AB 6

This bill creates an authority, which is a public body corporate and politic, to be

known as the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). The WEDC

is governed by a board that consists of the governor, who shall serve as chairperson

of the board, and 11 members nominated by the governor, and with the advice and

consent of the senate appointed, to serve at the pleasure of the governor. The

secretary of administration and the secretary of revenue also serve on the board as

nonvoting members. The WEDC has a chief executive officer who is nominated by

the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, to serve at the

pleasure of the governor. The board may delegate to the chief executive officer any

powers and duties the board considers proper.

Under the bill, the board must develop and implement economic programs to

provide business support and expertise and financial assistance to companies that

are investing and creating jobs in Wisconsin and to support new business start-ups

and business expansion and growth in Wisconsin. In addition, the board may

develop and implement any other programs related to economic development in

Wisconsin. The board is given all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out

its duties, as well as specific powers to conduct its corporate business. The bill

specifically requires the Department of Commerce (Commerce) to provide staff or

other resources to assist the board in carrying out its duties and requires that

Commerce and the board coordinate their economic development programs. Finally,

the board must submit to the legislature a report on the activities of the WEDC and

the programs developed and implemented by the board.

The WEDC employees are not state employees, although the WEDC may elect

to become a participating employer under the Wisconsin Retirement System. The

members of the board and the chief executive officer are subject to state ethics laws.

In addition to creating the WEDC, the bill authorizes the secretary of

administration, before July 1, 2011, to abolish any full-time equivalent position or

portion thereof from revenues appropriated to Commerce and authorizes the

secretary to transfer funds from Commerce appropriations to WEDC appropriations.