LRB-5423/1
EAW:cdc
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
January 30, 2020 - Introduced by Representatives James, Loudenbeck,
Oldenburg, Tittl, Tusler and VanderMeer, cosponsored by Senator Jacque.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
AB833,1,3 1An Act to amend 968.27 (13), 968.27 (15), 968.35 (1), 968.36 (2) (a), 968.36 (2)
2(c), 968.36 (5) (b) and 968.37 (2); and to create 968.36 (6) of the statutes;
3relating to: pen registers and trap and trace devices.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill expands the definition of “pen register” and “trap and trace device.”
Under current law, a “pen register” is defined as a device that records or decodes
electronic or other impulses that identify the numbers dialed or transmitted on a
telephone line. Current law defines a “trap and trace device” as a device that
captures the incoming electronic or other impulses that identify the originating
number of an instrument or device from which a wire or electronic communication
was transmitted. Current law provides that the attorney general or a district
attorney may apply for a court order to install a pen register or a trap and trace device
for the purpose of furthering a criminal investigation.
This bill expands the definition of “pen register” to include a device or process
that records or decodes dialing, routing, addressing, or signaling information
transmitted on a telephone line or by an instrument or facility from which a wire or
electronic communication is transmitted. This bill expands the definition of “trap
and trace device” to include a device or process that identifies the originating number
or other dialing, routing, addressing, and signaling information of an instrument or
facility from which a wire or electronic communication was transmitted.
The bill also allows the attorney general or a district attorney to apply for an
order for a pen register or trap and trace device in the circuit court of any county.

Under current law, an application for a pen register or trap and trace device must
be filed in the circuit court in the county where the device is to be located.
Under the bill, a person is considered to be doing business in this state, for the
purposes of a pen register or trap and trace device order, if the person contracts with
or engages in a terms of service agreement with any other person for the use of a line,
instrument, or facility, and any part of the performance of the contract or provision
of service takes place within this state on any occasion.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB833,1 1Section 1. 968.27 (13) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB833,2,112 968.27 (13) “Pen register" means a device or process that records or decodes
3electronic or other impulses that identify the numbers dialed or otherwise dialing,
4routing, addressing, or signaling information
transmitted on the telephone line to
5which the device is attached
or by an instrument or facility from which a wire or
6electronic communication is transmitted
. “Pen register" does not include any device
7or process used by a provider or customer of a wire or electronic communication
8service for billing, or recording as an incident to billing, for communications services
9provided by the provider or any device or process used by a provider or customer of
10a wire communication service for cost accounting or other like purposes in the
11ordinary course of its business.
AB833,2 12Section 2. 968.27 (15) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB833,2,1613 968.27 (15) “Trap and trace device" means a device or process that captures the
14incoming electronic or other impulses that identify the originating number or other
15dialing, routing, addressing, and signaling information
of an instrument or device
16from which a wire or electronic communication was transmitted.
AB833,3 17Section 3. 968.35 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB833,3,5
1968.35 (1) The attorney general or a district attorney may make application for
2an order or an extension of an order under s. 968.36 authorizing or approving the
3installation and use of a pen register or a trap and trace device, in writing under oath
4or equivalent affirmation, to a circuit court for the in any county where the device
5is to be located
.
AB833,4 6Section 4. 968.36 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB833,3,97 968.36 (2) (a) Specify the identity, if known, of the person to whom is leased or
8in whose name is listed the telephone line, instrument, or facility to which the pen
9register or trap and trace device is to be attached.
AB833,5 10Section 5. 968.36 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB833,3,1411 968.36 (2) (c) Specify the number and, if known, the physical location of the
12telephone line, instrument, or facility to which the pen register or trap and trace
13device is to be attached and, in the case of a trap and trace device, the geographic
14limits of the trap and trace order.
AB833,6 15Section 6. 968.36 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB833,3,2016 968.36 (5) (b) The person owning or leasing the line, instrument, or facility to
17which the pen register or a trap and trace device is attached, or who has been ordered
18by the court to provide assistance to the applicant, not disclose the existence of the
19pen register or trap and trace device or the existence of the investigation to the listed
20subscriber, or to any other person, unless or until otherwise ordered by the court.
AB833,7 21Section 7. 968.36 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
AB833,4,222 968.36 (6) Jurisdiction. For purposes of this section, a person is considered to
23be doing business in this state and is subject to service and execution of process from
24this state, if the person makes a contract with or engages in a terms of service
25agreement with any other person for the use of a line, instrument, or facility, whether

1or not the other person is a resident of this state, and any part of the performance
2of the contract or provision of service takes place within this state on any occasion.
AB833,8 3Section 8. 968.37 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB833,4,174 968.37 (2) Upon the request of the attorney general, a district attorney or an
5officer of a law enforcement agency authorized to receive the results of a trap and
6trace device under ss. 968.28 to 968.37, a provider of a wire or electronic
7communication service, landlord, custodian or other person shall install the device
8or process forthwith on the appropriate line, instrument, or facility and shall furnish
9the investigative or law enforcement officer all additional information, facilities and
10technical assistance including installation and operation of the device or process
11unobtrusively and with a minimum of interference with the services that the person
12so ordered by the court accords the party with respect to whom the installation and
13use is to take place, if the installation and assistance is directed by a court order
14under s. 968.36 (5) (b). Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the results of the trap
15and trace device shall be furnished to the officer of a law enforcement agency,
16designated by the court, at reasonable intervals during regular business hours for
17the duration of the order.
AB833,4,1818 (End)
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