Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 13 - Legislative branch.
13.45 - General provisions on legislative committees.

13.45 General provisions on legislative committees.
(1) Term; eligibility; vacancies.
(a) Unless otherwise provided by law, the terms of all legislator members of committees or other bodies established by statute on which there are legislator members appointed as are the members of standing committees in their respective houses, shall expire on the date specified in s. 13.02 (1). Unless otherwise provided by rule or resolution, any special legislative committee and the memberships thereof shall expire upon the accomplishment of the purpose for which the committee was created or the termination of the legislative session biennium in which the committee was created.
(b) A legislator's membership, on any committee or other body established by statute to which the legislator was appointed by reason of being a member of the legislature, terminates when such person ceases to be a legislator.
(c) Legislator vacancies on committees or other bodies established by statute, including first appointments upon the creation of such committees or bodies, shall be filled as are original appointments at the commencement of the legislative session biennium.
(2) Appointments reported. The chief clerk of each house shall file a duplicate of each report required by s. 14.40 (4) with the director of the legislative council staff.
(3) Expenses.
(a) For any day for which the legislator does not file a claim under s. 13.123 (1), any legislator appointed to serve on a legislative committee or a committee to which the legislator was appointed by either house or the officers thereof shall be reimbursed from the appropriations under s. 20.765 (1) (a) or (b) for actual and necessary expenses incurred as a member of the committee.
(b) Unless otherwise provided by law, any state officer or employee representing an agency as a member of a committee under this chapter shall be reimbursed by the agency for the actual and necessary expenses incurred by the officer or employee in the performance of duties as a committee member.
(c) Unless otherwise provided by law, any member of a committee under this chapter and not covered by par. (a) or (b) shall be reimbursed from the appropriation of the committee on which the member serves for the actual and necessary expenses incurred by the member in the performance of duties as a committee member.
(4) Organization. Unless otherwise provided by law, and except as provided in sub. (4m), every legislative committee or committee on which there are legislative members selected by either house or the officers thereof shall:
(a) Elect a chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary from among its members.
(b) Meet at such times, and at such locations within this state, as the chairperson with the consent of the members announces.
(c) Maintain its office in the capitol.
(d) Maintain a written record of its proceedings.
(e) On or before May 1 of each odd-numbered year, submit a written report of its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the governor and the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2).
(4m) Cochairpersons of joint legislative committees. Except as provided in s. 13.81 (1), every joint standing, statutory, special or other joint committee shall be chaired jointly by a senator and a representative to the assembly appointed as are other members of the joint committee.
(5) Rules of procedure; quorum. Unless otherwise provided by law, every legislative committee or committee on which there are legislative members selected by either house or the officers thereof may adopt such rules for the conduct of its business as are necessary, but a majority of the members appointed to a committee shall constitute a quorum to do business and a majority of such quorum may act in any matter within the jurisdiction of the committee.
(6) Committee members may administer oaths. Any senator or representative to the assembly, while acting as a member of a legislative committee, may administer oaths to persons to be examined before such committee.
(7) Cooperation of state agencies. The departments, officers and employees of Wisconsin state government, and the governing bodies of the political subdivisions of this state, shall assist legislative committees in the completion of their tasks. They shall provide legislative committees with ready access to any books, records or other information relating to such tasks. Upon request by legislative committees, and within the limits of existing appropriations, departments of state government shall supply such specialized staff assistance as a legislative committee may require.
History: 1975 c. 224; 1977 c. 325; 1979 c. 34 s. 2102 (48) (a); 1981 c. 391; 1983 a. 27 s. 2202 (33); 1987 a. 186; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 52, 184; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25.

Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations

Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations

Chapter 13 - Legislative branch.

13.01 - Number of legislators.

13.02 - Regular sessions.

13.03 - Oaths of members.

13.035 - Designation of members.

13.04 - Legislators' eligibility to other civil office.

13.05 - Logrolling prohibited.

13.06 - Executive favor.

13.07 - Freedom of debate confirmed.

13.08 - Mileage allowance.

13.085 - Bills increasing certain tax rates.

13.09 - Joint committee on finance.

13.093 - Reference of bills to joint committee on finance.

13.095 - Review of programs started with federal aid.

13.096 - Review of bills establishing vehicle weight limit exceptions.

13.0965 - Review of bills proposing revocation of an operating privilege.

13.0966 - Review of bills or amendments establishing health insurance mandates.

13.097 - Review of legislation providing for conveyances of lake bed areas.

13.0975 - Review of legislative proposals impacting energy availability.

13.098 - Review of legislation relating to alcohol and other drug abuse.

13.099 - Review of bills affecting housing.

13.10 - Joint committee on finance approvals.

13.101 - Joint committee on finance; appropriation and position changes.

13.102 - Joint committee on finance; consideration of biennial budget bill.

13.105 - Marquette University Dental School reports to governor and joint committee on finance.

13.106 - Medical College of Wisconsin and UW-Madison Medical School reports.

13.11 - Records of joint committee on finance.

13.111 - Joint committee on employment relations.

13.121 - Legislators' salaries and benefits.

13.123 - Legislators' expenses.

13.124 - Legal representation.

13.125 - Chaplains.

13.127 - Advice and consent of the senate.

13.13 - Speaker; deputy speaker; president of senate.

13.14 - Miscellaneous expenses.

13.15 - Chief clerks.

13.16 - Chief clerks' duties.

13.17 - Journals.

13.172 - State agency reports.

13.175 - Referenda.

13.176 - Article V convention.

13.18 - Sergeants at arms.

13.19 - Arrest of officers.

13.20 - Legislative employees.

13.21 - State departments to cooperate in providing legislative help.

13.22 - Payroll, legislative employees.

13.23 - Election contests; notice.

13.235 - Election contests; legislative inquiry.

13.24 - Testimony in election contests.

13.25 - Expenses of election contest; limitation.

13.26 - Contempt.

13.27 - Punishment for contempt.

13.28 - Interpellation of officers.

13.29 - Time for interpellation and procedure.

13.30 - State officers; removal by legislature.

13.31 - Witnesses; how subpoenaed.

13.32 - Summary process; custody of witness.

13.33 - Service of process.

13.34 - Refusal to testify.

13.35 - Liability of witness.

13.36 - Witness fees.

13.365 - Intervention.

13.39 - Legislative consideration of biennial budget bill.

13.41 - Interim successors for legislators.

13.42 - Virtual meetings of the legislature and legislative committees.

13.45 - General provisions on legislative committees.

13.46 - Majority and minority parties.

13.47 - Legislative state supported programs study and advisory committee.

13.48 - Long-range public building program.

13.482 - State Public Building Corporation.

13.484 - Limitation on certain building projects.

13.485 - Parking structure funding.

13.486 - State office building, completion of.

13.488 - Building commission; powers and duties.

13.489 - Transportation projects commission.

13.50 - Joint survey committee on retirement systems.

13.52 - Joint survey committee on tax exemptions.

13.525 - Joint review committee on criminal penalties.

13.53 - Joint legislative audit committee.

13.55 - Commission on uniform state laws.

13.56 - Joint committee for review of administrative rules.

13.565 - Legislative review of certain rules.

13.57 - National conference of state legislatures.

13.58 - Joint committee on information policy and technology.

13.61 - Lobbying regulated; legislative purpose.

13.62 - Definitions.

13.621 - Exemptions.

13.625 - Prohibited practices.

13.63 - Licenses for lobbyists; suspension or revocation.

13.64 - Lobbying registry.

13.65 - Lobbyist authorization.

13.66 - Restrictions on practice of lobbying.

13.67 - Identification of legislative and administrative proposals and topics.

13.68 - Principal's expense statement.

13.685 - Duties of the ethics commission.

13.69 - Enforcement and penalties.

13.695 - Legislative activities of state agencies.

13.71 - Lobbyists restricted during daily sessions.

13.74 - Auditing.

13.75 - Fees.

13.80 - Legislative organization, joint committee on.

13.81 - Joint legislative council.

13.82 - Committees appointed by council.

13.83 - Permanent council committees.

13.90 - Duties and powers of the joint committee on legislative organization.

13.905 - Legislative conduct.

13.91 - Legislative council staff.

13.92 - Legislative reference bureau.

13.94 - Legislative audit bureau.

13.95 - Legislative fiscal bureau.

13.96 - Legislative technology services bureau.