66.0125 Community relations-social development commissions.

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking," for purposes of discrimination in housing, has the meaning given in s. 106.50 (1m) (u).

(b) “Local governmental unit" means a city, village, town, school district, or county.

(2) Creation. Each local governmental unit is authorized and urged to either establish by ordinance a community relations-social development commission or to participate in a commission established on an intergovernmental basis within the county under enabling ordinances adopted by the participating local governmental units. A school district may establish or participate in a commission by resolution. An intergovernmental commission may be established in cooperation with a nonprofit corporation located in the county and composed primarily of public and private welfare agencies devoted to any of the purposes set forth in this section. An ordinance or resolution establishing a commission shall substantially embody the language of sub. (3). Each local governmental unit may appropriate money to defray the expenses of the commission. If the commission is established on an intergovernmental basis within the county, the provisions of s. 66.0301, relating to local cooperation, apply as optional authority and may be utilized by participating local governmental units to effectuate the purposes of this section, but a contract between local governmental units is not necessary for the joint exercise of any power authorized for the joint performance of any duty required in this section.

(3) Purpose and functions of commission.

(a) The purpose of the commission is to study, analyze, and recommend solutions for the major social, economic, and cultural problems that affect people residing or working within the local governmental unit, including problems of the family, youth, education, the aging, juvenile delinquency, health and zoning standards, discrimination in employment and public accommodations and facilities on the basis of sex, class, race, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnic or minority status and discrimination in housing on the basis of sex, class, race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic or minority status, or status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking.

(b) The commission may:

1. Include within its studies problems related to pornography, industrial strife and the inciting or fomenting of class, race or religious hatred and prejudice.

2. Encourage and foster participation in the fine arts.

(c) The commission shall:

1. Recommend to the local governmental unit's governing body and chief executive or administrative officer the enactment of such ordinances or other action as they deem necessary:

a. To establish and keep in force proper health standards for the community and beneficial zoning for the community area in order to facilitate the elimination of, and prevent the start and spread of, blighted areas.

b. To ensure to all residents of a local governmental unit, regardless of sex, race, sexual orientation, or color, the right to enjoy equal employment opportunities and to ensure to those residents, regardless of sex, race, sexual orientation, color, or status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, the right to possess equal housing opportunities.

2. Cooperate with state and federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations having similar or related functions.

3. Examine the need for, initiate, participate in and promote publicly and privately sponsored studies and programs in any field of human relationship that will aid in accomplishing the purposes and duties of the commission.

4. Have authority to conduct public hearings within the local governmental unit and to administer oaths to persons testifying before it.

5. Employ such staff as is necessary to implement the duties assigned to it.

(4) Composition of commission. The commission shall be nonpartisan and composed of citizens residing in the local governmental unit, including representatives of the clergy and minority groups. The composition of the commission and the method of appointing and removing commission members shall be determined by the governing body of the local governmental unit creating or participating in the commission. Notwithstanding s. 59.10 (4) or 66.0501 (2), a member of the local governmental unit's governing body may serve on the commission, except that a county board member in a county having a population over 750,000 may not accept compensation for serving on the commission. Of the persons first appointed, one-third shall hold office for one year, one-third for 2 years, and one-third for 3 years from the first day of February next following their appointment, and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified. All succeeding terms shall be for 3 years. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as original appointments. Every person appointed as a member of the commission shall take and file the official oath.

(5) Organization. The commission shall meet in January, April, July and October of each year, and may meet at such additional times as the members determine or the chairperson directs. Annually, it shall elect from its membership a chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary. A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum. Members of the commission shall receive no compensation, but each member shall be entitled to actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of commission duties. The commission may appoint consulting committees consisting of either members or nonmembers or both, the appointees of which shall be reimbursed their actual and necessary expenses. All expense accounts shall be paid by the commission on certification by the chairperson or acting chairperson.

(6) Open meetings. All meetings of the commission and its consulting committees shall be publicly held and open to all citizens at all times as required by subch. V of ch. 19.

(7) Designation of commissions as cooperating agencies under federal law.

(a) The commission may be the official agency of the local governmental unit to accept assistance under title II of the federal economic opportunity act of 1964. No assistance shall be accepted with respect to any matter to which objection is made by the legislative body creating the commission, but if the commission is established on an intergovernmental basis and objection is made by any participating legislative body, assistance may be accepted with the approval of a majority of the legislative bodies participating in the commission.

(b) The commission may be the official agency of the local governmental unit to accept assistance from the community relations service of the U.S. department of justice under title X of the federal civil rights act of 1964 to provide assistance to communities in resolving disputes, disagreements or difficulties relating to discriminatory practices based on sex, race, color or national origin which may impair the rights of persons in the local governmental unit under the constitution or laws of the United States or which affect or may affect interstate commerce.

(8) Other powers of the county board of supervisors. County boards may appropriate county funds for the operation of community relations-social development commissions established or reconstituted under this section, including those participated in on an equal basis by nonprofit corporations located in the county and comprised primarily of public and private welfare agencies devoted to any of the purposes set forth in this section. The legislature finds that the expenditure of county funds for the establishment or support of such commissions is for a public purpose.

(9) Intent. It is the intent of this section to promote fair and friendly relations among all the people in this state, and to that end race, creed, sexual orientation, or color ought not to be made tests in the matter of the right of any person to earn a livelihood or to enjoy the equal use of public accommodations and facilities and race, creed, sexual orientation, color, or status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking ought not to be made tests in the matter of the right of any person to sell, lease, occupy, or use real estate.

(10) Short title. This section shall be known and may be cited as “The Wisconsin Bill of Human Rights".

History: 1975 c. 94; 1975 c. 426 s. 3; 1979 c. 34; 1981 c. 112; 1991 a. 39, 316; 1993 a. 184; 1995 a. 201; 1999 a. 150 s. 449; Stats. 1999 s. 66.0125; 2009 a. 95; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.

Functions of a community relations-social development commission are not limited to study, analysis, and planning. A commission has authority to carry out some human relations programs providing services directly to citizens. 63 Atty. Gen. 182.

Vocational, technical and adult education [technical college] districts are subject to city equal employment opportunity ordinances only within the boundaries of the city. 70 Atty. Gen. 226.