August 22 - Study Committee on Alcohol Beverages Enforcement, Room 411 South.
August 28 - Study Committees on Child Placement and Support, Room 412 East, and Minor Guardianships, Room 411 South.
August 29 - Study Committees on the Identification and Management of Dyslexia, Room 411 South, and Direct Primary Care, Room 412 East.
September 5 - Study Committee on the Investment and Use of the School Trust Funds, Room 411 South.
September 6 - Study Committee on Property Tax Assessment Practices, Room 412 East.
September 12 - Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations, Room 411 South.
September 13 - Study Committee on the Use of Police Body Cameras, Legislative Council's Conference Room.
Study Committee Roundup
The Study Committee on Alcohol Beverages Enforcement met in July to hear about alcohol beverages enforcement models throughout the country and current enforcement efforts by the Department of Revenue in Wisconsin. The committee will meet again on August 22 to hear testimony and examine whether establishments and venues that serve alcohol in Wisconsin are properly licensed to do so.
The Study Committee on Bail and Conditions of Pretrial Release held its first meeting on Thursday, August 16th. The committee received a summary of the constitutional and statutory frameworks for bail and pretrial release in Wisconsin, followed by a presentation from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) about legislative efforts in other states relating to bail and pretrial release. The committee also heard presentations from the Bureau of Justice Information and Analysis, Wisconsin Department of Justice, and from retired Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Jeffery Kremers about evidence-based pretrial release pilot programs in Wisconsin counties. The next meeting of the Study Committee will be held on Monday, September 17th.
At its first meeting on July 24, the Study Committee on Direct Primary Care (DPC) heard an overview of the DPC model from a panel of DPC physicians, health policy researchers, and the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. In discussion, the committee expressed interest in hearing at future meetings about DPC pilots in other states, the use of DPC by local governments and private employers in Wisconsin, practical considerations related to introduction of DPC into Wisconsin’s Medicaid program, and other related issues.
The Study Committee on Minor Guardianships began its work by hearing testimony about a citizen’s experience with the current minor guardianship system and information from committee members on problems with the current law. Committee members also received information about past legislative efforts to modify Wisconsin’s minor guardianship system. The committee concluded its meeting by requesting additional information to consider before it begins discussing potential legislation.
The Study Committee on Property Tax Assessment Practices held its first meeting on August 7, 2018. At the meeting, the committee received testimony on assessment practices from local government and members of the business community. During and after the testimony, the committee discussed recent legislation, judicial decisions, and the treatment of certain types of real estate investment under Wisconsin’s property tax law. The committee will hold its next meeting on September 6, 2018.
At its first meeting on July 9, 2018, the Study Committee on the Identification and Management of Dyslexia heard testimony on trends in performance of elementary students on state reading assessments, and research relating to components of effective reading instruction. The committee heard perspectives on the nature and identification of dyslexia and about intervention models for struggling readers. The committee will hold its next meeting on August 29, 2018.
The Study Committee on the Investment and Use of the School Trust Funds held its first meeting on August 16, 2018. The meeting began with an overview of the school trust funds and the school trust fund loan program from the executive and deputy secretaries of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. The committee also received testimony from Commissioners Adamczyk and La Follette regarding their involvement with the management of the school trust funds; from local governments, including school districts, that use the school trust fund loan program; and from representatives of school libraries, which receive distributions from the school trust funds. The committee will meet again on September 5, 2018, to continue gathering information about the current investment and use of the Wisconsin school trust funds and about trust fund management, in general.
Recently, the Study Committee on the Use of Police Body Cameras received information from a number of experts on both body camera usage and Wisconsin’s open records law. The committee also heard testimony at its first meeting concerning other states’ approaches to these issues and the perspectives of a number of stakeholder groups. Committee members then discussed the issue areas that will need to be addressed as the committee considers potential legislation.
Staff News
Deputy Director Jessica Karls-Ruplinger has been appointed to serve on the NCSL Executive Committee. Congratulations, Jessica!
Director Terry C. Anderson has announced his retirement after 18 years leading the Legislative Council staff. Congratulations, Terry! There will be a celebration in Terry’s honor in the Capitol on Wednesday, August 29, 2-4 p.m. in GAR. Here is a message from Terry on this momentous decision:
For the past 41 years I have had the privilege to devote my professional career to nonpartisan legislative service agencies. While this was not a career path I set out to follow, it has been most rewarding and enjoyable. The experience has been enriched by the opportunity to spend over 36 years directing the staff in two Midwestern states.
The services and information provided by nonpartisan legislative service agencies are of great value in today’s legislative environment. An informed legislature is an equipped legislature capable of addressing the state’s challenges.
Maintaining a talented staff and healthy office culture is critical to the success of these agencies and the legislatures they serve. Today, the Wisconsin Legislative Council staff is extremely talented and, through the development of employee-involved management, a very positive office culture exists.
I am very satisfied that I have accomplished the mission that the Wisconsin legislative leaders recruited me to do when they approached me 18 years ago. Considering the very healthy condition of the Wisconsin Legislative Council staff, I have decided to retire from employment effective September 15, 2018.
Throughout my career I have had the honor to work with many dedicated colleagues and associates. I am very thankful for such a rewarding professional career.
New Information Memoranda Available
Regularly Scheduled, Special, and Recall Elections
In Wisconsin, elections are held for a variety of purposes, as outlined in state statute. Regularly scheduled elections – the spring primary, spring election, partisan primary, general election, and presidential preference primary – are held to elect individuals to federal, state, and local offices. Special elections are held to fill vacancies in elected offices and to conduct referenda. Recall elections are held to determine whether an elected official will be recalled from, or retained in, an elected office.
This Information Memorandum describes the regularly scheduled elections, as well as special elections, referenda, and recall elections.
Wisconsin law provides that an individual is qualified to vote if the individual is a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or older, and has resided in an election district or ward for 10 days prior to an election. However, an individual may not vote if the individual: (1) has been convicted of treason, felony, or bribery, unless the individual has completed the terms of imprisonment or probation or has been pardoned; (2) is incapable of understanding the objective of the election process or is under guardianship; or (3) has made any bet or wager that depends upon the result of the election.
This Information Memorandum describes voter qualifications and residence, including laws relating to new residents, former residents, military voters, and overseas voters.
The Wisconsin statutes specify who may appear on election ballots and the requirements for the nomination of candidates. Generally, most candidates are nominated by nomination papers and a primary election, if necessary. However, in certain circumstances, candidates may be nominated by caucus. The Wisconsin statutes also contain requirements for the placement of candidates for the Offices of the President and Vice President of the United States on the ballot for the presidential preference vote.
This Information Memorandum summarizes the relevant law governing the nomination of candidates to appear on ballots in Wisconsin and federal elections, including nomination papers, nomination by caucus, and nomination for the Office of President.
Under Wisconsin law, a voter generally must register before voting in an election. A voter may register online, in person, by mail, or at a polling place on Election Day. When registering to vote, a voter provides certain information, such as name, date of birth, and residence location; certifies that he or she is a qualified voter; and provides proof of residence. After registering, a voter is added to the state’s official voter registration list.
This Information Memorandum explains the methods by which a voter may register in Wisconsin; the required contents of registration forms; proof of residence; and the statewide registration list.
Under Wisconsin law, a voter may cast a ballot at a polling place on Election Day or by absentee ballot prior to Election Day. Any voter who, for any reason, is unable or unwilling to appear at a polling place may vote by absentee ballot.
This Information Memorandum explains the procedures for voting: (1) at a polling place on Election Day, including requirements relating to polling places, recording voters, proof of identification, and the mechanics of voting at a polling place; and (2) by absentee ballot prior to Election Day, including requirements relating to requesting, issuing, and recording absentee ballots and the mechanics of voting by absentee ballot.
In Wisconsin, the results of an election are certified through a canvass process. That process may involve a municipal canvass, county canvass, and state canvass, depending on the offices and referenda involved in the election. After the canvass process, a candidate or voter may petition for a recount of an election to review the results of the election, if the candidate or voter satisfies certain criteria.
This Information Memorandum describes: (1) the municipal canvass, county canvass, and state canvass processes; and (2) the recount procedure, including who may petition for a recount, the requirements for a recount petition, and the appeal of a recount determination.
Administration of Elections: Elections Commission and Local Governments
In Wisconsin, the Elections Commission administers and enforces election laws. Although the Commission is responsible for general oversight and administration of elections in Wisconsin, much of the operations and logistics for elections is performed by county clerks, municipal clerks, and other election officials (commonly referred to as “poll workers”). County clerks perform various duties, including duties relating to ballots, training, and assisting the Commission and municipal clerks. Municipal clerks supervise elections in their municipalities, and they perform duties relating to notices, polling places, ballots, voter records, and supervision of election officials, as well as any other duties that may be necessary to conduct elections.
This Information Memorandum describes the roles of the Elections Commission, county clerks, municipal clerks, and other election officials in administering Wisconsin elections.
