19.41 Declaration of policy. (1) It is declared that high moral and ethical standards among state public officials and state employees are essential to the conduct of free government; that the legislature believes that a code of ethics for the guidance of state public officials and state employees will help them avoid conflicts between their […]
19.42 Definitions. In this subchapter: (1) “Anything of value” means any money or property, favor, service, payment, advance, forbearance, loan, or promise of future employment, but does not include compensation and expenses paid by the state, fees and expenses which are permitted and reported under s. 19.56, political contributions which are reported under ch. 11, […]
19.43 Financial disclosure. (1) Each individual who in January of any year is an official required to file, and who is an official required to file for at least 14 days in that year, shall file with the commission no later than April 30 of that year a statement of economic interests meeting each of […]
19.44 Form of statement. (1) Every statement of economic interests which is required to be filed under this subchapter shall be in the form prescribed by the commission, and shall contain the following information: (a) The identity of every organization with which the individual required to file is associated and the nature of his or […]
19.45 Standards of conduct; state public officials. (1) The legislature hereby reaffirms that a state public official holds his or her position as a public trust, and any effort to realize substantial personal gain through official conduct is a violation of that trust. This subchapter does not prevent any state public official from accepting other […]
19.451 Discounts at certain stadiums. No person serving in a national, state or local office, as defined in s. 5.02, may accept any discount on the price of admission or parking charged to members of the general public, including any discount on the use of a sky box or private luxury box, at a stadium […]
19.46 Conflict of interest prohibited; exception. (1) Except in accordance with the commission’s advice under sub. (2) and except as otherwise provided in sub. (3), no state public official may: (a) Take any official action substantially affecting a matter in which the official, a member of his or her immediate family, or an organization with […]
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. […]
19.48 Duties of the ethics commission. The commission shall: (1) Promulgate rules necessary to carry out ch. 11, subch. III of ch. 13, and this subchapter. The commission shall give prompt notice of the contents of its rules to state public officials who will be affected thereby. (2) Prescribe and make available forms for use […]
19.49 Administration; enforcement. (1) General authority. The commission shall have the responsibility for the administration of ch. 11, subch. III of ch. 13, and this subchapter. Pursuant to such responsibility, the commission may: (a) In the discharge of its duties and after providing notice to any party who is the subject of an investigation, subpoena […]
19.50 Unauthorized release of records or information. (1) Except as specifically authorized by law and except as provided in sub. (2), no investigator, prosecutor, employee of an investigator or prosecutor, or member or employee of the commission may disclose information related to an investigation or prosecution under ch. 11, subch. III of ch. 13, or […]
19.55 Public inspection of records. (1) Except as provided in subs. (2) to (4), all records under ch. 11, this subchapter, or subch. III of ch. 13 in the possession of the commission are open to public inspection at all reasonable times. The commission shall require an individual wishing to examine a statement of economic […]
19.552 Action to compel compliance. Whenever a violation of the laws regulating campaign financing occurs or is proposed to occur, the attorney general or the district attorney of the county where the violation occurs or is proposed to occur may sue for injunctive relief, a writ of mandamus or prohibition, or other such legal or […]
19.554 Petition for enforcement. In addition to or in lieu of filing a complaint, any elector may file a verified petition alleging such facts as are within his or her knowledge to indicate that an election official has failed or is failing to comply with any law regulating campaign financing or proposes to act in […]
19.56 Honorariums, fees and expenses. (1) Every state public official is encouraged to meet with clubs, conventions, special interest groups, political groups, school groups and other gatherings to discuss and to interpret legislative, administrative, executive or judicial processes and proposals and issues initiated by or affecting a department or the judicial branch. (2) (a) Except […]
19.57 Conferences, visits and economic development activities. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation shall file a report with the commission no later than April 30 annually, specifying the source and amount of anything of value received by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation during the preceding calendar year for a purpose specified in s. 19.56 (3) (e), […]
19.575 Tourism activities. The department of tourism shall file a report with the commission no later than April 30 annually, specifying the source and amount of anything of value received by the department of tourism during the preceding calendar year for a purpose specified in s. 19.56 (3) (em) and the program or activity in […]
19.579 Civil penalties. (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), any person who violates this subchapter may be required to forfeit not more than $500 for each violation of s. 19.43, 19.44, or 19.56 (2) or not more than $5,000 for each violation of any other provision of this subchapter. If the court determines that […]
19.58 Criminal penalties. (1) (a) Any person who intentionally violates any provision of this subchapter except s. 19.45 (13) or 19.59 (1) (br), or a code of ethics adopted or established under s. 19.45 (11) (a) or (b), shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than one […]
19.59 Codes of ethics for local government officials, employees and candidates. (1) (a) No local public official may use his or her public position or office to obtain financial gain or anything of substantial value for the private benefit of himself or herself or his or her immediate family, or for an organization with which […]
