AB 441

This bill prohibits any person from signing a petition for the recall of the same

officer more than once during the same 60-day circulation period. Violators are

guilty of a Class I felony and may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for

not more than three years and six months, or both. Currently, no such prohibition

applies.

Currently, with limited exceptions, alleged criminal violations of the election

laws are investigated by the Government Accountability Board or the district

attorney for the appropriate county and are prosecuted by the district attorney. The

bill provides that any resident of this state who believes that a violation of the

prohibition created by this bill has occurred may petition the attorney general to

investigate and prosecute the violation.

In addition, the bill requires each recall petition to state at the top of the petition

"Signing of a petition to recall the same officer more than once during the same

circulation period is a felony under Wisconsin law.".

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,

the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a

report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to

result if the bill is enacted.