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Bills · 2015-2016 Regular Session

AB 388

Became law Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: reorganizing the Government Accountability Board, requiring the exercise of rule-making authority, and making appropriations. (FE)

Administration, department of — Agency and general functions County — Officers Elections commission Ethics commission Extraordinary session, 2015 — November Government accountability board Governor — Appointments Judge Legislature Legislature — Finance, joint committee on Legislature — Legislative organization, joint committee on Municipality — Officers Political parties Reorganization of state government Reports Respiratory care provider

  1. Introduced, completed
  2. Passes Assembly, completed
  3. Passes Senate, completed
  4. Governor signs, completed
  5. Law, completed

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes the following changes to the structure and operation of the

Government Accountability Board (GAB):

Board Governance

Currently, the GAB is under the direction and supervision of a board of six

members. All six members are former judges appointed by the governor from

nominations submitted by a committee comprised of one court of appeals judge from

each court of appeals district. Currently, board members are appointed with the

advice and consent of two-thirds of the members of the senate and serve six-year

terms. One term expires each May 1.

This bill eliminates the GAB and replaces it with an Elections Commission,

which administers and supervises elections, and an Ethics Commission, which

administers and supervises ethics, campaign financing, and lobbying regulation.

Under the bill, the Elections Commission consists of at least six persons, who

serve five-year terms:

1) One individual appointed by the majority leader in the senate;

2) One individual appointed by the minority leader in the senate;

3) One individual appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

4) One individual appointed by the minority leader of the assembly; and

5) Two former municipal or county clerks, selected by the leadership in both

houses and nominated by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate

confirmed.

In addition, the bill requires the appointment to the Elections Commission of

one member for each political party, other than the two major political parties,

qualifying for a separate ballot whose candidate for governor received at least 10

percent of the vote in the most recent gubernatorial election. The individual must

be nominated by the governor from a list of three individuals selected by the chief

officer of that political party.

The Ethics Commission consists of at least six persons who serve five-year

terms:

1) One individual appointed by the majority leader in the senate;

2) One individual appointed by the minority leader in the senate;

3) One individual appointed by the speaker of the assembly;

4) One individual appointed by the minority leader of the assembly; and

5) Two individuals selected by the leadership in both houses and nominated by

the governor with the advice and consent of the senate confirmed.

In addition, the bill requires the appointment to the Ethics Commission of one

member for each political party, other than the two major political parties, qualifying

for a separate ballot whose candidate for governor received at least 10 percent of the

vote in the most recent gubernatorial election. The individual must be nominated

by the governor from a list of three individuals selected by the chief officer of that

What it would cost

Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs

Sponsors

Introduced by: A. Ott (R) , Allen (R) , August (R) , Ballweg (R) , Bernier (R) , Czaja (R) , Hutton (R) , J. Ott (R) , Jagler (R) , Katsma (R) , Kerkman (R) , Kleefisch (R) , Knodl (R) , Knudson (R) , Kooyenga (R) , Kremer (R) , Kuglitsch (R) , Loudenbeck (R) , Nygren (R) , R. Brooks (R) , Sanfelippo (R) , Skowronski (R) , T. Larson (R) , Vorpagel (R)

11 cosponsors

Born (R) , Darling (R) , Gannon (R) , Kapenga (R) , LeMahieu (R) , Nass (R) , S. Fitzgerald (R) , Stroebel (R) , Thiesfeldt (R) , Vukmir (R) , Wanggaard (R)

Votes

Assembly: Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 6, Noes 3

Passed 6–3 Oct 16, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Assembly: Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 6, Noes 3

Passed 6–3 Oct 16, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Assembly: Assembly Amendment 5 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 36

Passed 60–36 Oct 21, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Assembly: Assembly Amendment 6 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 36

Passed 60–36 Oct 21, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Assembly: Assembly Amendment 7 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 36

Passed 60–36 Oct 21, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Assembly: Assembly Amendment 8 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 36

Passed 60–36 Oct 21, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Assembly: Read a third time and passed, Ayes 58, Noes 39

Passed 58–39 Oct 21, 2015 official source full page

Aye · 58

Nay · 39

Not voting · 2

Assembly: Refused to refer to joint committee on Finance, Ayes 36, Noes 60

Failed 36–60 Oct 21, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Senate: Referred to joint committee on Finance by committee on Senate Organization pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2

Passed 3–2 Nov 5, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Senate: Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2

Passed 3–2 Nov 5, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Senate: Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

Passed 3–2 Nov 5, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Senate: Senate Amendment 1 adopted, Ayes 18, Noes 14

Passed 18–14 Nov 6, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Senate: Senate Amendment 4 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 14

Passed 18–14 Nov 6, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Senate: Senate Amendment 5 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 14

Passed 18–14 Nov 6, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Senate: Senate Amendment 6 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 14

Passed 18–14 Nov 6, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 to Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 59, Noes 36

Passed 59–36 Nov 16, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Assembly: Assembly Amendment 2 to Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 61, Noes 34

Passed 61–34 Nov 16, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Assembly: Assembly Amendment 3 to Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 61, Noes 34

Passed 61–34 Nov 16, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Assembly: Assembly Amendment 4 to Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 35

Passed 60–35 Nov 16, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Assembly: Assembly Amendment 5 to Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 59, Noes 36

Passed 59–36 Nov 16, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Assembly: Senate Amendment 2 concurred in, Ayes 56, Noes 37

Passed 56–37 Nov 16, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Assembly: Refused to refer to committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 33, Noes 62

Failed 33–62 Nov 16, 2015 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Full history

  1. Oct 9, 2015 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Knudson, Bernier, Knodl, August, Ballweg, R. Brooks, Czaja, Hutton, Jagler, Katsma, Kerkman, Kleefisch, Kooyenga, Kremer, Kuglitsch, T. Larson, Loudenbeck, Nygren, A. Ott, J. Ott, Skowronski, Vorpagel, Sanfelippo and Allen; cosponsored by Senators Vukmir, LeMahieu, S. Fitzgerald, Nass, Wanggaard, Darling, Kapenga and Stroebel

  2. Oct 9, 2015 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections

  3. Oct 13, 2015 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  4. Oct 13, 2015 · Assembly

    Representative Born added as a coauthor

  5. Oct 13, 2015 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  6. Oct 15, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representatives Berceau, Kessler and Zamarripa

  7. Oct 15, 2015 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  8. Oct 15, 2015 · Assembly

    Representative Thiesfeldt added as a coauthor

  9. Oct 15, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Vorpagel and Knudson

  10. Oct 15, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representatives Zamarripa, Berceau and Kessler

  11. Oct 15, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 3 offered by Representatives Zamarripa, Berceau and Kessler

  12. Oct 15, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Kessler, Berceau and Zamarripa

  13. Oct 15, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representatives Kessler, Berceau and Zamarripa

  14. Oct 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 6, Noes 3

  15. Oct 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 6, Noes 3

  16. Oct 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  17. Oct 19, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 4 offered by Representative Knudson

  18. Oct 20, 2015 · Assembly

    Representative Gannon added as a coauthor

  19. Oct 20, 2015 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 1:02 PM on 10-21-2015 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 16

  20. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  21. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  22. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 4 adopted

  23. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Refused to refer to joint committee on Finance, Ayes 36, Noes 60

  24. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 5 offered by Representatives Zamarripa, Barca, Shankland, Jorgensen, Berceau and Kessler

  25. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 5 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 36

  26. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 6 offered by Representatives Zamarripa, Barca, Shankland, Jorgensen, Berceau and Kessler

  27. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 6 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 36

  28. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 7 offered by Representatives Barnes, Zamarripa, Brostoff, Spreitzer, Pope, Hebl, Shankland, Wachs, Doyle, Subeck, Mason, Sinicki, C. Taylor, Meyers and Kessler

  29. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 7 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 36

  30. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 8 offered by Representatives Zamarripa, Shankland, Jorgensen, Berceau, Kessler and Barca

  31. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 8 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 36

  32. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  33. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  34. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 58, Noes 39

  35. Oct 21, 2015 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  36. Oct 21, 2015 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  37. Oct 22, 2015 · Senate

    Printed engrossed by the direction of the Senate Chief Clerk-3659

  38. Oct 28, 2015 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

  39. Oct 28, 2015 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  40. Oct 28, 2015 · Senate

    LRB correction (Assembly Amendment 1)

  41. Oct 28, 2015 · Senate

    LRB correction

  42. Nov 5, 2015 · Senate

    Referred to joint committee on Finance by committee on Senate Organization pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  43. Nov 5, 2015 · Senate

    Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  44. Nov 5, 2015 · Senate

    Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  45. Nov 5, 2015 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 11-6-2015 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  46. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Placed on the foot of the 12th order of business on the calendar of 11-6-2015

  47. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senators Vukmir, LeMahieu and Nass

  48. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 offered by Senators Olsen, Harsdorf, Petrowski, Cowles and Marklein

  49. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 offered by Senators Risser, Shilling, C. Larson, Ringhand, Bewley, Vinehout, Miller, Erpenbach, Hansen, Wirch and Harris Dodd

  50. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 4 offered by Senators Vinehout, Ringhand, Bewley, C. Larson, Wirch, Hansen, Lassa, Shilling and Risser

  51. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 5 offered by Senators Ringhand, Bewley, C. Larson, L. Taylor, Carpenter, Hansen, Wirch, Harris Dodd, Vinehout, Miller and Risser

  52. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 6 offered by Senators Risser, Shilling, C. Larson, Ringhand, Bewley, Vinehout, Miller, Erpenbach, Hansen, Carpenter and Harris Dodd

  53. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Read a second time

  54. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 1 adopted, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  55. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 2 adopted

  56. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 3 laid on table

  57. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 4 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  58. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 5 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  59. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Senate Amendment 6 laid on table, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  60. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  61. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  62. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 18, Noes 14

  63. Nov 6, 2015 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  64. Nov 9, 2015 · Assembly

    Received from Senate amended and concurred in as amended (Senate amendments 1 and 2 adopted)

  65. Nov 12, 2015 · Assembly

    Referred to calendar of 11-16-2015 pursuant to Assembly Rule 93

  66. Nov 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 to Senate Amendment 1 offered by Representative Barca

  67. Nov 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 1 to Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 59, Noes 36

  68. Nov 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Refused to refer to committee on Campaigns and Elections, Ayes 33, Noes 62

  69. Nov 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 to Senate Amendment 1 offered by Representative Hebl

  70. Nov 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 2 to Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 61, Noes 34

  71. Nov 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 3 to Senate Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Barca, Shankland, Jorgensen and Zamarripa

  72. Nov 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 3 to Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 61, Noes 34

  73. Nov 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 4 to Senate Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Barnes, Barca, Shankland, Jorgensen and Zamarripa

  74. Nov 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 4 to Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 60, Noes 35

  75. Nov 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 5 to Senate Amendment 1 offered by Representatives Spreitzer, Barca, Shankland, Jorgensen and Zamarripa

  76. Nov 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Assembly Amendment 5 to Senate Amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 59, Noes 36

  77. Nov 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Senate Amendment 1 concurred in, Ayes 58, Noes 37, Paired 2

  78. Nov 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Senate Amendment 2 concurred in, Ayes 56, Noes 37

  79. Nov 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Action ordered immediately messaged

  80. Dec 2, 2015 · Assembly

    LRB correction

  81. Dec 2, 2015 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled on 12-2-2015

  82. Dec 14, 2015 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 12-14-2015

  83. Dec 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor with partial veto on 12-16-2015. 2015 Wisconsin Act 118

  84. Dec 16, 2015 · Assembly

    Published 12-17-2015

  85. May 17, 2016 · Assembly

    Partial veto placed on calendar 5-17-2016 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)

  86. May 17, 2016 · Assembly

    Partial veto failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82