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STATE OF WISCONSIN

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Table of Contents

1997 Wisconsin Statutes

(Only Printed Volumes are Certified under s. 35.18 (2), Wis. Stats.)

Includes all legislation and Supreme Court Rules adopted as of December 1, 1998

Statutory changes effective prior to January 2, 1999 are printed as if currently in effect. Statutory changes effective on or after January 2, 1999 are designated by NOTES. See the 1997 Wisconsin Acts and Statutes Sections Affected by 1997-98 Wisconsin Acts for effective dates of statutory changes that become effective prior to January 2, 1999.

1997-98 Statutes in HTML

The following list provides links to PDFs of all chapters of the Wisconsin Statutes, 1997-98.

Sovereignty, Jurisdiction and Civil Divisions of the State.

  1. Sovereignty and jurisdiction of the state.
  2. Division of the state into counties, and their boundaries.
  3. Congressional districts.
  4. Senate and assembly districts.

Elections.

  1. Elections — general provisions; ballots and voting systems.
  2. The electors.
  3. Election officials, boards, observers; selection and duties, canvassing.
  4. Nominations, primaries, elections.
  5. Post election actions; direct legislation.
  6. Election dates and notices.
  7. Campaign financing.
  8. Prohibited election practices.

General Organization of the State, Except the Judiciary.

  1. Legislative branch.
  2. Constitutional offices and interstate bodies.
  3. Structure of the executive branch.
  4. Department of administration.
  5. Resignations, vacancies, and removals from office.
  6. State debt, revenue obligations and operating notes.
  7. General duties of public officials.
  8. Appropriations and budget management.
  9. Department of military affairs.

Public Domain and the Trust Funds.

  1. Conservation.
  2. Public domain and the trust funds.
  3. Trust funds and their management.
  4. Protection of forest lands and forest productivity.
  5. Public parks and places of recreation.
  6. Public forests.
  7. Wild animals and plants.
  8. Navigable waters, harbors and navigation.
  9. Regulation of dams and bridges affecting navigable waters.
  10. Eminent domain.
  11. Public inland waters.
  12. Public deposits.

Public Printing.

  1. Public printing; distribution of laws and public documents.

Educational Institutions.

  1. University of Wisconsin system.
  2. Technical college system.
  3. Higher educational agencies and education compacts.

Employe Trust Fund.

  1. Public employe trust fund.

Cultural and Memorial Institutions; Veterans' Affairs.

  1. Department of tourism.
  2. State fair park board.
  3. Libraries.
  4. Historical societies, arts board and technology for educational achievement in Wisconsin board.
  5. Veterans' affairs, benefits and memorials.

Charitable, Curative, Reformatory and Penal Institutions and Agencies.

  1. Social services.
  2. Vocational rehabilitation; specialized programs for persons with disabilities.
  3. Children's code.
  4. Public assistance.
  5. Uniform licensure.
  6. State alcohol, drug abuse, developmental disabilities and mental health act.
  7. Protective service system.
  8. Private asylums, hospitals and societies.

Functions and Government of Municipalities.

  1. Counties.
  2. Towns.
  3. Villages.
  4. Cities.
  5. County and city civil service.
  6. Other forms of city government.
  7. Municipal budget systems.
  8. General municipality law.
  9. Municipal borrowing and municipal bonds.
  10. Municipal administrative procedure.

Statistics.

  1. Collection of statistics.

Taxation.

  1. General property taxes.
  2. Income and franchise taxes for state and local revenues.
  3. Estate tax.
  4. Tax appeals commission and department of revenue.
  5. Property tax collection.
  6. Land sold for taxes.
  7. Taxation of public utilities and insurers.
  8. Taxation of forest croplands; real estate transfer fees; sales and use taxes; county and special district sales and use taxes; managed forest land; temporary recycling surcharge; local food and beverage tax; local rental car tax; premier resort area taxes; state rental vehicle fee; dry cleaning fees.
  9. Motor vehicle and general aviation fuel taxes.
  10. State revenue sharing.

Highways and Bridges, Drains and Fences.

  1. Laying highways.
  2. Town highways.
  3. County highways.
  4. State trunk highways; federal aid.
  5. Department of transportation.
  6. Miscellaneous highway provisions.
  7. Flood control.
  8. Drainage of lands.
  9. Fences.

Agriculture; Foods and Drugs; Markets.

  1. Farmland preservation.
  2. Soil and water conservation and animal waste management.
  3. Department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection.
  4. Plant industry.
  5. Animal health.
  6. Agricultural marketing act.
  7. Food regulation.
  8. Weights and measures.
  9. Public warehouses.
  10. Marketing; trade practices.

Regulation of Industry.

  1. Department of commerce-regulation of industry, buildings and safety.
  2. Worker's compensation.
  3. Employment regulations.
  4. Minimum wage law.
  5. Employment agents.
  6. Apprentice and employment programs.
  7. Mining and metal recovery.
  8. Unemployment insurance and reserves.
  9. Wage payments, claims and collections.
  10. Motor vehicles.
  11. Employment relations.
  12. Fiduciaries.
  13. Uniform joint obligations act.
  14. Aeronautics.

Public Instruction.

  1. State superintendent; general classifications and definitions; children with disabilities.
  2. Cooperative educational service agencies.
  3. School district reorganization.
  4. General school operations.
  5. First class city school system.
  6. School district government.
  7. School finance.

Regulation of Trade.

  1. Alcohol beverages.
  2. Warehouse keepers and grain dealers security act.
  3. Creditors' actions.
  4. Consignments of works of fine art.
  5. Trademarks, badges and labeled products.
  6. Trusts and monopolies.
  7. Miscellaneous trade regulations.
  8. Dealership practices.
  9. Future service plans.
  10. Authentications.
  11. Money and rates of interest.
  12. Beverage, controlled substances and tobacco taxes.

Public Health.

  1. Plumbing and fire protection systems and swimming pool plan review.
  2. Miscellaneous health provisions.
  3. Medical societies.
  4. Mandatory health insurance risk-sharing plan.
  5. Regulation of health services.
  6. Health care information.
  7. Declarations to physicians and do-not-resuscitate orders.
  8. Power of attorney for health care.
  9. Disposition of human remains.
  10. Groundwater protection standards.

Police Regulations.

  1. Law enforcement officers' bill of rights.
  2. Department of justice.
  3. Emergency management.
  4. Safeguards of persons and property.
  5. Oil inspection.
  6. Strays and lost chattels.
  7. Unclaimed property.
  8. Animals distrained or doing damage.
  9. Animals; humane officers.
  10. Dogs.
  11. Miscellaneous police provisions.
  12. Uniform unclaimed property act.

Partnerships and Corporations; Transportation; Utilities; Banks; Savings Associations.

  1. Uniform partnership act.
  2. Uniform limited partnership act.
  3. Business corporations.
  4. Nonstock corporations.
  5. Miscellaneous corporate provisions; turnpike corporations.
  6. Limited liability companies.
  7. Uniform unincorporated nonprofit association act.
  8. Cooperatives.
  9. Credit unions.
  10. Religious societies.
  11. Fraternal societies.
  12. Office of the commissioner of railroads.
  13. Railroads; organization and management.
  14. Railroads; construction.
  15. Railroads; regulations and liabilities.
  16. Motor vehicle transportation.
  17. Railroad regulation.
  18. Regulation of public utilities.
  19. Municipal acquisition of utilities.
  20. Municipal power and water districts.
  21. Citizens utility board.
  22. Securities of public service corporations.
  23. Police and fire fighting service.
  24. Savings banks.
  25. Savings and loan associations.
  26. Investment associations.
  27. Seller of checks.
  28. Finance companies, auto dealers, adjustment companies and collection agencies.
  29. Investments.
  30. Banking.
  31. State banks.
  32. Trust company banks and other fiduciaries.
  33. Miscellaneous banking and financial institutions provisions.
  34. Business development credit corporations.
  35. Foreign corporations.

Administrative Procedure and Review.

  1. Administrative procedure and review.

Populous Counties and Cities.

  1. Recording and copying of public records in populous counties.
  2. Public institutions.

State Personnel.

  1. State employment relations.

Independent Authorities.

  1. Health and educational facilities authority.
  2. Bradley center sports and entertainment corporation.
  3. University of Wisconsin hospitals and clinics authority
  4. Wisconsin housing and economic development authority.
  5. World dairy center authority.

Platting Lands.

  1. Platting lands and recording and vacating plats.

Fraudulent Conveyances and Contracts.

  1. Fraudulent conveyances and contracts relating to real estate.
  2. Fraudulent contracts.
  3. Uniform fraudulent transfer act.
  4. General provisions relating to fraudulent conveyances and contracts.

Health.

  1. Health; administration and supervision.
  2. Local health officials.
  3. Communicable diseases.
  4. Maternal and child health.
  5. Environmental health.
  6. Chronic disease and injuries.

Natural Resources

  1. Pure drinking water.
  2. Water and sewage.
  3. Pollution discharge elimination.
  4. Air pollution.
  5. Solid waste reduction, recovery and recycling.
  6. Solid waste faciities.
  7. Hazardous waste management.
  8. Remedial action.
  9. Metallic mining.
  10. Nonmetallic mining reclamation; oil and gas.
  11. General environmental provisions.

Corrections.

  1. Corrections.
  2. Prisons; state, county and municipal.
  3. Prison labor.
  4. Paroles and pardons.

Vehicles.

  1. Vehicles — general provisions.
  2. Registration of vehicles.
  3. Vehicle title and anti-theft law.
  4. Operators' licenses.
  5. Vehicles — financial responsibility.
  6. Vehicles — civil and criminal liability.
  7. Rules of the road.
  8. Equipment of vehicles.
  9. Vehicles — size, weight and load.
  10. Vehicles — powers of state and local authorities.
  11. Snowmobiles.
  12. Habitual traffic offenders.

Uniform Commercial Code.

  1. Uniform commercial code — general provisions.
  2. Uniform commercial code — sales.
  3. Uniform commercial code — negotiable instruments.
  4. Uniform commercial code — bank deposits and collections.
  5. Uniform commercial code — letters of credit.
  6. Uniform commercial code — bulk transfers.
  7. Uniform commercial code — documents of title.
  8. Uniform commercial code — investment securities.
  9. Uniform commercial code — secured transactions.
  10. Uniform commercial code — funds transfers.
  11. Uniform commercial code — leases.

Wisconsin Consumer Act.

  1. Consumer transactions — general provisions and definitions.
  2. Consumer credit transactions.
  3. Consumer approval transactions and other consumer rights.
  4. Consumer transactions — insurance.
  5. Consumer transactions — remedies and penalties.
  6. Consumer transactions — administration.
  7. Consumer transactions — debt collection.
  8. First lien real estate loans.
  9. Motor vehicle consumer leases.

Regulation and Licensing.

  1. Department of regulation and licensing.
  2. Board of nursing.
  3. Accounting examining board.
  4. Examining board of architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, designers and land surveyors.
  5. Regulation of boxing.
  6. Funeral directors.
  7. Chiropractic examining board.
  8. Dentistry examining board.
  9. Medical practices.
  10. Optometry examining board.
  11. Pharmacy examining board.
  12. Acupuncture.
  13. Real estate practice.
  14. Veterinary examining board.
  15. Barbering and cosmetology examining board.
  16. Psychology examining board.
  17. Nursing home administrator examining board.
  18. Examining board of social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors.
  19. Real estate appraisers board.
  20. Hearing and speech examining board.
  21. Examining board of professional geologists, hydrologists and soil scientists.
  22. Auctioneer board.

Investment Regulation and Business Development.

  1. Wisconsin uniform securities law.
  2. Corporate take-over law.
  3. Wisconsin franchise investment law.
  4. Department of commerce.

Gaming.

  1. Regulation of racing and on-track pari-mutuel wagering.
  2. Bingo and raffle control.
  3. Crane games.
  4. State lottery.
  5. Indian gaming.

Insurance.

  1. Insurance — general provisions.
  2. Insurance — administration.
  3. State insurance funds; general principles.
  4. Local government property insurance fund.
  5. State life insurance fund.
  6. Managed care plans.
  7. Insurers in general.
  8. Domestic stock and mutual insurance corporations.
  9. Town mutuals.
  10. Service insurance corporations.
  11. Insurance — fraternals.
  12. Insurance — gift annuities.
  13. Miscellaneous insurers.
  14. Regulation of insurance holding companies and intercorporate transactions relating to insurers.
  15. Nondomestic insurers.
  16. Risk-sharing plans.
  17. Insurance — investments.
  18. Insurance — accounting and reserves.
  19. Insurance — rate regulation.
  20. Rate regulation in worker's compensation insurance.
  21. Underwriting restrictions.
  22. Insurance marketing.
  23. General public policy provisions applicable to insurers and others.
  24. Insurance contracts generally.
  25. Insurance contracts in specific lines.
  26. Employe benefit plan administrators and principals.
  27. Small employer health insurance.
  28. Employe welfare funds and plans.
  29. Domestic mutual insurance holding companies.
  30. Insurers rehabilitation and liquidation.
  31. Insurance security fund.
  32. Continuing care contracts.
  33. Health care liability and patients compensation.

Property.

  1. Interests in property.
  2. Trusts.
  3. Powers of appointment.
  4. Condominiums.
  5. Landlord and tenant.
  6. Multiple-party and agency accounts; nonprobate transfers at death; transfer on death security registration.
  7. Conveyances of real property; recording; titles.
  8. Time-share ownership.
  9. Mortgages and land contracts.
  10. Disclosures by owners of residential real estate.
  11. Miscellaneous property provisions.

Courts.

  1. Court of impeachment.
  2. Supreme court.
  3. Court of appeals.
  4. Circuit courts.
  5. Municipal court.
  6. Juries.
  7. General provisions concerning courts of record, judges, attorneys and clerks.
  8. Judicial branch agencies and committees.

The Family.

  1. Marriage.
  2. Property rights of married persons; marital property.
  3. Actions affecting the family.
  4. Actions abolished.
  5. Uniform interstate family support act.

Actions and Proceedings in Special Cases.

  1. Actions against state.
  2. Actions by and against executors, administrators, heirs and legatees.
  3. Collection of forfeitures.
  4. Liens.
  5. Liens against vessels.
  6. Extraordinary remedies.
  7. Habeas corpus.
  8. Mandamus and prohibition.
  9. Quo warranto.
  10. Contempt of court.
  11. Disposition of lands of wards; specific performance; change of names; establish heirships.
  12. Arbitration.

Small Claims.

  1. Procedure in small claims actions.

Municipal Court Procedure.

  1. Municipal court procedure.

Civil Procedure.

  1. Civil procedure — commencement of action and venue.
  2. Civil procedure — pleadings, motions and pretrial practice.
  3. Civil procedure — parties.
  4. Civil procedure — depositions and discovery.
  5. Civil procedure — trials.
  6. Civil procedure — judgment.
  7. Civil procedure — miscellaneous provisions.
  8. Appeals and writs of error.
  9. Rules of appellate procedure.
  10. Replevin.
  11. Attachment.
  12. Garnishment.
  13. Injunctions, ne exeat and receivers.
  14. Court costs and fees.
  15. Executions.
  16. Remedies supplementary to execution.
  17. Arrest and bail.
  18. Partition of personal property.
  19. Uniform certification of questions of law rule.
  20. Uniform child custody jurisdiction act.
  21. Nuisances.
  22. Real property actions; general provisions.
  23. Declaration of interest in real property.
  24. Partition of interest in real property.
  25. Actions for possession of real property; damages for withholding.
  26. Interference with interest; physical injury.
  27. Real estate foreclosure.
  28. Miscellaneous real estate actions.

Probate.

  1. Probate — definitions and general provisions.
  2. Intestate succession.
  3. Wills.
  4. Transfers at death — general rules.
  5. Opening estates.
  6. Powers and duties of personal representatives.
  7. Probate — inventory.
  8. Probate — claims.
  9. Probate — sale, mortgage and lease of property.
  10. Probate — family rights.
  11. Probate — accounts.
  12. Closing estates.
  13. Probate — informal administration.
  14. Probate — summary procedures.
  15. Probate — ancillary procedures.
  16. Probate bonds.
  17. Probate — notice, appearance, appeal and miscellaneous procedure.
  18. Guardians and wards.
  19. Trust fund investments.
  20. Adoption of adults.

Provisions Common to Actions and Proceedings in All Courts.

  1. Witnesses and oral testimony.
  2. Depositions, oaths and affidavits.
  3. Documentary and record evidence.
  4. Presumptions.
  5. Limitations of commencement of actions and proceedings and procedure for claims against governmental units.
  6. Miscellaneous general provisions.

Relief of Prisoners.

  1. Persons in jail on civil process.

Evidence.

  1. Evidence — general provisions.
  2. Evidence — judicial notice.
  3. Evidence — presumptions.
  4. Evidence — relevancy and its limits.
  5. Evidence — privileges.
  6. Evidence — witnesses.
  7. Evidence — opinions and expert testimony.
  8. Evidence — hearsay.
  9. Evidence — authentication and identification.
  10. Evidence — contents of writings, recordings and photographs.
  11. Evidence — miscellaneous rules.

Juvenile Justice Code.

  1. Juvenile justice code.

Criminal Code.

  1. Crimes-general provisions.
  2. Crimes against life and bodily security.
  3. Crimes against public health and safety.
  4. Crimes against reputation, privacy and civil liberties.
  5. Crimes against property.
  6. Crimes against sexual morality.
  7. Gambling.
  8. Crimes against government and its administration.
  9. Crimes against public peace, order and other interests.
  10. Crimes against children.
  11. Awards for the victims of crimes.
  12. Rights of victims and witnesses of crime.
  13. Crimes against animals.

Controlled Substances.

  1. Uniform controlled substances act.

Criminal Procedure.

  1. Criminal procedure — general provisions.
  2. Commencement of criminal proceedings.
  3. Bail and other conditions of release.
  4. Criminal procedure — preliminary proceedings.
  5. Criminal procedure — proceedings before and at trial.
  6. Criminal trials.
  7. Sentencing.
  8. Criminal procedure — appeals, new trials and writs of error.
  9. Sex crimes law.
  10. Uniform acts in criminal proceedings.
  11. State public defender.
  12. District attorneys.
  13. Investigation of deaths.
  14. Sexually violent person commitments.

Newspaper Publication.

  1. Publication of legal notices; public newspapers; fees.

Construction of Statutes, Repeal of Existing Laws, Curative Acts.

  1. Construction of statutes.
  2. Acts and statutes — effective date, numbering, citation and repeal.
  3. Curative acts.
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