LRB-4192/2
RCT:jld&nwn:ph
2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE
February 24, 2010 - Introduced by Senators Kedzie, Kapanke, Grothman and
Hopper, cosponsored by Representatives LeMahieu, Nerison, Suder,
Kestell, Nygren, Vos, Lothian, Spanbauer, Pridemore, Gunderson, Ballweg,
Townsend, Bies, Tauchen, Brooks, Meyer
and Van Roy. Referred to
Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources.
SB554,1,3 1An Act to amend 15.05 (1) (c); and to create 15.34 (2) (be), (bg), (bi) and (br) of
2the statutes; relating to: qualifications of the secretary of natural resources
3and qualifications of members of the Natural Resources Board.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, the secretary of natural resources is nominated by the
governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, to serve at the
pleasure of the governor.
This bill prohibits the governor from nominating an individual as secretary of
natural resources unless the individual held a hunting or fishing license in at least
three of the five years before the year of nomination. If the individual served on
active duty in the military during the five years before nomination, the number of
years in which the person is required to have held a hunting or fishing license equals
five minus the number of years of active duty.
Under current law, the Natural Resources Board consists of seven members
nominated by the governor and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed
for six-year terms. Current law requires that at least three of the members be from
north, and at least three of the members be from south, of a line running east and
west through the southern limits of the city of Stevens Point.
This bill requires that, beginning in 2016, at least one member of the Natural
Resources Board have an agricultural background, at least one member have a
business background, and at least one member have an environmental background.
The bill also requires that, beginning in 2016, at least four members of the Natural

Resources Board have held a hunting, fishing, or trapping license in at least seven
of the ten years before the year of nomination. If an individual served on active duty
in the military during the ten years before nomination, the number of years in which
the individual is required to have held an annual hunting, fishing, or trapping
license equals seven minus the number of years of active duty.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB554, s. 1 1Section 1. 15.05 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB554,2,112 15.05 (1) (c) The secretary of natural resources shall be nominated by the
3governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed, to serve at the
4pleasure of the governor. The governor may not nominate an individual to be
5secretary of natural resources unless the individual held a hunting or fishing license,
6in this state or another state, in at least 3 of the 5 years before the year in which the
7governor makes the nomination, except that the governor may nominate an
8individual who served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or national guard
9during the 5 years before the year in which the governor makes the appointment, if
10during those 5 years the individual held a hunting or fishing license for 3 years minus
11the number of years of active duty served.
SB554, s. 2 12Section 2. 15.34 (2) (be), (bg), (bi) and (br) of the statutes are created to read:
SB554,2,1613 15.34 (2) (be) At least one member of the natural resources board shall have
14an agricultural background. The requirements of this paragraph apply to
15individuals who are members of the natural resources board on May 1, 2016, and
16thereafter.
SB554,2,1917 (bg) At least one member of the natural resources board shall have a business
18background. The requirements of this paragraph apply to individuals who are
19members of the natural resources board on May 1, 2016, and thereafter.
SB554,3,4
1(bi) At least one member of the natural resources board shall have an
2environmental background. The requirements of this paragraph apply to
3individuals who are members of the natural resources board on May 1, 2016, and
4thereafter.
SB554,3,105 (br) 1. At least 4 members of the natural resources board shall be individuals
6who held an annual hunting, fishing, or trapping license, in this state or another
7state, in at least 7 of the 10 years previous to the year in which the individual is
8nominated, except as provided in subd. 2. The requirements of this paragraph apply
9to individuals who are members of the natural resources board on May 1, 2016, and
10thereafter.
SB554,3,1511 2. If an individual served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or national
12guard during the 10 years previous to the year in which the individual is nominated,
13the number of years in which the individual is required to have held an annual
14hunting, fishing, or trapping license equals 7 minus the number of years of active
15duty served during those 10 years.
SB554,3,1616 (End)
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