Section 19.47. Operation.

 

(1)   Office. The office of the commission shall be in Madison, but the commission may, after proper public notice and in compliance with subch. V , meet or exercise any of its powers at any other place in the state.

(2)   Administrator. The commission shall appoint an administrator in the manner provided under s. 15.62 (1) (b) . The administrator shall be outside the classified service. The administrator shall appoint such other personnel as he or she requires to carry out the duties of the commission and may designate an employee of the commission to serve as legal counsel of the commission. The administrator shall perform such duties as the commission assigns to him or her in the administration of ch. 11 , subch. III of ch. 13 , and this subchapter.

(3)   Statements of economic interests. All members and employees of the commission shall file statements of economic interests with the commission.

(4)   Action. Any action by the commission, except an action relating to procedure of the commission, requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of its members.

(5)   Annual report. The commission shall submit an annual report under s. 15.04 (1) (d) and shall include in its annual report the names and duties of all individuals employed by the commission and a summary of its determinations and advisory opinions issued under s. 19.46 (2) . Except as authorized or required under s. 19.55 (4) (b) , the commission shall make sufficient alterations in the summaries to prevent disclosing the identities of individuals or organizations involved in the decisions or opinions. The commission shall identify in its report the statutory duties of the administrator of the commission, together with a description of the manner in which those duties are being fulfilled. Notwithstanding ss. 19.50 and 19.55 (3) , the commission shall also specify in its report the total number of investigations conducted by the commission since the last annual report and a description of the nature of each investigation, including whether the investigation related to campaign finance, ethics, or lobbying. The commission may also include in its annual report any information compiled under s. 11.1304 (14) . The commission shall make such further reports on the matters within its jurisdiction and such recommendations for legislation as it deems appropriate.

(6)   Operation. The joint committee on legislative organization shall be advisory to the commission on all matters relating to operation of the commission.

(7)   Guidance following binding court decisions. Within 2 months following the publication of a decision of a state or federal court that is binding on the commission and this state, the commission shall issue updated guidance or formal advisory opinions, commence the rule-making procedure to revise administrative rules promulgated by the commission, or request an opinion from the attorney general on the applicability of the court decision.

(8)   Standing. The commission has standing to commence or intervene in any civil action or proceeding for the purpose of enforcing the laws regulating campaign finance, ethics, or lobbying or ensuring their proper administration.

(9)   Policies and procedures.

(a) Annually, the commission shall adopt written policies and procedures in order to govern its internal operations and management and shall annually report such policies and procedures to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) .

(b) Notwithstanding par. (a) , the commission may reconsider at any time any policy or procedure adopted as provided under par. (a) . If, upon reconsideration, the commission revises a previously reported policy or procedure, the commission shall report the revision to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) .

(c) The commission may reconsider at any time any written directives or written guidance provided to the general public or to any person subject to the provisions of ch. 11 , subch. III of ch. 13 , and this subchapter with regard to the enforcement and administration of those provisions.

(10)   Employees. All employees of the commission shall be nonpartisan.

(11)   Payments. The commission may accept payment by credit card, debit card, or other electronic payment mechanism for any amounts owed pursuant to the administration of ch. 11 , subch. III of ch. 13 , or this subchapter, and may charge a surcharge to the payer to recover charges associated with the acceptance of that electronic payment.

1973 c. 90 ; Stats. 1973 s. 11.07; 1973 c. 334 ss. 33 , 57 ; Stats. 1973 s. 19.47; 1975 c. 426 s. 3 ; 1977 c. 26 , 277 ; 1983 a. 27 , 166 , 378 ; 1987 a. 186 ; 1989 a. 338 ; 1991 a. 39 , 189 ; 2007 a. 1 ; 2015 a. 118 .