AB 977

Under current law, the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads (office)

regulates railroad and water carrier activities in Wisconsin. This bill eliminates the

office, effective July 1, 2011, and generally transfers its functions to the Department

of Transportation (DOT), with DOT orders reviewed by the Division of Hearings and

Appeals (division) in the Department of Administration. In addition, any other

function of the office having the character of contested case resolution is transferred

to the division. The bill also transfers certain functions of the office relating to

railroad organization to the Department of Financial Institutions. The bill transfers

4.0 FTE positions to DOT.

Under current law, the office prepares assessments against railroads and water

carriers for the expenses of specific investigations, appraisals, and services and,

more generally, prepares annual assessments for expenditures attributable to

railroad and water carrier regulation. Ninety percent of these expenses and

expenditures are considered those of the office and ten percent are considered

general costs of state government. Upon payment of these assessments, 90 percent

of the payment is credited to the office's appropriation account. Under this bill, 100

percent of these expenses and expenditures are considered those of DOT, and 100

percent of the payment is credited to a DOT appropriation account.