132.16 Lodge names, insignia; registration; fees; penalty.

(1) In this section:

(a) “Organization" means any association, lodge, order, fraternal society, beneficial association, or fraternal and beneficial society or association; historical, military, or veterans organization; labor union; foundation; federation; or any other society, organization, or association, degree, branch, subordinate lodge, or auxiliary thereof, whether incorporated or unincorporated, the principles and activities of which are not repugnant to the constitution and laws of the United States or of this state.

(b) “Identifying information" means an organization's name, badge, motto, button, decoration, charm, emblem, rosette or other insignia.

(1m) Any organization may register with the department a facsimile, duplicate, or description of any of the organization's identifying information and may, by reregistration, alter or cancel the organization's identifying information.

(2) Application for registration or reregistration under sub. (1m) shall be made by the organization's chief officer or officers upon forms provided by the department. The registration shall be for the use, benefit, and on behalf of the organization and the organization's current and future individual members throughout this state.

(3) The department shall keep a properly indexed file of all registrations under this section, which shall also show any alterations or cancellations by reregistration.

(4) No registration or reregistration shall be granted for any identifying information similar to identifying information already registered under this section.

(5) Upon granting registration under this section, the department shall issue a certificate to the petitioners, setting forth the fact of the registration.

(6) The fees of the department for registration or reregistration under this section, searches made by the department, and certificates issued by the department under this section, shall be the same as provided by law for similar services. The fees collected under this section shall be paid by the department into the state treasury.

(7) Any person who willfully wears, exhibits, displays, prints, or uses for any purpose any identifying information of any organization registered under this section, unless he or she is entitled to do so under the organizations' constitution and bylaws, rules, and regulations, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding $100, and, in default of payment, may be committed to jail for a period of not to exceed 60 days.

(8) This section does not apply to any fraternal society whose membership is composed of students attending any public or private school in the state.

History: 1985 a. 135 s. 83 (4); 1991 a. 189; 1993 a. 482; 2001 a. 107; 2005 a. 22; 2011 a. 32; 2015 a. 195.