LRB-4084/1
PJH:jld:rs
2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE
January 22, 2010 - Introduced by Senators Jauch, Lehman, Taylor and Schultz,
cosponsored by Representatives Hebl, Turner, Pope-Roberts, Molepske Jr.,
Van Roy, Kerkman, Townsend, Bies, A. Ott, Ripp
and Kaufert. Referred to
Committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform,
and Housing.
SB467,1,3 1An Act to renumber 968.01 (1); to amend 968.01 (2); and to create 968.01 (1)
2(intro.), 968.01 (1) (a), 968.01 (1) (b) and 968.01 (4) of the statutes; relating to:
3using an electronic signature on a criminal complaint.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a criminal prosecution is begun when a criminal complaint
is filed with a court. The complaint is a written statement of the essential facts
constituting the offense charged. The person who provides the information
contained in the complaint swears to the truth of the information before the district
attorney or a judge.
Current law allows the person to swear to the truth of the statement in the
complaint by telephone contact with the district attorney or judge if the person signs
the statement, sends the original signed statement to the district attorney or judge,
and sends a copy of the signed statement to the district attorney or judge via a
facsimile machine. Subsequently, if the complaint is filed, both the original and the
facsimile copy of the signed statement are filed with the court.
Under this bill, a person may swear to the truth of the statement by telephone
contact with a district attorney or judge and may transmit a copy of the statement
electronically, accompanied by an electronic signature, to the district attorney or
judge. Under the bill, a statement that has been signed and transmitted
electronically may be incorporated into a complaint that is filed with the court
electronically or in paper form.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB467, s. 1 1Section 1. 968.01 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:
SB467,2,22 968.01 (1) (intro.) In this section:
SB467, s. 2 3Section 2. 968.01 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 968.01 (1) (c).
SB467, s. 3 4Section 3. 968.01 (1) (a) of the statutes is created to read:
SB467,2,55 968.01 (1) (a) "Electronic" has the meaning given in s. 137.11 (5).
SB467, s. 4 6Section 4. 968.01 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB467,2,77 968.01 (1) (b) "Electronic signature" has the meaning given in s. 801.17 (1) (e).
SB467, s. 5 8Section 5. 968.01 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB467,2,129 968.01 (2) The complaint is a written statement of the essential facts
10constituting the offense charged. A person may make a complaint on information
11and belief. Except as provided in sub. (3) or (4), the complaint shall be made upon
12oath before a district attorney or judge as provided in this chapter.
SB467, s. 6 13Section 6. 968.01 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB467,2,1914 968.01 (4) A person may comply with sub. (2) if he or she makes the oath by
15telephone contact with the district attorney or judge and immediately thereafter
16electronically transmits the statement, accompanied by the person's electronic
17signature, to the district attorney or judge. If the complaint is filed, the electronically
18transmitted statement shall be incorporated into a criminal complaint filed in either
19an electronic or paper format under s. 968.02 (2).
SB467,2,2020 (End)
Loading...
Loading...