May 18, 2010

 

Governor Signs Taylor Bills Allowing Electronic Voting for Cooperatives, Protecting Established Shooting Ranges

(MADISON) Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milwaukee) applauded Governor Doyle’s approval of two new laws at the Capitol in Madison.  Governor Doyle acted on BS 528, which authorizes electronic voting for absent members of a cooperative for meetings, and SB 424, which protects established shooting ranges from zoning and political tampering.

“I am happy that Governor Doyle moved forward on these two bills.  Cooperatives are a wonderful democratic model of governance and this new law allows them to utilize new technologies for voting and meeting.  The shooting range bill protects long established shooting ranges from political tampering and zoning challenges by residents who are new to the range area and complain about established practices.”  Taylor noted.

SB 528 provides that a cooperative may allow electronic means of voting, possibly email or web-based voting, to a member who is absent from a regularly called meeting.  The cooperative must ensure that it is the actual member casting the electronic ballot as the law barring proxy voting in cooperatives remains in effect.  Taylor authored SB 528 with Rep. Ann Hraychuck (D-Balsam Lake) in partnership with the Cooperative Network.

The shooting range bill, SB 424, ensures that long-established shooting ranges will not be the subject of political tampering and zoning actions to force removal or closure of the range.  Around Wisconsin, ranges that have been in operation for many years are threatened by new neighbors that demand certain conditions on the range, despite the fact the range was present when the neighbor consented to purchase property surrounding or adjoining the range.  The bill ensures that the range can renovate and expand as long as it is in lawful use.  Situations where safety of adjoining landowners is of concern, such as the recent stray bullets at the Hartland Sportsmen Club, are still subject to legal action.  Taylor coauthored the bill with Sen. Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls) and Rep. Mary Hubler (D-Rice Lake).