Vol. 73, No. 9, September
2000
Legislative Watch
Recently Passed Legislation
Recently passed legislation is offered in
response to member requests for more, although highly abbreviated,
information on new wisconsin laws.
Military honors funerals for veterans
1999 Wis. Act 136 (vetoed in part)
1999 Assembly Bill 582
Publication date*: May 23, 2000
Relating to: Military honors funerals for veterans and making
an appropriation.
Dealer registration plates for motor vehicle salvage
pools
1999 Wis. Act 137
1999 Assembly Bill 54
Publication date*: May 23, 2000
Relating to: Issuing dealer registration plates to motor
vehicle salvage pools.
Misuse of dealer registration plates
1999 Wis. Act 138
1999 Assembly Bill 55
Publication date*: May 23, 2000
Relating to: Misuse of a distinctive dealer registration plate
by a motor vehicle dealer, distributor, transporter, or manufacturer.
Motor carriers and single-state insurance regulation
system
1999 Wis. Act 139
1999 Assembly Bill 56
Publication date*: May 23, 2000
Relating to: Motor carriers and the single-state insurance
registration system, and providing a penalty.
Transport of hazardous materials by commercial motor
vehicles
1999 Wis. Act 140
1999 Assembly Bill 57
Publication date*: May 23, 2000
Relating to: Eligibility to operate commercial motor vehicles
and the transport of hazardous materials.
Effective dates: This act provides effective dates different from
those set in Section 991.11, Wis. Stats. 1997-98.
Motor vehicle auction dealers' licenses
1999 Wis. Act 141
1999 Assembly Bill 58
Publication date*: May 23, 2000
Relating to: Administrative action against motor vehicle
auction dealers' licenses.
Motor vehicle registration expiration
dates
1999 Wis. Act 142
1999 Assembly Bill 59
Publication date*: May 23, 2000
Relating to: Motor vehicle registration expiration dates.
Counting prior offenses for operating while suspended,
revoked
1999 Wis. Act 143
1999 Assembly Bill 668
Publication date*: May 23, 2000
Relating to: Counting prior offenses of, and penalties for,
operating a motor vehicle with an operating privilege that is suspended
or revoked, or of operating a commercial motor vehicle while
disqualified or ordered out of service.
Effective dates: This act provides effective dates different from
those set in Section 991.11, Wis. Stats. 1997-98.
Loan program for teachers of visually impaired
pupils
1999 Wis. Act 144
1999 Assembly Bill 629
Publication date*: May 23, 2000
Relating to: Creating a loan program for teachers and
orientation and mobility instructors of visually impaired pupils,
granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
Transferring appeals of certain DOT determinations to Tax
Appeals Commission
1999 Wis. Act 145
1999 Assembly Bill 136
Publication date*: May 23, 2000
Relating to: Transferring appeals of certain determinations of
the department of transportation from the division of hearings and
appeals to the tax appeals commission.
Grant program to improve local roads to preserve
jobs
1999 Wis. Act 146
1999 Senate Bill 432
Publication date*: May 24, 2000
Relating to: Creating a grant program to improve local roads
for job preservation, granting bonding authority, and making
appropriations.
Effective date: The treatment of section 20.866(1)(u) (by
Section 6) of the statutes takes effect on July 1, 2001.
Wetlands mitigation
1999 Wis. Act 147
1999 Assembly Bill 859
Publication date*: May 24, 2000
Relating to: Wetlands mitigation and granting rule-making
authority.
Real estate development plans
1999 Wis. Act 148
1999 Assembly Bill 872
Publication date*: May 24, 2000
Relating to: Requirements for enacting comprehensive plans,
requirements for comprehensive subdivision ordinances, the applicability
of traditional neighborhood development ordinances, the timing of
transportation planning grants, and making an appropriation.
Court-appointed special advocates for children in CHIPS
cases
1999 Wis. Act 149
1999 Senate Bill 106
Publication date*: May 24, 2000
Relating to: Court-appointed special advocates for children in
need of protection or services.
Disposing of unclaimed funds in public treasury
1999 Wis. Act 93 (corrected copy)
1999 Assembly Bill 226
Publication date*: May 8, 2000
Relating to: The disposition of unclaimed funds in a public
treasury.
Updating Wis. Stat. chapter 66
1999 Wis. Act 150
1999 Assembly Bill 710
Publication date*: May 24, 2000
Relating to: The reorganization and modernization of chapter 66
of the statutes.
Prisoner medical records
1999 Wis. Act 151
1999 Assembly Bill 795
Publication date*: May 24, 2000
Relating to: Prisoner medical records.
Effective date: This act takes effect on the first day of the sixth
month beginning after publication.
Grants for study abroad
1999 Wis. Act 152
1999 Assembly Bill 736
Publication date*: May 24, 2000
Relating to: Grants for study abroad.
Zoning ordinances along the Lower St. Croix River
1999 Wis. Act 153
1999 Assembly Bill 803
Publication date*: May 25, 2000
Relating to: Zoning ordinances regulating nonconforming
structures that are located in certain areas designated for protection
by the department of natural resources along the Lower St. Croix
River.
Auditing courses by persons age 60 and older
1999 Wis. Act 154
1999 Assembly Bill 432
Publication date*: May 25, 2000
Relating to: Auditing University of Wisconsin System and
technical college system courses by persons who are 60 years of age or
older.
Health care insurance grievance procedures
1999 Wis. Act 155
1999 Senate Bill 350
Publication date*: May 26, 2000
Relating to: Requiring insurers to establish internal grievance
procedures, independent review of certain coverage determinations made
by health benefit plans, and granting rule-making authority.
Effective dates: This act provides effective dates different from
those set in Wis. Stat. section 991.11 (1997-98).
Sex offender registration requirements
1999 Wis. Act 156
1999 Assembly Bill 99
Publication date*: May 26, 2000
Relating to: Sex offender registration requirements for persons
who are on probation, parole, or extended supervision, and providing a
penalty.
Laser pointer restrictions
1999 Wis. Act 157
1999 Assembly Bill 154
Publication date*: May 26, 2000
Relating to: Restrictions on the use of laser pointers, and
providing a penalty.
Peace officers' transportation of firearms in motor
vehicles
1999 Wis. Act 158
1999 Assembly Bill 174
Publication date*: May 26, 2000
Relating to: An exception for peace officers to prohibitions
relating to the transportation of firearms in motor vehicles.
Registration of nonprofit organizations' blood bank
vehicles
1999 Wis. Act 159
1999 Assembly Bill 197
Publication date*: May 26, 2000
Relating to: Registration of vehicles operated exclusively by a
nonprofit organization as a blood bank vehicle.
Implied warranties of animals' disease status
1999 Wis. Act 160
1999 Assembly Bill 314
Publication date*: May 26, 2000
Relating to: Implied warranties concerning disease status of
animals, and granting rule-making authority.
Effective date: This act takes effect on July 1, 2000.
Eligible ages for special education
1999 Wis. Act 161
1999 Assembly Bill 394
Publication date*: May 26, 2000
Relating to: The eligible ages for special education.
Amending statutes to include adoptive relatives on the same
basis as blood relatives in certain definitions
1999 Wis. Act 162
1999 Assembly Bill 610
Publication date*: May 26, 2000
Relating to: Including relatives by adoption on the same basis
as relatives by blood in certain definitions and references in the
statutes.
Number of Class "B" licenses issued to small
brewers
1999 Wis. Act 163
1999 Assembly Bill 717
Publication date*: May 26, 2000
Relating to: The number of Class "B" licenses that may be
issued to certain small brewers.
Employing minors age 12-13 as athletic event
officials
1999 Wis. Act 164
1999 Senate Bill 145
Publication date*: May 26, 2000
Relating to: The employment of minors 12 and 13 years of age as
officials for athletic events.
Coverage rates under the health insurance risk-sharing plan
for medicare-eligible persons
1999 Wis. Act 165
1999 Senate Bill 417
Publication date*: May 26, 2000
Relating to: Premium rates for coverage under the health
insurance risk-sharing plan for persons who are eligible for
medicare.
Confidentiality of documents reviewed by notary
publics
1999 Wis. Act 166
1999 Assembly Bill 431
Publication date*: May 26, 2000
Relating to: Confidentiality of documents reviewed by notary
publics.
Creating and regulating a local professional football stadium
district
1999 Wis. Act 167 (vetoed in part)
1999 Assembly Bill 892
Publication date*: May 26, 2000
Relating to: Creating a local professional football stadium
district; giving a local professional football stadium district the
authority to issue bonds and granting income tax exemptions for interest
income on bonds issued by the district; creating an individual income
tax checkoff for debt service payments for bonds related to a local
professional football stadium district; creating goals for the
participation of minority and women's business in contracts related to
the construction or renovation of football stadium facilities; making a
state moral obligation pledge with respect to bonds issued by a local
professional football stadium district; giving a local professional
football stadium district the authority to impose a sales tax and a use
tax; creating an income and franchise tax exemption for a local
professional football stadium district; the property tax exemption for a
professional football stadium; requiring a professional football team or
a related party that enters into a contract with a local professional
football stadium district that requires the team or related party to
acquire and construct or renovate football stadium facilities to comply
with the prevailing wage law; special distinguishing registration plates
associated with certain professional football teams; deposits to funds
for the operation and maintenance of a home stadium to be used by a
professional football team; the investment authority of the board of
commissioners of public lands and the investment board; the sale of
engraved tiles or bricks sold by a professional football team; and
making appropriations.
Effective dates: This act has effective dates different from
those set in Wis. Stat. section 991.11 (1997-98).
Ratifying the State Engineering Association
agreement
1999 Wis. Act 168
1999 Assembly Bill 959
Publication date*: May 19, 2000
Relating to: Ratification of the agreement negotiated between
the state of Wisconsin and the State Engineering Association for the
1999-01 biennium, covering employees in the professional engineering
collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds.
Effective dates: This act provides effective dates different
from those set in Wis. Stat. section 991.11 (1997-98).
Ratifying the Wisconsin State Attorneys Association Inc.
agreement
1999 Wis. Act 169
1999 Assembly Bill 960
Publication date*: May 19, 2000
Relating to: Ratification of the agreement negotiated between
the state of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Attorneys Association
Inc. for the 1999-01 biennium, covering employees in the professional
legal collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of
funds.
Effective dates: This act provides effective dates different
from those set in Wis. Stat. section 991.11 (1997-98).
Ratifying the Wisconsin State Employees Union agreement
covering blue collar and nonbuilding trades employees
1999 Wis. Act 170
1999 Assembly Bill 961
Publication date*: May 19, 2000
Relating to: Ratification of the agreement negotiated between
the state of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME
Council 24, and its appropriate affiliated locals, AFL-CIO, for the
1999-01 biennium, covering employees in the blue collar and nonbuilding
trades collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of
funds.
Effective dates: This act provides effective dates different
from those set in Wis. Stat. section 991.11 (1997-98).
Ratifying the Wisconsin State Employees Union
agreement
covering administrative support employees
1999 Wis. Act 171
1999 Assembly Bill 962
Publication date*: May 19, 2000
Relating to: Ratification of the agreement negotiated between
the state of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME
Council 24, and its appropriate affiliated locals, AFL-CIO, for the
1999-01 biennium, covering employees in the administrative support
collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds.
Effective dates: This act provides effective dates different
from those set in Wis. Stat. section 991.11 (1997-98).
Ratifying the Wisconsin State Employees Union agreement covering
technical employees
1999 Wis. Act 172
1999 Assembly Bill 963
Publication date*: May 19, 2000
Relating to: Ratification of the agreement negotiated between
the state of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME
Council 24, and its appropriate affiliated locals, AFL-CIO, for the
1999-01 biennium, covering employees in the technical collective
bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds.
Effective dates: This act provides effective dates different
from those set in Wis. Stat. section 991.11 (1997-98).
Ratifying the Wisconsin State Employees Union agreement
covering security and public safety employees
1999 Wis. Act 173
1999 Assembly Bill 964
Publication date*: May 19, 2000
Relating to: Ratification of the agreement negotiated between
the state of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME
Council 24, and its appropriate affiliated locals, AFL-CIO, for the
1999-01 biennium, covering employees in the security and public safety
collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds.
Effective dates: This act provides effective dates different
from those set in Wis. Stat. section 991.11 (1997-98).
Ratifying the Wisconsin State Employees Union agreement covering
professional and social service employees
1999 Wis. Act 174
1999 Assembly Bill 965
Publication date*: May 19, 2000
Relating to: Ratification of the agreement negotiated between
the state of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME
Council 24, and its appropriate affiliated locals, AFL-CIO, for the
1999-01 biennium, covering employees in the professional social services
collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds.
Effective dates: This act provides effective dates different
from those set in Wis. Stat. section 991.11 (1997-98).
Ratifying the Wisconsin State Employees Union agreement
covering law enforcement employees
1999 Wis. Act 175
1999 Assembly Bill 966
Publication date*: May 19, 2000
Relating to: Ratification of the agreement negotiated between
the state of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME
Council 24, and its appropriate affiliated locals, AFL-CIO, for the
1999-01 biennium, covering employees in the law enforcement collective
bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds.
Effective dates: This act provides effective dates different
from those set in Wis. Stat. section 991.11 (1997-98).
Whistle-blower protection for health care workers
1999 Wis. Act 176
1999 Senate Bill 172
Publication date*: June 1, 2000
Relating to: Disciplinary action against an employee of a
health care facility or a health care provider who reports a violation
of the law or a violation of a clinical or ethical standard by the
health care facility or health care provider or by an employee of the
health care facility or health care provider, and providing a
penalty.
Grants to small businesses for training employees
1999 Wis. Act 177 (vetoed in part)
1999 Assembly Bill 471
Publication date*: June 1, 2000
Relating to: Providing grants to small businesses for training
employees, and making an appropriation.
Effective date: This act takes effect on July 1, 2000.
Possessing barbed hooks while fishing
1999 Wis. Act 178
1999 Assembly Bill 561
Publication date*: June 1, 2000
Relating to: The possession of barbed hooks while fishing.
Older security interests in motor vehicles
1999 Wis. Act 179
1999 Assembly Bill 137
Publication date*: June 1, 2000
Relating to: Older security interests in motor vehicles.
Regulating occupational therapists and assistants
1999 Wis. Act 180
1999 Assembly Bill 751
Publication date*: June 1, 2000
Relating to: The regulation of occupational therapists and
occupational therapy assistants, creating an occupational therapists
affiliated credentialing board, requiring the exercise of rule-making,
and providing a penalty.
Effective dates: This act provides effective dates different
from those set in Wis. Stat. section 991.11 (1997-98).
Increasing employee trust funds board membership
1999 Wis. Act 181
1999 Senate Bill 97
Publication date*: June 1, 2000
Relating to: Increasing the membership of the employee trust
funds board.
Election laws changes
1999 Wis. Act 182
1999 Assembly Bill 700
Publication date*: June 1, 2000
Relating to: Various changes in the election laws; requiring a
referendum; and providing penalties.
Effective dates: This act provides effective dates different
from those set in Wis. Stat. section 991.11 (1997-98).
Attorney fees payable from a ward's estate in incompetency and
guardianship proceedings
1999 Wis. Act 183
1999 Assembly bill 742
Publication date*: June 1, 2000
Relating to: Requiring payment from a ward's estate of
reasonable attorney fees and costs for successful petitioners in
incompetency and guardianship proceedings.
Public debt limit for housing state departments and
agencies
1999 Wis. Act 184
1999 Assembly Bill 968
Publication date*: June 1, 2000
Relating to: Public debt limit for housing state departments
and agencies (Reconciliation Bill).
Revisor's correction bill of various statutes
1999 Wis. Act 185
1999 Assembly Bill 967
Publication date*: June 1, 2000
Relating to: Repealing, consolidating, renumbering, amending,
and revising various provisions of the statutes for
the purpose of correcting errors, supplying omissions, correcting and
clarifying references, eliminating defects, anachronisms, conflicts,
ambiguities, and obsolete provisions, reconciling conflicts, and
repelling unintended repeals (Revisor's Correction Bill).
Effective dates: This act provides effective dates different
from those set in Wis. Stat. section 991.11 (1997-98).
Revisor's correction bill of various statutes
1999 Wis. Act 186
1999 Assembly Bill 969
Publication date*: June 1, 2000
Relating to: Repealing, consolidating, renumbering, amending,
and revising various provisions of the statutes for the purpose of
correcting errors, supplying omissions, correcting and clarifying
references, eliminating defects, anachronisms, conflicts, ambiguities,
and obsolete provisions, reconciling conflicts, and repelling unintended
repeals (Revisor's Correction Bill).
Effective dates: This act provides effective dates different
from those set in Wis. Stat. section 991.11 (1997-98).
Restoring school property tax rent credit
1999 Wis. Act 198
May 2000 Special Session: Senate Bill 1
Publication date*: June 13, 2000
Relating to: Restoring the school property tax rent credit.
*Section 991.11, Wisconsin Statutes 1997-98: Effective date of acts.
"Every act and every portion of an act enacted by the legislature over
the governor's partial veto which does not expressly prescribe the time
when it takes effect shall take effect on the day after its date of
publication as designated" by the secretary of state [the date of
publication may not be more than 10 working days after the date of
enactment].
Wisconsin Lawyer