LRB-1656/1
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2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
August 21, 2013 - Introduced by Senator Ellis, cosponsored by Representative
Bernard Schaber. Referred to Committee on Transportation, Public Safety,
and Veterans and Military Affairs.
SB259,1,8 1An Act to amend 32.02 (11), 32.05 (1) (a), 32.07 (2), 40.02 (28), 66.0301 (1) (a),
266.0903 (1) (d), 67.01 (5), 70.11 (2), 71.26 (1) (b), chapter 77 (title), subchapter
3V (title) of chapter 77 [precedes 77.70], 77.71, 77.73 (2), 77.73 (3), 77.75, 77.76
4(1), 77.76 (2), 77.76 (4), 77.77 (1), 77.77 (3), 77.78, 85.063 (3) (b) 1., 85.064 (1)
5(b), 345.05 (2) and 611.11 (4) (a); and to create 20.566 (1) (gc), 20.835 (4) (gc),
666.1039, 77.54 (9a) (er), 77.708, 77.76 (3r) and 345.05 (1) (ag) of the statutes;
7relating to: authorizing the creation of a Fox Cities regional transit authority
8and making appropriations.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
The 2009 Biennial Budget Act (2009 Act 28) authorized the creation of several
regional transit authorities (RTAs): the Dane County RTA, the Chippewa Valley
RTA, and the Chequamegon Bay RTA. Under 2009 Act 28, each RTA, once created,
is a public body corporate and politic and a separate governmental entity. An RTA's
authority is vested in its board of directors, and its bylaws govern its management,
operations, and administration. Among its powers, an RTA may operate a
transportation system or provide for its operation by contracting with a public or
private organization; impose, by its board of directors adopting a resolution, a sales
and use tax in the RTA's jurisdictional area at a rate not exceeding 0.5 percent of the

sales price if certain conditions are satisfied; acquire property by condemnation; and
issue tax-exempt revenue bonds. An RTA has a duty to provide, or contract for the
provision of, transit service within the RTA's jurisdictional area. Rates and other
charges received by an RTA must be used only for the general expenses and capital
expenditures of the RTA, to pay interest, amortization, and retirement charges on
the RTA's revenue bonds, and for specific purposes of the RTA and may not be
transferred to any political subdivision.
The 2011 Biennial Budget Act (2011 Act 32) eliminated authorization to create
an RTA and dissolved the Dane County RTA, the Chippewa Valley RTA, and the
Chequamegon Bay RTA to the extent previously created.
This bill authorizes the creation of a Fox Cities RTA, with the same powers and
authority as provided other RTAs under 2009 Act 28. Under the bill, the Fox Cities
RTA is created if the governing body of any two or more municipalities located in
whole or in part within the urbanized Fox Cities metropolitan planning area
(planning area) adopt a resolution authorizing the municipality to become a member
of the RTA and each resolution is ratified by the electors at a referendum held in the
municipality. Each resolution must also include an identical provision specifying the
number and composition of the RTA's board of directors, and all directors must be
elected officials of one or more of the RTA's participating political subdivisions. After
the Fox Cities RTA is created, any municipality located in whole or in part within the
planning area, and any municipality within the counties of Outagamie, Calumet, or
Winnebago that is outside the planning area, may also join the RTA if the governing
body of the municipality adopts a resolution to join the RTA, the resolution is ratified
by the electors at a referendum held in the municipality, and the board of directors
of the RTA approves. The jurisdictional area of the Fox Cities RTA is the geographic
area encompassing the combined territorial boundaries of all municipalities creating
or joining the RTA.
The provisions of 2009 Act 28 are recreated to establish the powers and duties
of the Fox Cities RTA. In brief, the RTA's authority is vested in its board of directors
and its bylaws govern its management, operations, and administration. The RTA
may: operate a transportation system or provide for its operation by contracting with
a public or private organization; impose, by its board of directors adopting a
resolution, a sales and use tax in the RTA's jurisdictional area at a rate, in one-tenth
increments, not exceeding 0.5 percent of the sales price if certain conditions are
satisfied; acquire property by condemnation; and issue tax-exempt revenue bonds.
The RTA has a duty to provide, or contract for the provision of, transit service within
the RTA's jurisdictional area. Rates and other charges received by the RTA must be
used only for the general expenses and capital expenditures of the RTA, to pay
interest, amortization, and retirement charges on the RTA's revenue bonds, and for
specific purposes of the RTA and may not be transferred to any political subdivision.

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:
SB259,1 1Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
2the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table PDF - See PDF for table PDF
SB259,2 3Section 2. 20.566 (1) (gc) of the statutes is created to read:
SB259,3,94 20.566 (1) (gc) Administration of transit authority taxes. From the moneys
5received from the appropriation account under s. 20.835 (4) (gc), the amounts in the
6schedule for the purpose of administering the transit authority taxes imposed under
7s. 77.708. Notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (a), at the end of the fiscal year the
8unencumbered balance in this appropriation account shall be transferred to the
9appropriation account under s. 20.835 (4) (gc).
SB259,3 10Section 3. 20.835 (4) (gc) of the statutes is created to read:
SB259,4,411 20.835 (4) (gc) Transit authority taxes. All moneys received from the taxes
12imposed under s. 77.708, and from the appropriation account under s. 20.566 (1) (gc),

1for the purpose of distribution to the transit authorities that adopt a resolution
2imposing taxes under subch. V of ch. 77 which is affirmed by referendum, except that
31.5 percent of those tax revenues collected under subch. V of ch. 77 shall be credited
4to the appropriation account under s. 20.566 (1) (gc).
SB259,4 5Section 4. 32.02 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB259,4,106 32.02 (11) Any housing authority created under ss. 66.1201 to 66.1211;
7redevelopment authority created under s. 66.1333; community development
8authority created under s. 66.1335; local cultural arts district created under subch.
9V of ch. 229, subject to s. 229.844 (4) (c); or local exposition district created under
10subch. II of ch. 229; or transit authority created under s. 66.1039.
SB259,5 11Section 5. 32.05 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB259,5,712 32.05 (1) (a) Except as provided under par. (b), a county board of supervisors
13or a county highway committee when so authorized by the county board of
14supervisors, a city council, a village board, a town board, a sewerage commission
15governing a metropolitan sewerage district created by ss. 200.05 or 200.21 to 200.65,
16the secretary of transportation, a commission created by contract under s. 66.0301,
17a joint local water authority created by contract under s. 66.0823, a transit authority
18created under s. 66.1039,
a housing authority under ss. 66.1201 to 66.1211, a local
19exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229, a local cultural arts district
20created under subch. V of ch. 229, a redevelopment authority under s. 66.1333 or a
21community development authority under s. 66.1335 shall make an order providing
22for the laying out, relocation and improvement of the public highway, street, alley,
23storm and sanitary sewers, watercourses, water transmission and distribution
24facilities, mass transit facilities, airport, or other transportation facilities, gas or
25leachate extraction systems to remedy environmental pollution from a solid waste

1disposal facility, housing project, redevelopment project, cultural arts facilities,
2exposition center or exposition center facilities which shall be known as the
3relocation order. This order shall include a map or plat showing the old and new
4locations and the lands and interests required. A copy of the order shall, within 20
5days after its issue, be filed with the county clerk of the county wherein the lands are
6located or, in lieu of filing a copy of the order, a plat may be filed or recorded in
7accordance with s. 84.095.
SB259,6 8Section 6. 32.07 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB259,5,199 32.07 (2) The petitioner shall determine necessity if application is by the state
10or any commission, department, board or other branch of state government or by a
11city, village, town, county, school district, board, commission, public officer,
12commission created by contract under s. 66.0301, joint local water authority under
13s. 66.0823, transit authority created under s. 66.1039, redevelopment authority
14created under s. 66.1333, local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229,
15local cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229, housing authority
16created under ss. 66.1201 to 66.1211 or for the right-of-way of a railroad up to 100
17feet in width, for a telegraph, telephone or other electric line, for the right-of-way
18for a gas pipeline, main or service or for easements for the construction of any
19elevated structure or subway for railroad purposes.
SB259,7 20Section 7. 40.02 (28) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB259,6,521 40.02 (28) "Employer" means the state, including each state agency, any
22county, city, village, town, school district, other governmental unit or
23instrumentality of 2 or more units of government now existing or hereafter created
24within the state, any federated public library system established under s. 43.19
25whose territory lies within a single county with a population of 500,000 or more, a

1local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229, a transit authority created
2under s. 66.1039,
and a long-term care district created under s. 46.2895, except as
3provided under ss. 40.51 (7) and 40.61 (3). "Employer" does not include a local
4cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229. Each employer shall be a
5separate legal jurisdiction for OASDHI purposes.
SB259,8 6Section 8. 66.0301 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB259,6,217 66.0301 (1) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), in this section
8"municipality" means the state or any department or agency thereof, or any city,
9village, town, county, school district, public library system, public inland lake
10protection and rehabilitation district, sanitary district, farm drainage district,
11metropolitan sewerage district, sewer utility district, solid waste management
12system created under s. 59.70 (2), local exposition district created under subch. II of
13ch. 229, local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229,
14local professional football stadium district created under subch. IV of ch. 229, local
15cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229, transit authority created
16under s. 66.1039,
long-term care district under s. 46.2895, water utility district,
17mosquito control district, municipal electric company, county or city transit
18commission, commission created by contract under this section, taxation district,
19regional planning commission, housing authority created under s. 66.1201,
20redevelopment authority created under s. 66.1333, community development
21authority created under s. 66.1335, or city-county health department.
SB259,9 22Section 9. 66.0903 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB259,7,323 66.0903 (1) (d) "Local governmental unit" means a political subdivision of this
24state, a special purpose district in this state, an instrumentality or corporation of
25such a political subdivision or special purpose district, a combination or subunit of

1any of the foregoing or an instrumentality of the state and any of the foregoing.
2"Local governmental unit" includes a regional transit authority created under s.
366.1039.
SB259,10 4Section 10. 66.1039 of the statutes is created to read:
SB259,7,5 566.1039 Transit authorities. (1) Definitions. In this section:
SB259,7,66 (a) "Authority" means a transit authority created under this section.
SB259,7,87 (b) "Bonds" means any bonds, interim certificates, notes, debentures, or other
8obligations of an authority issued under this section.
SB259,7,99 (c) "Common carrier" means any of the following:
SB259,7,1010 1. A common motor carrier, as defined in s. 194.01 (1).
SB259,7,1111 2. A contract motor carrier, as defined in s. 194.01 (2).
SB259,7,1212 3. A railroad subject to ch. 195, as described in s. 195.02 (1) and (3).
SB259,7,1313 4. A water carrier, as defined in s. 195.02 (5).
SB259,7,1814 (d) "Comprehensive unified local transportation system" means a
15transportation system that is comprised of motor bus lines and any other local public
16transportation facilities, the major portion of which is located within, or the major
17portion of the service of which is supplied to the inhabitants of, the jurisdictional area
18of the authority.
SB259,7,1919 (e) "Municipality" means any city, village, or town.
SB259,7,2220 (f) "Participating political subdivision" means a political subdivision that is a
21member of an authority, either from the time of creation of the authority or by later
22joining the authority.
SB259,7,2323 (g) "Political subdivision" means a municipality or county.
SB259,8,824 (h) "Transportation system" means all land, shops, structures, equipment,
25property, franchises, and rights of whatever nature required for transportation of

1passengers within the jurisdictional area of the authority and, only to the extent
2specifically authorized under this section, outside the jurisdictional area of the
3authority. "Transportation system" includes elevated railroads, subways,
4underground railroads, motor vehicles, motor buses, and any combination thereof,
5and any other form of mass transportation, but does not include transportation
6excluded from the definition of "common motor carrier" under s. 194.01 (1) or charter
7or contract operations to, from, or between points that are outside the jurisdictional
8area of the authority.
SB259,8,119 (i) "Urbanized Fox Cities metropolitan planning area" means the urbanized
10area, as defined in 23 USC 134 (b) (7), of the metropolitan planning area, as defined
11in 23 USC 134 (b) (1), that includes the city of Appleton.
SB259,8,22 12(2) Creation of Transit Authorities. (d) Fox Cities regional transit authority.
131. The Fox Cities regional transit authority, a public body corporate and politic and
14a separate governmental entity, is created if the governing body of any 2 or more
15municipalities located in whole or in part within the urbanized Fox Cities
16metropolitan planning area adopt a resolution authorizing the municipality to
17become a member of the authority and each resolution is ratified by the electors at
18a referendum held in the municipality at a general election. Except as provided in
19subds. 2. and 3., once created, this authority shall consist of all municipalities that
20adopt a resolution ratified at a referendum, as provided in this subdivision. Once
21created, this authority may transact business and exercise any powers granted to it
22under this section.
SB259,9,323 2. After an authority is created under subd. 1., any municipality located in
24whole or in part within the urbanized Fox Cities metropolitan planning area may
25join the authority created under subd. 1. if the governing body of the municipality

1adopts a resolution to join the authority, the resolution is ratified by the electors at
2a referendum held in the municipality, and the board of directors of the authority
3approves the municipality's joinder.
SB259,9,104 3. After an authority is created under subd. 1., any municipality located in
5whole or in part within Outagamie County, Calumet County, or Winnebago County
6that is not located in whole or in part within the urbanized Fox Cities metropolitan
7planning area may join the authority created under subd. 1. if the governing body
8of the municipality adopts a resolution to join the authority, the resolution is ratified
9by the electors at a referendum held in the municipality, and the board of directors
10of the authority approves the municipality's joinder.
SB259,9,1311 4. The jurisdictional area of the authority created under this paragraph is the
12geographic area formed by the combined territorial boundaries of all municipalities
13that create or join the authority under subds. 1., 2., and 3.
SB259,9,2214 5. If a municipality joins the authority under subd. 2. or 3. after it is created,
15the authority shall provide the department of revenue with a certified copy of the
16resolution that approves the joining, a certification of the referendum results
17ratifying this resolution, and a certified copy of the authority's board of directors
18approval. The municipality's joining of the authority shall take effect on the first day
19of the calendar quarter that begins at least 120 days after the department receives
20this information. The authority shall also provide the department with a description
21of the new boundaries of the authority's jurisdictional area, as provided under sub.
22(4) (s) 2.
SB259,9,25 23(3) Transit authority governance. (a) The powers of an authority shall be
24vested in its board of directors. Directors shall be appointed for 4-year terms. A
25majority of the board of directors' full authorized membership constitutes a quorum

1for the purpose of conducting the authority's business and exercising its powers.
2Action may be taken by the board of directors upon a vote of a majority of the directors
3present and voting, unless the bylaws of the authority require a larger number.
SB259,10,144 (e) If an authority is created under sub. (2) (d), the resolutions creating the
5authority under sub. (2) (d) 1. shall include identical provisions specifying the
6number and composition of the authority's board of directors. All directors shall be
7elected officials of one or more of the authority's participating political subdivisions.
8If a municipality joins an authority after its creation, the resolution joining the
9authority under sub. (2) (d) 2. or 3. shall specify what the number and composition
10of the authority's board of directors will be after the municipality's joinder, and all
11municipalities that are participating political subdivisions of the authority at the
12time of the new municipality's joinder shall amend or modify their resolutions
13creating or joining the authority to make them identical to the resolution of the newly
14joining municipality.
SB259,10,1715 (g) The bylaws of an authority shall govern its management, operations, and
16administration, consistent with the provisions of this section, and shall include
17provisions specifying all of the following:
SB259,10,1818 1. The functions or services to be provided by the authority.
SB259,10,1919 2. The powers, duties, and limitations of the authority.
SB259,10,2120 3. The maximum rate of the taxes that may be imposed by the authority under
21sub. (4) (s), not to exceed the maximum rate specified in s. 77.708 (1).
SB259,10,2322 4. The composition of the board of directors of the authority, as determined
23under par. (e).
SB259,11,3
1(4) Powers. Notwithstanding s. 59.84 (2) and any other provision of this
2chapter or ch. 59 or 85, an authority may do all of the following, to the extent
3authorized in the authority's bylaws:
SB259,11,54 (a) Establish, maintain, and operate a comprehensive unified local
5transportation system primarily for the transportation of persons.
SB259,11,86 (b) Acquire a comprehensive unified local transportation system and provide
7funds for the operation and maintenance of the system. Upon the acquisition of a
8comprehensive unified local transportation system, the authority may:
SB259,11,109 1. Operate and maintain it or lease it to an operator or contract for its use by
10an operator.
SB259,11,1211 2. Contract for superintendence of the system with an organization that has
12personnel with the requisite experience and skill.
SB259,11,1513 3. Delegate responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the system to
14an appropriate administrative officer, board, or commission of a participating
15political subdivision.
SB259,11,1716 4. Maintain and improve railroad rights-of-way and improvements on these
17rights-of-way for future use.
SB259,11,1918 (c) Contract with a public or private organization to provide transportation
19services in lieu of directly providing these services.
SB259,11,2120 (d) Purchase and lease transportation facilities to public or private transit
21companies that operate within and outside the jurisdictional area.
SB259,11,2322 (e) Apply for federal aids to purchase transportation facilities considered
23essential for the authority's operation.
SB259,12,724 (f) Coordinate specialized transportation services, as defined in s. 85.21 (2) (g),
25for residents who reside within the jurisdictional area and who are disabled or aged

160 or older, including services funded under 42 USC 3001 to 3057n, 42 USC 5001, and
242 USC 5011 (b), under ss. 49.43 to 49.499 and 85.21, and under other public funds
3administered by the county. An authority may contract with a county that is a
4participating political subdivision for the authority to provide specialized
5transportation services, but an authority is not an eligible applicant under s. 85.21
6(2) (e) and may not receive payments directly from the department of transportation
7under s. 85.21.
SB259,12,108 (g) Acquire, own, hold, use, lease as lessor or lessee, sell or otherwise dispose
9of, mortgage, pledge, or grant a security interest in any real or personal property or
10service.
SB259,12,1211 (h) Acquire property by condemnation using the procedure under s. 32.05 for
12the purposes set forth in this section.
SB259,12,1913 (i) Enter upon any state, county, or municipal street, road, or alley, or any public
14highway for the purpose of installing, maintaining, and operating the authority's
15facilities. Whenever the work is to be done in a state, county, or municipal highway,
16street, road, or alley, the public authority having control thereof shall be duly
17notified, and the highway, street, road, or alley shall be restored to as good a condition
18as existed before the commencement of the work with all costs incident to the work
19to be borne by the authority.
SB259,12,2120 (j) Fix, maintain, and revise fees, rates, rents, and charges for functions,
21facilities, and services provided by the authority.
SB259,12,2322 (k) Make, and from time to time amend and repeal, bylaws, rules, and
23regulations to carry into effect the powers and purposes of the authority.
SB259,12,2424 (L) Sue and be sued in its own name.
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