, emergency services, and civil defense. A county may cooperate with a town regarding road name changes, but ultimately the county has authority to implement name changes, even if a town does not consent, when the name changes are made under sub. (4). Liberty Grove Town Board v. Door County Board of Supervisors, 2005 WI App 166, 284 Wis. 2d 814, 702 N.W.2d 33, 04-2358.

59.54 Annotation County home rule under s. 59.03 (1) allows every county to “exercise any organizational or administrative power, subject only to the constitution and to any enactment of the legislature.” The language of s. 60.565 authorizing towns to provide ambulance service acknowledges that another person can provide the ambulance service instead of a town and withdraws the mandate when another person provides ambulance services. The absence of a command from the legislature that towns provide an ambulance service in all situations causes the argument that county home rule prevents counties from providing ambulance service to miss the mark. Town of Grant v. Portage County, 2017 WI App 69, 378 Wis. 2d 289, 903 N.W.2d 152, 16-2435.

59.54 Annotation A county may establish a rural naming or numbering system in towns, and subs. (4) and (4m) do not restrict this exercise of authority to only rural areas within towns. The word “rural” in subs. (4) and (4m) describes the “naming or numbering system”; it does not modify the territorial scope of “in towns.” Town of Rib Mountain v. Marathon County, 2019 WI 50, 386 Wis. 2d 632, 926 N.W.2d 731, 17-2021.

59.54 Annotation The uniform addressing system ordinance adopted by the county in this case did not exceed the authority conferred by sub. (4). Therefore, under the ordinance, the county properly named the defendants’ road and assigned addresses to the defendants’ residence and rental cabins. Vilas County v. Bowler, 2019 WI App 43, 388 Wis. 2d 395, 933 N.W.2d 120, 18-0837.

59.54 Annotation A carefully drawn county ordinance prohibiting the sale of “disposable” bottles and cans would not, on its face, exceed the police power granted in s. 59.07 (64) [now sub. (6)], and would not constitute an unreasonable burden on interstate commerce, although a careful consideration of relevant factors may result in a finding of unreasonableness on both counts. 60 Atty. Gen. 158.

59.54 Annotation The authority of county officials to offer rewards for the arrest or conviction of persons violating the criminal law is limited to the circumstances set forth in s. 59.25 (2) [now s. 59.29 (1) (b)]. 63 Atty. Gen. 555.

59.54 Annotation Discussing the power of a county to provide limited rescue functions in connection with an ambulance service and to make reasonable charges. 65 Atty. Gen. 87.

59.54 Annotation Section 59.07 (64) [now sub. (6)] does not authorize county boards to proscribe deer shining. 68 Atty. Gen. 81.

59.54 Annotation A county board has authority under s. 59.07 (64) [now sub. (6)] to enact an ordinance prohibiting trespass that is similar to and consistent with s. 943.13. 69 Atty. Gen. 92.

59.54 Annotation A local emergency planning committee created by a county board pursuant to s. 59.07 (146) [now sub. (8)] is in many respects treated like other county committees. The county board has authority to appropriate funds for the committee, and the county’s relationship to the committee is the same as the county’s relationship to other county bodies created under this section, with the exception that the county must be consistent with the authority exercised by the state emergency response commission. The county corporation counsel should provide legal advice and assistance to the committee. If the committee or its members are sued, the attorney general represents them, and the state would pay the judgment if the requirements of s. 895.46 have been satisfied. 78 Atty. Gen. 27.

59.54 Annotation Local Emergency Planning Committee subcommittee members appointed by a county board under s. 59.07 (146) [now sub. (8)] are entitled to indemnity for damage liability under s. 895.46 and legal representation by the attorney general under s. 165.25. 81 Atty. Gen. 17.

59.55 59.55 Consumer protection.

59.55(1) (1) County consumer protection agency.

59.55(1)(a) (a) In this subsection:

59.55(1)(a)1. 1. “Consumer complaint” means a complaint received by a consumer protection agency from an individual.

59.55(1)(a)2. 2. “County consumer protection agency” means an agency created or designated under this subsection.

59.55(1)(b) (b) A county may create or designate a consumer protection agency which may:

59.55(1)(b)1. 1. Maintain an office in the county.

59.55(1)(b)2. 2. Receive and maintain records of consumer complaints.

59.55(1)(b)3. 3. Upon receipt of a consumer complaint, conduct an investigation to determine the validity of the complaint.

59.55(1)(b)4. 4. Notify the person responsible for the cause of the complaint of the nature of the complaint.

59.55(1)(b)5. 5. Assist in the resolution of the complaint.

59.55(1)(b)6. 6. Refer complaints:

59.55(1)(b)6.a. a. To the appropriate state department or independent agency; or

59.55(1)(b)6.b. b. To the district attorney.

59.55(1)(b)7. 7. Maintain follow-up records on all complaints referred to state departments or independent agencies or the district attorney.

59.55(1)(c) (c) A county consumer protection agency created under this subsection shall report at least once every 6 months to the board on the actions and activities of the agency.

59.55(2) (2) Testing milk and soil. The board may appropriate money and provide office and laboratory space for testing milk and soil and may provide residents of the county with reports of such tests.

59.55(3) (3) Truckers, hawkers and peddlers licensing. Except in counties having a population of 750,000 or more, the board may enact ordinances providing for the licensing of truckers, hawkers and peddlers, other than licensees under s. 440.51, and provide for the enforcement of the ordinances. The ordinances shall not provide for licensing of fuel vendors or those engaged in the delivery of petroleum products or farmers or truck gardeners who sell farm products grown by themselves.

59.55(4) (4) Transient merchants. Counties may, by ordinance, regulate the retail sales, other than auction sales, made by transient merchants, as defined in s. 130.065 (1m), 1987 stats., in the towns in the county and provide forfeitures for violations of those ordinances.

59.55(5) (5) Secondhand car dealers, junking cars. The board may license and regulate dealers in secondhand motor vehicles, wreckers of motor vehicles, or the conduct of motor vehicle junking. Such regulation shall not apply to any municipality which enacts an ordinance governing the same subject.

59.55(6) (6) Regulation of obscenity. The board may enact an ordinance to prohibit conduct that is the same as that prohibited by s. 944.21. A county may bring an action for a violation of the ordinance regardless of whether the attorney general has determined under s. 165.25 (3m) that an action may be brought. The ordinance may provide for a forfeiture not to exceed $10,000 for each violation.

59.55 History History: 1995 a. 201 ss. 130, 131, 152, 178, 240, 368, 452; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.

59.56 59.56 Cultural affairs; education; recreation.

59.56(1) (1) Cultural and educational contributions. The board may appropriate money for cultural, artistic, educational and musical programs, projects and related activities, including financial assistance to nonprofit corporations devoted to furthering the cultivation and appreciation of the art of music or to the promotion of the visual arts.

59.56(2) (2) Public museums.

59.56(2)(a) (a) The board may appropriate money for the establishment, expansion, operation and maintenance of public museums in the county, including, but not limited to, any public museum owned by a city.