March 2, 2012 - Introduced by Senator Cowles, cosponsored by Representatives
Jacque, A. Ott, Endsley, Mursau, Tranel and Spanbauer. Referred to
Committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations.
SB541,1,5 1An Act to create 753.40, 755.20, 757.17, 814.75 (4), 814.76 (3), 814.77 (3), 814.78
2(4), 814.79 (3), 814.80 (4), 814.81 (4), 973.06 (1) (f) and 973.09 (1x) of the
3statutes; relating to: making a contribution to a crime prevention
4organization as a surcharge or as an allowable cost in a criminal case, as a
5condition of probation, or as a surcharge in a forfeiture case.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill allows a circuit court or a municipal court to order a person who
violates an ordinance that is the same as or similar to a criminal statute to make a
contribution surcharge to certain qualifying organizations (crime prevention
organizations). The bill also allows a circuit court in a criminal action to require a
person who is found guilty of a crime to make a contribution surcharge in lieu of or
in addition to a fine or certain court costs or, if the court places the person on
probation, as a condition of probation.
Under the bill, a court that requires a contribution surcharge must determine
that the person has the financial ability to make the contribution and, in a forfeiture
case, the amount of the surcharge may not exceed the maximum amount of the
forfeiture for the violation. In a criminal case, the court must also determine that
the contribution is appropriate under the facts of the case.
Under the bill, if a court imposes a contribution surcharge but does not require
the person to pay a forfeiture, fine, or court costs, the court shall state on the record
the reasons why it is not requiring the person to pay the forfeiture, fine, or court costs.

Under the bill, a crime prevention organization may be a private, nonprofit
organization that has as its primary purpose preventing crime, encouraging the
public to report crime, or assisting law enforcement agencies in the apprehension of
criminal offenders or a law enforcement agency that has a crime prevention fund, if
the contribution is credited to the crime prevention fund and is used for crime
prevention purposes. The bill requires any crime prevention organization that
receives a contribution surcharge to submit a report annually to the clerk of the court
that ordered the contribution. The report must list the names of the officers of the
organization, the amount of contributions the organization received and the names
of the contributors, how the contributions were spent, and the balance, if any,
remaining at the time the report is made.
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:
SB541, s. 1 1Section 1. 753.40 of the statutes is created to read:
SB541,2,9 2753.40 Contributions to certain organizations and agencies. (1) If a
3circuit court finds in a forfeiture action that a person violated an ordinance that
4prohibits conduct that is the same as or similar to conduct prohibited by state statute
5punishable by fine or imprisonment, the circuit court may require, under ch. 814, the
6person to make a contribution surcharge not to exceed the maximum amount of the
7forfeiture that may be levied to an organization or agency specified in s. 973.06 (1)
8(f) 1. if the court determines that the violator has the financial ability to make the
9contribution.
SB541,3,3 10(2) If the court does require a person to make a contribution surcharge to an
11organization or agency specified in s. 973.06 (1) (f) 1. but does not require the person
12to pay a forfeiture or court costs, the court shall state on the record the reasons why
13it is not requiring the person to pay the forfeiture or court costs. All contribution
14surcharges made under this section shall be made to the clerk of circuit court for
15distribution to the organization or agency specified in s. 973.06 (1) (f) 1. The circuit

1court may not require a person to make a contribution surcharge under this section
2to an organization or agency specified in s. 973.06 (1) (f) 1. that has not complied with
3the provisions of s. 757.17.
SB541, s. 2 4Section 2. 755.20 of the statutes is created to read:
SB541,3,11 5755.20 Contributions to certain organizations and agencies. (1) If a
6municipal court finds in a forfeiture action that a person violated an ordinance that
7prohibits conduct that is the same as or similar to conduct prohibited by state statute
8punishable by fine or imprisonment, the municipal court may require the person to
9make a contribution not to exceed the maximum amount of the forfeiture that may
10be levied to an organization or agency specified in s. 973.06 (1) (f) 1. if the court
11determines that the violator has the financial ability to make the contribution.
SB541,3,20 12(2) If the court does require a person to make a contribution to an organization
13or agency specified in s. 973.06 (1) (f) 1. but does not require the person to pay a
14forfeiture or court costs, the court shall state on the record the reasons why it is not
15requiring the person to pay the forfeiture or court costs. All contributions made
16under this section shall be made to the municipal court for distribution to the
17organization or agency specified in s. 973.06 (1) (f) 1. The municipal court may not
18require a person to make a contribution under this section to an organization or
19agency specified in s. 973.06 (1) (f) 1. that has not complied with the provisions of s.
20757.17.
SB541, s. 3 21Section 3. 757.17 of the statutes is created to read:
SB541,4,3 22757.17 Reporting by certain organizations and agencies. Every
23organization or agency specified in s. 973.06 (1) (f) 1. that receives a contribution
24under s. 753.40, 755.20, 973.06 (1) (f), or 973.09 (1x) shall submit a report annually
25by February 1 to the clerk of the court that ordered the contribution. The report shall

1be on a form designed and provided by the director of state courts and shall include
2all of the following information for the calendar year preceding the submittal of the
3report:
SB541,4,4 4(1) The amount of contributions received.
SB541,4,5 5(2) The names of the persons who made the contributions.
SB541,4,6 6(3) The expenditures made with the contributions.
SB541,4,7 7(4) The balance of the contributions remaining.
SB541,4,9 8(5) The name of the organization or agency that received the contribution and
9the names of the officers of the organization or agency.
SB541, s. 4 10Section 4. 814.75 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB541,4,1211 814.75 (4) The crime prevention organization contribution surcharge under s.
12753.40, 973.06 (1) (f), or 973.09 (1x).
SB541, s. 5 13Section 5. 814.76 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
SB541,4,1514 814.76 (3) The crime prevention organization contribution surcharge under s.
15753.40, 973.06 (1) (f), or 973.09 (1x).
SB541, s. 6 16Section 6. 814.77 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
SB541,4,1817 814.77 (3) The crime prevention organization contribution surcharge under s.
18753.40, 973.06 (1) (f), or 973.09 (1x).
SB541, s. 7 19Section 7. 814.78 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB541,4,2120 814.78 (4) The crime prevention organization contribution surcharge under s.
21753.40, 973.06 (1) (f), or 973.09 (1x).
SB541, s. 8 22Section 8. 814.79 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
SB541,4,2423 814.79 (3) The crime prevention organization contribution surcharge under s.
24753.40, 973.06 (1) (f), or 973.09 (1x).
SB541, s. 9 25Section 9. 814.80 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB541,5,2
1814.80 (4) The crime prevention organization contribution surcharge under s.
2753.40, 973.06 (1) (f), or 973.09 (1x).
SB541, s. 10 3Section 10. 814.81 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB541,5,54 814.81 (4) The crime prevention organization contribution surcharge under s.
5753.40, 973.06 (1) (f), or 973.09 (1x).
SB541, s. 11 6Section 11. 973.06 (1) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
SB541,5,107 973.06 (1) (f) 1. An amount determined by the court to make a reasonable
8contribution surcharge to any of the following, if the court determines that the person
9has the financial ability to make the contribution surcharge and the contribution
10surcharge is appropriate:
SB541,5,1311 a. A private nonprofit organization that has as its primary purpose preventing
12crime, encouraging the public to report crime, or assisting law enforcement agencies
13in the apprehension of criminal offenders.
SB541,5,1614 b. A law enforcement agency that has a crime prevention fund, if the
15contribution is credited to the crime prevention fund and is used for crime prevention
16purposes.
SB541,5,2517 2. If the court does require a person to make a contribution surcharge to an
18organization or agency specified in subd. 1. but does not require the person to pay any
19fine that may be imposed for the offense or court costs, the court shall state on the
20record the reasons why it is not requiring the person to pay the fine or court costs.
21All contribution surcharges made under this paragraph shall be made to the clerk
22of circuit court for distribution to the organization or agency specified in subd. 1. The
23court may not order a person to make a contribution surcharge under this paragraph
24to a crime prevention organization that has not complied with the provisions of s.
25757.17.
SB541, s. 12
1Section 12. 973.09 (1x) of the statutes is created to read:
SB541,6,52 973.09 (1x) (a) If the court places a person on probation, the court may require,
3under ch. 814, that the probationer make a contribution surcharge to an organization
4or agency specified in s. 973.06 (1) (f) 1. if the court determines that the probationer
5has the financial ability to make the contribution surcharge.
SB541,6,146 (b) If the court does require a person to make a contribution surcharge to an
7organization or agency specified in s. 973.06 (1) (f) 1. but does not require the person
8to pay any fine that may be imposed for the offense or court costs, the court shall state
9on the record the reasons why it is not requiring the person to pay the fine or court
10costs. All contribution surcharges made under this subsection shall be made to the
11clerk of circuit court for distribution to the organization or agency specified in s.
12973.06 (1) (f) 1. The court may not require a person to make a contribution surcharge
13under this subsection to an organization or agency specified in s. 973.06 (1) (f) 1. that
14has not complied with the provisions of s. 757.17.
SB541,6,1515 (End)
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