11. Current law provides a penalty of not more than $250 or imprisonment for
not more than one year in the county jail for various violations related to the
placement of monuments by a surveyor. The bill provides that each monument to
which a violation applies is a separate violation and therefore subject to a separate
penalty.

The bill codifies the holding of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in FAS, LLC v.
Town of Bass Lake
, 2007 WI 73, 301 Wis. 2d 321, 733 N.W. 2d 287, by specifying that,
unless a local ordinance provides otherwise, a navigable stream running through a
parcel of property does not, in and of itself, divide the parcel into two lots if the same
person holds title to the property on both sides of the stream.
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:
AB586, s. 1 1Section 1. 15.405 (2) (intro.), (a) and (b) of the statutes, as affected by 2011
2Wisconsin Act 32
, are amended to read:
AB586,7,133 15.405 (2) Examining board of architects, landscape architects,
4professional engineers, designers
, and professional land surveyors. (intro.)
5There is created an examining board of architects, landscape architects, professional
6engineers, designers, and professional land surveyors in the department of safety
7and professional services. Any professional member appointed to the examining
8board shall be registered or licensed to practice architecture, landscape architecture,
9professional engineering, the design of engineering systems, or professional land
10surveying under ch. 443. The examining board shall consist of the following
11members appointed for 4-year terms: 3 architects, 3 landscape architects, 3
12professional engineers, 3 designers, 3 professional land surveyors, and 10 public
13members.
AB586,8,214 (a) In operation, the examining board shall be divided into an architect section,
15a landscape architect section, an engineer section, a designer section , and a
16professional land surveyor section. Each section shall consist of the 3 members of
17the named profession appointed to the examining board and 2 public members

1appointed to the section. The examining board shall elect its own officers, and shall
2meet at least twice annually.
AB586,8,73 (b) All matters pertaining to passing upon the qualifications of applicants for
4and the granting or revocation of registration or licensure, and all other matters of
5interest to either the architect, landscape architect, engineer, designer, or
6professional land surveyor section shall be acted upon solely by the interested
7section.
AB586, s. 2 8Section 2. 20.165 (2) (j) of the statutes, as affected by 2011 Wisconsin Act 32,
9is amended to read:
AB586,8,1910 20.165 (2) (j) Safety and building operations. The amounts in the schedule for
11the purposes of chs. 101, 145, and 168 and ss. 167.35, 236.12 (2) (a) (ap), 236.13 (1)
12(d) and (2m), and 236.335, for the purpose of transferring the amounts in the
13schedule under par. (kg) to the appropriation account under par. (kg), and for the
14purpose of transferring the amounts in the schedule under par. (km) to the
15appropriation account under par. (km). All moneys received under ch. 145, ss.
16101.177 (4) (a) 4., 101.178, 101.19, 101.63 (9), 101.654 (3), 101.73 (12), 101.82 (4),
17101.955 (2), 101.973 (7), 167.35 (2) (f), and 236.12 (7) and all moneys transferred
18under 2005 Wisconsin Act 45, section 76 (6), shall be credited to this appropriation
19account.
AB586, s. 3 20Section 3. 26.09 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,9,221 26.09 (3) (b) 1. A court shall award damages that equal the stumpage value of
22the raw forest products harvested if the person harvesting the raw forest products
23or the person giving consent for the harvesting reasonably relied upon a recorded
24survey that was done by a person who is registered licensed under ch. 443 as a
25professional land surveyor or who is issued a permit to engage in the practice of

1professional
land surveying under s. 443.06 even if the recorded survey is
2determined, after the harvesting, to be in error.
AB586, s. 4 3Section 4. 30.11 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,9,154 30.11 (3) How established. Whenever any municipality proposes to establish
5a bulkhead line or to reestablish an existing bulkhead line, the municipality shall
6indicate both the existing shore and the proposed bulkhead line upon a map and shall
7file with the department for its approval 6 copies of the map and 6 copies of the
8ordinance establishing the bulkhead line. The map shall use a scale of not less than
9100 feet to an inch or any other scale required by the department. The map and a
10metes and bounds description of the bulkhead line shall be prepared by a
11professional land surveyor registered in this state licensed under ch. 443. The
12department may require the installation of permanent reference markers to the
13bulkhead line. Upon approval by the department, the municipality shall deliver the
14map, description, and ordinance to the office of the register of deeds of the county in
15which the bulkhead line lies, to be recorded by the register of deeds.
AB586, s. 5 16Section 5. 30.13 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,9,2417 30.13 (3) (a) Any municipality authorized by s. 30.11 to establish a bulkhead
18line may also establish a pierhead line in the same manner as it is authorized to
19establish a bulkhead line, except that a metes and bounds legal description is not
20required nor is the map required to be prepared by a registered professional land
21surveyor licensed under ch. 443 and except that if the municipality has created a
22board of harbor commissioners the municipality must obtain the approval of the
23board concerning the establishment of the pierhead line in addition to obtaining the
24approval of the department.
AB586, s. 6 25Section 6. 59.001 (3r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB586,10,2
159.001 (3r) "Professional land surveyor" means a professional land surveyor
2licensed under ch. 443.
AB586, s. 7 3Section 7. 59.20 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,10,94 59.20 (2) (c) In counties that elect a surveyor, the surveyor shall be a registered
5professional land surveyor. In lieu of electing a surveyor in any county having a
6population of less than 500,000, the board may, by resolution, designate that the
7duties under ss. 59.45 (1) and 59.74 (2) be performed by any registered professional
8land surveyor employed by the county. Any surveyor employed by a county having
9a population of 500,000 or more shall be a professional land surveyor.
AB586, s. 8 10Section 8. 59.43 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,10,2011 59.43 (8) Required signature and seal on survey document for filing or
12recording.
It is unlawful for the register of deeds of any county or any proper public
13authority to file or record a map, plat, survey, or other document within the definition
14of the practice of professional land surveying under s. 443.01 (6s), which does not
15have impressed thereon, and affixed thereto, the personal signature and seal of a
16registered professional land surveyor under whose responsible charge the map, plat,
17survey, or other document was prepared. This subsection does not apply to any deed,
18contract, or other recordable document prepared by an attorney, or to a
19transportation project plat that conforms to s. 84.095 and that is prepared by a state
20agency
.
AB586, s. 9 21Section 9. 59.45 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,11,822 59.45 (1) (a) 2. Make, personally or by a deputy, a record, in books or on
23drawings and plats that are kept for that purpose, of all corners that are set and the
24manner of fixing the corners and of all bearings and the distances of all courses run,
25of each survey made personally, by deputies or by other professional land surveyors

1and arrange or index the record so it is an easy to use easy-to-use reference and file
2and preserve in the office the original field notes and calculation thereof. Within 60
3days after completing any survey, the county surveyor shall make a true and correct
4copy of the foregoing record, in record books or on reproducible papers to be furnished
5by the county and kept in files in the office of the county surveyor to be provided by
6the county. In a county with a population of 500,000 or more where there is no county
7surveyor, a copy of the record shall also be filed in the office of the regional planning
8commission which acts in the capacity of county surveyor for the county.
AB586, s. 10 9Section 10. 59.45 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,11,1610 59.45 (1) (b) Surveys for individuals or corporations may be performed by any
11professional land surveyor who is employed by the parties requiring the services,
12providing that within 60 days after completing any survey the professional land
13surveyor files a true and correct copy of the survey in the office of the county surveyor.
14In counties with a population of 500,000 or more the copy shall be filed in the office
15of the register of deeds and in the office of the regional planning commission which
16acts in the capacity of county surveyor for the county.
AB586, s. 11 17Section 11. 59.45 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,11,2018 59.45 (3) Surveyor; fees. In addition to the regular fees of professional land
19surveyors that are received from the parties employing the county surveyor, the
20county surveyor may receive a salary from the county.
AB586, s. 12 21Section 12. 59.46 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,11,25 2259.46 Penalty for nonfeasance. Any county surveyor, any city, village, or
23town engineer, or any professional land surveyor who fails or refuses to perform any
24duty required of that person by law shall forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $50
25for each such failure or refusal.
AB586, s. 13
1Section 13. 59.72 (3m) (a) 4m. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,12,32 59.72 (3m) (a) 4m. The county surveyor or a registered professional land
3surveyor employed within the county.
AB586, s. 14 4Section 14. 59.73 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,12,125 59.73 (2) Subdividing sections. Whenever a county surveyor or professional
6land surveyor
is required to subdivide a section or smaller subdivision of land
7established by the United States survey, the county surveyor or professional land
8surveyor
shall proceed according to the statutes of the United States and the rules
9and regulations made by the secretary of the interior in conformity to the federal
10statutes. While so engaged a professional land surveyor and the professional land
11surveyor's assistants shall not be liable as a trespasser and shall be liable only for
12any actual damage done to land or property.
AB586, s. 15 13Section 15. 59.74 (2) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,13,514 59.74 (2) (b) 1. Whenever it becomes necessary to destroy, remove, or cover up
15in such a way that will make it inaccessible for use, any landmark, monument of
16survey, or corner post within the meaning of this subsection, the person including
17employees of governmental agencies who intend to commit such act shall serve
18written notice at least 30 days prior to the act upon the county surveyor of the county
19within which the landmark is located. Notice shall also be served upon the
20municipality's engineer if the landmark is located within the corporate limits of a
21municipality. The notice shall include a description of the landmark, monument of
22survey, or corner post and the reason for removing or covering it. In this paragraph,
23removal of a landmark includes the removal of railroad track by the owner of the
24track. In a county having a population of less than 500,000 where there is no county
25surveyor, notice shall be served upon the clerk. In a county with a population of

1500,000 or more where there is no county surveyor, notice shall be served upon the
2executive director of the regional planning commission which acts in the capacity of
3county surveyor for the county. Notwithstanding par. (c), upon receipt of the notice
4the clerk shall appoint a registered professional land surveyor to perform the duties
5of a county surveyor under subd. 2.
AB586, s. 16 6Section 16. 59.74 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,13,137 59.74 (2) (c) In those counties where there are no county surveyors a petition
8can be made to the board by any resident of this state requesting the board to appoint
9a professional land surveyor to act in the capacity of the county surveyor. The board,
10upon receipt of this petition, shall appoint a professional land surveyor to act in the
11capacity of the county surveyor. In counties with a population of 500,000 or more,
12the board may appoint a governmental agency to act in the capacity of county
13surveyor.
AB586, s. 17 14Section 17. 59.74 (2) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,13,1715 59.74 (2) (g) Every professional land surveyor and every officer of the
16department of natural resources and the district attorney shall enforce this
17subsection.
AB586, s. 18 18Section 18. 59.74 (2) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,14,819 59.74 (2) (h) Any registered professional land surveyor employed by the
20department of transportation or by a county highway department, may, incident to
21employment as such, assume and perform the duties and act in the capacity of the
22county surveyor under this subsection with respect to preservation and perpetuation
23of landmarks, witness monuments, and corner posts upon and along state trunk,
24county trunk, and town highways. Upon completing a survey and perpetuating
25landmarks and witness monuments under par. (b) 2., a professional land surveyor

1employed by the state shall file the field notes and records in the district office or
2main office of the department of transportation, and a professional land surveyor
3employed by a county shall file the field notes and records in the office of the county
4highway commissioner, open to inspection by the public, and in either case a true and
5correct copy of the field notes and records shall be filed with the county surveyor. In
6a county with a population of 500,000 or more where there is no county surveyor, a
7copy of the field notes and records shall also be filed in the office of the regional
8planning commission which acts in the capacity of county surveyor for the county.
AB586, s. 19 9Section 19. 59.74 (2) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,14,1210 59.74 (2) (j) The county surveyor may employ other professional land surveyors
11to assist in this work and may accept reference checks for these corners from any
12professional land surveyor.
AB586, s. 20 13Section 20. 59.75 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,14,21 1459.75 Certificates and records as evidence. The certificate and also the
15official record of the county surveyor when produced by the legal custodian thereof,
16or any of the county surveyor's deputies, when duly signed by the county surveyor
17in his or her official capacity, shall be admitted as evidence in any court within the
18state, but the same may be explained or rebutted by other evidence. If any county
19surveyor or any of his or her deputies are interested in any tract of land a survey of
20which becomes necessary, such survey may be executed by any professional land
21surveyor appointed by the board.
AB586, s. 21 22Section 21. 60.84 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 60.84 (1r) and amended to
23read:
AB586,15,224 60.84 (1r) Survey, contract for. The town board may contract with the county
25surveyor or any registered professional land surveyor to survey all or some of the

1sections in the town and to erect monuments under this section as directed by the
2board.
AB586, s. 22 3Section 22. 60.84 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB586,15,54 60.84 (1g) Definition. In this section, "professional land surveyor" means a
5professional land surveyor licensed under ch. 443.
AB586, s. 23 6Section 23. 60.84 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,15,97 60.84 (2) Bond. Before the town board executes a contract under sub. (1), the
8county surveyor or professional land surveyor shall execute and file with the town
9board a surety bond or other financial security approved by the town board.
AB586, s. 24 10Section 24. 60.84 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,15,1911 60.84 (3) (a) Monuments shall be set on section and quarter-section corners
12established by the United States survey. If there is a clerical error or omission in the
13government field notes or if the bearing trees, mounds, or other location identifier
14specified in the notes is destroyed or lost, and if there is no other reliable evidence
15by which a section or quarter-section corner can be identified, the county surveyor
16or professional land
surveyor shall reestablish the corner under the rules adopted by
17the federal government in the survey of public lands. The county surveyor or
18professional land
surveyor shall set forth his or her actions under this paragraph in
19the certificate U.S. public land survey monument record under sub. (4).
AB586, s. 25 20Section 25. 60.84 (3) (c) (intro.) and 1. of the statutes are amended to read:
AB586,15,2321 60.84 (3) (c) (intro.) To establish, relocate or perpetuate a corner, the county
22surveyor or professional land
surveyor shall set in the proper place a monument, as
23determined by the town board, consisting of any of the following:
AB586,16,3
11. A stone or other equally durable material, not less than 3 feet long and 6
2inches square, with perpendicular, dressed sides and a square, flat top. As
3prescribed by the town board, the top shall be engraved with either of the following:
AB586,16,44 a. A cross formed by lines connecting the corners of the top; or.
AB586,16,65 b. If the monument is set at a section corner, the number of the section or, if set
6at a quarter-section corner, "1/4S"; or.
AB586, s. 26 7Section 26. 60.84 (3) (c) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
AB586,16,98 60.84 (3) (c) 3. An equivalent monument agreed upon by all parties of the
9contract.
AB586, s. 27 10Section 27. 60.84 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,16,1911 60.84 (4) Certificate U.S. public land survey monument record. The county
12surveyor or professional land
surveyor shall prepare a certificate U.S. public land
13survey monument record
setting forth a complete and accurate record of any survey
14monument erected on section and quarter section corners under this section,
15including the exact bearings and distances of each monument from each other
16monument nearest it on any line in the town. The certificate U.S. public land survey
17monument record and a map of any additional monuments set
shall be recorded in
18the office of the register of deeds of the county or filed in the office of the county
19surveyor
in which the surveyed land is located.
AB586, s. 28 20Section 28. 66.0309 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,17,1121 66.0309 (11) Matters referred to regional planning commission. The officer
22or public body of a local governmental unit within the region having final authority
23may refer to the regional planning commission, for its consideration and report, the
24location or acquisition of land for any of the items or facilities which that are included
25in the adopted regional master plan. Within 20 days after the matter is referred to

1the regional planning commission or a longer period as may be stipulated by the
2referring officer or public body, the commission shall report its recommendations to
3the referring officer or public body. The report and recommendations of the
4commission shall be advisory only. A state agency may authorize the regional
5planning commission with the consent of the commission to act for the agency in
6approving, examining, or reviewing plats, under s. 236.12 (2) (a) (ap). A regional
7planning commission authorized by a local unit on November 1, 1980 , to act for the
8local unit in approving plats may continue to so act until the commission withdraws
9its consent or the local unit its approval. A local unit may authorize a regional
10planning commission, with the consent of the commission, to conduct an advisory
11review of plats.
AB586, s. 29 12Section 29. 70.27 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,17,1813 70.27 (2) Certification, approval, recording. Such plat, when completed and
14certified as provided by this section, and when approved by the governing body, shall
15be acknowledged by the clerk thereof and recorded in the office of the register of
16deeds. No plat may be recorded in the office of the register of deeds unless it is
17produced on material that is capable of clearly legible reproduction or other media
18that is acceptable to the register of deeds.
AB586, s. 30 19Section 30. 70.27 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,18,2120 70.27 (5) Surveys, reconciliations. The surveyor making the plat shall be a
21professional land surveyor licensed under ch. 443 and shall
survey and lay out the
22boundaries of each parcel, street, alley, lane, roadway, or dedication to public or
23private use, according to the records of the register of deeds, and whatever evidence
24that may be available to show the intent of the buyer and seller, in the chronological
25order of their conveyance or dedication, and set temporary monuments to show the

1results of such survey which shall be made permanent upon recording of the plat as
2provided for in this section. The map shall be at a scale of not more than 100 feet per
3inch, unless waived in writing by the department of administration under s. 236.20
4(2) (L). The owners of record of lands in the plat shall be notified by certified letter
5mailed to their last-known address, in order that they shall have opportunity to
6examine the map, view the temporary monuments, and make known any
7disagreement with the boundaries as shown by the temporary monuments. It is the
8duty of the professional land surveyor making the plat to reconcile any discrepancies
9that may be revealed, so that the plat as certified to the governing body is in
10conformity with the records of the register of deeds as nearly as is practicable. When
11boundary lines between adjacent parcels, as evidenced on the ground, are mutually
12agreed to in writing by the owners of record, such lines shall be the true boundaries
13for all purposes thereafter, even though they may vary from the metes and bounds
14descriptions previously of record. Such written agreements shall be recorded in the
15office of the register of deeds. On every assessor's plat, as certified to the governing
16body, shall appear the volume, page, and document number of the metes and bounds
17description of each parcel, as recorded in the office of the register of deeds, which
18shall be identified with the number by which such parcel is designated on the plat,
19except that lots which have been conveyed or otherwise acquired but upon which no
20deed is recorded in the office of register of deeds may be shown on an assessor's plat
21and when so shown shall contain a full metes and bounds description.
AB586, s. 31 22Section 31. 70.27 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,19,423 70.27 (6) Monuments, plat requirements. The provisions of s. 236.15 as to
24monuments, and the provisions of s. 236.20 as to form and procedure, insofar as they
25are applicable to the purposes of assessors' plats, shall apply. Any stake or

1monument found and accepted as correct by a professional land surveyor laying out
2an assessor's plat shall be indicated as "stake found" or "monument found" when
3mapping the plat and such stake or monument shall not be removed or replaced even
4though it is inconsistent with the standards of s. 236.15.
AB586, s. 32 5Section 32. 70.27 (7) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,19,96 70.27 (7) Certificate. (intro.) When completed, the assessor's plat shall be
7filed with the clerk of the governing body that ordered the plat. On its title page shall
8appear the sworn certificate of the professional land surveyor who made the plat,
9which shall state and contain:
AB586, s. 33 10Section 33. 70.27 (7) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,19,1211 70.27 (7) (d) A statement that the professional land surveyor has fully complied
12with the provisions of this section in filing the same.
AB586, s. 34 13Section 34. 84.095 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,19,1914 84.095 (5) Surveyor's Professional land surveyor's certificate. A plat
15prepared for filing or recording under this section shall include a certificate of a
16professional land surveyor registered licensed under s. 443.06 that the plat is a
17correct representation of the project described and that the identification and
18location of each parcel can be determined from the plat. This subsection does not
19apply to plats prepared by the department.
AB586, s. 35 20Section 35. 157.061 (13m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB586,19,2221 157.061 (13m) "Professional land surveyor" means a professional land
22surveyor licensed under ch. 443.
AB586, s. 36 23Section 36. 157.07 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,20,524 157.07 (1) A cemetery authority shall cause to be surveyed and platted by a
25professional land surveyor registered in this state those portions of the lands that are

1from time to time required for burial, into cemetery lots, drives, and walks, and
2record a plat or map of the land in the office of the register of deeds. The plat or map
3may not be recorded unless laid out and platted to the satisfaction of the county board
4of the county, and the town board of the town in which the land is situated, or, if the
5land is situated within a 1st class city, then only by the common council of that city.
AB586, s. 37 6Section 37. 157.07 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,20,197 157.07 (2) The plat or map location of the lands shall show the exact location
8of the tract being subdivided with reference to a corner or corners established in the
9United States public land survey by bearings and distances
be indicated on the plat
10or map by bearing and distance from a boundary line of a government lot, quarter
11section, recorded private claim, or federal reservation in which the subdivision is
12located. The monumentation at the ends of the boundary line shall be described and
13the bearing and distance between them shown
, and the plat or map shall show a
14small scale drawing of the section or government subdivision of the section in which
15the cemetery plat is situated, with the cemetery plat indicated. The plat or map shall
16include the certificate of the professional land surveyor containing the name of the
17cemetery authority, the date of the survey, the professional land surveyor's stamp or
18seal and signature, and the professional land surveyor's statement that the survey
19is true and correct to the professional land surveyor's best knowledge and belief.
AB586, s. 38 20Section 38. 157.07 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,21,621 157.07 (3) The plat or map shall be made on a durable white media that is 22
22inches wide by 30 inches long, or on any material that is capable of clearly legible
23reproduction or other media that is acceptable to the register of deeds,
with a
24permanent nonfading black image. Seals or signatures that are reproduced on
25images that comply with this subsection have the force and effect of original seals and

1signatures. When more than one sheet is used for any one plat or map, they shall
2be numbered consecutively and each sheet shall contain a notation showing the
3whole number of sheets in the plat, and its relation to the other sheets. The sheets
4may be provided by the county through the register of deeds on terms determined by
5the county board. The professional land surveyor shall leave a binding margin of 1.5
6inches on the left side of the 30-inch length and a one-inch margin on all other sides.
AB586, s. 39 7Section 39. 236.02 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,21,118 236.02 (2m) "Correction instrument" means an instrument drafted by a
9licensed professional land surveyor that complies with the requirements of s.
10236.295 and that, upon recording, corrects a subdivision plat or a certified survey
11map.
AB586, s. 40 12Section 40. 236.02 (9b) of the statutes is created to read:
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