SB 1077

This bill adds a member to the Elections Commission. Under current law, the

commission consists of the following members who serve five-year terms:

1. One member appointed by the senate majority leader.

2. One member appointed by the senate minority leader.

3. One member appointed by the speaker of the assembly.

4. One member appointed by the assembly minority leader.

5. Two members who formerly served as county or municipal clerks. The clerks

are nominated by the governor from a list of three nominees that the legislative

leadership of each major political party submits to the governor. The appointment

of the clerks is subject to senate confirmation.

6. For each political party, other than the two major political parties, whose

candidate for governor received at least 10 percent of the vote in the most recent

gubernatorial election, one member, nominated by the governor from a list of three

individuals selected by the chief officer of that political party. This appointment is

also subject to senate confirmation. Currently, no political party qualifies to provide

a list of nominees under this provision.

Finally, current law provides that the members of the Elections Commission

choose one of the members to serve as chairperson for two years. The chairperson

is chosen by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members. In addition, current

law requires that the political affiliation of the chairperson change every two years.

The bill provides for the appointment of a former judge to the Elections

Commission. Under the bill, the chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court

appoints the judge from a list of four individuals that the legislative leadership of

each major political party agrees to nominate for the appointment. Under the bill,

the former judge who is appointed to the commission serves as the commission

chairperson for the duration of his or her five-year term.

Under current law, a member of the Elections Commission and a member of the

Ethics Commission receives a per diem of $115 for each day on which the member

attends or participates by audio or video conference call in a meeting of the member's

commission. Under the bill, a member of either commission receives a per diem of

$197 for each day on which the member's attendance or participation in a meeting

of the member's commission requires an overnight stay.